Electrification Study for Hull-Leeds

[GingerSte]

Not really that much more expensive, I'm sure someone will have exacting figures, but all you need is some taller posts...

It may present issues with increasing line speeds though, which in turn may end up reducing the benefits.

 

[Nym]

What kind of issues?

 

[GingerSte]

I would imagine the linespeeds are lower when there are pedestrian / vehicular crossings. I think that's why the Cross Country Route Modernisation (Sheffield - Birmingham) included replacing some foot crossings with footbridges to allow raised linespeeds.

 

[ainsworth74]

I would imagine the linespeeds are lower when there are pedestrian / vehicular crossings.

Not that much lower, you can have AHB up to around 100mph and from that speed upwards it's manual full barriers. As for foot crossings there are some on the ECML that cross sections where the line speed is 125mph. The replacement of crossings with bridges is more to fulfil a Network Rail aspiration to reduce the number of level crossings on the network in order to reduce the number of places where trains and people can come into direct contact with each other.

 

[GingerSte]

I didn't realise that you could get foot crossings on 125mph sections. I imagine it's only at locations where you can see a good distance down the track.

That being the case, I am more optimistic about the electrification. I don't imagine that NR are after 125mph on that route, although it would be interesting!

 

[Nym]

And since the Hull - Leeds linespeed isn't likely to get above 100mph for a looonnggg time then no worries about level crossings...

 

[PhilipW]

Although nothing is certain in the world of the Railways, I would have thought that extrending electrification from Micklefield Junction to Hull is about as certain as one can predict. With the little add-on branches to Sherburn and Temple Hirst it gives so many benefits as so many services can convert to electric running.

1) Hull - Liverpool TPE
2) Hull - Leeds (stopper)
3) Hull - York (stopper)
4) Hull - Kings Cross
5) Doncaster - Leeds alternate route

As a further benefit I think this increases the case for the proposed Leeds Parkway station near Micklefield. Then London services could perhaps alternate to run via Wakefield and Micklefield.

It is reported that Network Rail will report back to the DfT on their high level study next summer. I expect it will positive. So perhaps expect a statement from Justine Greening in the latter half of the year - e.g. just before the Tory conference. That's what I'd do if I was Minister of Transport.

No hurry as Network Rail have their hands full at the moment with the other schemes. Personally I regard it as a near certainity that Micklefield to Hull will be wired.

That in turn then has implications on the IEP fleet with fewer number of Bi-Modes required. But that's another story ...........

 

[Ploughman]

How long will it be before Marsh Lane Viaduct becomes the bottleneck it has always threatened to be?

I believe that there was a reserved corridor to enable another track to be built alongside until BR Property board sold it off around 1990 or thereabouts.

 

[Nym]

Well, if sod all stops there it has a major advantage over Castlefeild Viaduct, nothing stops on it. And the first stopping point at Crossgates can be out on a four track section so you're limited mainly by headways and timetabling.

12tph shouldn't be too much of an issue, and 16tph would be possible (since thats what NR have planned for Castlefeild Jcn - Oxford Road, with 14tph to Piccadilly...

At most I can see...

2tph XC
2tph EC
4/6tph TPE
2tph NT (Slows to York)
1tph Selby Slow
1tph Scarbrough - Blackpool N

 

[Waverley125]

It depends what you want to see. Personally, I think something like

2tph Leeds-Hull (TPE)
3tph Leeds-Newcastle/Middlesbrough/Sunderland (TPE)
2tph Leeds-Newcastle (XC)
1tph Leeds-Scotland (EC)
2tph Leeds-York (Northern)
2tph Leeds-Selby (Northern)

Total: 14tph

would provide the requisite level of service between Leeds & everywhere else. That said, it would cause massive problems both on Marsh Lane viaduct, and between Cross Gates & Micklefield. Double trouble if you wanted to open stations at places like East End Park & Killingbeck as well.

 

[Ploughman]

It depends what you want to see. Personally, I think something like

2tph Leeds-Hull (TPE)
3tph Leeds-Newcastle/Middlesbrough/Sunderland (TPE)
2tph Leeds-Newcastle (XC)
1tph Leeds-Scotland (EC)
2tph Leeds-York (Northern)
2tph Leeds-Selby (Northern)

Total: 14tph

would provide the requisite level of service between Leeds & everywhere else. That said, it would cause massive problems both on Marsh Lane viaduct, and between Cross Gates & Micklefield. Double trouble if you wanted to open stations at places like East End Park & Killingbeck as well.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
It depends what you want to see. Personally, I think something like

2tph Leeds-Hull (TPE)
3tph Leeds-Newcastle/Middlesbrough/Sunderland (TPE)
2tph Leeds-Newcastle (XC)
1tph Leeds-Scotland (EC)
2tph Leeds-York (Northern)
2tph Leeds-Selby (Northern)

Total: 14tph

would provide the requisite level of service between Leeds & everywhere else. That said, it would cause massive problems both on Marsh Lane viaduct, and between Cross Gates & Micklefield. Double trouble if you wanted to open stations at places like East End Park & Killingbeck as well.

Then add in a number of Leeds - Neville Hill runs plus a couple of freights. (Not many but some)