DarloRich
Veteran Member
Isn't Bletchley essentially 'MK South Parkway, for East / West purposes? Given a decent frequent shuttle bus to central and other parts of MK, would that not do for MK?
just change trains and get the bus from central MK - the service is better than from Beltchley - although if E-W actually provides a station entrance facing the town centre that might allow for a proper bus interchange on that side of the station. ( Benchley station faces Old Blethcley, rather than the current town centre that must date from the 1960's)
Where would this new southern E/W non stop line to Bedford go, exactly, crayons invited? Do either of you have a feeling for that?
The big problem ( beyond the massive cost) is that the new route doesn't serve anywhere between MK & Bedford. I doubt you can get into Olney or Newport Pagnell and i am unsure how the benefit of this line would be calculated when the route beyond Bedford isnt known.
The mini crayon idea is to create the third side of the triangle between Denbigh Hall Junction and the Marston Vale line and have trains run to MLK and reverse. That option requires the demolition of a trading estate, quite a bit of earth works and the removal of a depot and stabling sidings.
If we are going for full on crayoning a new line would have to swing away from the WCML somewhere between Wolverton/Castlethorpe/Hanslope and follow the approximate route of the A422. You have got to cross the M1 and miss all the lakes/flood plains to the north of MK then cross the Great Ouse, swing round the top of Newport Pagnell, North of Cranfield and then off towards Kempston Hardwick, crossing the A421. Or build a tunnel from somewhere near Woburn Sands or just not bother.
For the full super crayon approach you could also put in a triangular MML/Marston Vale junction somewhere between Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick
My money is on: Not bother.