Rail service improvements and disruptions

Andrew Gwilt   18/01/2018 at 21:59

I think it’s needed because of new trains are now running on the Fen Line. Plus the Fen Line between Downham Market and Kings Linn is also be upgraded to become double track.

M.   19/01/2018 at 22:51

Andrew - Nothing to do with new trains. Everything to do with an old bridge being rotten through. And Fenline redoubling is off the cards for the time being. It isn't viable until Queen Adelaide LC is dealt with, and even then the case is marginal compared to other interventions.

Andrew Gwilt   21/01/2018 at 02:39

Could there be a new avoiding incline that could be built that will go over the Fen Line and River Great Ouse from the Breckland Line (Ely-Norwich Line) onto the Ely-Peterborough Line that will allow both freights and passenger trains (such as East Midlands Trains) to avoid Ely and to use the new avoiding link. Similar to the Quarry Line that was built for fast trains to avoid Redhill. And to remove the single track line at Queen Adelaide junction (north of Ely).

M.   21/01/2018 at 18:11

No benefit to that. The majority of freights are from the March direction towards Ely then onto Felixstowe, and the EMT service needs to serve Ely as it is both an interchange and a destination of itself. The capacity limitation is the level crossing itself - any increase in train movements would mean it is never open to road traffic. The limitations in the layout of the tracks cannot be relieved until after that has been sorted. Ground conditions also make building any big structure there extremely difficult - you do know what a "Fen" is, right? The junction is not "Queen Adelaide" either. It is "Ely North Jn".

Andrew Gwilt   22/01/2018 at 02:49

In that case. A new bay platform could be built at Ely for EMT Norwich-Liverpool trains as a turnback. Similar to Platform 1 which is now a turn back for GWR trains operating between Gatwick Airport-Reading via Redhill. As platform 0 has been built for Southern and Thameslink trains towards London Bridge/London Victoria from Brighton, Horsham, Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport. Freeing up platform 3 for Great Northern trains terminating at Ely from London Kings Cross aswell Greater Anglia trains to use platform 3 operating between Peterborough and Ipswich and from London Liverpool Street. Whilst platform 1 will still be used for all services and platform 2 for Great Northern trains coming from Kings Linn towards London Kings Cross and Crosscountry trains operating between Stansted Airport-Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield and Birmingham New Street. A new bay platform at Ely could happen and it could be numbered as platform 0.

M.   22/01/2018 at 22:35

Andrew, no it couldn't. No space with the level crossing and underpass at the north end of the station, and the freight loops have to stay. And since Ely allows some platform sharing, what need is there? In any case, there is no business case because there is plenty of space in the timetable for the EMTs to turn around in. Because no more trains can run north of Ely until Queen Adelaide Level Crossing is replaced by a bridge. Very simple. Oh, and it's spelt "Lynn".

Cosmo   23/01/2018 at 20:10

Nowhere else have I seen so many comment column inches wasted on pointless, ill-informed conjecture. This guy should listen less to the voices in his head and more to the rail professionals who actually know what they are talking about.

Andrew Gwilt   24/01/2018 at 06:13

Oh well. At least I did try to make some sense but obviously it backfired and failed.