Waverley125
Member
Though it was somewhat buried under the news of her departure, Ruth Kelly promised a 'rolling program of electrification, the biggest electrification program in Britain ever'. Seeing as this program would have to total more route miles than the Southern Railway post-WW1 electrification, this could mean a significant amount of wires going up. So where should they go?
London Mainlines:
Midland Mainline: Serves central england including Derby, Leicester & Sheffield, as well as providing alternative route to Leeds & Manchester. However, new 222 Meridians are newest long-distance trains in service. But, as members of the Voyager family, they could be redeployed onto cross country routes. Overbridge at Nottingham is too low for OHL, so would continue to require diesel services to London.
Great Western Mainline: Serves Bristol, the largest city in the Southwest, Cardiff and Swansea, the two largest cities in Wales. Currently the biggest home to HSTs in Britain, as these operate all long-distance services. However, line south of Exeter could not be electrified with conventional OHL due to weather on South Devon Banks, and OHL to exeter would be futile due to all trains continuing to Plymouth, Newquay or Penzance.
Branching off Mainlines:
Grantham-Nottingham: FCC trains currently terminate at Peterborough due to NXEC not wanting competition northwards from here. However, The MML timing from Nottingham-London is 2h20, compared to a potential timing via the ECML of less than 2 hours. Filling in the gap between Grantham & Nottingham would allow FCC to serve Nottingham & provide Grantham with a much better service to London.
Peterborough-Lincoln: Currently one of the worst served lines in Britain, it provides a route to Lincoln without using the crowded ECML, as well as serving towns at Spalding & Sleaford. Would allow FCC trains to be extended, alternating with Nottingham to provide an hourly service. Would also remove the onus on NXEC to provide this service.
Leeds-York via Harrogate: Would rejuvenate the Harrogate line, allowing a similar programme of improvements the Airedale & Wharfedale lines enjoyed. Would also allow NXEC to run more services to Harrogate, providing a turnback for services to Leeds from York.
Cross Country Lines
Ely-Birmingham: Would connect all 4 northbound main lines in england, as well as linking Felixstowe-WCML under wires. Would also encourage a better service on the Peterborough-Birmingham lines, allowing class 357 electrostars to be brought in, doubling train lengths & reducing journey times. Further diversionary route off ECML, and allow special trains to Stamford during the summer.
Liverpool Lime Street-Scarborough: Would allow 185s on TPEs (who have been a victim of their own success) to move onto other routes with fewer demands, and bring in extended, electrified version of the same, preferably 6 car, with full cafe facilities.
Leeds-Hull via Selby: See above, for TPE hull services
Doncaster-Hull: Allows pioneers to be redistributed onto cross country services, with NXEC bringing in more hull services & HT using electric sets e.g. 90s & Mark 3s to increase capacity.
any more suggestions?
London Mainlines:
Midland Mainline: Serves central england including Derby, Leicester & Sheffield, as well as providing alternative route to Leeds & Manchester. However, new 222 Meridians are newest long-distance trains in service. But, as members of the Voyager family, they could be redeployed onto cross country routes. Overbridge at Nottingham is too low for OHL, so would continue to require diesel services to London.
Great Western Mainline: Serves Bristol, the largest city in the Southwest, Cardiff and Swansea, the two largest cities in Wales. Currently the biggest home to HSTs in Britain, as these operate all long-distance services. However, line south of Exeter could not be electrified with conventional OHL due to weather on South Devon Banks, and OHL to exeter would be futile due to all trains continuing to Plymouth, Newquay or Penzance.
Branching off Mainlines:
Grantham-Nottingham: FCC trains currently terminate at Peterborough due to NXEC not wanting competition northwards from here. However, The MML timing from Nottingham-London is 2h20, compared to a potential timing via the ECML of less than 2 hours. Filling in the gap between Grantham & Nottingham would allow FCC to serve Nottingham & provide Grantham with a much better service to London.
Peterborough-Lincoln: Currently one of the worst served lines in Britain, it provides a route to Lincoln without using the crowded ECML, as well as serving towns at Spalding & Sleaford. Would allow FCC trains to be extended, alternating with Nottingham to provide an hourly service. Would also remove the onus on NXEC to provide this service.
Leeds-York via Harrogate: Would rejuvenate the Harrogate line, allowing a similar programme of improvements the Airedale & Wharfedale lines enjoyed. Would also allow NXEC to run more services to Harrogate, providing a turnback for services to Leeds from York.
Cross Country Lines
Ely-Birmingham: Would connect all 4 northbound main lines in england, as well as linking Felixstowe-WCML under wires. Would also encourage a better service on the Peterborough-Birmingham lines, allowing class 357 electrostars to be brought in, doubling train lengths & reducing journey times. Further diversionary route off ECML, and allow special trains to Stamford during the summer.
Liverpool Lime Street-Scarborough: Would allow 185s on TPEs (who have been a victim of their own success) to move onto other routes with fewer demands, and bring in extended, electrified version of the same, preferably 6 car, with full cafe facilities.
Leeds-Hull via Selby: See above, for TPE hull services
Doncaster-Hull: Allows pioneers to be redistributed onto cross country services, with NXEC bringing in more hull services & HT using electric sets e.g. 90s & Mark 3s to increase capacity.
any more suggestions?
