Shaw S Hunter
Established Member
So we have 1 train that could run via Ripon and 4 more if we take the most charitable routing possible. That doesn't seem like a great basis for investment! Where do you suggest the extra freight to justify this line would come from?
any Ripon to Northallerton wouldn't wash it's face as they say. Harrogate to Ripon MIGHT just pass muster. Might.
Ripon-Northallerton as an ECML diversionary route is dependent on restoring all sides of the former triangle at Starbeck allowing trains to divert from Skelton Jn. But of course that route contains single-track sections and the best case scenario for Harrogate-Ripon is with a mostly single-track route with a single dynamic passing loop. In other words for a re-opened Ripon line to handle any diversions it would require cancellation of all local services east and north of Harrogate. Unless of course all single-line sections were in fact doubled. If the scheme promoters could just stick with a basic Harrogate-Ripon line and ditch the grandiose visions of anything more they might find it easier to convince their local politicians. However it's worth noting that while the original campaign went by the name "Ripon Railway Reinstatement Group" it now prefers the name "Leeds Northern Railway Reinstatement Group", mirroring the name of the company that built the line to Northallerton.