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If you could reopen fifteen UK railway lines, which would they be?

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Nippy

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Im assuming they mean Clapham up North.

For me, Great Central and Didcot to Southampton.
 
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Bevan Price

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Oh come on! Does no one want Foxfield to Coniston, Haverthwaite to Plumpton or Otley to Arthington, Clapham to WCML, Arnside to Hincaster Jn, Harrogate to Lofthouse in Nidderdale, Wennington to Green Eyre. I keep banging on about these but they have merit, two touristy and one commutor the rest train setty. I always thought that Bradford needed a Crossrail type project.

We were only allowed to nominate 15, and (to me) others have higher priority.

Yes - Wennington to Lancaster Green Ayre / Morecambe would be worthwhile -- if one line had to close, it would have been better to save this and sacrifice Wennington - Carnforth. It would have allowed faster services between Morecamber / Lancaster & Leeds/Bradford than is now possible via Carnforth.

Several lines in Yorkshire would also have been worth saving, although possibly with some service revisions and closure of smaller stations.

(e.g. Bradford - Spen Valley - Mirfield - Huddersfield.
Bradford - Dewsbury Central - Wakefield, and maybe Hull to Withernsea or Hornsea)
 

Calthrop

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...Harrogate to Lofthouse in Nidderdale...

That involves a change of gauge so really should count as two picks.

GAPHAC (the General Association of Pedants and Hyper-Anal Correctors) swings into action here, informing that this would involve no break-of-gauge situation as such. Although there were original plans for all north-west of Pateley Bridge to be narrow gauge, and some use of 3ft gauge in the early stages of the reservoir project; the Nidd Valley Light Railway as came to be from 1907 -- Pateley Bridge to Lofthouse for passengers, and beyond to service the reservoir project -- was standard gauge from the outset.

Nonetheless, by my rules for own contributions to this thread, I would count this route as a "two-for": always separate and distinct railway administrations one side and the other of Pateley Bridge, each with its own station at that community.
 

randyrippley

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Another call for the Hull and Barnsley
.........Glasson Dock to Lancaster
Morecambe - Greenayre - ingleton

After that I'd move on to light railways and tramways...........
........Morecambe Promenade tramway
Lancaster City Tramway
...........

Why not the Battery - Heysham Towers petrol tram? Or do only horse trams count?
 

PaxmanValenta

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1) Blyth and Tyne reopened for passenger use.
2) Newton Abbot to Heathfield and possibly to Moretonhampstead.
3) Teign Valley line.
4) Tavistock to Meldon.
5) Ashington to Newbiggin.
6) Churston to Brixham.
7) Buckfastleigh to Ashburton for the SDR.
8) Scotswood Bridge Newcastle.
9) Cambois line near Blyth for a passenger tram network.
10) Rothbury line.
 

martian boy

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While I can't name 15, here is one that I would reopen if it was physically possible. Pontypridd-Caerphilly-Newport. The line itself, Pontypridd-Caerphilly section closed in 1956, the remainder from Machen into Newport closed in 1962. This was part of the Brecon and Merthyr Railway. The people that travel to Newport from Rhymney/Merthyr/Aberdare/Rhondda Valleys is tremendous. The roads leading into Newport resemble a huge metallic snake. Sadly, when railway lines were closed, there was no provision to safeguard the track bed for possible future use. We are now paying for this folly.
 

Pinza-C55

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I think most I would reopen have been mentioned but in addition -
Rillington - Pickering
Malton - Driffield
Hull to Hornsea
Hull to Withernsea
Sunderland - Wellfield - Stockton
Bishop Auckland - Crook
Grimsby - Firsby
 

daodao

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While I can't name 15, here is one that I would reopen if it was physically possible. Pontypridd-Caerphilly-Newport. The line itself, Pontypridd-Caerphilly section closed in 1956, the remainder from Machen into Newport closed in 1962. This was part of the Brecon and Merthyr Railway. ...

The Machen-Newport section of the B&MR remains open from Machen Quarry and is currently used by 1 freight train per week.
 

YorkshireBear

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My 15. For various reasons.

Economic

1) Woodhead
2) Leamside Line

Socio-Economic

3) Curve at Burscough Bridge to allow Preston - Southport
4) East West Rail fully to Cambridge
5) Skelmersdale Link
6) York - Beverley
7) Church Fenton - Tadcaster
8) Leeds - Wetherby
9) Bere Alston - Tavistock
10) Blythe Area

Nostalgia

11) Penrith - Keswick
12) Matlock - Buxton
13) Harrogate - Ripon - Northallerton
14) Rugby - Peterborough via Market Harborough
15) Northallerton to Garsdale
 

Pinza-C55

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My 15. For various reasons.

