Small-scale infrastructure projects with extensive benefits

[MidnightFlyer]

Thinking about what I said here in the Borders line reopening thread, it got me wondering of the potential benefits such a relatively small reopening could bring about.

In the example of reopening the old Carstairs curve, I found benefits to be a remodelled station area, closure of the old (slow!) curve, creating greater linespeeds, a simplified junction, more basic yet equally useful layout and faster journeys from Carlisle to Edinburgh.

Can anyone think of any more relatively small-scale new or reopened curves, loops etc that would open up a whole host of new options and benefits for such a small cost?

 

[Kettledrum]

One of the most significant I can think of is in respect of the two chords that could be built to connect the Camp Hill Line and the Tamworth line to Moor Street Station where there is platform space lying unused. The freight only Sutton Park line could also use these chords to create a third new commuter route into central Birmingham. All for building 2 short chords, re-opening closed stations on the 3 lines - and leasing the rolling stock of course.

The slow and full buses demonstrate that there is huge commuter demand and this can not be met at New Street because New Street station is full. With HS2 arriving next door to Moor Street, the relatively small amount of expenditure to re-open platform space at Moor Street, open up 3 new commuter passenger routes is a no brainer to me.

 

[tbtc]

The Holmes Chord at Rotherham is a frustrating one - single track bottleneck used by at least three trains an hour in each direction (the single track chord at Dore is at least being doubled sometime this decade...).

Hmm, a second platform at Dunbar station? Sorting out the platforms at Northallerton? Flat crossing at Newark?

(can't promise that these are "cheap", but they are minor things that cause disproportionate bottlenecks)

 

[jopsuk]

Dunbar really could do with being "sorted"- there's plenty of land for a two platform station with fast through lines

 

[HSTEd]

Two low level platforms at Northallerton on the freight avoiding lines, you can then remove the flat crossing north of the exising station. (That has to be causing problems with crossing movements).

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I strongly agree with a second platform at Dunbar.

Further north, a station at Inverness Airport has always seemed to be an easy interchange to provide.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Thought Holmes chord was due to be doubled soon?

 

[Class172]

Another vote for the Camp Hill chords from me. As well as adding plenty of opportunities for new services, it could also allow some existing services to be potentially transferred to Moor Street from New Street, allowing greater usable capacity.

 

[Pumbaa]

I strongly agree with a second platform at Dunbar.

Further north, a station at Inverness Airport has always seemed to be an easy interchange to provide.

Agree with Dunbar and Inv Airport.

I'd go for Edinburgh Airport station. It always seemed perverse to me that a station was never constructed despite the line passing the airfield. I know this forum seems to like removing airport links etc, but I subscribe to the European notion of connecting things up

 

[railjock]

Agree with Dunbar and Inv Airport.

I'd go for Edinburgh Airport station. It always seemed perverse to me that a station was never constructed despite the line passing the airfield. I know this forum seems to like removing airport links etc, but I subscribe to the European notion of connecting things up

Won't happen now that Gogar Interchange is being built. Connection will be from there to the airport by tram.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Agree with most mentioned to be honest. Particularly Newark, however the costs here would be fairly large!
I think some simple work around wakefield kirkgate could make some fairly big improvements. In terms of journey times and capacity. With work taking palce at Kirkgate i hope (maybe with Grand Centrals help) there might be a bit of a strong recovery over in this part of the world. I think freight may one day become an important part of this line.

 

[The Ham]

Another vote for the Camp Hill chords from me. As well as adding plenty of opportunities for new services, it could also allow some existing services to be potentially transferred to Moor Street from New Street, allowing greater usable capacity.

The Camp Hill Chords would be very useful as it would provide another section of Birmingham with a train service for very little cost. I would also suggest that it would be good to consider electrifying it at the same time, as although it would only electrify 1.5km of the line out of Moor Street it would mean that it would be one less section to do later when there were extra services running on it.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The chord that I would also suggest that was considered was to reinstate the Western half of Frimley Junction and provide a new chord under the main line to allow trains to run Farnborough to Frimley and back again without crossing on the flat.

