Passing loop reinstated on East Suffolk line

[w0033944]

Apparently, today saw the opening (re-opening?) of the loop and second platform at Beccles:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/beccles_loop_opens_with_a_slight_delay_1_1737085

Beccles loop opens - with a slight delay

Two trains have passed for the first time on a new piece of track which is set to make a big difference to rail travel along the east coast.

There were celebrations at Beccles this morning as trains passed on the new Beccles loop, a 390-metre length of track that is enabling an hourly service to be provided between Ipswich and Lowestoft.

However the first added service was delayed by 10 minutes into Ipswich after two level crossings broke down.

A £4m project, which has been jointly funded by Network Rail and Suffolk County Council, has allowed for the track to be laid and the renovation of the disused second platform at Beccles station.

Before this train services between Ipswich and Lowestoft ran every two hours, as there is 16 miles of single track between Halesworth and Oulton Broad.

Guy McGregor, county councillor with responsibility for transport, said he was delighted the new loop had been completed, but the opening should only be seen as the start.

(read more)

 

[eastdyke]

Apparently, today saw the opening (re-opening?) of the loop and second platform at Beccles:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/beccles_loop_opens_with_a_slight_delay_1_1737085

Indeed. The first trains 'in service' to pass at the 'new' loop at around 10.25 this morning.

An important day for this local line that once saw expresses from Liverpool Street splt here with portions for Yarmouth (South Town) and Lowestoft.

The reinstated platform is on a curve of 371m radius for which a Derogation to GI/RT7016 was recently granted. A Derogation in respect of non-compliant recess beneath the platform was also granted.

It is to be hoped that the residents of Low Moor (Bradford) will be able to benefit from a derogation in respect of their replaced station on a much more gentle curve in due course.

 

[w0033944]

Indeed. The first trains 'in service' to pass at the 'new' loop at around 10.25 this morning.

An important day for this local line that once saw expresses from Liverpool Street splt here with portions for Yarmouth (South Town) and Lowestoft.

The reinstated platform is on a curve of 371m radius for which a Derogation to GI/RT7016 was recently granted. A Derogation in respect of non-compliant recess beneath the platform was also granted.

It is to be hoped that the residents of Low Moor (Bradford) will be able to benefit from a derogation in respect of their replaced station on a much more gentle curve in due course.

I'm not familiar with railway parlance to that extent - I presume what you're saying is that the radius of curve at the reinstated platform is sharper than the modern lower limit?

 

[DarloRich]

There are some pictures, not mine, here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnel_one/8262720664/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnel_one/8262745646/in/photostream

 

[eastdyke]

I'm not familiar with railway parlance to that extent - I presume what you're saying is that the radius of curve at the reinstated platform is sharper than the modern lower limit?

From GI/RT7016 (issue 4) Interface between Station Platforms,
Track and Trains:

...
Part 2 Location of new platforms
2.1 Horizontal track alignment through station platforms
2.1.1 Station platforms shall be located on straight track unless the particular geographical characteristics of the site and the characteristics of the railway infrastructure at the proposed location of the platform do not provide a reasonable opportunity for achieving this.
2.1.2 Station platforms shall not be located on horizontal curves with radii less than 1000 m. Before station platforms are located on curved track, consideration shall be given to the following:
a) Train to platform stepping distances, taking the types of train likely to call at the platform into account
b) Visibility (either direct, by means of CCTV screens, or by mirrors) along the length of trains for train crew and station staff responsible for dispatching trains.
...

I am not sure what you would call modern, the standard has not changed in respect of location of new platforms since before Feb 2004.

 

[w0033944]

From GI/RT7016 (issue 4) Interface between Station Platforms,
Track and Trains:


I am not sure what you would call modern, the standard has not changed in respect of location of new platforms since before Feb 2004.

Thanks - I should have said "current" rather than "modern" - as I said, I'm not involved in the industry so I'm not familiar with the documentation - sorry if this is annoying or frustrating.:roll:

 

[eastdyke]

Thanks - I should have said "current" rather than "modern" - as I said, I'm not involved in the industry so I'm not familiar with the documentation - sorry if this is annoying or frustrating.:roll:

No problem at all!! I do not work within the industry either but made it my business to find out about curved platforms because of what has recently been said about the proposed station at Low Moor (Bradford).

 

[w0033944]

No problem at all!! I do not work within the industry either but made it my business to find out about curved platforms because of what has recently been said about the proposed station at Low Moor (Bradford).

OK, thanks - I got the impression you were an industry insider and didn't think I should be poking around asking questions.

 

[eastdyke]

OK, thanks - I got the impression you were an industry insider and didn't think I should be poking around asking questions.

Not at all, and the more questions that we all ask the better.

Going to give Beccles / East Suffolk Line another look tomorrow, weather permitting.

 

[Gareth Marston]

That's a cunning trick you East Anglicans have pulled off - we have had a reinstated passing loop (Dyfi Jnc ) and double track (nr Welshpool) but no additional trains to run on them here in Mid Wales for a couple of years now.

 

[eastdyke]

That's a cunning trick you East Anglicans have pulled off - we have had a reinstated passing loop (Dyfi Jnc ) and double track (nr Welshpool) but no additional trains to run on them here in Mid Wales for a couple of years now.

It's taken a while, but yes there were some cunning aspects!

I am sure if you wait just a few more years then you might get that extra train.

And ah, some of us may be Anglicans, some may not.

 

[Bald Rick]

You need to thank National Express for this. They pushed through the change to the service spec with DfT as part of the amendments to the franchise that saw the 379s etc, plus the end of the through services Lowestoft - London (which released the units that enabled this to happen).

Network Rail and Suffolk CC paid for the loop, and doing it this year concurrent with the resignalling was a once in a generation chance.

A great example of the industry working together.