Singling of lines

[MidnightFlyer]

Hi all,

Except for Largs (all from Ardrossan South Beach; 1980s) and Kings Lynn (various parts; 1980s), has post-1960s electrification caused any cutbacks to lines (i.e. singling of them)?

Also, like Skegness was singled in places in the 1980s, has there been anywhere in the last 40 years to be singled in mass?

Cheers,
Matt

 

[Tubeman]

Most of the Epsom Downs branch (1982)... Nothing to do with electrification though

 

[yorksrob]

Various sections through tunnels between Tonbridge and Hastings were singled when the line was electrified in 1986. This was so that standard width electric stock could be used as the tunnels had limited clearances.

 

[rail-britain]

Barrhead to Kilmarnock was singled some time in the 1970s, but I can't find an exact date [not electrified, but impacted by lack of electrification]

Westerton / Bearsden to Milngavie was singled somewhere around the late 1980s

 

[Whistler40145]

Blackpool South to Kirkham & Wesham was singled in the late 1980s. Blackpool South rebuilt with a single Platform.

 

[Philip Elliott]

The MML was massively rationalised when re-signalled in the late '80s. Previously 4-tracking extended from St. Pancras - Kettering, Wigston - Trent, Toton - Tapton, Derby - Duffield.

The WCML was rationalised between Rugby and Brinklow - down to 3 tracks in the 1980s as well.

 

[dk1]

Blackpool South to Kirkham & Wesham was singled in the late 1980s. Blackpool South rebuilt with a single Platform.

Not electrified though.

There where some ill thought out plans to single parts of the route between Diss & Norwich during it's sparky plans in the 80s. Thankfully it came to nothing as perish the thought of the delays that would have been seen on this very succesfull piece of railway today.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Electrification doesn't matter guys - I only used it as an example for Largs/Kings Lynn - I take it Wemyss Bay was similar?

 

[9K43]

The MML from Wath Road Junction was 4 track upto Hare Park Junction, Normanton.
This railway is now singled from Okenshaw Junction down to Run round Road, at Cudworth.
This line serves Beatson clarks Glass Factory, at Monk Bretton.
Also the Penistone line was singled from Springwood Junction at Huddersfield up to Stocksmoor Station. It then runs double track upto Clayton West Junction, then back to single line again to Penistone.
At HM we were responsible for all this per way work at Huddersfield and parts of the MML.
Parts of the track from Cudworth was used up at Shepley Station down to Stocksmoor.
All this took place in the early 1990's

 

[OxtedL]

The Uckfield Line. :-x

 

[class156]

part of the Hamilton Circle was singled during it's electrification which was in a tunnel. Then (I think this is correct) soon afterwards an explosives train exploded in the tunnel creating a big gap in the middle, although this wouldn't make redoubling any easier.

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Didn't Dullingham to Newmarket get singled during the Cambridge re-signalling or am I imagining it? I know it was always thus from newmarket to Chippenham Junction.

 

[rail-britain]

I take it Wemyss Bay was similar?

Strange one this
Originally single, work started on dualling but was never completed
Electrification also completed as single, although some structures make it look like it was dual at some point (but never was)

 

[RichmondCommu]

The MML was massively rationalised when re-signalled in the late '80s. Previously 4-tracking extended from St. Pancras - Kettering, Wigston - Trent, Toton - Tapton, Derby - Duffield.

The WCML was rationalised between Rugby and Brinklow - down to 3 tracks in the 1980s as well.

It’s worth noting that in the past couple of year’s a third track has reinstated in the Kettering area to cope with increased demand, albeit at great expense. This just goes to show how short sighted some decisions were in the 1980’s (the MML being affected by the introduction of Leicester PSB and the rationalisation that went with it).

As an aside the up slow at Duffield was taken out long before the 1980’s (part of it was used as a concrete bed test track) however as I understand it the down slow lasted a lot longer before being removed. Sadly its removal has meant that the Wirksworth branch no longer has access to the MML.

 

[merlodlliw]

As electrics does not matter, the line from Wrexham to Saltney(Chester) was singled & moved in 1986 for a new road known as the Wrexham Expressway,which bypasses the large congested town. Part of this track is to be reinstated in 2012, between Saltney & Rossett according to WAG.


Bob

 

[Zoe]

There where some ill thought out plans to single parts of the route between Diss & Norwich during it's sparky plans in the 80s. Thankfully it came to nothing as perish the thought of the delays that would have been seen on this very succesfull piece of railway today.

They still singled the Trowse bridge though.

 

[dk1]

They still singled the Trowse bridge though.

