Track Widening Schemes that never happened

[Bald Rick]

When the redevelopment of the Bull Ring shopping centre was being planned in the 1990’s there were plans to leave enough space in the foundations to build and extra pair of tracks between New Street and Proof House Junction. Railtrack told the developers they wouldn’t be needed and the plans were redrawn. Very short sighted.

That’s not quite right. And besides, what would the use of an extra tunnel be if you can’t get to it?

 

[AJS90]

That’s not quite right. And besides, what would the use of an extra tunnel be if you can’t get to it?

I think the idea was to have separate tracks for cross city and cross country services. Would really only have been worth it if they’d built a couple of east facing bay platforms next to platform 12 for extra local services towards Nuneaton & Tamworth, or for the Camp Hill line negating the need for the Bordesley cords. They may even have thought about diverting Chiltern services into New Street, but I’m not sure as I never saw detailed plans.

 

[Bald Rick]

The issue is that the Bull Ring development is only alongside part of the tunnel. There more tunnel, then the ramp up to the viaduct. To get 6 tracks all the way to Proof House / Grand Jn means forcing another pair all the way up there, and would mean demolishing the Proof House itself. Railtrack spent maybe 5 minutes considering the proposal and concluded, rightly, that it wouldn’t be any use.

Far better to build a pair of tracks the other side of the line, and have a new station there too.

 

[The Planner]

I think the idea was to have separate tracks for cross city and cross country services. Would really only have been worth it if they’d built a couple of east facing bay platforms next to platform 12 for extra local services towards Nuneaton & Tamworth, or for the Camp Hill line negating the need for the Bordesley cords. They may even have thought about diverting Chiltern services into New Street, but I’m not sure as I never saw detailed plans.

This seems to be some sort of old wives tale. It wasn't short sighted at all as it would only import crossing moves into the mix, you still have to get the Cross City onto the high side and XC naturally fall into the centre platforms.

 

[AndrewE]

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned Crewe to Weaver Junction yet... it almost got quadrupled throughout in the 1930s, but the long freight lines/loops that did get built have been progressively removed ovewr the last few decades.

 

[Journeyman]

Weren't the island platforms on the GC London extension designed for easy addition of extra tracks around the outside of the existing ones?

 

[Sprinter107]

This seems to be some sort of old wives tale. It wasn't short sighted at all as it would only import crossing moves into the mix, you still have to get the Cross City onto the high side and XC naturally fall into the centre platforms.

Its definitely not an old wives tale, because I remember reading about it at the time, but cant remember the source. I'm thinking it was in the railway press rather than the local newspaper, but its been a long time ago.

 

[The Planner]

Its definitely not an old wives tale, because I remember reading about it at the time, but cant remember the source. I'm thinking it was in the railway press rather than the local newspaper, but its been a long time ago.

The normal comments that come out that say it was short sighted are misinformed though.

 

[Bald Rick]

Its definitely not an old wives tale, because I remember reading about it at the time, but cant remember the source. I'm thinking it was in the railway press rather than the local newspaper, but its been a long time ago.

It came across my desk at the time. As I said, a very brief consideration.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Railtrack certainly bought a number of the houses near the viaduct, and then rented them out. They were later sold - one assumes at a tidy profit to the taxpayer.

They also sent out letters to residents, as I recall, with some details of the scheme as it was then - did it get to the station of local consultations ?

 

[jumble]

4 tracking Moor Park into Rickmansworth Station.

Link to map
Interesting to note that Pinner Northwood and Northwood Hill were to have platforms on the Main

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[S&CLER]

Surprised to learn yesterday that the CLC North Liverpool line from Halewood to Aintree was built with some bridges wide enough for 4-tracking.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Clayton West branch (now home to the Kirkless light railway) which again was intended to be a through line.

The trackbed and land-take was wide enough for double track, but many of the bridges (particularly the occupation bridges for farm use) were only ever built wide enough for a single track.

Even since being reopened as a narrow gauge line, tree growth on the cutting sides around Skelmanthorpe has left the trackbed appearing much narrower than it was originally built.