JackJones125
Member
- Joined
- 7 Aug 2014
- Messages
- 21
Mercia Rail – reigniting the OWW railway with a greater Midlands focus.
Route: London Marylebone – Oxford Parkway – Worcester Shrub Hill – Stourbridge Junction – Dudley (if route reopened) – Wolverhampton – Shrewsbury – Wrexham General – Bidston (for Birkenhead/Liverpool).
Using redundant HST stock, the idea would be to create a new long distance Inter-City service whilst not intervening with current TOC boundaries. A similar role to how Grand Central and other open-access operators work, by not calling at drastically important stations such as Birmingham New Street alongside limited stops that wouldn’t affect the current flow of passengers on the mainline. (Marylebone-Oxford, Oxford-Worcester, Wolverhampton-Wrexham would be additional paths put in the current system and Stourbridge-Wolverhampton via Dudley would be alongside the Midland Metro planned tram/train trackbed). The aim would be to create an alternative link between major cities, whilst enabling connectivity that comes at a price of a slightly longer journey but easier access for those that live in the key areas called at. Mercia Rail would create a Midlands boost to London, Wolverhampton (Birmingham) and Liverpool, whilst also allowing key areas like Oxford, Worcester, Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Wrexham to have greater connections to those.
Understandably the questions of ‘where will the stock come from’, prices/cost, journey times etc would arise. But this is more of an idea of the practicality of reintroducing a service like this, even if it was taken on by Cross-Country or Chiltern Railways (I guess) or even a new operator/Grand Central venture and whether a movement to pursue this idea can arise. I assume as a starting point the use of redundant HSTs would be a good start, before acquiring IETs or a similar 5-8car new multiple unit of some sort.
The operation of WSMR was an ambitious plan, times have changed and lessons have been learnt.
Route: London Marylebone – Oxford Parkway – Worcester Shrub Hill – Stourbridge Junction – Dudley (if route reopened) – Wolverhampton – Shrewsbury – Wrexham General – Bidston (for Birkenhead/Liverpool).
Using redundant HST stock, the idea would be to create a new long distance Inter-City service whilst not intervening with current TOC boundaries. A similar role to how Grand Central and other open-access operators work, by not calling at drastically important stations such as Birmingham New Street alongside limited stops that wouldn’t affect the current flow of passengers on the mainline. (Marylebone-Oxford, Oxford-Worcester, Wolverhampton-Wrexham would be additional paths put in the current system and Stourbridge-Wolverhampton via Dudley would be alongside the Midland Metro planned tram/train trackbed). The aim would be to create an alternative link between major cities, whilst enabling connectivity that comes at a price of a slightly longer journey but easier access for those that live in the key areas called at. Mercia Rail would create a Midlands boost to London, Wolverhampton (Birmingham) and Liverpool, whilst also allowing key areas like Oxford, Worcester, Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Wrexham to have greater connections to those.
Understandably the questions of ‘where will the stock come from’, prices/cost, journey times etc would arise. But this is more of an idea of the practicality of reintroducing a service like this, even if it was taken on by Cross-Country or Chiltern Railways (I guess) or even a new operator/Grand Central venture and whether a movement to pursue this idea can arise. I assume as a starting point the use of redundant HSTs would be a good start, before acquiring IETs or a similar 5-8car new multiple unit of some sort.
The operation of WSMR was an ambitious plan, times have changed and lessons have been learnt.
] "a slightly longer journey"?