Thats not really too much of a problem. With a 40mph line speed trains clear this very short section very quickly. Compare it with the old bridge & layout which although double track suffered a 15mph line speed from the buffers at Norwich station right through to Trowse Yard.

 

[Ploughman]

Shipley - Guiseley and Apperley - Guiseley on the Leeds North West system.
These were singled in the 80s but in the early 90s they were then re aligned through various tunnels to approx centre and electrified or in the case of Springs Tunnel redoubled.

 

[matchmaker]

Blair Atholl - Dalwhinnie was doubled (at great expense!) by The Highland Railway at the end of the 19th/start of the 20th century, to be singled again by good ole' BR in the late 1960's - to be doubled again (no doubt again at great expense) by good ole' BR only 10 years later.............:roll:

 

[Tubeman]

The only other London example I can think of is the Canonbury Curve (Canonbury to Finsbury Park), which was singled to accommodate OHLE through the Canonbury tunnel in 1988... No biggie as it had been goods only for 12 years by then, and the single track section is pretty short in the grand scheme of things.

 

[The Barlow Boy]

The link from the Down Charing Cross lines to Cannon Street was singled some years ago.

 

[a good off]

Didn't Dullingham to Newmarket get singled during the Cambridge re-signalling or am I imagining it? I know it was always thus from newmarket to Chippenham Junction.

Correct.

 

[tempests1]

Various sections through tunnels between Tonbridge and Hastings were singled when the line was electrified in 1986. This was so that standard width electric stock could be used as the tunnels had limited clearances.

Sadly the Victorian Contractors who built the line, were cowboys! and built the tunnels to such a poor quaility using four layers of bricks instead of the six that were neccessary, after Wadhurst tunnel collapsed the SER had to add the two layers of bricks to all the affected tunnels but could not afford to re-bore them.
Farnham to Alton was reduced to a Single Line in 1985, another short sighted BR decision they were quite busy that year as they also closed the Tunbridge Wells West Line!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Most of the Epsom Downs branch (1982)... Nothing to do with electrification though

In a similar area the Tattenham Corner Branch Line was singled probably at a similar time to the Epsom Downs Branch

 

[72C]

Slightly more than 40 years, the Southern line from Salisbury to Exeter.

 

[MrC]

Moreton - Dorchester South was singled using the up line. There's a rumour that the original intention was to single all the way to Poole with passing places but I've no idea how true this is.

Unlikely to be dualled again at any point in the future.

 

[steamybrian]

In a similar area the Tattenham Corner Branch Line was singled .........

Wrong--The Tattenham Corner line is still double track.
(It was considered for partial singling but peak hour services and additional trains on Epsom Race Days justified double track)

Other lines in the London Area to be singled are-

Crystal Palace (Bromley Jn)- Beckenham Jn
short spur from New Beckenham- Beckenham Jn
short spur from Point Pleasant Jn- East Putney
Old Oak Common- Greenford area (precise location uncertain?)
have you mentioned Watford Jn- St Albans Abbey?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Moreton - Dorchester South was singled using the up line. There's a rumour that the original intention was to single all the way to Poole with passing places but I've no idea how true this is.

.....

Yes-- I heard that singling between Dorchester South to Wareham (with passing loops) was planned but only the section to Moreton was undertaken.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Gas factory junction to bow junction (i.e. Limehouse - Stratford), singled in advance of the opening of the DLR in 1987 (which runs alongside it for a small stretch between Bow Church and Pudding Mill Lane/Stratford)

 

[Hydro]

Fareham - Eastleigh was singled as far as Botley when it was electrified I believe.

 

[Waddon]

I may be wrong but I think the line to Addiscombe was singled some time in the 80's, maybe when the Selsdon line was closed, before totally succumbing to Tramlink in the late 90's

 

[Rich_D3167]

The Brigg line (Barnetby - Gainsborough) has been singled in places. Double track for about a mile beyond Wrawby Junction, single through to Brigg, where double track is regained at the level crossing by the signalbox (about 2 miles of single line). Double track through to Kirton Lime Sidings (about 5 1/2 miles), single line throughout from Kirton Lime Sidings to near Gainsborough Central, with a passing loop at Northorpe (3 1/2 miles KLS - Northorpe, about 8 miles Northorpe - Gainsborough Central, with double track for about 3 - 4 miles through Gainsborough Central station to Gainsborough Trent Junction, where it remains double track beyond. All used to be double track throughout from Wrawby Junction to Gainsborough Trent Junction, cut back to single lines in the late 1980's/early 1990's.