Trivia: Single lines that were doubled (NOT “redoubled”) since 1960

[MadMac]

Asking this one in the context of Busby-East Kilbride, which was announced as being double-tracked in conjunction with electrification and subsequently dropped. I can’t think of an instance where a never-double line has been doubled in my lifetime - can anyone come up with an example?

 

[Rail Ranger]

The Merton Park to Mitcham Junction and Mitcham Junction to West Croydon sections of the Wimbledon to West Croydon line were always single before conversion to a tramway. The tramway has some single track sections but some sections of single track were doubled when the line was converted.

 

[oldchuffer]

Possibly stretching the concept of a line in this context, IIRC the Tanners Hill flydown (Lewisham, SE London) was built as a single track in the 1970s, but later doubled in the 2010s
(edited to clarify location)

 

[steamybrian]

Also stretching it a bit...
Sittingbourne (Middle Jn) - Swale section of the Sheerness branch was doubled in 1959

 

[stuu]

Slightly feeble, but a mile of the Felixstowe branch was recently doubled

 

[paul1609]

Both Bickley Loops were doubled in 1992 to allow the operation of Eurostar trains from the SEML to Waterloo

 

[30907]

A good 2 miles of the Redditch branch from Alvechurch, in conjunction with Cross City electrification. Bridges may have been built for double from the start, but historically the only double track after Barnt Green was through Redditch station.

(Edit: see next post!)

 

[ABB125]

A good 2 miles of the Redditch branch from Alvechurch, in conjunction with Cross City electrification. Bridges may have been built for double from the start, but historically the only double track after Barnt Green was through Redditch station.

Was that not done in around 2016, rather than with electrification?

 

[Halish Railway]

Supposedly Coventry to Leamington has never been fully double-track, although as I understand it since 1960 more double-track has been added - Is this new or a reinstatement?

 

[P Binnersley]

Supposedly Coventry to Leamington has never been fully double-track, although as I understand it since 1960 more double-track has been added - Is this new or a reinstatement?

The double track was re-instated as fare as the original double to single junction at Gibbet Hill. The double to single connection is roughly there the Kenilworth end of the up & down goods loop was so technically the length of the goods loop is "new" double track (Old OS map).

 

[etr221]

Supposedly Coventry to Leamington has never been fully double-track, although as I understand it since 1960 more double-track has been added - Is this new or a reinstatement?

It was always left (partially) as single track so that the LNWR (whose line it was) could correctly argue that there was no capacity for any GWR trains to run over it to Coventry, should that have been requested.