scott118
Member
Doesn't NR insist contractors now adhere to a 12hr door to door, max 8hr nightshift policy? Hidden dictates 12/72/13.
Update: the line will now remain closed "until further notice".
I doubt it. Why would that make any sense?Next step closure notice?
That would be hugely expensive & very politically unpopular.Next step closure notice?
Because the line obviously isn't needed if it can be out of service for an entire year without any impact other than an inability to stop trains at a station which serves nothing other than a no longer running pub?I doubt it. Why would that make any sense?
Because the line obviously isn't needed if it can be out of service for an entire year without any impact other than an inability to stop trains at a station which serves nothing other than a no longer running pub?
I don't want that to happen, by the way, but I can see why it might.
This raises a few problems: 1) Where do you route the express services without putting them behind the stoppers? 2) What do you do with Berney Arms station given that it is supposed to have a train service in perputity? 3) What do passengers wishing to travel from Reedham to Gt Yarmouth do? Without the line the only method is to get a train (in the opposite direction) to Brundall / Norwich and then a connecting service to Gt Yarmouth. Wouldn't that take too long for these travellers? 4) What do you do with increased traffic on the roads which is likely to occur as a result? 5) What is the point in replacing all the signals, only to close the line?Because the line obviously isn't needed if it can be out of service for an entire year without any impact other than an inability to stop trains at a station which serves nothing other than a no longer running pub?
I don't want that to happen, by the way, but I can see why it might.
No. 12 hours site time, 14 hours door to door. Not heard of 8 hours nightshift policy, but some contractors may well put restrictions on.Doesn't NR insist contractors now adhere to a 12hr door to door, max 8hr nightshift policy? Hidden dictates 12/72/13.
Or just take the saving, why waste it on the Acle route which has no significant capacity issues.*Muses*
Supposing you saved the cost of re-instating and continuing to maintain the Berney Arms route and stuffed the money saved into upping the capability of the more useful Acle route instead....
Or just take the saving, why waste it on the Acle route which has no significant capacity issues.
No. 12 hours site time, 14 hours door to door. Not heard of 8 hours nightshift policy, but some contractors may well put restrictions on.
Even just a short extension of Acle loop to make it 'Dynamic' or something, plus maybe some 'quick win' line speed improvements (if any exist).
Get any trouble on the Acle single, then the Reedham route is a quick fix, likewise, issues with Reedham to Lowestoft, they get diverted from Reedham to Yarmouth, with the long sections on the Acle, there would not be enough space
My point is to fix it so there is enough space!
Too many passive LX to do anything with Linespeeds (and hell I’ve tried).Even just a short extension of Acle loop to make it 'Dynamic' or something, plus maybe some 'quick win' line speed improvements (if any exist).
Because the line obviously isn't needed if it can be out of service for an entire year without any impact other than an inability to stop trains at a station which serves nothing other than a no longer running pub?
I don't want that to happen, by the way, but I can see why it might.
Would the signalling permit this?Out of interest, is there in principle any possible mileage in using the line to run Lowestoft-Yarmouth services, reversing at Reedham?
Out of interest, is there in principle any possible mileage in using the line to run Lowestoft-Yarmouth services, reversing at Reedham?
How about making tickets to/from Lowestoft valid to/from Gt Yarmouth? That way people can go to Lowestoft, get a bus to Gt Yarmouth and then a train home from there without having to either return to Lowestoft or buy a ticket to Reedham/Brundall?Only if you enjoy pouring money down a drain. The X1 bus service runs every half hour.
To be fair, seaside towns seem to have ups and downs these days. A few years ago, Folkestone seemed to be on its uppers, however recently it's undergone a bit of a renaissance. Would it be wise to consign Great Yarmouth to single track oblivion on the basis of a current ebb in fortunes ?
I don't think they should abolish the Berney Route, but I also think Gt Yarmouth has little chance of a similar renaissance. The top of the North Norfolk Coast around Wells has been on the up for years and even Sheringham and Lowestoft are on the up but Yarmouth is just something else.
Would the signalling permit this?
Only if you enjoy pouring money down a drain. The X1 bus service runs every half hour.
Add the 1/1A as well onto that. Buses depart Lowestoft xx:00/xx:15/xx:30/xx:45 So not much use for a train service other than to provide something for enthusiasts.
The trains that take 24mins stop 3 times and until resignalling it is a slow approach to Oulton Broad North in the up direction due to the level crossing. Line speed is 60mph except for 30mph over Somerleyton Swing Bridge & the 20mph around the Reedham/Reedham Swing Bridge curve. Trains usually arrive Reedham a minute or so early.Do I spy one of these traps coming where if there are only a few buses, that proves there'd be no demand for the train, but if there are lots of buses that proves you don't need a train...
Looking at it a bit more, I see the X1/X11 also runs from Norwich to Yarmouth every 15 minutes and takes only a few minutes longer than the train. That may have some relevance to the 'you can't have a train if there's a bus every 15 minutes' argument... Maybe you're right and there are other reasons why a train wouldn't be viable, but I don't think you could deduce that purely from the frequent buses.
I also see the 1/X1 take between 45 and 55 minutes to go the just under 10 miles between Lowestoft and Yarmouth. So I would guess that whether a train would attract much custom would depend in part on whether the train can beat that journey time. Checking a few timetables, it looks like about 13-15 minutes from Yarmouth to Reedham, and 24-26 minutes from Lowestoft to Reedham, so that doesn't look very hopeful . (How on Earth does it take about 25 minutes to get between Lowestoft and Reedham?!?!? The linespeeds must megaslow)