New Stations/Re-Openings

[Badger]

South Staffordshire Line

Reasons:

1. A station at Dudley, where Dudley is the second largest town in England (largest without a railway station) at 195,000 people, with an application next year for city status.
2. Room for a small stop at the Black Country Living Museum, visited by 25,000 people a month.
3. Round Oak, located in Merry Hill's Waterfront (one of the UK's largest shopping centres and business centres).
4. The entire line is dug up but clutter free - the whole corridor remains unused.

(Lichfield, Brownhills,) Walsall, Wednesbury (metro), Great Bridge, Dudley Port, Dudley, Round Oak, Stourbridge Jnc. (Main stops).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Staffordshire_Line


Just stations? It's too late now but when the Wolverhampton to Walsall line Willenhall Bilston Street should have been included, the line may have been profitable then.

The proposed Brinsford Parkway should be moved a mile or so south to the business park below the M54 as then it would be in the centro boundaries. :roll:

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Is that ever likely to happen though? How many people travel along that corridor these days? Certainly the north end of the South Staffs where people tend to flow into Birmingham or Wolverhampton for work and shopping. I can see a case for Stourbridge to Dudley via Merry Hill though, especially if those trains could carry on into Wolverhampton.

 

[Badger]

Well, making it a branch line starting on the Stour Valley line would be better as then it could go from Wolverhampton or Birmingham; unfortunately somebody did build houses on top of the spurs for that...

 

[Ivo]

Can I propose the Flitch route west of Braintree? The vast majority of the trackbed still exists as the Flitch Way, and you could have stops at Rayne, Great Dunmow and Takeley, before diverting north from the old route to Stansted Airport to allow the through service the station was designed for. However, serving Takeley and Stansted would be rather indirect, Rayne is fairly small, and Great Dunmow has been built over!

Instead, I would suggest running on the old route as far as the east of Great Dunmow, and then passing the town to the east (with a station close to the old one at Dunmow Park). Then route could then keep heading north until clear of the town, and then a fairly seamless run to Stansted Airport, diving for the station roughly half a mile north of the current one (close to Molehill Green).

 

[Class172]

Regarding the three topmost posts on this page, a thread here is already open on this subject.

 

[Grimsby town]

Doubt it would happen now but the Grimsby to Louth line really should be reopened. The old alignment has been built on with houses and the a16 upto Holten-le-clay but a new alignment leaving the line at Great Coates and running around Grimsby and rejoining the old alignment south of Holten-le-clay.
Stations would be at:
Laceby(population 2000)
Waltham (population 6000)
Holten-le-clay(population 4000)
North Thoresby (population 1000)
Fulstow and ludborough
Fotherby
Louth (population 17000)

 

[Crossover]

One place I think an opportunity was missed was when the White Rose Shopping Centre was built in Leeds nearly 15 years ago as the Leeds - Huddersfield line runs within metres of the centre.

I doubt it would be high candidate for a station for many reasons now (clearances for putting platforms, the height of the bank being almost above the centre itself and the fact there are already 2 stations fairly close (in rail miles) either side - Morley and Cottingley - etc) but had it been done, it may have helped the complete crush of cars that happens on the approach to Christmas and such where people park wherever they can squeeze a vehicle. Maybe this, though, is a more recent thing as I don't recall it being so busy with cars when it opened.

 

[Nym]

If they built somthing at White Rose it would also serve as a nice park and ride with all of the local roads that run into the A650 junction on the M62, it could be a rather handy local railhead for P&R services.

Could be somthing to do while the line would be closed for electrification anyway?

 

[Crossover]

If they built somthing at White Rose it would also serve as a nice park and ride with all of the local roads that run into the A650 junction on the M62, it could be a rather handy local railhead for P&R services.

Could be somthing to do while the line would be closed for electrification anyway?

Glad to see it isn't just me who sees the potential there

Quite possibly although, as I see it, electrification of this line is a bit off yet so could be a while if that's the case! If that were the case though then the proximity to Morley and Cottingley may not be too much of an issue. A Pacer would pretty much limp from station to station whereas an electric probably wouldn't so much

 

[Nym]

Glad to see it isn't just me who sees the potential there

Quite possibly although, as I see it, electrification of this line is a bit off yet so could be a while if that's the case! If that were the case though then the proximity to Morley and Cottingley may not be too much of an issue. A Pacer would pretty much limp from station to station whereas an electric probably wouldn't so much

Personally if it where to be a P&R, I would build a massive car park to the SW of the White Rose, in the two feilds, and the station adjacent to that, or even, getting really radical here, one on the Wakfeild line aswell. Next to the S Leeds Golf club, accessed by a flyover from the SW side of White Rose, approaches off the 1st roundabout on the southern orbital of the centre. And a shuttle bus running between stations and car parks.