Economic

1) Woodhead
2) Leamside Line

Socio-Economic

3) Curve at Burscough Bridge to allow Preston - Southport
4) East West Rail fully to Cambridge
5) Skelmersdale Link
6) York - Beverley
7) Church Fenton - Tadcaster
8) Leeds - Wetherby
9) Bere Alston - Tavistock
10) Blythe Area

Nostalgia

11) Penrith - Keswick
12) Matlock - Buxton
13) Harrogate - Ripon - Northallerton
14) Rugby - Peterborough via Market Harborough
15) Northallerton to Garsdale

I think Matlock - Buxton is Economic and Socio-Economic also. It was an act of the purest stupidity to close it.
 

backontrack

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Oh come on! Does no one want Foxfield to Coniston, Haverthwaite to Plumpton or Otley to Arthington, Clapham to WCML, Arnside to Hincaster Jn, Harrogate to Lofthouse in Nidderdale, Wennington to Green Eyre. I keep banging on about these but they have merit, two touristy and one commutor the rest train setty. I always thought that Bradford needed a Crossrail type project.
I included both Foxfield-Coniston and Clapham-Tebay in my opening post. I also agree with the others, they would be nice :D
 

backontrack

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Yes - Wennington to Lancaster Green Ayre / Morecambe would be worthwhile -- if one line had to close, it would have been better to save this and sacrifice Wennington - Carnforth. It would have allowed faster services between Morecamber / Lancaster & Leeds/Bradford than is now possible via Carnforth.

Several lines in Yorkshire would also have been worth saving, although possibly with some service revisions and closure of smaller stations.

(e.g. Bradford - Spen Valley - Mirfield - Huddersfield.
Bradford - Dewsbury Central - Wakefield, and maybe Hull to Withernsea or Hornsea)

I agree completely.
 

daodao

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I included Clapham-Tebay in my opening post.

That would have facilitated closure of the expensive-to-maintain Settle-Carlisle line. One solution now would be construction of a curve from the WCML just north of Carnforth to the Carnforth-Wennington line, electrification from Skipton to Carnforth, and introduction of regular 2 hourly express trains from Leeds to Glasgow.
 

yorksrob

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That would have facilitated closure of the expensive-to-maintain Settle-Carlisle line. One solution now would be construction of a curve from the WCML just north of Carnforth to the Carnforth-Wennington line, electrification from Skipton to Carnforth, and introduction of regular 2 hourly express trains from Leeds to Glasgow.

I think that is a textbook case of a 'solution' looking for a problem.
 

mallard

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One of the Leicester-Rugby routes could do with re-opening (either the MCR or MR line), Leicester is criminally poorly connected for a city of its size (compare with nearby Nottingham; a city of approximately the same size). The long considered re-opening the Leicester-Burton line (for passengers) should also be done.

Those would allow a large improvement in connectivity across the East Midlands; allowing e.g. Nottingham-Rubgy, London-Burton, etc.

I know that's only 2, but there's could be 15 stations along those routes...
 
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ChiefPlanner

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Indeed. I'm not sure what the Settle and Carlisle has done to irritate so many on here! It regularly ranks as one of the most scenic railways in Europe for a reason.
It is indeed a well respected and decently used regional service , however there are constant "what if" comments on "new options" of services which are possibly do-able , but probably unaffordable or with low usage. Nice to have ideas , but they have to meet affordability , purpose , business case and operational viability.

Cannot see any much freight future , though the Sunday Times mentioned a tendancy for more coal burning as coal prices fall , and the Intermodal market has been struggling just a bit on the main lines.
 

yorksrob

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Indeed. I'm not sure what the Settle and Carlisle has done to irritate so many on here! It regularly ranks as one of the most scenic railways in Europe for a reason.

I think it disproves a few deeply held shibboleths for some people.
 

Bevan Price

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That would have facilitated closure of the expensive-to-maintain Settle-Carlisle line. One solution now would be construction of a curve from the WCML just north of Carnforth to the Carnforth-Wennington line, electrification from Skipton to Carnforth, and introduction of regular 2 hourly express trains from Leeds to Glasgow.

That adds unnecessary mileage. If they ever needed an alternative route to the S&C (which they won't), it would be better to reopen Clapham Jn (Yorks) - Ingleton - Low Gill Jn (WCML) - which lost its normal passenger service before Marples/Beeching. .
 

70014IronDuke

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I think Matlock - Buxton is Economic and Socio-Economic also. It was an act of the purest stupidity to close it.

Oh, oh, so easy to be the wise one, 50 years afterwards, isn't it?

In contrast to you, I'd say that given the economic losses and foreseable trends at the time, it was probably one of the most sensible closures BR ever made. It was, in today's parlance, a "no-brainer" I'd say.

True, [St Pancras] - Derby/Nottingham - Manchester trains took what, 20-25 mins or so longer for the journey, but they went via Chesterfield, a far more important traffic generator than Matlock. (As you may know, in 68 there was no such thing as an hourly Liverpool-Sheffield-Notthingham-Norwich service. It just didn't exist. So sending the 1 train per 2 hour service via Chesterfield and Dore south at least provided some sort of Chesterfield-Manchester service without going into Sheffield and walking to Victoria. )

Don't get me wrong: I'd love to see it re-opened today. I'd love to have seen it cut down to a single line with passing loops in 68, and thus the route saved. But at that time, with BR management under enormous pressure reduce losses and traffic falling away to the car and bus, I believe it looked like an easy saving with relatively little downside.

