Marston Vale to Milton Keynes

[AlterEgo]

Platform 2A has been at MKC for around two or three years now, hasn't it? I was told this was so that in the future, Marston Vale Line services could terminate at MKC. A few questions though:

Is there any timescale as to when this is likely to happen?

Are trains going to have to reverse at Bletchley to go forward to Milton Keynes?

Will there be a chord built at Bletchley effectively bypassing it? (I can't see where one would go withour ripping out the sidings there)

Will there be any new stock for the service?


So many questions......

 

[asylumxl]

When it's likely to happen, not for a long time. It would require a remodelling of Bletchley unfortunately.

New stock is unlikely, LM said the 172s wouldn't be used on the Marston Vale line, despite I believe some 172s doing mileage accumulation through it.

 

[The Planner]

Platform 2A has been at MKC for around two or three years now, hasn't it? I was told this was so that in the future, Marston Vale Line services could terminate at MKC.

Its planned name was the "Reading bay", you can work out the rest.

 

[Pumbaa]

When it's likely to happen, not for a long time. It would require a remodelling of Bletchley unfortunately.

You mean the one that's already vaguely happening, gets underway in November and finishes next February?

Have a look in the WC RUS, NR recommends the service starts as soon as possible, and is possible with current rolling stock.

 

[DarloRich]

As i understand it the bay was created to be used initialy for Bedford - Bletchley services to be extended to MKC. The long term aim was (is?) to be used for services on the reopened line from Blethcley to Claydon L & NE junction ( towards oxford). Now that line wont reopen anytime soon!

I also cant see any trains running through from Bedford for sometime either. I wonder if a path can be found. I understand that the Southern services run in the path that the Martson Vale services would have to use.

So i think 2A at MKC will continue to be used by the southern terminators ( often the 1813) and as an LM termintor platform when there are problems. Further, i cant see a curve being built to avoid Bletchley. It is pointless, loses a source of income, and would mean LM would loose thier carriage sidings.

Now i wonder if a high level platform could be opened on the flyover so train could run from MKC to Oxford - lol

 

[Pumbaa]

There is room on the slows for the Bletchley to run, NR have identified it as possible. Off the top of my head 2A is used once a day by SN, the rest of the time it runs into P2. It's pretty much wasted.

 

[DarloRich]

There is room on the slows for the Bletchley to run, NR have identified it as possible. Off the top of my head 2A is used once a day by SN, the rest of the time it runs into P2. It's pretty much wasted.

just the 1813 that i can think of as a regular service but it is a useful bolt hole when things start to go wrong!

 

[Crossover]

I thought all the Southern terminators used the bay platform 2A? I've certainly see them run into there before, or have things changed in the last year or so?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....New stock is unlikely, LM said the 172s wouldn't be used on the Marston Vale line, despite I believe some 172s doing mileage accumulation through it.

Does that mean they are going to keep some 150s for it? I didn't think LM were to keep any??

 

[The Planner]

Now i wonder if a high level platform could be opened on the flyover so train could run from MKC to Oxford - lol

That was a serious proposal, I think it has been brushed under the carpet for the minute.

 

[DarloRich]

That was a serious proposal, I think it has been brushed under the carpet for the minute.

I heard that but assumed it was a joke! I thought i was being had by my collegues!

LM look like they want to keep some 150 for Marston Vale services

 

[Hydro]

2Q88 will be visiting 2A for a handy swift reversal today, just some random platform 2A trivia

 

[asylumxl]

2Q88 will be visiting 2A for a handy swift reversal today, just some random platform 2A trivia

What stock? Any times?

 

[Hydro]

2 x 37's plus 999508, due in at 1204.

 

[asylumxl]

2 x 37's plus 999508, due in at 1204.

Darn. Won't get there in time. Where's it heading after?

 

[Pumbaa]

I thought all the Southern terminators used the bay platform 2A? I've certainly see them run into there before, or have things changed in the last year or so?

I don't think they ever used the bay as the default platform. I've never seen them in it, but I know of the one working a day booked to use it.

 

[branchline]

I believe the plan is that trains will come into Bly from Bedford on platform 5 or 6. The driver will change ends and leave Bly around the back of the carriage sidings.