This would enable a new service to run from Basingstoke to Ascot. Once Salisbury is electrified then this service could be extended to there and would provide relief to the services to London and provide a direct connection between the stations in North Hampshire without having to change trains at Basingstoke.

It could also run much more like a metro service enabling some additional stations to be provided which could relieve the pressure on some of the main line station car parks. As well as removing the need for people to change to a bus to get to their destination, and remove some the demand for better bus services to places which are currently poorly served by public transport.

 

[Robert Taggart]

One of the most significant I can think of is in respect of the... Camp Hill Line

Camp Hill line reopening - period !
Electrify the line as now and create a 'boomerang' service - Bromsgrove (including an electrified Lickey line) <> University line <> BNS <> Camp Hill line <> Redditch.
Most journeys on the 'cross city' line are simply journeys to and from BNS - there being few actual cross city journeys. Result of proposed service - no conflicting movements / crossovers of the WCML at the east end of BNS / Proof House Junction.

 

[DarloRich]

The Holmes Chord at Rotherham is a frustrating one - single track bottleneck used by at least three trains an hour in each direction (the single track chord at Dore is at least being doubled sometime this decade...).

Hmm, a second platform at Dunbar station? Sorting out the platforms at Northallerton? Flat crossing at Newark?

(can't promise that these are "cheap", but they are minor things that cause disproportionate bottlenecks)

Which platforms do you want to sort out at Northallerton?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'd assume he meant platforms on the low level that the Middlesbrough TPE and Sunderland GC services could call at thus removing them from the ECML and leaving after the station, clearing the way for anything right behind them without the train behind needing to wait for a couple of mins for a path.

 

[Wyvern]

A north facing chord from the Stenson loop on to the Birmingham-Derby line. Whenever there are problems between Sheet Stores and Derby, the lop is used as a diversion but this creates all sorts of delays while trains reverse on the main line.

Diversionary routes generally do not rate highly among Network Rail's priorities. However there have been massive housing developments across the south of Derby and commuter stations could be opened at Sinfin, Aston, Chellaston and Castle Donington so a case could be made to the City Council. Unfotrunately said council has litte interest in public transport.

However Castle Donington would give much better access than East Midlands Parkway to the airport, th racetrack and the Download Festival.

 

[tbtc]

Which platforms do you want to sort out at Northallerton?

I'd assume he meant platforms on the low level that the Middlesbrough TPE and Sunderland GC services could call at thus removing them from the ECML and leaving after the station, clearing the way for anything right behind them without the train behind needing to wait for a couple of mins for a path.

As Matt says, the current arrangement means that any stopper blocks the line (after a long section of four track, the platforms are built on two track line).

Slows the ECML down.

 

[The Planner]

Camp Hill line reopening - period !
Electrify the line as now and create a 'boomerang' service - Bromsgrove (including an electrified Lickey line) <> University line <> BNS <> Camp Hill line <> Redditch.
Most journeys on the 'cross city' line are simply journeys to and from BNS - there being few actual cross city journeys. Result of proposed service - no conflicting movements / crossovers of the WCML at the east end of BNS / Proof House Junction.

But you are making New St worse with that as you are adding trains into it. You still have the Lichfield services to contend with. They would then require a reversal at New St which takes longer and uses more platform capacity than a through service.

The Cross City is platformed on the high side of the station anyway so doesn't conflict with the WCML and your boomerang service is just adding more services on that side of the station at Proof House and more conflicts at Kings Norton (which would happen regardless if the Camp Hills re-open, granted)

 

[DarloRich]

As Matt says, the current arrangement means that any stopper blocks the line (after a long section of four track, the platforms are built on two track line).

Slows the ECML down.

not by much - i doubt the impact/delay costs outweigh the construction costs.

 

[The Planner]

A north facing chord from the Stenson loop on to the Birmingham-Derby line. Whenever there are problems between Sheet Stores and Derby, the lop is used as a diversion but this creates all sorts of delays while trains reverse on the main line.

Diversionary routes generally do not rate highly among Network Rail's priorities. However there have been massive housing developments across the south of Derby and commuter stations could be opened at Sinfin, Aston, Chellaston and Castle Donington so a case could be made to the City Council. Unfotrunately said council has litte interest in public transport.

