If you attended the meeting held in Harrogate back in August, you would know that Harrrogate Council are ambivolent about what type of electrification the route might get, be it 25kV or 750v DC, they just want electrification with trains that work and are adequate to carry the high volumes reliably on an all-day 15" interval service. District Line trains were suggested because it appeared no other stock would be available for the foreseeable and 750v DC electrification is better than no electrification. Anyone who knows D78 trains will know the seats are wider than 142/144/150 etc., with much more legroom and most have armrests. There are nearly 300 seats per train. The District Line end to end is a similar length to the Leeds-Harrogate-York Line so the trains could be a good option. However, if suitable 25kV rolling stock can be identified I'm pretty sure 25kV would be pursued.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
There are three transport authorities with interest in the route (NYCC, WYPTE and YCC). It is thought they all now agree that electrification of some sort is needed.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
It certainly is not thick. It has achieved exactly what the promoters wanted - a significant increase in awareness of the problems faced by the route, and a consensus that electrification is essential, when the rail industry processes had otherwise virtually ignored its existence because of the fragmented interests of three separate transport authorities. For anyone who uses the route, this is a huge leap forward.
All replies i have had in enquiries say that they do not want to have 25KV AC as it would ruin the view..... If they have said to the contary then im very pleased to hear it. And i read it an few reports too. I use the line and i would not like the current proposal to be agreed, i really don't think it would be suitable. The main issue in the line is the capcity between leeds and horsforth, if you could upgrade it to allow for 4tph leeds horsforth you could run two trains non stop to horsforth and then onwards and two that terminate at horsforth (stock allowing) then you wouldnt get as much overcrowding on the first part of the line. And again stock allowing you could increase service from york by redoubling a few sections.
An awful lot less to go wrong than trying to run D78 stock into leeds and york... Plus if this happens, it could make the area a more expensive stand alone unit where future benefits for leeds rail would pass it by.
If the idea was to try and raise awareness however then it was a very good idea as it certainly has increased awareness, and hopefully someone will come along and modernise the line. I know there are some current signalling upgrades about to start but i cant see them really achieving much with current stock numbers,
Im with tbtc on this completely, its a self contained line that could potentially free up up to 10 DMU carriges while also tapping into a wealthy and very large rail market all along the line. Im thinking the kind of patronage increases you got when the airdale and wharfdale lines were modernised. 2 319s an hour throughout with 2 extra an hour to knaresbrough? sounds lovely.
Plus today it left about 20 people twice in a row at burley park, with 2 car units operating... :/
and each carriage has a little 2 + 2 seating as well as the longitudinal seating.