Although if the idea was to provide only a park and ride, I'd be looking at a station around Tingley Common, re-building the branch from the Wakefeild Line, with access from the A650 between Tingley and Bradford, in the same kind of location as Carcraft and the Village Hotel. It would then give exiting traffic to the West a nice short route to the M62W as would be needed since that would be one of the major routes used.

But to get max benifit, it could do with being next to the White Rose.

And if we're also at it, could we grade seperate access in and out of the P&R to the M62 at Tingley and Grade Seperate the junction with the B6123 Wide Ln, as this tends to screw traffic in and out.

 

[Mattmatt]

For me my rail re-opening would be the Stratford upon-Avon to Honeybourne line. A line closed by BR in 1976.

It was touted for many a news report that many would like to see this line re-opened. I do believe the NR added it to one of their wish lists some time ago.

There is now a group backed by Stratford District Council & Warwickshire CC about providing a feasibility study.

Having grown up in the area; I can see the massive benefits it would bring to the town. There is only one thing preventing the re-instatement, a road! built in the 90's over 1/2 of the trackbed. However; even with huge re-engineering of the road and trackbed, Cut and cover is mentioned in the report; it would make Stratford a through line once again; whilst also providing some excellent links to the south of the area.

Their campaign can be found at:

www.shakespearline.com

 

[GingerSte]

I would agree with the concept of a station at the White Rose Centre (I know it well - my sister practically has her own car parking bay there). However, I think there is only one local stopping service an hour on that line (Leeds - Huddersfield). If White Rose is to be served, then you would want at least 3 or 4 trains per hour stopping there. I imagine that these would be difficult to fit in (adding extra stops to Transpennine services costs time).

I heard that in the long term, NR had plans to 4-track at least some of the Transpennine route. Perhaps the West Yorkshire section, at least from Huddersfield to Leeds might be a good option. This would then allow a frequent stopping service, and allow the Transpennine lot to speed through unimpeded. If this were to happen then I could see a case for a station. You could alternate between Leeds-Huddersfield and Leeds-Brighouse-Halifax trains.

I would add in this context that a new station at Elland (population: 14,500) would fit in with this plan.

If White Rose did gain a station, and they also made some of their car parks double-deck or multi-storey, then they might be able to justify expanding the centre with more space to let out. I wonder if a positive business case could be made for this with Section 106 contributions.

 

[Nick Deltic]

I would like to see these lines reopened of Leamside Line between Tursdale (Ferryhill) Jct. to Pelaw Jct.

 

[bluenoxid]

Personally if it where to be a P&R, I would build a massive car park to the SW of the White Rose, in the two feilds, and the station adjacent to that, or even, getting really radical here, one on the Wakfeild line aswell. Next to the S Leeds Golf club, accessed by a flyover from the SW side of White Rose, approaches off the 1st roundabout on the southern orbital of the centre. And a shuttle bus running between stations and car parks.

Although if the idea was to provide only a park and ride, I'd be looking at a station around Tingley Common, re-building the branch from the Wakefeild Line, with access from the A650 between Tingley and Bradford, in the same kind of location as Carcraft and the Village Hotel. It would then give exiting traffic to the West a nice short route to the M62W as would be needed since that would be one of the major routes used.

But to get max benifit, it could do with being next to the White Rose.

And if we're also at it, could we grade seperate access in and out of the P&R to the M62 at Tingley and Grade Seperate the junction with the B6123 Wide Ln, as this tends to screw traffic in and out.

I do not know if any of you have tried using the roads round this area but it is gridlock and I do not think that the roads and M62 junction could cope with a significant increase in traffic to access the White Rose campus. I would be looking at putting a link from the Wakefield line to the Huddersfield line to create a loop. Trains could runa loop from a proposed park and ride east of Leeds through to Cottingley and round to the Wakefield line. Both of the lines are actually quiet with only 6 or 7 trains per hour.

To upgrade Junction 28, I would create a right turn across the roundabout to access the M62 westbound using the A650 eastbound to protect it. There is also a rounabout that slows the lot down and the car park/white rose access would need a flying junction. I would also like to see them introduce a flat parking and ticket charge based on the vehicle and not the people, to encourage use of transport.

