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My idea for a Norwich - Colchester Town service

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Eshonbel

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I have found Colchester Town station quite popular, especially with the LST - Ctown service. Maybe they could build an extra platform there and have a Norwich - Colchester Town service? It could go into platforms 1, 4 or 5 and then reverse into Colchester Town. It would be a nice extra service for the people of places like Stowmarket, who get 1 GEML train per hour. It won't happen, but what do you think?
 
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chubs

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Why?

No, it shouldn't happen because there is no need for it to happen.
 

ainsworth74

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Isn't that end of the GEML stuffed to bursting with freight and passenger trains already?
 

GB

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There is already a service every half hour or so to and from colchester mainline so don't really see much point in having a direct service from Norwich. Stowmarket might only get one IC service per hour but do they also not get a Cambridge and Peterborough serivce to Ipswich?
 

Eshonbel

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There is already a service every half hour or so to and from colchester mainline so don't really see much point in having a direct service from Norwich. Stowmarket might only get one IC service per hour but do they also not get a Cambridge and Peterborough serivce to Ipswich?
It was just an example. I'm sorry if it doesn't make much sense, just a thought :)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Isn't that end of the GEML stuffed to bursting with freight and passenger trains already?
Not really, I never see any freight on the SC line (mostly to Harwich and Felixstowe that way) and the small bi-directional part at CTown could be made bi-directional. It just would be nicer to have the town centre more easily accessible to peope who live in that direction, sorry if I offended any train pros :/
 

ainsworth74

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Not really, I never see any freight on the SC line (mostly to Harwich and Felixstowe that way) and the small bi-directional part at CTown could be made bi-directional.

The Sunshine Coast line (Colchester to Clacton/Walton for anyone unsure) isn't going to be an issue I agree but trying to path extra services between Colchester and Norwich might well be as there is a heck of a lot of freight between Colchester and Ipswich. That's what I was getting at.

It just would be nicer to have the town centre more easily accessible to peope who live in that direction, sorry if I offended any train pros :/

No one is offended and please don't be put off! We just seem to disagree about the viability of your suggestion. I've proposed things on this forum from time to time only to be shot down in flames. It happens to all of us at some point or another :)
 

Class 170101

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Stowmarket might only get one IC service per hour but do they also not get a Cambridge and Peterborough serivce to Ipswich?

Ipswich to Cambridge service hourly and Ipswich to Peterborough every two hours.

You may also have a problem matching paths to Colchester Town with a path to / from Norwich. Looking at RTT the only slot available in the single platform is between xx:10 and xx24
 
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43074

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The only way a Norwich - Colchester Town service would possibly be of any use would be allowing a Norwich to London to run hourly calling at Ipswich & Colchester only without worsening frequencies from intermediate stops and connecting at Colchester.

Having said that, the GEML is at capacity in that neck of the woods, there are no trains to operate it and good connections are available anyway.
 
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Eshonbel

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Ipswich to Cambridge service hourly and Ipswich to Peterborough every two hours.

You may also have a problem matching paths to Colchester Town with a path to / from Norwich. Looking at RTT the only slot available in the single platform is between xx:10 and xx24
If you look at Wikipedia, there is clearly lots of space for an extra platform at Colchester Town. I have been there and I can confirm this.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Colchester_Town_railway_station_in_2008.jpg
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The only way a Norwich - Colchester Town service would possibly be of any use would be allowing a Norwich to London to run hourly calling at Ipswich & Colchester only without worsening frequencies from intermediate stops and connecting at Colchester.

Having said that, the GEML is at capacity in that neck of the woods, there are no trains to operate it and good connections are available anyway.
At peak times, yes, but in the off-peak Manningtree recieves 3 tph LST bound and some people would like to go to Colchester Town to shop and explore.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And why isn't Colchester Town served on Sundays?
 

PHILIPE

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If you look at Wikipedia, there is clearly lots of space for an extra platform at Colchester Town. I have been there and I can confirm this.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Colchester_Town_railway_station_in_2008.jpg
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

At peak times, yes, but in the off-peak Manningtree recieves 3 tph LST bound and some people would like to go to Colchester Town to shop and explore.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And why isn't Colchester Town served on Sundays?

Probably because nobody will pay for it. TOCs won't take the initiative unless there's a financial return.
 

306024

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If you look at Wikipedia, there is clearly lots of space for an extra platform at Colchester Town. I have been there and I can confirm this.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Colchester_Town_railway_station_in_2008.jpg

And why isn't Colchester Town served on Sundays?

A second platform at Colchester Town was looked at a few years ago when the whole East Gate triangle was renewed. Most ideas fell on stoney ground and in the end a like for like replacement was done, the only enhancement was making the Colchester diveunder bi-directional.

Why isn't Colchester Town served on a Sunday? Good question. All down to cost. If you run a Colchester North-Walton service like Mon-Sat you need three trains (plus crews) to make the timetable at Thorpe-le-Soken connect. There have been pre Christmas additional trains from Walton to Colchester Town for shoppers in the past, but that's all.

As for Norwich to Colchester Town, well the the current timetable caters for that demand easily enough, albeit with a change at Colchester North.
 

43074

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At peak times, yes, but in the off-peak Manningtree recieves 3 tph LST bound and some people would like to go to Colchester Town to shop and explore.

Manningtree isn't the busiest station anyway at off peak times, obviously it's busier at peak times, but 2tph to LST and the Harwich shuttle would probably cope with the demand from Manningtree off peak.
 

Eshonbel

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A second platform at Colchester Town was looked at a few years ago when the whole East Gate triangle was renewed. Most ideas fell on stoney ground and in the end a like for like replacement was done, the only enhancement was making the Colchester diveunder bi-directional.

Why isn't Colchester Town served on a Sunday? Good question. All down to cost. If you run a Colchester North-Walton service like Mon-Sat you need three trains (plus crews) to make the timetable at Thorpe-le-Soken connect. There have been pre Christmas additional trains from Walton to Colchester Town for shoppers in the past, but that's all.

As for Norwich to Colchester Town, well the the current timetable caters for that demand easily enough, albeit with a change at Colchester North.
I just thought Sunday (limited) would be logical as people are off work and would like to shop in Colchester :)
 

Bevan Price

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I have found Colchester Town station quite popular, especially with the LST - Ctown service. Maybe they could build an extra platform there and have a Norwich - Colchester Town service? It could go into platforms 1, 4 or 5 and then reverse into Colchester Town. It would be a nice extra service for the people of places like Stowmarket, who get 1 GEML train per hour. It won't happen, but what do you think?

Unfortunately, quite apart from cost, it is not possible / feasible to have a through service between "everywhere" and "everywhere else". Inevitably, having to change at least once will be necessary for many passengers.
 
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