Leicester to Burton line

[I like Class 153]

I think that there should be a passenger line from Leicester to Burton-On-Trent.

On the I think that there should Railway n stations at:
Coalville-Staffed(Part time)
Ashby-Unstaffed
Moira-Unstaffed(Even though not many people will going to Moira or get on there)
Swadlincote-Staffed(Part-time)

I'm not sure what Train companies should run on that route either Cross Country or East Midlands Trains (London services or Local services)

 

[The Planner]

Terrible bit of line. Needs loads spending on it to get it up to passenger standard. 45mph at best for most of it, with lots of sections of 20. This one gets chucked about every few years and then fades away.

 

[Ferret]

And Lord Adonis says it'll never happen. Pity, but then if there's no economic case for it then I guess that's the way it is.

 

[Bobbber]

I live in Swadlincote. I'm about to ask some really stupid questions. I know very little about railways (as will become apparent shortly). However, I am very keen. At present a trip anywhere on the train means I have to DRIVE to Burton-Upon-Trent, park and "pay and display" away loads of money in the station car park. A station at "Swad" (as we call it) would be a great asset for me and my family (little 'un loves trains too and surely that's doing something for the environment, if you believe in that stuff).

So, here I go :

If I wanted to buy a Volvo (good powerful car) and fit rail wheels to it, then attach a lot of "passenger trailers" to it and run an hourly service between Ashby-de-la-zouch and Burton-Upon-Trent... what would actually be required?! There's a station at Burton and at Ashby (although I believe this is a museum at present) but no station in Swad (@Castle Gresley, although there used to be one). Could I start up my own company "Swadlincote Trains???" and actually do this? Government push for independent train companies to run trains... but what would I *actually* have to do to make this happen?

There are questions like "who owns the line". Do I have to pay for it's use (I guess I would). Could I get my new "lightweight train" certified in some way... I guess, how does it really all work!?

Now, I'm sure you're all laughing madly at this post... but I put it on here with a degree of seriousness. Any feedback welcome

 

[ainsworth74]

Well, the infrastructure is owned by Network Rail and you would have to pay them a track access charge in order to use their rails. You would also have to make an application to the ORR for paths on the railway to run your services and I think also for permission to run your modified Volvo passenger train design on the railway.

As for you proposed "train" I can foresee a number of issues, I can't quite see a converted Volvo being granted permission to run on the the railway much less convey passengers and at a bare minimum it would have to be modified to include AWS, TPWS and OTMR. Basically I can't quite see it to be honest. Nice idea though

 

[Bobbber]

On another note... I saw a big yellow train going over the Rawdon road bridge at 12:45 today. Rushed to the Gresley Tunnel to see if I could get some footage, but as usual got stuck behind a pensioner in a Vauxhall Corsa so I ended up "missing my train".

I'm pretty sure it said "Stone Blower" on the side. Wonder what that is?!?!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Did a lookup for Stone Blower. This is a track maintenance thing? Why do this if the track will continue to be unused???

 

[mumrar]

The biggest obstruction besides cost is that the junction at Knighton is only accessible by trains coming from/going to the south, to get from Burton to Leicester you need to head north where it used to be a triangle at Knighton junction.

 

[Jordeh]

On another note... I saw a big yellow train going over the Rawdon road bridge at 12:45 today. Rushed to the Gresley Tunnel to see if I could get some footage, but as usual got stuck behind a pensioner in a Vauxhall Corsa so I ended up "missing my train".

I'm pretty sure it said "Stone Blower" on the side. Wonder what that is?!?!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Did a lookup for Stone Blower. This is a track maintenance thing? Why do this if the track will continue to be unused???

The track isn't unused, it's used for freight trains still therefore requiring track maintenance.

 

[Wyvern]

Oldest railway in the East Midlands - the middle bit anyway

 

[Bobbber]

The track isn't unused, it's used for freight trains still therefore requiring track maintenance.

Does anyone have an idea of how often? This is the first train I've seen in 8 years (although I know it's used at the other end, i.e. Bardon to Knighton Junction)

 

[mumrar]

Does anyone have an idea of how often? This is the first train I've seen in 8 years (although I know it's used at the other end, i.e. Bardon to Knighton Junction)

Well, since last October it's had the odd tube train either to or from Old Dalby. It's not regular, but this will still require about 190 of each move, so plenty to come.

 

[Philip Elliott]

Oldest railway in the East Midlands - the middle bit anyway

Oldest purpose built railway, the Mansfield - Pinxton tramway predates it by about 150 years!

The irony about the railway is that the most used section is where the single track is and the very rarely used bit is double track! A hangover from when coal was the main source of revenue for the line.

The traingle at Knighton wouldn't be difficult to restore - there is one pre-fab warehouse on the route. Biggest issue is the signalling / pointwork!

 

[caliwag]

Ha...Jackson Stoneblower and the Ballasteers...excellent Peel band from ooo!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Damn...from the same stable as Albert Ross and the C-Birds

 

[fsmr]

Once had the delight of travelling on a special over the line from Leicester to Coalville on a superanuated DMU during the Mantle lane open day in the late 80s
I believe mining subsidence is one of the biggest issues to medium (i.e over 40 mph) speed passenger services which would be needed to compete with the road network that runs the route, some being dual carriage
Of course a park and ride station at the M1/ A50 junction or LFE would create a great link for comuters into Leicester or the other way could even include a direct link on to London in Utopia of course

Then of course, there is always the issues with vandals and trespass, very bad along the Leicester and Coalville sections due to close prox to many ner do well dwellings, not insurmountable as the former FO Corby Kettering line AKA bomb alley in the 80s has showed