It will rejoin the main line via the arrival line on the up slow. It will continue on the U/S to Denbigh hall were it crosses to the D/S. There has been a signal and route indicator facing the wrong way on the U/S since 2A was put in at MKC.

 

[Hydro]

Darn. Won't get there in time. Where's it heading after?

Bletchley, round to Fenny Stratford to head back to Bedford and up the MML to Corby.

 

[cle]

Would there ever be merit in extending the Marston Vale service to Corby stopping at Wellingborough and Kettering? If the units could keep time and there were enough of them?

It could maybe replace off peak Corby services (connecting at Kettering should be enough), and speed up MML services as not every train would need to stop at every station due to there being a slow service. Probably couldn't be pathed though.

Maybe even run from MKC all the way to Nottingham via Melton? Now I'm getting carried away!

 

[quizeye]

Well, it came through Fenny at 11.11 heading for Bletchley. I might even try and get a photo on its way back...

 

[Hydro]

Bienvenue a Platform 2A....


The SN service is indeed sitting in 2.

edit: And the Pretendo just pulled in. It's rolling railway news!

 

[quizeye]

Approaching Fenny Level Crossing

Bit late on the shutter for this one...

 

[AlterEgo]

I don't think they ever used the bay as the default platform. I've never seen them in it, but I know of the one working a day booked to use it.

The SN trains generally have around 10-15 mins turnaround at MKC. Sometimes, in times of disruption, an 8-car LM Desiro will be in 2 and the SN train will have no choice but to wait in 2A.

It does happen, albeit not frequently!

 

[Pumbaa]

The SN trains generally have around 10-15 mins turnaround at MKC. Sometimes, in times of disruption, an 8-car LM Desiro will be in 2 and the SN train will have no choice but to wait in 2A.

It does happen, albeit not frequently!

True - but I've not been unlucky enough yet to witness that! The only time I've seen a LM berthed during disruption was a 12-car 350 in P5, which was meant to go onto to Northampton but crew problems meant it was caped.

 

[Rugd1022]

I believe the plan is that trains will come into Bly from Bedford on platform 5 or 6. The driver will change ends and leave Bly around the back of the carriage sidings.

It will rejoin the main line via the arrival line on the up slow. It will continue on the U/S to Denbigh hall were it crosses to the D/S. There has been a signal and route indicator facing the wrong way on the U/S since 2A was put in at MKC.

Not possible I'm afraid due to the track layout / signalling... to go 'round the back of the carriage sidings' would mean going through the Up Yard or Up Arrival which are not signalled for passenger working (not forgetting the hand operated points, a no-no with passenger trains), plus the driver would have to change ends twice more because there's no direct access from there to the Down Slow. To get from the yard to the Down Slow requires going forward into the headshunt, changing ends, going onto the Down Goods and change ends again before going out onto the Down Slow. A very tedious and time consuming move, I know, I've done it hundreds of times

 

[Pumbaa]

How not possible out of interest? Last February a 350 I was on broke down outside Bletchley. Following trains were diverted through Bletchley CS to rejoin the mainline at Bletchley itself. At least 3, possibly more, services were diverted this way.

 

[Rugd1022]

How not possible out of interest? Last February a 350 I was on broke down outside Bletchley. Following trains were diverted through Bletchley CS to rejoin the mainline at Bletchley itself. At least 3, possibly more, services were diverted this way.

Trains in the up direction can do it but going through the CS sounds a bit iffy to me as the exit signal is a ground position light and not a main aspect, plus there are hand points involved. Perhaps the 350s went via the Up Goods, which does have a main aspect signal at the station end...? The routing I described above through the yard contains hand points and ground position lights... it would need a lot of money to bring the layout up to spec for moving passenger trains out of the Cambridge platforms onto the Down Slow towards MKC

 

[Pumbaa]

Perhaps the 350s went via the Up Goods, which does have a main aspect signal at the station end...?

Possibly, they were a fair distance over the other side of the CS when they went past and then stopped at the end, then drew forward very slowly into the station.

 

[Rugd1022]

Possibly, they were a fair distance over the other side of the CS when they went past and then stopped at the end, then drew forward very slowly into the station.

The pointwork between the yard, CS and station is not at it's best so it's a slow crawl through

 

[Trog]

I have been on an in service passenger train that travelled, via the A line at Bletchley in the Up direction. But that is the only time I have ever seen it happen.