Routes that should be re-opened

[Kris]

i agree with 87015 i would like to see the bletchley - oxford line reopen, only last year they reopened the flyover and branch to fenny stratford, only for freight but its a start, part off the reason for the new bay at mk is for this if it ever happens, plus i iirc it could be used by freight as a short cut to get down towards soton quicker, reliving the lines around london.

You should put that forward to Freightliner - might give it the momentum to get something done. May also be an option for the bigger containers and suitable routes which they are looking into.

 

[paul1609]

I'd guess that reopening wouldnt be that cheap. I'd guess by now youd be talking about a full rebuild of the foundation and relay of the track. Miliions of Pounds. This is the condition of the track;
http://disused-rlys.fotopic.net/p27098020.html

 

[Kris]

Ooh. Bugger! Doesn't look that bad on Google Earth.

 

[Coxster]

This is the condition of the track;
http://disused-rlys.fotopic.net/p27098020.html

Come on Paul, man - we've both seen much worse! You know exactly what I mean Shame a certain member of the Fareham track gang isn't on here anymore...

 

[16CSVT2700]

Oxford-Bletchley and the Great Central London Extension.

Demolish the Victoria shopping centre in Nottingham and rebuild Notts Victoria!
And I don't care what my lady friends say!

 

[Techniquest]

Out of every line there is, I'd vote for New Radnor - Leominster, what with it being my local line. 52 years since the last train this way, which is a great shame. Would be nice to travel to work on a train (even if it was a 153) than a bus! Obviously though, services would have to run onwards to Hereford to really give the bus operators a run for their money. Could still be done inside 40 minutes, saving an absolute minimum of 20 minutes (40 or possibly even more on the commuter runs) on Kington - Hereford.

Never going to happen though. I can always dream...

More realistically in terms of line openings, I'd certainly like to see Oxford - Bletchley re-opened. Do it right and offer decent connections and you could really alter some of the markets out there. Would certainly be easier from places near here to get to that area of the country! Only options currently involve going up north to Birmingham then off on Virgin or CT/SL for Bletchley, or go via London. For Bedford, you're looking at going up to Birmingham still, CT to Leicester and MML south to Bedford. Or you could go via London. In both cases, this route would eliminate any need for such journeys to go via London, taking some congestion away. Mind, there are not many direct trains from Hereford to Oxford (and those that are there are extremely unreliable), so even then a journey via Newport and London is still appealing.

Most useful 're-opening' to me would be the re-instatement of the double-track sections between Shelwick Junction and Malvern Wells, Norton Junction and Moreton-in-Marsh and Ascott-under-Wychwood and Wolvercot Junction. This would enable services to run much, much more reliably and would open the market for enhanced services on this route (which are well deserved for what is, in all essence, an InterCity route but never treated as one, only as a back-water).

Still, that will never happen either. Why? Because it's not in London, it's not in Wales and it's not in Scotland. If it fell under any of those areas, it would have been done years ago. But no. We will forever be cursed with a most useless InterCity route, with a more-than-useless InterCity service that's so unreliable you just don't go that way or you jump in the car instead.

 

[Crompton Karl]

If it was ever possible i'd like to see the Lincolnshire coast route through Mablethorpe re-open. Such a shame that such a big county lost this route. if you wanna go from Boston or Skeggy to Grimsby its a very long way round.

Karl

 

[Kris]

The £200 million Milton Keynes and Bletchley project will increase capacity and improve rail links into the growing town. The planned improvements include a third fast line and platform, which will enable consecutive trains to call at Milton Keynes during peak times with reduced effect on line capacity, a new platform capable of handling future services to and from Bedford and
possibly, in the future, trains from Oxford or Aylesbury and improved reversing facilities for slow line trains.

Railway Herald 20th April

 

[Nick W]

The £200 million Milton Keynes and Bletchley project will increase capacity and improve rail links into the growing town. The planned improvements include a third fast line and platform, which will enable consecutive trains to call at Milton Keynes during peak times with reduced effect on line capacity, a new platform capable of handling future services to and from Bedford and
possibly, in the future, trains from Oxford or Aylesbury and improved reversing facilities for slow line trains.

Railway Herald 20th April

Am I misunderstanding it or isn't it a third up and down slow line on the east side that would be most useful for trains from oxford or aylesbury?

