Bangor, North Wales - lines through the middle of the station - does anything still use them?

[GordonC]

I had a ride along to Bangor today and was surprised to find both platform avoiding lines through the centre still existing at Bangor. It seems to be one of the very few North Wales stations to have managed to retain them, but is there anything left that actually still uses them? I'm expecting any passenger services would be using the platform lines so is there any freight left beyond Llandudno Junction? (Shotton?)

[Nick G]

is there any freight left beyond Llandudno Junction? (Shotton?)

 

 

Nuclear flask train to Valley uses the centre roads.

[coachmann]

I have suspected for many years that Bangor is being left intact in case it becomes the terminus of the line from Chester.  I had better insert a smilie to fend off anyone of an ultra-serious nature...

[beast66606]

Nuclear flask train to Valley uses the centre roads.

 

As does 5K92, FO, 22:25, Holyhead - Crewe empty Voyager.

[coachmann]

I did a fair bit of filming in Bangor up to 1997....Blimey, was it really 20 years ago.....And the Class 37's were making good use of those centre roads on turn-backs.

[Merfyn Jones]

I did a fair bit of filming in Bangor up to 1997....Blimey, was it really 20 years ago.....And the Class 37's were making good use of those centre roads on turn-backs.

 

Usually used by the yellow test trains and the railhead treatment trains. Most steam and other specials to Holyhead run through non stop.

[big jim]

i used them the other month on the NMT, that was fun, so used to being bought down to 15mph on restrictive aspects to access the platform it was actually quite un-nerving to come flying out of the tunnel at 50mph!

 

think the rhtt uses them too

 

edit: spooky merv said the same thing as i typed it!

[Merfyn Jones]

i used them the other month on the NMT, that was fun, so used to being bought down to 15mph on restrictive aspects to access the platform it was actually quite un-nerving to come flying out of the tunnel at 50mph!

 

think the rhtt uses them too

 

edit: spooky merv said the same thing as i typed it!

 

"Great minds - " Jim

[D854_Tiger]

Abergele just lost it's one only platform avoiding road and would guess, as more re-signalling spreads along the coast, the same could happen to Bangor eventually.

 

The concept of through lines really needs to be justified by more through trains than Bangor has.

 

There are a few other other places where through lines have survived, with seemingly little justification, Wellington springs to mind and Hereford.

 

Though Hereford can get quite congested at times, with only three of its platforms viable for the current timetable.

 

However, still plenty of places on the network where through roads have plenty to do, to the point of being essential.

[Zomboid]

Particularly if the approach speed is 15mph, taking the through roads out to accelerate that would have a noticeable impact on train running through the station.

In general, it baffles me why the larger stations where most things will stop were provided with loops whilst quieter places where lots of trains would run past without stopping didn't generally have the overtaking facility.

[Phil Bullock]

Abergele just lost it's one only platform avoiding road and would guess, as more re-signalling spreads along the coast, the same could happen to Bangor eventually.

 

The concept of through lines really needs to be justified by more through trains than Bangor has.

 

There are a few other other places where through lines have survived, with seemingly little justification, Wellington springs to mind and Hereford.

 

Though Hereford can get quite congested at times, with only three of its platforms viable for the current timetable.

 

However, still plenty of places on the network where through roads have plenty to do, to the point of being essential.

 

And an awful lot of trains terminate at Hereford leading to the high platform occupancy

 

Phil

[Anthony Ashley]

Gordon,

 

I found this an interesting topic, given Bangor is one of the 3 stations I am modelling on the Chester Holyhead line.

 

For anyone interested my RM site is at:

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/71151-north-welsh-coast-railway-welsh-dragon-rail/page-1

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley 

[Wheatley]

Zomboid, on 04 Feb 2017 - 13:06, said:

Particularly if the approach speed is 15mph, taking the through roads out to accelerate that would have a noticeable impact on train running through the station.

In general, it baffles me why the larger stations where most things will stop were provided with loops whilst quieter places where lots of trains would run past without stopping didn't generally have the overtaking facility.

Because back in the day there weren't that many stopping trains to get in the way and hold things up. At places like Bangor, with express and semi-fasts calling and terminating as well as the truly local stoppers, the platforms were likely to be occupied for longer and more often that at minor stations.

[coachmann]

Once you get past Bangor you fall off planet earth and enter planet Anglesey with its long sections between signal boxes and stations where no lives. I'm sure those through roads would have gone long before now if they weren't useful traffic-wise or are part of possible future plans.

[Merfyn Jones]

Being realistic, it costs money to remove track and alter things. If the points are worn out then the decision is made to renew or remodel.

When I was working all the trackwork was in good condition, so should be OK for a while to come.

[big jim]

Abergele just lost it's one only platform avoiding road and would guess, as more re-signalling spreads along the coast, the same could happen to Bangor eventually.

 

The concept of through lines really needs to be justified by more through trains than Bangor has.

 

There are a few other other places where through lines have survived, with seemingly little justification, Wellington springs to mind and Hereford.

 

Though Hereford can get quite congested at times, with only three of its platforms viable for the current timetable.

 

However, still plenty of places on the network where through roads have plenty to do, to the point of being essential.

Hereford centre roads get used a lot more than you think, it's used by the logs in both directions as it's pretty much the 1/2 way point along the marches and the first loop the long train will fit in southbound after leaving chirk

[GordonC]

Nuclear flask train to Valley uses the centre roads.

 

are they still running? I thought Wylfa had stopped generating a while ago - are they still taking out fuel rods?

[Nick G]

are they still running? I thought Wylfa had stopped generating a while ago - are they still taking out fuel rods?

 

 

Yes, sometimes 3 trains a week. I 'think' it will run for another 2 years.

[beast66606]

Yes, sometimes 3 trains a week. I 'think' it will run for another 2 years.

 

Running tomorrow.