Electrification of the Tyne Valley Line

[cosmo]

Title says it all really.

Doing this would allow Northern to provide faster services between Morpeth and Carlisle, via increased acceleration and a possible line speed upgrade since Pacers are being retired. They could possibly cascade 323s onto the route if they ever became free, or lease the now-DfT owned 365s. There's even a case for their new 331s on the route - it's a key rail link between the east and west coast mainlines.

It would also mean any diverted ECML/WCML services could run on electric power rather than diesel or needing a loco to haul them, reducing time lost there too.

 

[transmanche]

Doing this would allow Northern to provide faster services between Morpeth and Carlisle, via increased acceleration and a possible line speed upgrade since Pacers are being retired.

158s are appearing on Carlisle services but I think the line speed is no more than 65mph, so the units' top speed of 90mph is not being exploited.

An EMU would also be useful for the peak-time Chathill service. Personally, I would also like to see 365 used on a joint Northern-Scotrail service between Newcastle and Edinburgh - allowing LNER and XC to reduce the number of calls they make en route. But realistically, there aren't the paths.

They could possibly cascade 323s onto the route if they ever became free, or lease the now-DfT owned 365s.

I don't think the 323s would be suitable, but I'd absolutely love to ride on a 365 along the Tyne Valley line!

Can't see it ever happening though.

 

[Ploughman]

I think that the railway boundary's are a bit tight along the line when compared with other lines.
Could be a problem for erecting masts.

 

[Mag_seven]

Personally, I would also like to see 365 used on a joint Northern-Scotrail service between Newcastle and Edinburgh - allowing LNER and XC to reduce the number of calls they make en route.

I was thinking an hourly stopping service would be good but it would need to be interweaved with LNER and XC fasts through the use of loops.

 

[xotGD]

Class 90s on Mark 4 short sets on the fasts...

I think there are a couple of other east-west routes that are higher priorities for electrification.

 

[Osprey17]

I could see it done piecemeal to the Metrocentre, then Hexham, then looking at going further westwards. Pretty sure there would some clearance issues with a tunnel and the bypass crossing the line just east of Haltwhistle.

 

[td97]

3tph is the baseline minimum for electrification to have a decent BCR. Other factors come into play, such as mixed express and stopping services and freight use.
On the flip side, other more pressing matters also come into play, such as CLC, TP, and Bristol/Oxford areas all requiring enhancement funding/resources.
Waiting game for several years unfortunately, unless funding becomes available separate from NR funding cycles (think Skelmersdale with council funding).Very unlikely.