RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted August 10, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 10, 2015 (edited) Have they said how they might get the line from Sandy to Cambridge? While I'd dearly love to see it following the original alignment, I fear it's been far too much built over and ploughed back into the landscape for that to happen...... By ignoring the Sandy Cambridge alignment completely. Not only has it been built over / destroyed by agriculture but it passes through very little in terms of intermediate traffic generators. Therefore all plans are focused on getting from the ECML to Cambridge via Letchworth and Royston. The only question still to be finalised is the issue of the MML - ECML link - and whether a new north - east curve is built at Hitchin or whether trains reverse direction at Hitcin / Stevenage. Edited August 10, 2015 by phil-b259 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted August 10, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 10, 2015 All this dithering about the route from Bedford to Cambridge is very depressing. How many consultations and feasibility studies do we have to pay for? It's 30 miles, and pretty well flat as a pancake. Just draw a straight line on the map and build it! We are always being told that capacity is the big issue on the network now, so why are they even considering routes that put extra trains on sections of the MML and/or ECML? They are "dithering" as you put it is because a straight line on the map as you advocate generates such a negative BCR that it would kill the project stone dead. By making as much use of existing infrastructure as possible, costs are kept down - which is important given the need to build some form of new* connection between the MML & the ECML. Providing all the necessary connections are completely grade separated - and suitable facilities are provided if reversal at Hitchin is chosen, then the ECML will be fine coping with what will amount to an extra 2 tph at most on the slow lines. Finally, as I said earlier the project is NOT called "Oxford / Bedford - Cambridge railway", it is the "improving east west connectivity by rail" project. As such the primary focus is to improve connectivity between towns that currently rely on roads for east west movement like Stevenage and Luton as well as Bedford and Cambridge. As such it is necessary to ensure that the final options chosen are those that best meet these aims. Yes it means the overall end to end journey will be slow, but that is not why the project was started in the first place. *note that as with the borders railway even if the old track formation is used all earthworks, bridges etc will have to be built / modified to current standards - not simply reinstated as they were when the line closed. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted August 11, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 11, 2015 By ignoring the Sandy Cambridge alignment completely. Not only has it been built over / destroyed by agriculture but it passes through very little in terms of intermediate traffic generators. Therefore all plans are focused on getting from the ECML to Cambridge via Letchworth and Royston. The only question still to be finalised is the issue of the MML - ECML link - and whether a new north - east curve is built at Hitchin or whether trains reverse direction at Hitcin / Stevenage. Thanks Phil. The alignment into Sandy station from the Bedford direction has itself been quite extensively built over / obliterated to the west of the ECML, as well as the Sandy-Cambridge section. I'm concerned that a southwards 'jink' via Hitchin will increase the Bedford-Cambridge journey time to the extent that it won't be competitive, the more so if it involves a reversal at Hitchin. On the other hand, to the north of the original alignment, the new town of Cambourne would be a very significant traffic generator, as would St. Neots which has expanded greatly in recent years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted August 11, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 11, 2015 On the other hand, to the north of the original alignment, the new town of Cambourne would be a very significant traffic generator, as would St. Neots which has expanded greatly in recent years. Picking up on those 2 towns, St Neots is now the largest town in Cambridgeshire and set to grow even bigger with a further 3700 houses planned for East of the ECML (next to Loves farm) Population is over the 40,000 mark and set to rise to something like 60,000. Camborne is approaching 10,000. When the B&C closed Sandy pop was 5,000 but is now 13,000, it is unlikely to have any major further expansion as it's constrained by the A1,ECML & River, Biggleswade is being expanded (Kings Reach) and is 18,000 with 25,000-30,000 planned. With the straight line strategy it ignores the topography of a large escarpment (Everton) in the way which is why the original B&C went via Potton to skirt around it. There's also the issue of no towns or population to actually use it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted August 11, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 11, 2015 (edited) Thanks Phil. The alignment into Sandy station from the Bedford direction has itself been quite extensively built over / obliterated to the west of the ECML, as well as the Sandy-Cambridge section. I'm concerned that a southwards 'jink' via Hitchin will increase the Bedford-Cambridge journey time to the extent that it won't be competitive, the more so if it involves a reversal at Hitchin. On the other hand, to the north of the original alignment, the new town of Cambourne would be a very significant traffic generator, as would St. Neots which has expanded greatly in recent years. Oh if there was a reasonable alternative to building some sort of Bedford - ECML link it would have been chosen. IIRC inital studies even looked at a new south - east curve at Manton and sending services from Bedford via Corby, Stamford & Peterborough to Cambridge. This was rejected at any early stage as producing very poor value for money and not doing much to improve east west connectivity in the target area with the result that attention returned to Bedford / Luton - Sandy / Hitchin options and getting to Cambridge via Royston. Picking up on those 2 towns, St Neots is now the largest town in Cambridgeshire and set to grow even bigger with a further 3700 houses planned for East of the ECML (next to Loves farm) Population is over the 40,000 mark and set to rise to something like 60,000. Camborne is approaching 10,000. When the B&C closed Sandy pop was 5,000 but is now 13,000, it is unlikely to have any major further expansion as it's constrained by the A1,ECML & River, Biggleswade is being expanded (Kings Reach) and is 18,000 with 25,000-30,000 planned. With the straight line strategy it ignores the topography of a large escarpment (Everton) in the way which is why the original B&C went via Potton to skirt around it. There's also the issue of no towns or population to actually use it. Of course one option that could have been considered had it not been converted into a busway was to go north From Sandy to Huntingdon and back down to Cambridge via St Ives. Like I said though the routing chosen needs to have a sufficiently positive BCR to get over the anti-railway reopening attitude that prevails in the DfT / Treasury. As such reversals at Hitchin may well be the price to pay for getting the thing built at all. Edited August 11, 2015 by phil-b259 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Rolling stock for revived East - West rail link revealed: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34245542 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karhedron Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 (edited) Rolling stock for revived East - West rail link revealed: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34245542 I cannot help but feel I have seen that design somewhere before.... Edited September 16, 2015 by Karhedron 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 What next, Blue Pullmans for Anglia services? 