However Castle Donington would give much better access than East Midlands Parkway to the airport, th racetrack and the Download Festival.

As you say, NR put very little value on a diversionary route as nothing is using it 99% of the time. Any case for stations along that route would need to come from the council and they, or a developer, would need to fund it.

 

[ainsworth74]

not by much - i doubt the impact/delay costs outweigh the construction costs.

I was thinking that. It would certainly be nice but for one train per hour and the five GC services per day that cross the entire line it doesn't seem worth it. Now if it was possible to get all trains that called at Northallerton on to this low level station it might be, but trying to do that would be even more expensive.

 

[Robert Taggart]

But you are making New St worse...

No. Lichfield <> BNS <> Rugeley Trent Valley - electrification permitting. Otherwise - Walsall via the Perry Barr loop line - boomboomerang !

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'm certain there aren't 6 free paths an hour between New St and Soho Jn I also can't help but feel that coupled with the services ex-Wolves via Aston it would be a massive overkill for Walsall, especially as you'd miss out on a lot of the market around east Birmingham.

 

[The Planner]

No. Lichfield <> BNS <> Rugeley Trent Valley - electrification permitting. Otherwise - Walsall via the Perry Barr loop line - boomboomerang !

Still more trains through New St and from Proof House to the station, and as Matt alludes to, there ain't enough paths to Soho South!!

 

[eps200]

Halton curves between Liverpool and north Wales.

Okay local line post now
Borderlands line, since electrification is not happening any time soon, if Birkenhead north had platform 3 reinstated to take the Liverpool services, the Wrexham train can run into the now middle platform 2 allowing interchange with the new Brighton service and access to the new park and ride.

 

[Robert Taggart]

Still more trains through New St...

As it be a joining up of existing unjoined services - there be no extra paths required - doh !

 

[The Planner]

Explain how as you are suggesting that Lichfield Walsall/Rugeley are going via Soho, are you suggesting 6tph on both routes as the existing Cross City is now? Or is Lichfield getting a cut? As said before, you cannot fit a load of extras to Soho and if you go that way, what happens to Perry Barr, Witton and Aston? I must be missing something really simple here but I don't see how this works.

 

[theageofthetra]

While airport connections are mentioned how about a spur from HS1 or from near Birchington on sea/Herne Bay to Manston. Seems idiotic to have Heathrow at bursting point and one of the longest runways in the UK barely used and not far from a high speed rail link. The area around (for the south east) has low population density so building a spur should be quite straight forward. I believe the area also qualifies for EU development grants so we could get some of our money back there!

 

[Robert Taggart]

Explain how as you are suggesting that Lichfield Walsall/Rugeley are going via Soho, are you suggesting 6tph on both routes as the existing Cross City is now? Or is Lichfield getting a cut? As said before, you cannot fit a load of extras to Soho and if you go that way, what happens to Perry Barr, Witton and Aston? I must be missing something really simple here but I don't see how this works.

London Midland Local Electrical Services ! - in Brum +...
Stafford > Wolverhampton > Sandwell > BNS > Aston > Bescot > Wolverhampton > Stafford. Half Hourly, first train 'clockwise' second train 'anti-clockwise.
Following the Paisley Canal example...
Albrighton > Wolverhampton > Bescot > Aston > BNS > Sandwell > Wolvrhampton > Albrighton. Half Hourly, first train 'anti-clockwise second train 'clockwise'.
Rugeley <> Walsall <> Winson Green <> BNS <> Aston <> Lichfield. Half Hourly.
With a little imagination !...
Aldridge <> Walsall <> Winson Green <> BNS <> Aston <> Blake Street. Quarter Hourly.
Rugby > Coventry > Stetchford > BNS > Winson Green > Aston > Stetchford > Coventry > Rugby. Half Hourly.
Leamington > Coventry > Stetchford > Aston > Winson Green > BNS > Stetchford > Coventry > Leamington. Half Hourly.
Sorted

 

[The Planner]

Riiiiiiight. So everyone just waits for the train that doesn't go the long way round to where they want to go then or they have to change somewhere.