Anyway, your post has got me to contribute to this thread, which I originally refused to read. I'd rather see a thread titled something like: Five lines (15 is far too many) you would like to reopen, but on condition that you are prepared to stump up £1,000 for every million lost in annual operating costs out of your personal money once they are opened.
 

70014IronDuke

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One of the Leicester-Rugby routes could do with re-opening (either the MCR or MR line), Leicester is criminally poorly connected for a city of its size (compare with nearby Nottingham; a city of approximately the same size). .... ..

The lack of connectivity between the Midland and WCML all the way from Euston to Nuneaton is indeed a tragedy, IMO. (Bletchley to Bedford is not really a 'serious' connection from a strategic pov, and didnt' exist until the closure of the old St Johns in any case.)

And yes, probably* the best route to have been kept would have been the Midland from Rugby. (* Was it a high speed turnout at Rugby? I'm not sure). But, in practice, that was the first to go! There are housing estates all over it now south of Leicester, so no chance of re-opening.

Northampton to Wellingborough was what, about 13 miles? Such a loss. IF only the government had insisted that BR could close the GC north of Calvert, but only on condition of running a new Aylesbury-Calvert-Bletchley-Northampton-Wellingborouogh-Corby-Melton-Nottingham Midland service.
 

61653 HTAFC

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Oh, oh, so easy to be the wise one, 50 years afterwards, isn't it?

In contrast to you, I'd say that given the economic losses and foreseable trends at the time, it was probably one of the most sensible closures BR ever made. It was, in today's parlance, a "no-brainer" I'd say.

True, [St Pancras] - Derby/Nottingham - Manchester trains took what, 20-25 mins or so longer for the journey, but they went via Chesterfield, a far more important traffic generator than Matlock. (As you may know, in 68 there was no such thing as an hourly Liverpool-Sheffield-Notthingham-Norwich service. It just didn't exist. So sending the 1 train per 2 hour service via Chesterfield and Dore south at least provided some sort of Chesterfield-Manchester service without going into Sheffield and walking to Victoria. )

Don't get me wrong: I'd love to see it re-opened today. I'd love to have seen it cut down to a single line with passing loops in 68, and thus the route saved. But at that time, with BR management under enormous pressure reduce losses and traffic falling away to the car and bus, I believe it looked like an easy saving with relatively little downside.

Anyway, your post has got me to contribute to this thread, which I originally refused to read. I'd rather see a thread titled something like: Five lines (15 is far too many) you would like to reopen, but on condition that you are prepared to stump up £1,000 for every million lost in annual operating costs out of your personal money once they are opened.
Why is 15 too many? And what's with all this pragmatism and realism, eh? Where's the fun in that?

Surely in the History and Nostalgia section we can put economics aside and be sentimental on a thread like this one? ;)
 

Taunton

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(Settle & Carlisle) Cannot see any much freight future , though the Sunday Times mentioned a tendancy for more coal burning as coal prices fall ,
I was surprised while waiting at Carlisle to see one of the few remaining coal trains come through, from the Scottish opencast sites by Kilmarnock to Drax, and it was not routed by the S&C, which I would have thought a given, but on via Gateshead and the ECML.
 

70014IronDuke

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Why is 15 too many? And what's with all this pragmatism and realism, eh? Where's the fun in that?

Surely in the History and Nostalgia section we can put economics aside and be sentimental on a thread like this one? ;)

It depends on how much time I've got. But for me, the problem with threads that cast the net far and wide is that there will probably be some good, interesting and valuable comment worth thinking about from posters who know their subject well, mixed in with large dollops of wish wish. If people want threads about Dreamland Rail Reopenings Ltd, ok, fine - I just wish it could be cordoned off in Dreamland threads.
Mind you, if certain reopening threads appear again that I dare not mention, I could have palpitations merely from the appearance of the title. :)
 

61653 HTAFC

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It depends on how much time I've got. But for me, the problem with threads that cast the net far and wide is that there will probably be some good, interesting and valuable comment worth thinking about from posters who know their subject well, mixed in with large dollops of wish wish. If people want threads about Dreamland Rail Reopenings Ltd, ok, fine - I just wish it could be cordoned off in Dreamland threads.
Mind you, if certain reopening threads appear again that I dare not mention, I could have palpitations merely from the appearance of the title. :)
Surely though, if a proposal has any legs (even with enthusiasm bias) then the place for discussion of it is elsewhere. I interpreted this thread as being for discussion of those lines we missed out on or have good memories of. "I wish that line were still open" rather than "I think this line SHOULD re-open".

I think I know which thread you refer to, and I did list it in my 15. But as much as I like the idea of it, I know it'll never happen!
 

backontrack

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Anyway, your post has got me to contribute to this thread, which I originally refused to read. I'd rather see a thread titled something like: Five lines (15 is far too many) you would like to reopen, but on condition that you are prepared to stump up £1,000 for every million lost in annual operating costs out of your personal money once they are opened.
Start a new thread then. What 61653 HTAFC says is correct, though you can mention any line you want here.
 
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