[Trivia] Longest regular coasts?

[najaB]

From time to time we hear stories of trains coasting through dead sections of OHLE (one recent example was 13 miles from Bushey to Euston), which got me thinking - emergencies excluded, what is the longest stretch that drivers regularly coast?

I'd really appreciate knowing both point to point (e.g. a long section where you can coast without a station stop) as well as the furthest out you stop taking power before a station stop. Thanks.

 

[driver9000]

I regularly coast downhill:

Midcalder Junction/Kirknewton to Haymarket East Junction - 9 or 10 miles.

Beattock Summit to Murthat neutral section - 12 miles.

Shap summit to Low Gill - 9 miles.

Grayrigg to Oxenholme - 7 miles.

 

[II]

Good question to ask, Aston Magna (near Moreton-In-Marsh) to Evesham is about 13 miles and can easily be coasted - provided you aren't due to call at Honeybourne! I'm sure there are far longer ones than that.

A lot depends on the traction, with something like a HST really good at coasting when compared to most DMUs.

 

[cossie4i]

You can coast from the top of Savernake to Reading (freight)
It's about 35 miles.

 

[Cricketer8for9]

I think Tring to Euston is possible.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

There was a similar discussion only last month : "Train driver 'freewheels' broken down train 13 MILES to London Euston after a power cut" which led to a number of interesting responses. My own were that on the ECML there is a good downhill run for 10 miles from Potters Bar station (just before the tunnel) pretty much all the way into Kings Cross, and dropping into Inverness from Slochd is 22 miles.

 

[MG11]

Harlington - Luton Airport Parkway?

 

[najaB]

There was a similar discussion only last month :

Indeed, it was that thread that I had in mind, I thought that some drivers might have missed that one and have some others to contribute.