Stourbridge Junction Slow Approach

[Metroman62]

For the past 9 months I have had to travel quite a few times to Kidderminster from Birmingham Snow Hill. I have noticed on approaching Stourbridge Junction from Birmingham (and going the other way) the trains runs very slowly approaching the points. I think I have spotted some speed restriction signs. Is this a permanent slow line speed area or temporary? Does anyone know why the area is low speed, is it poor track, tight curves or the nature of the points in the area?

 

[takno]

There's a 15mph restriction across Sturbridge North junction from the cradley heath lines. Seems like they'd have made that the faster for route at some point in the 50 odd years since they stopped the passenger trains going the other way, but apparently not

 

[Ianno87]

There's a 15mph restriction across Sturbridge North junction from the cradley heath lines. Seems like they'd have made that the faster for route at some point in the 50 odd years since they stopped the passenger trains going the other way, but apparently not

It's not just the junction - the whole route practically goes around practically a right angled 90 degree corner which is probably just as big a reason for the restriction as the junction itself

 

[takno]

It's not just the junction - the whole route practically goes around practically a right angled 90 degree corner which is probably just as big a reason for the restriction as the junction itself

That would make sense. Having gone along the route hundreds of times over the years, and as recently as this afternoon, I'd honestly never noticed

 

[Harbornite]

Look at how tight the curve is on google earth, that's probably the reason right there.