Housing developer plans to re-open Goldsborough station

[numero uno]

https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/20...-historic-railway-station-near-knaresborough/

Sounds like an interesting proposal. If they do it right and everything that is being proposed (new village, science park, p&r) comes off then this could be quite a heavily used station.

That section of the line is single track though so I wonder if the plans include reinstating some of the the double track between Knaresborough and Cattal.

 

[Grumpy]

https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/20...-historic-railway-station-near-knaresborough/



That section of the line is single track though so I wonder if the plans include reinstating some of the the double track between Knaresborough and Cattal.

Isn't one of the constraints with this line the need to cross trains from the branch over all the ECML tracks and then back again into the bay at York?
I recall there was a proposal to solve this conflict by running up the York avoiding line then via a new curve entering the station from the south. However this probably wouldn't now be possible as NR erected an office building on the site. Barmy considering all the other places they could have put it, or even needed it.

 

[30907]

Isn't one of the constraints with this line the need to cross trains from the branch over all the ECML tracks and then back again into the bay at York?
I recall there was a proposal to solve this conflict by running up the York avoiding line then via a new curve entering the station from the south. However this probably wouldn't now be possible as NR erected an office building on the site. Barmy considering all the other places they could have put it, or even needed it.

Yes, it is, but
(1) I doubt a station at Goldsborough would require a substantial increase in service frequency and
(2) if it became necessary, there is room to reinstate an independent running line parallel to the ECML - it wouldn't be cheap as it would mean slewing track, but it could be done.

 

[The Lad]

The branch trains don't have to cross all the ECML tracks, they can use the down line if there is a gap in the northbound services.

 

[numero uno]

Isn't one of the constraints with this line the need to cross trains from the branch over all the ECML tracks and then back again into the bay at York?
I recall there was a proposal to solve this conflict by running up the York avoiding line then via a new curve entering the station from the south. However this probably wouldn't now be possible as NR erected an office building on the site. Barmy considering all the other places they could have put it, or even needed it.

It's one of a number of constraints between Harrogate and York:

• Level crossing at Starbeck for the A59 where traffic quickly builds whenever a train arrives
• Two significant single track sections, Knaresborough-Cattal and Hammerton-Poppleton
• Bottleneck at Skelton Junction
• Semaphore signals between Harrogate and York and token system in operation for the single track sections.

NYCC had got the funding to double track the Knaresborough-Cattal section, with Network Rail upgrading the signals at the same time. The line was also supposed to be top of the electrification list as well as a proposed re-routing into York to avoid the ECML. Then Network Rail decided they couldn't afford to do the signals and electrification has been forgotten about. Now the double tracking has been dropped and instead they are implementing signal and points upgrades that will supposedly allow them to run two trains an hour between Harrogate and York.

As mentioned above, the new station probably won't affect the service frequency. It is though on the section of single track that they were going to double track but then decided not to, and presumably they will have to double track some of it if the new station is built.

 

[30907]

• Now the double tracking has been dropped and instead they are implementing signal and points upgrades that will supposedly allow them to run two trains an hour between Harrogate and York.....
  presumably they will have to double track some of it if the new station is built.[/QUOTE]

2 tph already operate at peak times, the real benefit is in closing the manual boxes. You could add 2min for a Goldsboro stop and maintain a 30min interval even with present stock.

 

[InOban]

Except that to build a station on a double track section, with PRM access to both platforms, costs several times as much as one on a single track.

 

[yorksrob]

They should get Bobby Goldsboro to do the opening ceremony and sing "Summer the First Time".

 

[Grumpy]

I don’t think anyone has suggested that the proposed new station in itself would justify increasing the service level-the pressure for that is already there.

It’s debatable whether there is truly a half hourly peak service. Trains leave York for Harrogate at 0649, 0756, and 0846. In the evening they leave Harrogate for York at 1606, 1706 and 1806.

Whilst times can be arranged so that trains pass between Cattal and Hammerton you are still left with crossing the ECML-twice if you run half hourly. I note the comment that they could use the down fast but in my experience that rarely happens. Similarly the comment that you could slew track and provide an independent running line –the cost for that would surely be astronomical.

It seems bizarre that so much is being spent by Network Rail on the ECML to cut out conflicts (e.g. Hitchin, Shaftholme , Joint line upgrading, possibly Peterborough) yet a simple means to keep Harrogate trains off the ECML has been stymied because someone in Network Rail decided to build an office block.

 

[cnicht]

On the Developers website http://flaxbypark.com/flaxby_park_features.html
it does not mention a new railway station, only bus links have been mentioned.
We have not been consulted on the matter. The timetable can be tweaked to allow for slowing down, station stop, and acceleration of about 3 to 4 minutes.

Harrogate Line Rail User Group

 

[deltic08]

On the Developers website http://flaxbypark.com/flaxby_park_features.html
it does not mention a new railway station, only bus links have been mentioned.

But the developer Chris Musgrave is quoted as saying he is in talks with Network Rail about reopening a station renamed Flaxby Park.
Did you expect to be consulted on this?

 

[greyman42]

Developers have been known to put forward suggestions that are beneficial to selling the houses that are quickly forgotten once the houses are sold.