ChristopherJ
Repeatedly returning banned member
It's discussed in several official documents but are there any firm plans for the West Anglia Main Line to be returned as a four track railway?
Two of the core problems associated with the line are;
1) too many trains on too little track
The line is heavily used by inner suburban services every 20 minutes, outer suburban services every 30 mins and Stansted Express services every 15 mins, plus occasional freight traffic to local receiving terminals en route - all operating on the same two tracks in and out of the capital. When a train departs London the first opportunity it has to pass another train is at Broxbourne; 17 miles away!
2) too many level crossings
Just within Greater London, the line crosses road networks at Northumberland Park, Brimsdown, Enfield Lock and Cheshunt of which all cross carriageways that are heavily used by road users to cross the Lea Valley - couple this with the amount of trains that pass as per statement 1) and the interface between road and rail is heavily congested. Stand at Enfield Lock at peak hour and the barriers go up and down like a whore's drawers as if there won't be any tomorrow. A majority of incidents on the West Anglia involve level crossing abuse - predominantly in the London suburbs at the aforementioned locations.
The line was once upon a time quadruple track north of Coppermill Junction - which evidence can easily still be seen in the permanent way - to reinstate four tracks would involve tremendous work because it would require remodeling of almost the entire infrastructure between London and the Home Counties.
Two of the core problems associated with the line are;
1) too many trains on too little track
The line is heavily used by inner suburban services every 20 minutes, outer suburban services every 30 mins and Stansted Express services every 15 mins, plus occasional freight traffic to local receiving terminals en route - all operating on the same two tracks in and out of the capital. When a train departs London the first opportunity it has to pass another train is at Broxbourne; 17 miles away!
2) too many level crossings
Just within Greater London, the line crosses road networks at Northumberland Park, Brimsdown, Enfield Lock and Cheshunt of which all cross carriageways that are heavily used by road users to cross the Lea Valley - couple this with the amount of trains that pass as per statement 1) and the interface between road and rail is heavily congested. Stand at Enfield Lock at peak hour and the barriers go up and down like a whore's drawers as if there won't be any tomorrow. A majority of incidents on the West Anglia involve level crossing abuse - predominantly in the London suburbs at the aforementioned locations.
The line was once upon a time quadruple track north of Coppermill Junction - which evidence can easily still be seen in the permanent way - to reinstate four tracks would involve tremendous work because it would require remodeling of almost the entire infrastructure between London and the Home Counties.
