Projects you'd build but will (probably) never happen

[Bartsimho]

That’s a matter of opinion!

The thread title is

Projects you'd build but will (probably) never happen​

That sounds like an ask for any suggestions whatsoever to me. Not every speculative thread has to be a full business plan for a realistic project

 

[AM9]

The thread title is

Projects you'd build but will (probably) never happen​

That sounds like an ask for any suggestions whatsoever to me. Not every speculative thread has to be a full business plan for a realistic project

Nor does it need to be an existing aspiration previously discussed on RUK or anywhere else.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Nor does it need to be an existing aspiration previously discussed on RUK or anywhere else.

Yeah I know but to be honest I made this thread when I was bored working from home and just wanted to read people's comments!

 

[Bald Rick]

The thread title is

Projects you'd build but will (probably) never happen​

That sounds like an ask for any suggestions whatsoever to me. Not every speculative thread has to be a full business plan for a realistic project

I understand that. My point was - very clearly - that just because something has been suggested, doesn’t mean it is ‘good’, regardless of the business case. And that ’good’ is a matter of opinion.

How about a sugeestion to demolish the Forth bridge and replace it with a block concrete structure. Good?

 

[Bartsimho]

I understand that. My point was - very clearly - that just because something has been suggested, doesn’t mean it is ‘good’, regardless of the business case.

How about a sugeestion to demolish the Forth bridge and replace it with a block concrete structure. Good?

Yeah it's a suggestion that fits with the title of the thread

 

[Bald Rick]

Yeah it's a suggestion that fits with the title of the thread

You think that demolishing the Forth Bridge is good?

 

[AM9]

I understand that. My point was - very clearly - that just because something has been suggested, doesn’t mean it is ‘good’, regardless of the business case. And that ’good’ is a matter of opinion.

How about a sugeestion to demolish the Forth bridge and replace it with a block concrete structure. Good?

That's well pointed out. How about my suggestion of an SAC bypass, #(97). I just put my thoughts to local issue, although I've never heard anything like that, and sure it would need lots of cash and be a long way down the queue.
I would be interested in your view as a possible knowledgeable beneficiary.

 

[Bald Rick]

I just put my thoughts to local issue, although I've never heard anything like that, and sure it would need lots of cash and be a long way down the queue.
I would be interested in your view as a possible knowledgeable beneficiary.

We have discussed it on the forum some time ago - can’t remember who brought it up. I wouldn’t say I was a beneficiary though! Journey time saved would be under half a minute, and unless there were very high speed junctions either end, TL passengers would have journey times extended.

 

[SargeNpton]

Fully electrified freight only route: Southampton-Newbury-Oxford-Rugby-Derby-Doncaster; connecting with the relevant main lines at those points.

 

[bib]

How about some nice shiny bridges, I'd put one across the Dee from West Kirby, and in NI a Bangor-Carrickfergus bridge.

 

[swt_passenger]

I'm not sure it's feasibly possible to move the trams from Wimbledon Station to the town centre

It must be - Crossrail 2 included doing exactly that, ie removing them to outside the station boundary somewhere.

 

[YourMum666]

I don’t know how a Morpeth diversion hasn’t been mentioned !

 

[Bartsimho]

You think that demolishing the Forth Bridge is good?

I never commented on whether I thought it was a good idea just that it is one which fills the title brief.

It would be funny though thinking about it. Surprised it wasn't actually on the table by 60's planners thinking we can't have this nice looking Iron bridge everything needs to be concrete.

 

[gingertom]

You'd need a HS-Highlands as well.

indeed we would. I recall a number of years ago on a visit to Glasgow central I saw the board on the bridge that stated London Euston 404 miles. High speed train doing 200mph suggests Glasgow-London could be done in a tad's over 2 hours; let's say 2:30 allowing for acceleration and braking. That would beat the city centre - city centre journey by air hands down. I'd build a high speed line from the central belt to Inverness and Aberdeen to link up with the high speed line to the south (none of this HS1-HS2 missing link nonsense). That would make 4 hours to London from the north possible. Would this be enough to eliminate internal air travel?

 

[Bartsimho]

indeed we would. I recall a number of years ago on a visit to Glasgow central I saw the board on the bridge that stated London Euston 404 miles. High speed train doing 200mph suggests Glasgow-London could be done in a tad's over 2 hours; let's say 2:30 allowing for acceleration and braking. That would beat the city centre - city centre journey by air hands down. I'd build a high speed line from the central belt to Inverness and Aberdeen to link up with the high speed line to the south (none of this HS1-HS2 missing link nonsense). That would make 4 hours to London from the north possible. Would this be enough to eliminate internal air travel?

Probably kill Point to Point but it wouldn't kill people wanting connections although that might not be economical for airlines if there is little point to point.

 

[London Trains]

I'm not sure it's feasibly possible to move the trams from Wimbledon Station to the town centre

It's viable if Wimbledon Bridge House was demolished, which would also have other advantages as it would make it easier for the SWML to be 6 tracked and allow the roads in the area to be widened/realigned.

 

[AM9]

We have discussed it on the forum some time ago - can’t remember who brought it up. I wouldn’t say I was a beneficiary though! Journey time saved would be under half a minute, and unless there were very high speed junctions either end, TL passengers would have journey times extended.

OK, thanks for that. I would be interested in the previous thread on the subject, I'll have a rummage.

