Hi everyone,
I've been quite busy recently hence being quiet, but I'm back to answer some of your questions.
At the moment with the service levels and pattern it is more efficient to keep it to 2 tracks - it simplifies installation, maintenance and crossing moves.
When EWR comes in it will likely 9but not definitely) go to 4 tracks as the greater service level will drive infrastructure changes at Cambridge that affect the conflicting movements at the south end of the station.
Correct. Each project needs to focus on delivering it's fundamental reqirements, even if this does result in some wasted effort between projects.
With CSIE, we're in construction, whereas East-West rail is still in the early stages. At present, we know that, if it does come through on a South alignmnt, then the FTN node will need to move a second time, some of the new S&C we are installing will need to come back out again, and there will be several areas where our works will be removed. There will also be a few changes to the station itself.
However, we don't yet know whether EW rail is definately coming at all, if it is whether it's coming South, and even then if it's going to be subject to further review/delay/re-planning/whatever etc as it goes through it's next stages. Anything could happen yet. So we need to focus our project on our goals. Sure, we're allowing for EW rail in various places where it's easy to do so (and there are some instances where this is definately happening with what we're installing), but not in any major sense which would cost any significant additional money.
Also, the land take we have is what we need for our permanent arrangement. EW rail would need more for the additional tracks, and that's a huge new legal process which takes a lot of time, so we just can't wait for that.
At best EW rail is 5 or 6 or more years behind CSIE.
Does anybody know what the line speed will be through the new station?
It’s currently 90mph on both lines - will these speeds remain?
Will the up line through platform 1 still be 90mph; I’m guessing the existing down line will become the second up line (platform 2) so may reduce speed limit?
And the new lines to the west which will be the down lines (platforms 3 and 4) be slower say 70mph or 50mph?
80mph on the main lines (Central two - P2/3), 60mph on the loops.
The reduction is due to the increased frequency of traffic and the reduction in signal separation.
There aren't any 'extra lines' so to speak. There will be a much longer merge for Shepreth Branch Jn that will have the appearance of 3-track but isn't, and there is an existing Down Loop just outside Cambridge that AIUI isn't being touched.
Correct. Cambridge Down loop remains untouched.
New '3rd' track at Shepreth is purely for the higher speed merge fron the Royston lines.
Yes, though I think the new up loop won't be much longer than a 12 car train, and definitely less than 800m. I think it converges with the up line somewhere near the end of Purbeck Road.
Hills road loop isn't really a new loop in the normal sense - it's not anything long to park trains in - that's not it's purpose at all. it's just a new crosover to add a parallel move to Cambridge station. It enables trains to exit the sidings or platform 8 whilst another one goes into platform 7 for example.
It doesn't go as far as Purbeck road.
