Extent of Quadruple Track from London termini

[Lucan]

Trivia, or is it? Up to what points are the main lines from London quadruple track? I think I know some, correct me if I am wrong :-

Brighton Line to a little north of Balcombe Tunnel
GWR main line to Steventon
LSWR to Worting Junction, just west of Basingstoke
Midland Main Line to Sharnbrook (Unusually goes to three tracks)

Any more?

 

[cactustwirly]

Trivia, or is it? Up to what points are the main lines from London quadruple track? I think I know some, correct me if I am wrong :-

Brighton Line to a little north of Balcombe Tunnel
GWR main line to Steventon
LSWR to Worting Junction, just west of Basingstoke
Midland Main Line to Sharnbrook (Unusually goes to three tracks)

Any more?

Also the MML from Syston North Jct to Trent Jct

 

[Dr Hoo]

Great Eastern Liverpool Street to Shenfield

 

[swt_passenger]

Also the MML from Syston North Jct to Trent Jct

I think the OP meant continuously, when he wrote “up to what points”...

 

[liam456]

ECML almost until Peterborough except for across the Welwyn Viaduct

 

[Bald Rick]

How wide is the space allowed to be between the middle two tracks of the four?

 

[eMeS]

How about the WCML from Euston to Hanslope Junction (lines actually separate north of Roade).

 

[Mugby]

How wide is the space allowed to be between the middle two tracks of the four?

The normal standard space is 10 feet.

 

[Tomnick]

How wide is the space allowed to be between the middle two tracks of the four?

As long as fifteen miles is acceptable, you'll soon be able to get as far as Ilkeston Junction?

 

[Mugby]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that the Midland line from St. Pancras to Glendon South, 75 miles, used to hold the record for the longest stretch of quadruple track in the world?

 

[Bald Rick]

The normal standard space is 10 feet.

It isn’t. The normal terminology is “10 foot”. But it can be all sorts of distances. For example on the WCML between Roade and Hilmorton it can be several miles wide.

 

[Mugby]

It isn’t. The normal terminology is “10 foot”. But it can be all sorts of distances. For example on the WCML between Roade and Hilmorton it can be several miles wide.

Er, why ask the question if you already knew the answer?

 

[Lucan]

How about the WCML from Euston to Hanslope Junction (lines actually separate north of Roade).

Re: Roade-Northhampton-Rugby, I think it still counts as quad even if the slow lines wander away as long as they rejoin later. Like the Redhill and Quarry lines on the Brighton line. The WCML is even six-track to Watford, although the Local (ie Overground) lines wander off quite a way to Watford High Street en route.

Sorry, but where is Hanslope Junction?

 

[eMeS]

...

Sorry, but where is Hanslope Junction?

Hanslope Junction is about 2-4 miles north of Wolverton on the WCML (and Wolverton is the station north of MKC).

 

[Bald Rick]

Er, why ask the question if you already knew the answer?

It was specifically for this thread, ie to determine the longest extent of 4 tracking, how far can the gap between the tracks be?

Because if it is a standard “10 foot”* then it will be St Pancras to Sharnbrook. If it is allowed to be any distance on the same route, then it is Euston to Brinklow.

* interestingly, most of the WCML south of Roade doesn’t actually have a 10 foot that is a standard 10 feet.

 

[FGW_DID]

GWR main line to Steventon

Only as far as Didcot. After Didcot it’s three lines, back to four at Milton until Steventon.

 

[twpsaesneg]

Fenchurch Street to Christian Street Junction.

(About 1 mile)

 

[yorksrob]

London Bridge to Orpington.

If we're counting the Quarry line, one would be tempted to say Victoria to Swanley (counting the Catford loop), although strictly speaking there's a short bit with three tracks North of Factory junction, so maybe a bit tenuous.

 

[edwin_m]

As long as fifteen miles is acceptable, you'll soon be able to get as far as Ilkeston Junction?

Part of the Corby-Manton line is still single track with no plans to re-double it.

 

[A0wen]

ECML almost until Peterborough except for across the Welwyn Viaduct

Though you have got the Hertford Loop, so in some ways you could argue it is a 4 track railway all the way.

 

[edwin_m]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that the Midland line from St. Pancras to Glendon South, 75 miles, used to hold the record for the longest stretch of quadruple track in the world?

I thought it was just in the UK, and presumably will be so again when the current upgrade is complete. Although it is now only 2 tracks into St Pancras.

 

[yorkie]

I thought it was just in the UK, and presumably will be so again when the current upgrade is complete. Although it is now only 2 tracks into St Pancras.

4 track into St Pancras, surely? (2 into high level platforms and 2 into low level platforms)

 

[RichardN]

Er, why ask the question if you already knew the answer?

Because the precise rules effect the answer. For example the Brighton line only gets as far as Stoat's nest if you want to be really picky.

 

[Kite159]

Charing Cross to Ewer Street Junction* [between Waterloo East & London bridge], so just over a mile

 

[AndrewE]

How about the WCML from Euston to Hanslope Junction (lines actually separate north of Roade).

I would have said Euston to Crewe S Jn, as there are 4 or 6 (or more) lines all the way - until you get to the 3 track pinch point visible here: http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/crewe#T_CREWE

 

[Tobbes]

Waterloo - Barnes, on the Windsor side (unless you want to count the Hounslow loop?)

 

[Tomnick]

Part of the Corby-Manton line is still single track with no plans to re-double it.

Which bit?

 

[swt_passenger]

Charing Cross to Ewer Street Junction* [between Waterloo East & London bridge], so just over a mile

But the four tracks still go well beyond London Bridge. Although two are normally reserved for Thameslink from that point on the four tracking still functionally exists.

 

[Lucan]

.... the Brighton line only gets as far as Stoat's nest if you want to be really picky.

The Quarry Line, which is the Brighton fast lines turning away from the slows at Stoats Nest and rejoining south of Redhill (having tunnelled under it) and having no stations on it, is operationally no different from if it stayed 10ft from the slow lines and went through Redhill without platform faces. Same with the Northampton loop on the WCML. But I don't think it can count if both branches have stations (like the Richmond and Hounslow lines re-joining at Feltham Jcn) otherwise you could cite the EC&WCMLs to say there are quad tracks all the way to Edinburgh!*

* Oh, wait - that's a single lead junction at Carstairs!

 

[Kite159]

But the four tracks still go well beyond London Bridge. Although two are normally reserved for Thameslink from that point on the four tracking still functionally exists.

Although where would you draw the line on the other side of London Bridge when those Thameslink tracks head towards New Cross Gate with the 2 tracks used by Charing Cross trains dive underneath to carry on towards New Cross to run alongside the tracks from Cannon Street?