Beaulieu Park Station Construction

[Adrian1980uk]

I would imagine at the moment the signaller cannot see the Station Loop. Its just shown on the IECC workstation as a part of the Up Main. Trains are currently using the (future) Loop with a 50mph speed restriction passing the station site.

Yes even when the other line comes back into operation at Christmas, there will be no looping as there isn't really any opportunities to gain anything by sending an intercity express ahead of the local stopper I wouldn't have thought.

 

[fat_boy_pete]

Yes even when the other line comes back into operation at Christmas, there will be no looping as there isn't really any opportunities to gain anything by sending an intercity express ahead of the local stopper I wouldn't have thought.

Presumably the Chelmsford morning starters are the candidates for using the loop platform

 

[GraphitProjekt]

What is the work going at the substation north of Beaulieu park? Is it an upgrade to Springfield feeder station or just to do with the new housing?

 

[dk1]

What is the work going at the substation north of Beaulieu park? Is it an upgrade to Springfield feeder station or just to do with the new housing?

Work has been going on there for several years now.

 

[Sunil_P]

New up track in place, but electrification still in progress.

 

[Alfie1014]

OLE on the up line through the station looks to have been installed during the blockade yesterday it certainly wasn’t when I passed through last week.

 

[dk1]

New up track in place, but electrification still in progress.

Up fast line has been in place a good while now albeit not in use. Overheads having wires attached and go 'live' very soon. Was a date in the latest weekly operating notice but I didn't pay much attention.

 

[greaterangrier]

The first passenger trains look to be passing through Platform 1 today, albeit at a reduced speed. The new signals also look to be in use - was very swiftly updated on signalmaps and opentraintimes!

 

[Adrian1980uk]

The first passenger trains look to be passing through Platform 1 today, albeit at a reduced speed. The new signals also look to be in use - was very swiftly updated on signalmaps and opentraintimes!

They're really getting on with it now, looking like it will open in 2025 as planned and not delayed

 

[Canary73]

Travelled back to from Norwich today as has been the case after a few home games and it generally slows on the approach to Beaulieu but gets into Chelmsford on time. Be interesting to see what the service pattern north is and what bus connections there are. I don't have a great deal of faith in the local authorities and First Bus to sort that though given current experiences. Trains and buses often fail to connect.

 

[fat_boy_pete]

Travelled back to from Norwich today as has been the case after a few home games and it generally slows on the approach to Beaulieu but gets into Chelmsford on time. Be interesting to see what the service pattern north is and what bus connections there are. I don't have a great deal of faith in the local authorities and First Bus to sort that though given current experiences. Trains and buses often fail to connect.

Likewise, today it was interesting to pass through the station on the new up line, albeit still at TSR speed of 50mph. As the Down line has been allowed to work at line speed for a few months now, it will be interesting to see when the TSR is removed from the up. Presumably after a month or so once the new formation has proven itself at 50? And when that happens, it will add a bit more slack in an already slack set of sectional timings.

 

[dk1]

Likewise, today it was interesting to pass through the station on the new up line, albeit still at TSR speed of 50mph. As the Down line has been allowed to work at line speed for a few months now, it will be interesting to see when the TSR is removed from the up. Presumably after a month or so once the new formation has proven itself at 50? And when that happens, it will add a bit more slack in an already slack set of sectional timings.

It’s only usually a week or so at 50.

 

[fat_boy_pete]

It’s only usually a week or so at 50.

Ah, thanks. The road certainly felt very secure through the TSR.

 

[Class15]

What a missed opportunity to not add 775m loops for freight trains here - simply holding them in the middle platform would have been so helpful to GEML timekeeping and reliability. What a great shame.

 

[dk1]

What a missed opportunity to not add 775m loops for freight trains here - simply holding them in the middle platform would have been so helpful to GEML timekeeping and reliability. What a great shame.

There was a reason why it wasn't but can't recall what it was.

 

[THC]

Travelled back to from Norwich today as has been the case after a few home games and it generally slows on the approach to Beaulieu but gets into Chelmsford on time. Be interesting to see what the service pattern north is and what bus connections there are. I don't have a great deal of faith in the local authorities and First Bus to sort that though given current experiences. Trains and buses often fail to connect.

Chelmsford resident here. Never had a problem with train/bus connections locally although that's merely my experience (the plural of anecdote is not data, etc.)

As an aside, has a date for opening the new station been given/confirmed? If not, does anyone know when we are likely to find out? Thank you.