 

[Thirteen]

It's viable if Wimbledon Bridge House was demolished, which would also have other advantages as it would make it easier for the SWML to be 6 tracked and allow the roads in the area to be widened/realigned.

Looking at Google Maps, it seems that there are flats close to Wimbledon Bridge House so it would be tricky to build a new alignment and Tram Stop.

I'm not sure if TfL wants to move Wimbledon Tram Stop from the station to a new location and the cost to demolish WBH outweighs the advantages.

 

[swt_passenger]

Looking at Google Maps, it seems that there are flats close to Wimbledon Bridge House so it would be tricky to build a new alignment and Tram Stop.

I'm not sure if TfL wants to move Wimbledon Tram Stop from the station to a new location and the cost to demolish WBH outweighs the advantages.

Well as I noted that is what TfL’s Crossrail 2 info sheet states they want to do, you can read it here on page 2:

The permanent relocation and expansion of London Trams platforms from the existing station to street level, in the vicinity of Wimbledon Bridge.

https://crossrail2.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Wimbledon.pdf

 

[London Trains]

Looking at Google Maps, it seems that there are flats close to Wimbledon Bridge House so it would be tricky to build a new alignment and Tram Stop.

I'm not sure if TfL wants to move Wimbledon Tram Stop from the station to a new location and the cost to demolish WBH outweighs the advantages.

I don't think it would be too difficult, the tram line could rise from Dundonald Road on its current alignment up to the same height as Wimbledon Bridge, and the platforms would sit directly above the SWML on the opposite side of Wimbledon Bridge from the station entrance. The two sharp turns on Hartfield Road can also be smoothed out.

 

[Iskra]

Electrify:

Sheffield-Leeds via Barnsley
Sheffield-Moorthorpe
Sheffield-Doncaster
Midland Mainline
XC core from Exeter to Derby (the rest from there is covered above)

- - -

Run a Sheffield-Leeds service to a similar frequency, quality and capacity as what Manchester-Leeds gets.

Extend P17 at Leeds or somehow overcome its current limitations, with a P18 or something.

Re-open the Stocksbridge/Deepcar line to passenger services before it’s lost to nature.

Something about 442’s, loco-hauled…

 

[Thirteen]

I don't think it would be too difficult, the tram line could rise from Dundonald Road on its current alignment up to the same height as Wimbledon Bridge, and the platforms would sit directly above the SWML on the opposite side of Wimbledon Bridge from the station entrance. The two sharp turns on Hartfield Road can also be smoothed out.

I assume that the new Wimbledon Tram stop would have provisions to extend it or connect to the Sutton Link if that ever gets built.

In my head, I could envision this tram stop being similar to Addington Village Interchange Tram Stop or Sandilands.

 

[fishwomp]

How about a sugeestion to demolish the Forth bridge and replace it with a block concrete structure. Good?

Better: a tunnel from Inverness to Denmark, made of Lego.

 

[Bevan Price]

I would correct the errors forced on Stephenson by rich landowners, and reroute the Liverpool to Manchester Railway to run via St. Helens & Leigh town centres.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

reroute the Liverpool to Manchester Railway to run via St. Helens & Leigh town centres.

Would that involve demolishing the guided busway or making a new line?

 

[Basil Jet]

Better: a tunnel from Inverness to Denmark, made of Lego.

It would go well with that bridge in Edinburgh made of Meccano.

 

[Austriantrain]

Better: a tunnel from Inverness to Denmark, made of Lego.

Not my idea obviously, but: a tunnel from Edinburgh via Leith to the north of Kircaldy (if Lego works, then that‘s fine with me), so as to accelerate journeys from Edinburgh to the north and release capacity for local services.

Less fanciful: invest much more in grade separation, usually a much cheaper way to increase capacity than adding new lines.

 

[DJS76]

4 track the WAML as far as Bishops Stortford. Build an extra tunnel on the Stansted Airport branch and add an extra platform at the airport station to allow 4 express an hour to London plus stopping services from some of the local stations between there and London.
At the London end, Crossrail 3 could take over the line to Chingford, running underground from just after St James Street through London freeing up paths for the extra WAML services. Also 4 track the line from Tottenham Hale to Stratford to allow more services from there. 12tph from Liverpool Street and 8tph from Stratford.

 

[London Trains]

I assume that the new Wimbledon Tram stop would have provisions to extend it or connect to the Sutton Link if that ever gets built.

I don't think there's anywhere feasible that Tramlink could be extended to from Wimbledon.

The Sutton link would use the existing line as far as Morden Road. The trams being moved out of Wimbledon station would allow Tramlink to have more terminating platforms (I would have 4 platforms) and would get rid of the single track approach (which exists as Tramlink took over one of the Thameslink tracks under Wimbledon Bridge) which would consequently allow Sutton trams to all run to Wimbledon as opposed to South Wimbledon or Colliers Wood as planned due to current capacity restrictions at Wimbledon. Merton Park level crossing may be an issue though - and on the topic of this thread I would build an underpass for the tram here as it is already a very problematic level crossing now.

 

[JonathanH]

I don't think there's anywhere feasible that Tramlink could be extended to from Wimbledon.

Logical extensions would be Wandsworth via Earlsfield or Hammersmith via Roehampton and Barnes, although you are right that the hill up to Wimbledon Village, green spaces, and low population density don't lend themselves to an extension.