 

[Nym]

I do not know if any of you have tried using the roads round this area but it is gridlock and I do not think that the roads and M62 junction could cope with a significant increase in traffic to access the White Rose campus. I would be looking at putting a link from the Wakefield line to the Huddersfield line to create a loop. Trains could runa loop from a proposed park and ride east of Leeds through to Cottingley and round to the Wakefield line. Both of the lines are actually quiet with only 6 or 7 trains per hour.

To upgrade Junction 28, I would create a right turn across the roundabout to access the M62 westbound using the A650 eastbound to protect it. There is also a rounabout that slows the lot down and the car park/white rose access would need a flying junction. I would also like to see them introduce a flat parking and ticket charge based on the vehicle and not the people, to encourage use of transport.

Plenty.... it was on my route home every day for the last 3 months...

If full grade separation where provided to White Rose it should be enough, but like I said, it would possibly be a struggle to justify a station ONLY for a P&R or ONLY for white rose.

Thanks to the proximity of Tingley, the M621 and Lofthouse interchanges, and the viaducts in the area on the M62, there isn't much more can be done to improve the junction at Tingley, any further improvments, such as a free flow route from Leeds RR A653 SB to M62WB combination would be in the reigon of £60mil for the flyover. It would also put the merges dangerously close to the A62/M621 Junction, even with Active Traffic Management it would need the M62 widening to D4M (Was planned, got scrapped).

It would depend on how much provision of P&R was to be made, if there where many smaller ones it would end up with a situation like York where the're closed due to lack of intrest.

If Leeds had two or three MASSIVE P&Rs served by rail, namely at somwhere like White Rose (served by both the Wakefeild and Huddersfeild lines), combined with junction improvments on the Leeds RR to make it all Grade Seperated between the M62 and P&R site, with free parking provided for rail users and a decent link between the Huddersfeild and Wakefelid line stations, with them both treated by NR as the same station. That would cover the catchment from the South (M1), West (M62), South East (A650) etc etc. Provided that improvments to the road network are provided.

From the other directions it would need to be looking at some of these locations:

Glasshaughton (M62, Castleford) (Station is already there, just need a big car park & some new signs)
Stourton (For the M1)
Brown Moor (Leeds E Parkway)

And possibly but it would need a line re-opening...

Weatherby Racecourse... (Add a station in Weatherby and lines to Harrogate and Leeds)

 

[GingerSte]

I think a spur from the Wakefield line or a link bridge (in the Meadowhall style) to the WR centre may prove a bit too expensive to justify. It has to be said that this would really only benefit passengers from Wakefield, as Leeds would only have a connection via the Leeds-Huddersfield line (assuming this gets built anyway).

A cheaper alternative would be to provide a new Leeds-Wakefield Westgate service via Dewsbury (with a turnback at either Ravensthorpe, Mirfield or Huddersfield). This would be also provide Dewsbury, Morley and Batley with direct trains to Wakey, in the same manner that Huddersfield, Halifax and Brighouse currently benefit from the Grand Tour. This would also have lower financial risk, as a poorly-performing service could be cut, but a link would still have to be paid for.

I would also mention that White Rose is also served by a number of bus routes. This would make the station into something of an interchange, and possibly increasing the potential usage.

<Edited to add> New / reopened stationa at Horbury Bridge and Wakefield Ings Road could also be served by the "Mini Tour" mentioned above.

 

[Nym]

The idea of providing platforms on the Wakfeild Line would be being able to provide the P&R with 6tph with less getting in the way on each of the lines.

 

[charlee]

What happened to the Portishead reopening?

How did the trail in September do?

 

[anthony263]

What happened to the Portishead reopening?

How did the trail in September do?

I too am wondering about that. It has gone quiet.

 

[bluenoxid]

The idea of providing platforms on the Wakfeild Line would be being able to provide the P&R with 6tph with less getting in the way on each of the lines.

Considering that the trains on the Huddersfield line are already rammed, is trying to pile any more people on to those services a good idea?

By creating a park and ride shuttle, you can run longer trains on very short routes. The other benefit of using the Wakefield line is that London trains can be stopped at the station.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Plenty.... it was on my route home every day for the last 3 months...

If full grade separation where provided to White Rose it should be enough, but like I said, it would possibly be a struggle to justify a station ONLY for a P&R or ONLY for white rose.

