My idea to re-open Bishops Stortford to Braintree "Flitch Line"

[Richard1960]

Hi someone was asking yesterday on another forum about direct links to Stansted airport from East Anglia Chelmsford, Colchester, Norwich etc.

There is a train from Braintree To Witham. I was wondering a lot of the old track bed on the "Flitch Way " (Bishops Stortford - Braintree Line) is still there as a walk, I wonder how feasible it would be to re-open the old line for some sort of Cross East Anglia Stansted Airport Line?

I know part of the old track bed was used as a by-pass.

Would people who know more on the subject than I do think there would be any feasibility in this at all?

Richard.

 

[Be3G]

I can't help answer your question, but I will say that I've always thought it a little ironic that when there're major problems on the WAML, Greater Anglia lay on coaches from Stansted Airport to Witham.

 

[Richard1960]

I can't help answer your question, but I will say that I've always thought it a little ironic that when there're major problems on the WAML, Greater Anglia lay on coaches from Stansted Airport to Witham.

Yes they do,it just occured to me that i think the track bed of the old railway is in part owned i think by Essex County Council although i could be wrong.

So it may be technically feasable if not costly.

 

[racyrich]

A lot of infrastructure has gone. In fact the most serious bit, a long, low viaduct east of Dunmow over the Chelmer valley, was demolished while the line was still open for freight, as it was crumbling and too dear to repair.
Various under bridges have been removed and the road raised from its previous dip, eg next to Felsted station.
The Stortford end would be very hard to link up again too, though I imagine that any reinstatement would veer north towards Stansted not far west of Dunmow anyway.
Overall I think it'd be easier to move to a new, more northerly, alignment as soon as you'd got out of Braintree.

 

[HowardGWR]

Hi someone was asking yesterday on another forum about direct links to stanstead airport from East Anglia Chelmsford ,Colchester ,Norwich ect.

There is a Train from Briantree To Witham.I was wondering a lot of the old track bed on the "flictch Way " (Bishops Stortford-briantree Line) is still there as a walk,i wonder how feasable it would be to Re -Open the old line for some sort of Cross East Anglia Stanstead Airport Line.?

I know part of the old track bed was used as a by pass.

Would people who know more on the subject then i do think there would be any feasability in this at all.

Richard.

Where's Briantree? (you mention it three times).

 

[AM9]

Where's Briantree? (you mention it three times).

It's about halfway between Colchester and Bishops Stortford on the A120. It is at the end of a branch from Witham on the GEML.

 

[455driver]

It's about halfway between Colchester and Bishops Stortford on the A120. It is at the end of a branch from Witham on the GEML.

I thought that was Braintree!

 

[AM9]

I thought that was Braintree!

Ah sorry! Well the Briantree ia actually a bush, - a juniper bush.

 

[Richard1960]

Where's Briantree? (you mention it three times).

opps.

 

[jopsuk]

An ideal new alignment would include a second tunnel under the runways at Stansted and a larger station at the airport.

Obviously, a station at Great Dunmow would be essential

 

[Class 170101]

I believe part of the alignment has disappeared under the A120 bypass between Braintree and Stansted.

To be honest a better line would be Colchester to Stansted serving Braintree on the way. Demand from a line between Braintree and Stansted is likely to be very small due to its small catchment area as where as Colchester to Stansted covers a wider area and would have links to Clacton, Ipswich, Harwich, Felixstowe and the south eastern parts of Suffolk.

 

[AM9]

I believe part of the alignment has disappeared under the A120 bypass between Braintree and Stansted.

To be honest a better line would be Colchester to Stansted serving Braintree on the way. Demand from a line between Braintree and Stansted is likely to be very small due to its small catchment area as where as Colchester to Stansted covers a wider area and would have links to Clacton, Ipswich, Harwich, Felixstowe and the south eastern parts of Suffolk.

And would be a very useful diversionary route for a very intensely loaded twin track section.

 

[jopsuk]

Problem with using the West Anglia as a diversionary route is that it, too, is bursting at the seams as far as capacity goes.

 

[Richard1960]

Problem with using the West Anglia as a diversionary route is that it, too, is bursting at the seams as far as capacity goes.

It is but for real emergencies it could be a real boon,saving the coach link needed to witham.

Whilst also making the journey much easier for the ever increasing passenger list from east/west anglia.

At possibly a fairly reasonable cost,providing some of the existing old trackbed can be used.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A lot of infrastructure has gone. In fact the most serious bit, a long, low viaduct east of Dunmow over the Chelmer valley, was demolished while the line was still open for freight, as it was crumbling and too dear to repair.
Various under bridges have been removed and the road raised from its previous dip, eg next to Felsted station.
The Stortford end would be very hard to link up again too, though I imagine that any reinstatement would veer north towards Stansted not far west of Dunmow anyway.
Overall I think it'd be easier to move to a new, more northerly, alignment as soon as you'd got out of Braintree.

Thanks for the detailed answer,i knew about the raised road at Felsted,the low viaduct over the Chelmer valley is a bigger problem.

But engineering has improved i am sure if the will is there it could well be possible to re-instate.

And not far west of Dunmow therefore avoiding Bishops Stortford.

Very informative post indeed.