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted September 16, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 16, 2015 What next, Blue Pullmans for Anglia services? There's plenty in the strategic reserve.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted September 16, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 16, 2015 There's plenty in the strategic reserve.. You'd have to move all the 9F's out of the way first though. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted September 16, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 16, 2015 You'd have to move all the 9F's out of the way first though. Jamie Oh dear - when will people get it right - they were 8Fs, not 9Fs Rolling stock for revived East - West rail link revealed: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34245542 That could be an interesting experience to compare with my previous trips between Oxford and Bletchley - the first was in 1985 (to Denbigh Hall Jcn) on a Royal ecs and the second was 21 years ago on an Inspection Special using a Class 121 route learning car. I wonder which would turn out to be the most interesting ride? 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 In our local paper today article about East West link consultation process and were exhibitions are being held etc so things are beginning to happen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 This madness and lunacy reaches us, courtesy of the promoter back in 2012, seemingly. Enjoy... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 About time that this happening many people work in MK localy and this will ease the chaos on our roads expect that more housing will follow along the route so its a win win situation but think that the stock will be mundane compared to the pics! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Go toworkrailmediacentre.co.uk info on were to view the plans and talk to NR you go to select a project and up it comes ery interesting I shall go to my local one next Wednesday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike morley Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Half an hour ago four or five yellow carriages were being slowly propelled across Bletchley flyover by an National Rail 37. Something's afoot. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted November 11, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 11, 2015 Half an hour ago four or five yellow carriages were being slowly propelled across Bletchley flyover by an National Rail 37. Something's afoot. I thought Big Jim was going to Bangor with it today Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted November 11, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 11, 2015 That's the trouble with Sat Navs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold geoff Posted November 11, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 11, 2015 Half an hour ago four or five yellow carriages were being slowly propelled across Bletchley flyover by an National Rail 37. Something's afoot. 37421 heads the 2Q08. 09:57 Derby R.T.C. Network Rail to Rugby C.S. DB Infrastructure Monitoring (TRU) Wednesday only working, 4 minutes early at 09:53 as it rolls down from Corby towards the Glendon Iron Coy’s bridge on Wednesday 11 November 2015. 97301 brings up the rear. This is what you saw. Geoff 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Its all put back now and trains on the main section will not be running until 2017 and Aylesbury M/K 2019 that's progress I don't think pity NR cant get their act together and just send the current orange army on from Bicester Town (I do not approve new name) but bet you can add another year onto schedules.Now Bucks County Council have announced that they will be broke in a couple of years so will not do any work on roads etc only look after young children in care etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkie Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 Damb I didn't hear it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Its all put back now and trains on the main section will not be running until 2017 and Aylesbury M/K 2019 that's progress I don't think pity NR cant get their act together and just send the current orange army on from Bicester Town (I do not approve new name) but bet you can add another year onto schedules.Now Bucks County Council have announced that they will be broke in a couple of years so will not do any work on roads etc only look after young children in care etc.They gave up on road repairs in some places long ago. Just stick up a sign saying "Caution Failed Road" seems to be the extent of current work. The council could lend Network Rail a gang of youngsters from Thrift Farm to do a bit of vegetation clearing on the route. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adanapress Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Glanced at Islip station last Sunday, seems to be fully operating, tho some detail and tidying up still to be finished. Only part of car park open so far Lots of mud about, but definitely in service. Looks tidy but . um economical in design. This is after all not a major station on the line. Congrats to Chiltern, keep up the good work folks, '' neme illegitimo carborundum!''. And for heavens sake are g.c. newts really all that rare? they seem to be all over the place. Perhaps the nimbys have a tame set they move around??. . 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Pannier Tank Posted November 11, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 11, 2015 Its all put back now and trains on the main section will not be running until 2017 and Aylesbury M/K 2019 that's progress The local paper (MK) is suggesting the opening will be put back to 2024! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 I see the dead hand of the treasury here ,to hell with conectivity make the people suffer on crap buses or sit in traffic jams then take all bus subsidies away and stop all road repairs,GB is a third world country! If it is at all possible they will stop the project god knows what the money will be spent on it wont benefit the public here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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