What projects would you include for EGIP2

[och aye]

I noticed a tweet stating that the Glasgow Queen Street twitter account is going to stop tomorrow and have been tweeting images of the works. With Queen Street now completed, I believe that the EGIP (in its revised form) now completed.

What I'd like to speculate on is what improvements can/should/will be made for a EGIP2 project. My thoughts of potential projects that could comprise an EGIP sequel would be:

• Abbeyhill junction reopened
• Redoubling of the North Calton Tunnel/remodelling of the Eastern Throat at Waverley
• Edinburgh South Suburban electrification
• Almond chord (with a longshot of potential Kirkliston station)
• Winchburgh station reopened
• Remodelling of Greenhill Junction

Other than the Almond chord, Winchburgh station and Edinburgh South-sub electrification, I suspect the rest of the list are probably improvements that won't happen anytime this decade (if ever?).

It would be interesting to get peoples thoughts on what a potential EGIP2 would like.

 

[Falcon1200]

Redoubling of Calton North Tunnel; Was that not singled to provide clearance for OLE ? I agree that additional capacity between Waverley and Portobello Jc (at least) would be beneficial however.

The Edinburgh Suburban Line; I saw recently a petition to re-introduce passengers services on the route, but I have never been convinced it would be either worthwhile, given that the line runs east-west and the main passenger flow in the area is south-north, or practical, given that trains would have to find paths through the congestion both east and west of Edinburgh. Whether it would be worth electrifying for freight, and the occasional passenger diversion, is another thing.

Winchburgh station has been talked about for a long time but with seemingly little progress. But it does seem a worthwhile project.

Greenhill Upper Junction was remodelled, to increase line speeds, 6 or 7 years ago, albeit with the result that trains could no longer divert from Polmont Jc via Falkirk High and reverse at Greenhill Upper to head towards Carmuirs. Grade separation here, utilising the Cumbernauld line where it passes under the E&G, would be neat, but geographically very difficult !

 

[JonathanH]

It would be interesting to get peoples thoughts on what a potential EGIP2 would like.

What do you see as the key headline outputs of a potential EGIP2 in terms of passenger journeys?

What revenue would they bring in, particularly noting that Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High has now reverted to being a half-hourly service for the foreseeable future and there are proposed service changes on the routes via Falkirk Grahamston?

Are journey time reductions even feasible given the constraints at both ends of the core route?