Potential short line dualling

[Eagle]

Snow Hill to Moor Street AND to just after Bordseley (Just before the viaduct) OR Tyseley.

That's not single track...

 

[judethegreat]

Maybe means four-tracking?

 

[TSR :D]

That's not single track...

Oh? I thought single track means two tracks each with different directions? By the way, four tracks is still needed if Camp Hill and Sutton park line is to be opened.

 

[Eagle]

Oh? I thought single track means two tracks each with different directions? By the way, four tracks is still needed if Camp Hill and Sutton park line is to be opened.

No, single track means one track, hence why it's called single :P

 

[The Planner]

Oh? I thought single track means two tracks each with different directions? By the way, four tracks is still needed if Camp Hill and Sutton park line is to be opened.

Why ? you can stick plenty of trains along there as it is.

 

[philjo]

Ely North Junction - everything to/from 3 directions (Peterborough/Kings Lynn/Norwich) has to go over the same bit of track at the moment preventing a regular half hourly service for Kings Lynn.

 

[MrC]

Doesn't actually need it though; the current timetable works fine, and there's no need for more trains to Weymouth as it is...

And of course there's no scope for freight round Dorchester anyway.

Unfortunately I'd have to agree. Should never have been done in the first place but there's no real case for re-instatement.

There may be more of a case for dualling the short section of track in Weymouth station throat but that's probably marginal as well.

And of course there's no scope for freight round Dorchester anyway.

Well there's that new quarry at Woodsford which would be easy to run a line into......

 

[martinsh]

My votes are for Milverton to Gibbet Hill,.

Suspect a lot of people won't know where those places are !

 

[Eagle]

Suspect a lot of people won't know where those places are !

Coventry to Leamington, then :P I was being specific.

 

[dorsetman]

Doesn't actually need it though; the current timetable works fine, and there's no need for more trains to Weymouth as it is...

And of course there's no scope for freight round Dorchester anyway.



My votes are for Milverton to Gibbet Hill, and the Syston south to east curve.

Like many single sections, it works well until there are delays, then the problems are compounded.

 

[MK Tom]

Another vote for Coventry-Leamington.

Maybe not doubling but I think more loops could be useful along Shrewsbury-Machynlleth to allow an hourly service over that section. The crowding on ATW services I experienced yesterday when travelling in the Wrexham area was horrific.

 

[The Planner]

Another vote for Coventry-Leamington.

That is being looked at in part due to XC wanting both trains that way.

Maybe not doubling but I think more loops could be useful along Shrewsbury-Machynlleth to allow an hourly service over that section. The crowding on ATW services I experienced yesterday when travelling in the Wrexham area was horrific.

Long standing debate about that elsewhere on here, but there is enough there already to do it.

 

[Eagle]

That is being looked at in part due to XC wanting both trains that way.

Looked at by whom?

 

[The Planner]

Network Rail

 

[Anvil1984]

Poppleton - Hammerton, Cattal - Knaresborough on the Harrogate line, often mooted but never any firm plans

 

[LE Greys]

Ely North Junction - everything to/from 3 directions (Peterborough/Kings Lynn/Norwich) has to go over the same bit of track at the moment preventing a regular half hourly service for Kings Lynn.

Yes, that's an annoying section. Have you noticed how many of these were singled in the 60s/70s/80s?

Coventry to Leamington, then :P I was being specific.

One more vote for that.

 

[yorksrob]

A very interesting thread. I'm not sure very short sections of single track are too much of a problem. Tonbridge - Hastings has lots of these and manages a fairly intensive service.

I might, however redouble the section through Summerhill Tunnel, as a prelude to re-opening Tonbridge - Brighton via Uckfield as this would add quite a few trains to this section.

Also, I might extend the passing loop at Rye to Winchelsea to give trains a bigger window in which to pass. Might also allow two trains to be flushed through in quick succession if it were split into two sections.

 

[Andyjs247]

A very interesting thread. I'm not sure very short sections of single track are too much of a problem. Tonbridge - Hastings has lots of these and manages a fairly intensive service.

I might, however redouble the section through Summerhill Tunnel, as a prelude to re-opening Tonbridge - Brighton via Uckfield as this would add quite a few trains to this section.

Also, I might extend the passing loop at Rye to Winchelsea to give trains a bigger window in which to pass. Might also allow two trains to be flushed through in quick succession if it were split into two sections.

Not sure it would be possible to redouble through Summerhill Tunnel - wasn't this one of the narrow tunnels where the line was singled to allow standard stock to be used rather than just the narrow-bodied "Hastings" gauge Thumpers, "Slim Jim" class 33/2s and 73s?

That aside, another vote for Coventry-Leamington and also Ely North Junction both of which are intensively used.

 

[lancastrian]

My choices for redoubling would be the following lines:

1. South Fylde Line - Kirkham to Blackpool South
2. Bolton to Blackburn
3. Rose Grove to Colne (and reopened through to Skipton)
4. Wrexham to Chester
5. Preston to Ormskirk
6. Kirkby to Rainford
7. Mouldsworth to Mickle Trafford
8. Kettering to Corby
9. Coventry to Leamington
10. Hereford to Ledbury

Just a few to start with.

 

[swt_passenger]

Looked at by whom?

The scope of the job is in the NR CP5 enhancements projects list, in the long distance section:

Increase the capacity of the section of track between Milverton Junction and Kenilworth North Junction including the Kenilworth Loop by installing 7km of second track including structural works to embankments and cuttings to support the doubled section of route;
realignment of the existing single track to enable the second track to be installed on the adjacent formation;
a new S&C unit will be installed at Kenilworth;
a new bridge span is required over the A46 Trunk Road for the second track;
existing bridges will need strengthening, although this is subject to further detailed assessment during development, and parapet barrier improvements; signalling and power supplies will be installed on the new double track railway.

 

[Badger]

Not sure this is particularly to topic, but seems the best place to post this idea.

Both Carvers and the Peel Centre have burnt down and are being rebuilt in whatever form - this means there's opportunity to nab a bit of land and quad the Rug-Staff line between Wolverhampton station to the junction with the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line.

This way, instead of basically four tracks becoming two becoming four within half a mile, trains could just continue seamlessly not holding anything up.

This means the Shrewsbury stopper and Aberystwyth/Holyhead services wouldn't be holding up the WCML traffic.

If it wasn't for the unfortunate matter of being wedged between two listed buildings, the same could be done at the Southern end too, the junction is even closer there.

 

[The Planner]

Not a lot of point to be honest, the only thing that niggles Wolves is the EBW sitting in P2 for a while. It all works ok as it is to be fair.

 

[yorksrob]

Not sure it would be possible to redouble through Summerhill Tunnel - wasn't this one of the narrow tunnels where the line was singled to allow standard stock to be used rather than just the narrow-bodied "Hastings" gauge Thumpers, "Slim Jim" class 33/2s and 73s?

That aside, another vote for Coventry-Leamington and also Ely North Junction both of which are intensively used.

It was indeed, but as this section of line would be so busy (London-Tunbridge Wells terminators and potentially westbound services as well) I'd duplicate it.