What that map does not show is the local topography. The Northern Bypass is at the level of (and above) that of the cathedral, where the slope is a steep scarp slope (you really feel it driving north on the A46 from A57 to A15, or from the Washingborough roundabout to the Wragby Road roundabout). If the traffic were really sufficient to require an avoiding line, it would undoubtedly be cheaper and easier to restore the old avoiding line.
There's a reason why the road from Central to Castle Square is called Steep Hill...
Daftest crayon I have seen! There was a proposal to build a railway tunnel under Lincoln by the Lancaster Derbyshire and East Coast Railway for a new coal flow line to a proposed coal export dock at Sutton on Sea. Great Central railway put paid to this idea by building Immingham docks.
There's a 'Relief' layer option, not brilliant but it gives a good sense.Given the majority of the traffic is from Peterborough to Doncaster, I suspect you'd get more value from just putting in regular dynamic loops between Grantham and Retford.
What gave me the idea was the multiple comments on the other thread moaning about the freight at the level crossings in Lincoln!
I'd personally suggest the ECML should be four tracked at least as far as Doncaster, if not York...
...which would be my ideal solution, but with the other thread pointing out it's been mostly built on, it would probably never even get near the planning stage these days would it? Too much risk to the local political backsides?
I think if it were really necessary, it would be worth Network Rail's while to try to push that through. The mitigation for the level crossings means that it's a lot less necessary than it used to be.
The course of the line has been flattened, NR would never get permission to carve a swathe through a city like that. Thumbnails attached of the approximate path. The houses are at road level, the railway would need elevating by 5m+ to gain highway clearnace.
Which is why I observe that the need is a lot less given other changes in Lincoln over the last 30 years
The level crossings in the centre of Lincoln. Even now there are only two road bridges across the railway within the city's boundaries, and one of them is getting quite old and needs a lot of TLC.
Tentercroft Street has gone from being a cul de sac to the main east-west route across the City - part of the A57 no less.
Can't see how any of this justifies spending what would be £100s of millions on an avoiding line. What is the problem with the level crossing in the centre of Lincoln and what assessment has been made about a bridge needing a lot of attention? There is a foot bridge with lifts which most people can use at the level crossing. Might be a bit awkward for cycles but again that doesn't justify the significant associated costs of a new line.The level crossings in the centre of Lincoln. Even now there are only two road bridges across the railway within the city's boundaries, and one of them is getting quite old and needs a lot of TLC.
Note - the thread title refers to the "town centre". Lincoln has been a city since at least 1072.
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Tentercroft Street has gone from being a cul de sac to the main east-west route across the City - part of the A57 no less.
The road layout at the eastern end is awkward though, as any traffic from Tentercroft Street heading for the bridge has to cross over traffic going the other way at a set of traffic lights.
Massive hill the issue there
Yesterday there were 34 actual freight movements, with a maximum of five in one hour in mid-afternoon (1515-1615).
The issue in the city centre is the length of time that the crossing gates are shut, and the effect that has. There have been occasions when an oil train has failed across both the High St and Brayford crossings (they're only a couple of hundred yards apart), which jammed up the entire city.
Given the changes noted above, the case is probably weakened by the other changes to the road layout.
Really? That presumes that the interest of the railway is identical to the interest of society.
And when lifts fail or need maintenance? The point about the High St crossing, which makes it unlike most, is that it is the primary pedestrian route through the city centre. Closing that level route outright would benefit the railway, but come at a wider social cost - not necessarily addressed by the provision of lifts.
I really don't think the pendulum need swing quite that far.
....... and has been since it was built by the Romans in c50AD