Thanks to the proximity of Tingley, the M621 and Lofthouse interchanges, and the viaducts in the area on the M62, there isn't much more can be done to improve the junction at Tingley, any further improvments, such as a free flow route from Leeds RR A653 SB to M62WB combination would be in the reigon of £60mil for the flyover. It would also put the merges dangerously close to the A62/M621 Junction, even with Active Traffic Management it would need the M62 widening to D4M (Was planned, got scrapped).

That's good. It is scary the number of people who suggest filling up jammed roads. I would not suggest a free flow flyover due to the sheer expense but a right turn across the roundabout to the slip road (ala Junction 27 of the M62).

 

[Nym]

Errrr, this is the junction you speak of, where would you put the extra movment on the M62 junction? There isn't any space for it.

Also, reading up will show that I would be looking to complete these works during electrification, and in combination, add more tph stoppers to the route, although we're looking at 6tph fast soon one hopes...

The only cut roundabouts I know of are at M62 Tingley and M11 Stanstead...

The M62 at Junc 27 is the M621 / A62 / A650 / B6135 all collide, badly!

 

[Class172]

The only cut roundabouts I know of are at M62 Tingley and M11 Stanstead...

The M62 at Junc 27 is the M621 / A62 / A650 / B6135 all collide, badly!

M62 J27 is horrendous, as is the M62/M606 interchange.

 

[Nym]

Before we all mention bad junctions, I'll refer the honorable readers to:

http://www.cbrd.co.uk/badjunctions/

 

[Class172]

Before we all mention bad junctions, I'll refer the honorable readers to:

http://www.cbrd.co.uk/badjunctions/

Read it already, I often visit that website.

 

[PinzaC55]

Not only that but it would do wonders for the A road's leading into York from the area if there was a rail commute option. Shocking that the line was closed in the first place, one of the closures that Beeching got really really wrong.

There was a meeting in Stamford Bridge recently about possible reopening of the line and apparently a number of people opposed it. It is claimed that restoring it "as was" would mean the demolition of 200 houses and a diversion would entail and new viaduct.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/archive/...363400.Stamford_Bridge_railway_line_concerns/

 

[Waverley125]

I'd support WRC on the Huddersfield line if this was done as part of TPE wiring, along with longer trains (as has been said, they're already rammed.)

A new station at Low Wortley, and, on the Wakefield Line, at Elland Road and Beeston (the one mentioned across from the WRC) would both be good ideas.

 

[Badger]

Some thinking today.

Codsall and Bilbrook both have railway stations. In reality Codsall and Bilbrook are nowadays one settlement with 5,000 people. (Even Google Maps gets confused and just bangs the word "Codsall" in the middle)

They both have stations served by Birmingham to Shrewsbury, and Birmingham to Wales services...

Some facts:

- Bilbrook originally opened only as a halt.
- Platforms are too short for the trains that stop there ("use first three carriages if... blah blah.)
- Bilbrook is unstaffed.

Codsall station, on the other hand, is the site of a listed GWR footbridge (destroyed in 2005; since restored) and a rather nice station building that is home to an award winning pub.

Anyway there's a point to this.

According to a Google Maps distance calculator, the two stations are 700 metres apart. In contrast, Codsall is about 3.5 miles from Albrighton, and Bilbrook about 3.6 miles from Wolverhampton.

Now I am going to suggest the inconceivable...

Close Bilbrook.

A walkway between the two stations would be better to allow a new station to be placed at Pendeford (the Dovecotes Estate, specifically, where there is a good site for it near to Aldersley High School).

Here's a map:

http://bb.ohsk.net/uploads/bilbrook.png

Despite two major train lines cutting through, there are no railway stations North/West of Wolverhampton Station in the Centro area.

The new station would be potentially walkable or at least cyclable from Tettenhall, Fordhouses, or Oxley.

 

[yorksrob]

There was a meeting in Stamford Bridge recently about possible reopening of the line and apparently a number of people opposed it. It is claimed that restoring it "as was" would mean the demolition of 200 houses and a diversion would entail and new viaduct.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/archive/...363400.Stamford_Bridge_railway_line_concerns/

My goodness, there really are some proper throwbacks posting on that article. I think the idea is to bypass the houses using the viaduct.

 

[PR1Berske]

Todmorden curve reopens - any station (re)opens as consequence?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I would have thought Portsmouth would be the only one to warrant it - AFAIK it is the largest station-less settlement on the Copy Pit line, and there was talk about a reopening years ago, but it never got anywhere near taking off. Having said all of that I would have thought it very unlikely. Towneley at Burnley I cannot see reopening.