richieb1971
Established Member
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- 28 Jan 2013
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Seen photographic evidence showing Oakley had some work done over the weekend.
A few gantries went up.
A few gantries went up.
There was a press release about Bromham Road bridge last week. Apparently it needs its own T&W Order!
An environmental impact assessment is not required for the reconstruction of Bromham Road Bridge.
Indeed, Wellingboro's been left out for the moment. Presumably NR et al want to get the 4-track between there and Sharnbrook complete again.Had a look at Wellingborough on Wednesday which seemed largely untouched by electrification!
According to today's 'Derby Telegraph', electrification is extending as far north as Market Harborough; see:
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/business/new-trains-more-seats-faster-1653824
According to today's 'Derby Telegraph', electrification is extending as far north as Market Harborough; see:
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/business/new-trains-more-seats-faster-1653824
According to today's 'Derby Telegraph', electrification is extending as far north as Market Harborough; see:
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/business/new-trains-more-seats-faster-1653824
Does anyone know what is happening here on the down line? The new PON shews that in the up direction things are exactly as reported, with 40 from platform 3 and 25 along and from platform 4, the up main line. But the down direction seems very odd, with 30 to, from, and over platform 1 but still the old 15 into platform 2, the down main line, although the speed out of platform 2 southbound is 25. Can this really be the final state, with no improvement on the down main line, or is there work still incomplete?At Leicester, the Up Main on platform 3 has had its TSR took away so 40MPH working through platform 3. Impressive to hear a HST scream towards London rather than power off for 15MPH.
All other TSR are in place still as far as I’m aware.
Indeed, Wellingboro's been left out for the moment. Presumably NR et al want to get the 4-track between there and Sharnbrook complete again.
Kangaroo Spinney has no sign of piles etc anywhere, neither does Irchester at this point in time.
Wymington (on the fasts) south towards Bedford, plus a couple of piles nr Isham, are the only signs of work so far on the MML.
This "Biggest improvement to the MML in 140 years" doesn't go down very well with me. I have a limited knowledge of the subject but as I understand it Electric trains cannot run at 125mph south of Bedford and there are no fixed plans to upgrade the OLE for the time being.
Is the OLE going as far as Market Harborough? If so no one appears to have told Network Rail. If Mr Carne wants to earn his gong he should try and sort out Chris Grayling regarding the MML.
I'd have reckoned that any of those three was a much greater step-change in quality than anything that's happening now.I'd have also thought that the introduction of HSTs, opening of the power boxes and Bed-Pan electrification were big improvements too!
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If you could do 125mph from Market Harborough to Ampthill tunnel in a straight line it would take 17 minutes. .
I did a straight line calculation using straight line calculator online. It stated 36 miles. Using another calculator that determines timings from speed and distance it stated 125mph (non standing start) would take 17 mins. Or 16 minutes and 50 seconds.
I have a limited knowledge of the subject but as I understand it Electric trains cannot run at 125mph south of Bedford and there are no fixed plans to upgrade the OLE for the time being.
Chances are you wouldn't be able to get the most direct route and unless each end is already 125mph running there'll be a bit of time required to get up to 125mph.
The last decent upgrade to the MML has already been done by putting 125mph running trains on it in terms of speed.
Bedford should be on a loop as it sticks out really badly compared to the other places. Bedford is the reason a lot of the twists and turns exist. If I were NR and happy to oblige I'd put Kettering, Wellingborough and Bedford on a loop and straight line a new track from Market Harborough and Ampthill tunnel since not much resides between the two places. If you could do 125mph from Market Harborough to Ampthill tunnel in a straight line it would take 17 minutes. It currently takes 40 minutes. The MML really suffers because the 100 miles north of London are riddled with bends that aren't suitable for 100mph+ running speeds. And we really want our railways modernised so that greater speeds can be achieved.
I did a straight line calculation using straight line calculator online. It stated 36 miles. Using another calculator that determines timings from speed and distance it stated 125mph (non standing start) would take 17 mins. Or 16 minutes and 50 seconds.
Chances are you wouldn't be able to get the most direct route and unless each end is already 125mph running there'll be a bit of time required to get up to 125mph.
As such probably in the 19-24 minute range. Which is still shaving >15 minutes of the journey times, however at what cost?
You'd quite possibly need two grade separated junctions (one each end, at a cost of circa £150 million) plus whatever about 40 miles of twin track costs and all the land costs for that.
This is all true, but Leicester/STP services would obviously take this new route and it would shave at least 20 mins.
The only reason I brought this up is because the MML is done for upgrades. NR can't make it any faster than it is after the wires go up. You can't really get more capacity because 4 tracks is 4 tracks and you can't go any faster because every 5-10 miles is another great big bend. My idea is currently possible as nothing sits in the way, in 20 years time if capacity hits its limit, the MML will be flat out of ideas to improve and all that land that is currently available will unlikely be available. I don't believe that a really fast train should have to use the same tracks as slow/stopper trains. Its convenient yes, but its hard to maximize a railways potential when its own services are in the way.
Not really worth spending £2-3bn on is it?
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C69946/2018/06/14/advancedWe’ve had this, or a similar discussion before. And I’m afraid it is ‘alternative facts’ at best. It does not take 40 minutes from Market Harboro to Ampthill on non stop trains.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C69946/2018/06/14/advanced
This is the fastest train I could find at 38 minutes.
There are some villages on the route, but we don't need absolute straight lines. Anyway, dreaming over.