THC

 

[fat_boy_pete]

There was a reason why it wasn't but can't recall what it was.

There's a a detailed discussion with informed contributors upthread, describing the issues and reasons, mainly the geometry. I recall that the middle loop is approximately the same size as the Witham loops. The detail is all there.

 

[dk1]

There's a a detailed discussion with informed contributors upthread, describing the issues and reasons, mainly the geometry. I recall that the middle loop is approximately the same size as the Witham loops. The detail is all there.

Cheers. We have a history of too short a loops on the GEML. Might aswell stick with tradition

 

[fat_boy_pete]

Cheers. We have a history of too short a loops on the GEML. Might aswell stick with tradition

Found the details from November 23 https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/beaulieu-park-station-construction.189267/post-6480649

 

[dk1]

Found the details from November 23 https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/beaulieu-park-station-construction.189267/post-6480649

Thanks mate. Driving through today it looks as if any provision for 775m would be extremely tight (thanks to an under bridge then neutral section at the north end) with the track layout that was chosen. Anything else would have required lower turnouts thus negating any advantage freight would have entering the loop. To be honest in that case you might as well let the darn things keep running at 75mph.

 

[fat_boy_pete]

Thanks mate. Driving through today it looks as if any provision for 775m would be extremely tight (thanks to an under bridge then neutral section at the north end) with the track layout that was chosen. Anything else would have required lower turnouts thus negating any advantage freight would have entering the loop. To be honest in that case you might as well let the darn things keep running at 75mph.

Yes, I think that was the informed conclusion of the previous discussion. The loop would only be used for the Chelmsford starters and any freight use wouldn't be regularly timetabled and only used in times of disruption.

 

[dk1]

Yes, I think that was the informed conclusion of the previous discussion. The loop would only be used for the Chelmsford starters and any freight use wouldn't be regularly timetabled and only used in times of disruption.

Unfortunately there’s no Chelmsford starters anymore but think the timetable will get a mild restructure to some extent.

 

[fat_boy_pete]

Unfortunately there’s no Chelmsford starters anymore but think the timetable will get a mild restructure to some extent.

Ah, the perils of retiring as a daily Commuter during Lockdown and missing the reality of a post pandemic Rush Hour!

 

[Class15]

To be honest in that case you might as well let the darn things keep running at 75mph.

But the Norwich services are very limited stop and can get up to 100 - surely the freight should be being looped?

 

[Horizon22]

Ah, the perils of retiring as a daily Commuter during Lockdown and missing the reality of a post pandemic Rush Hour!

There's still a couple of Witham starters.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

I didn't use the railways in this area at all until 2 years ago, I assumed Chelmsford starters were a wild kind of 1960s thing back when all 4 of platforms were used on the stations between Stratford and Shenfield. As far as I understand the generic hourly timetable is 2tph Norwich, 1tph Ipswich, 1tph Clacton, 1tph Colchester Town, 1tph Braintree - I think there is a peak times 1tph to Colchester. What kind of stopping pattern and frequency did Chelmsford starters have?

 

[JCO1406]

I didn't use the railways in this area at all until 2 years ago, I assumed Chelmsford starters were a wild kind of 1960s thing back when all 4 of platforms were used on the stations between Stratford and Shenfield. As far as I understand the generic hourly timetable is 2tph Norwich, 1tph Ipswich, 1tph Clacton, 1tph Colchester Town, 1tph Braintree - I think there is a peak times 1tph to Colchester. What kind of stopping pattern and frequency did Chelmsford starters have?

Chelmsford starters was only during peak and usually stopped at Ingatestone, Shenfield and Stratford. I used to get that train when going to uni last year

 

[Class15]

There's still a couple of Witham starters.

Surely moving those to Beaulieu Park would mean a reduction in trains to Witham?

 

[dk1]

But the Norwich services are very limited stop and can get up to 100 - surely the freight should be being looped?

The GEML can’t work like that unfortunately. Freight is usually timed ahead with the stops at Manningtree, Colchester & Chelmsford giving it time to keep in front. After Chelmsford it’s only a mixture of 85/90 so not so much of a problem. Since the Elizabeth line started there’s little to no paths available on the Electric Lines either. Witham is the only loop capable of holding them and then only the up loop (platform 1) is of any realistic use.

 

[Horizon22]

Surely moving those to Beaulieu Park would mean a reduction in trains to Witham?

Yes it would. But the question then is to whether it’s considered that a) Witham is just a suitable starting location due to platform capacity or b) whether there is capacity for Beaulieu Park starters additionally.