There are plenty of simple ways to limit access to local roads.
Yes. Most people who use the train will be on the much longer Thameslink trains.
Obviously. Universal will be on the hook for improvement works.
Shall we not over think this!
With respect, I don't think suggesting a relief line is a result of overthinking. As it stands the Thameslink and Midland Main Lines are already busy commuter routes into London from Bedford as it is, so no doubt that tourists visiting London might also be tempted to pay a visit to the park as part of their holidays. On some of me and my family's trips to Orlando we made the detour to Tampa for Busch Gardens which is further and less well connected than Bedford is to London, and even if you're not visiting the city itself you will likely be disembarking at one of it's major airports depending on where you come from.
I do - how many peopel are we expecting to come to this park? How many of those by rail?
I am sure - but, as the promotional literature for this park suggests, they will be going against the flow so to speak by using the train at times when it would be less busy. First thing in the morning the flow is INTO London not out.
Apparently 8.5 million in it's first year according to the BBC Article about the park's approval.
How many of these journeys will be made by rail is hard to say, but I do think that people are more likely to make the journey by rail with reliable and efficient journeys and connections. For me personally, I would have to travel through London in order to get to Bedford, however this could be made easier, shorter and ultimately cheaper with the East West Rail connection by enabling me to change at Milton Keynes Central. I also simply think that in principle we should try to encourage as many people as possible to travel to this new park by rail and coach rather than using their cars.
Okay so I will concede to underestimating the capacity of the seats per hour on the Thameslink line alone, however I do think this demonstrates how much more efficient trains are at transporting large numbers of people per hour which is why I still think encouraging a modal shift for park visitors to use the train would be a preferable option over using cars. For many people like me it would reduce the need to travel into London in order to change train and double back on myself.
Ok, lets just say that due to 2 sets of traffic lights quite close together (25 car lengths at most) it brings traffic to a standstill. To the point where people ignore the diamonds between the lights which means whether the light is red, green or amber, you cannot move forward. This happens all day long, and in really heavy traffic situations it backlogs to the town center, which then gets gridlocked as well. This is also one of the access points to Kempston which if exiting Kempston you also in long queue. The 2 railways have hampered any reform to these roads and even though traffic numbers are 10x what they were 50 years ago, nobody has done anything except put traffic lights up, which in some cases just makes it even worse.
There is not going to be a connection to Universal from Milton keynes central. Bletchley yes, but not MKC.
It would. I believe the scale of this project with Universal has only scoped for minimal expansion. If 13 million folk turn up and half by rail you'll be riding on the roof. What is worrying is the bias of visitors in the summer. Especially with our weather.
www.bedfordindependent.co.uk
MML alone would cope with 8000. A 12-car class 700 is 1754 standing+seating alone, and most will be on the underutilised morning northbound/evening southbound services. And that isn't including the EMR class 360 services.“We chose Bedford”: Universal Studios exec on why the theme park is coming here - Bedford Independent
Universal Studios exec Page Thompson says Bedford’s support was key to bringing the UK’s first Universal theme park to the area...
I took 8.5 million, divided that by 1/3rd and divided it again by 360 days it works out about 7000 8000 a day if its a good prediction.
Yeah, since most passengers for Universal will be going north when London commuters are going south in the morning, and London commuters are going north when Universal customers are going south in the evening its makes for a very convenient load in both directions. As I understand it Universal have done a deal with the government for Universal ticket options to include a cheaper rail ticket. I can't see any reason for Internationals to use any other mode of transport.“We chose Bedford”: Universal Studios exec on why the theme park is coming here - Bedford Independent
Universal Studios exec Page Thompson says Bedford’s support was key to bringing the UK’s first Universal theme park to the area...
I took 8.5 million, divided that by 1/3rd and divided it again by 360 days it works out about 7000 8000 a day if its a good prediction.
Just one change at Farringdon, it's not so bad.
They could probably stop a few there from the north in the period around opening time (10-1030, so after the getting to London peak), or maybe give it a weekend service as those will probably be the busy days for visitors from north of Bedford. Open the barriers at the appropriate times, as they used to when fast line trains stopped at Wimbledon, but have them closed the rest of the time. Means staffing the station, but if it's got that much traffic then that's probably needed anyway.
Fast line platforms on the East Coast Mail Line [south of Stevenage] are fenced.
I agree - and i think with some quite minor ( in the grand scheme) changes this can be encouraged.
That seems quite good to me!
Possibly - and I think this improves the business case for it. It isn't a straightforward or cheap option mind. The biggest practical issue being where do you build a new electric dept for WMT between London and Northampton/Rugby?
Depends how long the dwell is. The reversal is part of that. Best case would probably be a 3 minute penalty (1 minute dwell as part of a 4 minute reversal). Though I cannot see how a Bletchley stop is possible with a chord without a distant platform as I can't see the depot being moved, it would blow the scheme out of the water.
www.cambridge-news.co.uk
It's being reported that Universal will be enhancing Wixams and building a new station on EWR, so it is likely to have entrances on both sides. A short walk from the station to the entrance isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it provides some queueing space and spaces out the flow of people a bit as trains come in. There could be some kind of shuttle for those less able to walk.
And that's fine if that is the decision that is made, but the time penalty for the reversal is always going to near the top as an option as technically there is no cost.
And there are now 2 reversing options at Bletchley: Low level and high level platforms.
I don't think you would add a Belthcley stop. However....... \/
This cant be "hand waved" away and is a major problem - where, between London and Rugby do you build a new electric depot? ( and how much does it cost?)
Nope. Can't turn back at the high level towards Bedford.
