With the present track layout at Ashford it is not possible to run from HS1 direct onto the Hastings line. Accordingly it will require costly additional crossovers/points and associated signalling to be provide the connections.
The previous thread said no, it is not likely to happen - https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...er-marshlink-electrified.217681/#post-5147180
And extend third rail or run bimode battery units.
You don't need double track for trains to run faster. Re-doubling of a former twin track railway can sometimes result in speed reductions as track engineers had taken advantage of the wide formation to cut across curves when singling originally. There's often more room for cant and greater space for swaying of vehicles at speed (dynamic envelope).
Firstly, I don't see how the route via Ashford could be speeded up appreciably, even with a direct train. Secondly, with such a small journey time difference, abstraction from the slower route is likely to be minimal because you've got to consider the faff and possible unreliability of such a tight connection as well as the inevitable higher fare. Of course, some journeys may be more convenient via HS1, say if you were interchanging for a trip to The North from Kings Cross or St Pancras, or your business was in a part of N London nearby. A destination anywhere around Stratford and its Anglia connections favours HS1. I'm hoping the HS1 to Hastings direct idea will be quietly forgotten and options for better local service taken forward instead, which with frequency improvements could improve all travel options changing onto HS1 and other services at Ashford for destinations in London and all over East Kent.
An MP who at the time was occupying the local constituency (Hastings and Rye) on a very tight margin, something like 300-400 votes, so will have been highly motivated to make local improvements. If the constituency flips to Labour after the next election, I would not be surprised if the new MP tries to revive the concept for the same reason, or at least some other lesser proposal like upgrading the ML line on its own.I was about to reply on this thread, checked the old thread, and just as well I did
It was a classic proposal, made by a campaign group that didn‘t understand practicalities (or, arguably, economics), got traction with an MP (a minister) who saw the headline benefit without understanding it, and then pursued under duress by the industry.
For the Marshlink line I can see Ashford-Rye being easy to upgrade line speed, as it is already very straight, including the single bit from Appledore-Rye, all else being sufficient to improve speed (I believe it once used to 85mph so upgrading back to that level at least would presumably be possible). To a lesser extent Rye to near Doleham is also fairly straight, but beyond there the curvature is greater and is restricted to 40mph.
It has great potential with the connections available from Ashford, providing direct links from there to pretty much every major town in east Kent. Would be nice if it went back to Brighton - for a battery train that would give a longer proportion of the circuit time on 3rd rail for en-route charging. For half hourly service I think an extension of double track out from Ore at least through the tunnel would be required. The Ore -Rye single section is ~10 miles today with three intermediate stations compared to the ~7 miles between Rye and Appledore with no stations. EMUs with batteries might be a little quicker than DMUs. Doleham really needs to finally close. Serving only one short terrace of houses, and even with most calls now removed, there are typically more trains per day than passengers!
If it didnt require so much expensive work, then a couple of peak extras may be justified similar to HS1 at Maidstone West