 

[Mojo]

The problem I see with option B, wouldn't that mean there would be no trains Aylesbury - MK, which is really what's needed?

Also, does anyone know about the plans to build a platform somewhere at Bletchley to allow any possible services from the line from Winslow to call there?

I also remember some plans from Chiltern Railways a few years ago, which suggested a cheaper option, building a chord between the Chiltern Line and the line which leads to Bicester Town, to enable some direct services to Oxford.

It's a shame though it won't be any easier to do Aylesbury to Oxford.

 

[class 313]

St Albans Abbey - Hatfield...

But also, not strictly a "Re-open" but new line...

Watford - St Albans city via Radlett with the new Freight site put in place.

 

[DescendingSadly]

St Albans Abbey - Hatfield...

But also, not strictly a "Re-open" but new line...

Watford - St Albans city via Radlett with the new Freight site put in place.

Do you not think London has enough railways?!

 

[yorkie]

Do you not think London has enough railways?!

Watford and St Albans are not in London.

I would like to suggest Hull to York via Beverley (but maybe Leeds has too many railways? ) but this has been discussed before at http://railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11605

 

[westcoaster]

Also, does anyone know about the plans to build a platform somewhere at Bletchley to allow any possible services from the line from Winslow to call there?

prep work is and has been under way for a platform to be built on the flyover with a bridge to come down to platform 1 (df line), this means 1 line to be taken up , and the other made bi-directional.

 

[The Snap]

Not so much a line, but I'd love to see Droylsden station re-built. It was demolished years ago, and now there are no stops between Ashton and Manchester Victoria, meaning the line passes through several towns without even stopping!

The re-opening of the station would take pressure off the roads for sure, and would also mean people could get into town or to Ashton much, much easier!

It was suggested it was re-opened instead of doing the Metrolink extension, but I think that's gone down the s***ter.

 

[WessexWarrior]

Anyone strongly opposed to reinstating the Somerset & Dorset line?

 

[paul1609]

Oxford - Bletchley is pencilled in for re-opening (awaiting funding).

The study report, which concludes it has a positive business case is here

http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/downloads/Atkins_east_west_transport_links_report_Mar06.pdf

The more interesting report discussing the options for track plans and train services is here

http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/reports/documents/GRIPStage2Report.pdf

“Option A” – Base Case plus 2tph Aylesbury to Milton Keynes (Cost: Base Case +£64m)

double track from Aylesbury to Calvert South
double track from Verney Junction to Swanbourne
double track from Summit Junction to Denbigh Hall South Junction
single track elsewhere

“Option B” – Base Case plus 2tph Aylesbury to Bedford (Cost: Base Case +£64m)

same infrastructure requirements as for Option A
Hybrid “Option C” – Amended option A service pattern (Cost: Base Cost +£64m)
same infrastructure requirements as for Option A
W10 Gauge Freight Enhancement- (Cost: Base Case +£152m)
provides of 1 freight train per hour in addition to the “Base Case” option.
extra track Denbigh Hall South Junction - Milton Keynes Central.
double track throughout core East West Rail route, except through Wolvercot Tunnel where single track is retained.

100mph Inter-regional Cross Country - (Cost: Base Case +£98m)

reinstate chord at Bletchley to connect into WCML Down Fast line.
double track throughout core East West Rail route.
requires further timetabling work to prove suitable paths can be established.

The great central (including woodhead) has several re-opening schemes including here

http://www.central-railway.co.uk/

and here

http://www.translinkuk.com/index.html

and has been discussed several times with several TOC, including Chiltern and Arriva.

Whilst i dont wish to be seen as negative there seems to me to be a huge difference between the cost quoted in these reports and similar projects that are happening elsewhere on network rail.

dial in the network rail costs and none of these re openings makes any sense whatsoever.

 

[Kris]

Previously mentioned elsewhere is that builders of housing estates adjacent to lines that could be re-opened could be asked to put 10% on the pice of each house to aid towards re-building.

As for freight diversions - this is cost effective as it clears pathways for other trains.

 

[Western Dreamer]

A SW point of view:

As a preservation line:
1) Helston-Gwinear Road branch - my local disused line and one which is currently the subject of a preservation project. Fingers crossed because it would make a great heritage line
2) Wadebridge-Bodmin 3rd oldest line in the world & Cornwall's first railway.

