Proposing new rail services that currently do not exist!

[adrock1976]

If I was asked to choose one north-south axis and one west-east axis where direct trains do not presently exist, I would go for the below:

1) Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley - Bristol Temple Meads and Swansea/Abertawe via Preston, calling at Motherwell/Haymarket (Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively), Carlisle, Preston, Warrington Bank Quay, Hartford, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Abergavenny, maybe Cwmbran, then to Swansea calling Newport (Gwent), Cardiff Central, Bridgend/Pen-y-Bont, Port Talbot Parkway, Neath/Castell-nedd, and Swansea. To Bristol would call at Severn Tunnel Junction, Filton Abbey Wood, and Bristol TM.

2) Wigan Wallgate (or North Western) - Hull via Hebden Bridge calling at Hindley, Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria, Rochdale (for Metrolink), Hebden Bridge, Brighouse, Mirfield, Wakefield Kirkgate, Castleford, Selby, maybe Howden, Brough, and Hull.

With the Swansea and Bristol via Preston, as well as providing direct trains to and from points north of Preston to Wales and Bristol, this would also provide a direct train between Hartford and Warrington, and Shrewsbury and Hereford to Bristol.

The Wigan - Hull I had thought about starting from Kirkby, but I anticipate Kirkby-Wigan to eventually transfer to Merseyrail at some point in the future. This service would provide north Liverpool with one change to Hull more or less using ex Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway metals. Also, this avoids the congestion on the western approach to Leeds (already plenty of trains from Manchester via both Hebden Bridge and Huddersfield), and possibly in a good number of years reinstates a direct train between Manchester and Wakefield via Hebden Bridge, and also provides a direct train between Wakefield and Castleford to Selby and Hull.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

If the Ely - Peterborough line were to be electrified an idea I had was in peak hours to extend the London Kings Cross to Ely Services to Peterborough giving Manea, March and Whittelsea a direct London service.

The ultimate idea would be to reopen the Wisbech branch and electrify it as well meaning the xx12 London Kings Cross service could be permanently extended to Wisbech giving Wisbech, March and Manea a regular direct service to London.

 

[PR1Berske]

I've often thought about Preston-somewhere Welsh. It would need to be an extension and therefore timetable stretching service but as this is speculative....

Option A would see TfW Chester/N Wales services extended from WBQ. This could encourage investment to open new stations at Golbourne and Coppull. Put a calling stop for Euxton so people there have greater choice than they ever have.

Option B would see some kind of TfW service through mid-to-south Wales extended through Manchester, similar to the Swansea proposal above.

 

[Tobbes]

If the Ely - Peterborough line were to be electrified an idea I had was in peak hours to extend the London Kings Cross to Ely Services to Peterborough giving Manea, March and Whittelsea a direct London service.

The ultimate idea would be to reopen the Wisbech branch and electrify it as well meaning the xx12 London Kings Cross service could be permanently extended to Wisbech giving Wisbech, March and Manea a regular direct service to London.

Freight electrification Felixstowe-Nuneaton would allow this, and then infill electrification from Cambs-Newmarket-Junction would be much easier.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Freight electrification Felixstowe-Nuneaton would allow this, and then infill electrification from Cambs-Newmarket-Junction would be much easier.

I forgot about Freight electrification to Nuneaton. Hopefully this allows this to happen as it isn't creating a whole new service and would mean that March and Manea would have direct train services to London, which would be a great help to that area.

 

[Tobbes]

I forgot about Freight electrification to Nuneaton. Hopefully this allows this to happen as it isn't creating a whole new service and would mean that March and Manea would have direct train services to London, which would be a great help to that area.

I'm not sure if it is, though it was an aspiration. @Bald Rick will know.