As a 'regular' line:
Okehampton-Bere Alston , thus restoring the LSWR main line between Plymouth & Exeter, with a branch to Launceston.

 

[Craig]

Rebuilding the link between the Tyne Valley and Low Fell (shown on this map - left hand side of the triangle) would be very useful for freight trains into Tyne Yard, as they wouldn't have to block the ECML. Also anything from the Sunderland direction into Tyne (i.e. the oil trains to/from Jarrow) would avoid the ECML completely.

Bensham station should also be rebuild with all ECML trains stopping there (it's just across the road from my house ).

 

[eezypeazy]

Craig,

Did you mean the RIGHT hand side of the SMALL triangle... ie., from just above HOSPL , over Lobley Hill Road to join the Tyne Valley line, facing east, just west of Bensham?

Agreed - a relatively short bit of line, just one bridge to maintain, and Tyne Yard to Jarrow/Sunderland avoiding ECML.... very sensible...


eezypeazy

 

[Craig]

Craig,

Did you mean the RIGHT hand side of the SMALL triangle... ie., from just above HOSPL , over Lobley Hill Road to join the Tyne Valley line, facing east, just west of Bensham?

Yep, that's the one. I meant to the left of the larger (Tyne Valley/ECML) triangle.

Agreed - a relatively short bit of line, just one bridge to maintain, and Tyne Yard to Jarrow/Sunderland avoiding ECML.... very sensible...

Also useful for freight from the north. They could come off the ECML at Heaton then go "round the back" at Newcastle and on to Tyne Yard. I'm not sure what state the bridge is in, it looks alright though.

Any idea when the track was lifted?

 

[eezypeazy]

I'd guess that the track was lifted as part of a rationalisation when the ECML and the line to the Royal Mail Sorting Office were electrified....

Is there enough clearance in Bensham tunnels to permit this route to be electrified? Is there any/enough electric frieght on ECML to justify this?

eezypeazy

 

[andersley]

Spalding-March. This is the missing link on the 'Joint' which would be an excellent diversionary route for ECML freights.

 

[Craig]

I'd guess that the track was lifted as part of a rationalisation when the ECML and the line to the Royal Mail Sorting Office were electrified....

Is there enough clearance in Bensham tunnels to permit this route to be electrified? Is there any/enough electric frieght on ECML to justify this?

eezypeazy

It's a shame I'm not quite old enough, to remember the ECML rationalisation properly. Not sure about clearance in the tunnels, but there's not much electric freight traffic anyway. Just a couple of intermodels/car trains to Scotland and the odd diverted Freightliner.

The line could also be electrified to the Metro Centre (or even Blaydon if a crossover was built) if Northern could acquire a few EMU's to run up to Morpeth or somewhere.

 

[andersley]

Trouble is there is now a high security prison and Network Rail yard on the Whitemoor end, and a large house across the track as it exits Spalding.

I bet they wished it had been mothballed, instead of ripped up!

 

[Mojo]

When many lines were closed down, especially those around Beeching, they purposely sold off the land. The cynics amongst us said this was the case to stop any future re-opening which would show such a closure wouldn't have been necessary.

When the line from Taunton - Minehead was closed, BR was quite clear that it shouldn't be sold to the preservation group. At the time they felt that it wasn't just a group of men 'playing trains,' but an attempt to run a train service proper. There were also issues with bus services & the unions.

 

[Nick W]

Yes some land was purposely sold off, however a lot remains and few people know we are still paying for upkeep of land, viaducts and tunnels - all 4000 of them even after they have long stopped carrying freight and passengers.

http://www.brb.gov.uk/

But not the GCR one in rugby

The Conservatives have already said capacity must be boosted on the busiest commuter routes - but from within the existing budget.

All talk, no do...

To be fair, I'd rather see the current lines done up before we introduce new lines.

 

[devon_metro]

I propose a Hitchin flyover...!

 

[paul1609]

Whilst a flyover at Hitchin would probably be good from an operations point of view the fact is that both the ECML and WCML are lightly used lines in the context of the lines South of London. If you reduced max speed to 100 mph on the ECML south of Peterborough you would make available another 6 paths an hour at the cost of a few minutes delay for intercity trains.

To my mind Thameslink 200x should have priority over all of Transport 2000s plans