Ex-Underground train plan for Harrogate line

dogduke · Post by **dogduke** » Fri 15 Jul, 2011 12:34 pm

http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/ ... .htmlAbove link may be of interest.It would be nice to view the whole report.Mark Leving is a former railwayman of many years service with I think BR Inter City and recently with First Hull Trains.The more you look at the info avaialbe the more problems you seem to find.Lack of toilets,DC/AC mixCurrent formstion is I think 6 cars which might need reducing for some intermediate stations.Consrtuction work required thro Leeds to and within Neville Hill if that is to be the maintenance point.The whole route will probably require resignalling to give the anticipated usage of 15 minutes.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 15 Jul, 2011 1:05 pm

On a television report last night there was talk of building a stretch off the Leeds/Harrogate/York route to go to and from Yeadon (oops, sorry, Leeds and Bradford International) Airport as part of the use of the ex-Underground trains. I bet a Yeadon link does not happen!

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 15 Jul, 2011 8:16 pm

Nice idea, but will it work..?If we assume the traction current can be provided at a sensible price, and it won't interfere with existing signaling etc then it might have legs.But this is public money that would be being spent - something there is a dire shortage of at the moment and which also attracts consultants (the biggest hindrance to progress since the Luddite movement) meaning costs would be astronomical.Would Northern be prepared to run these trains? And who would pay for them? Are they compatible with things like platform height and length throughout the route? How would toilets be accommodated within the trains? Can Underground and overground rail happily co-exist in such close quarters on shared running lines? What are the safety implications? Would Northern be able to make the legally required safety case for them? (Something which apparently stops them running trains consisting of older carriages pulled along by a locomotive nowadays?)Last time I was on a tube train, the overwhelming majority of passengers are stood, rather than seated, so what advantage does that offer over the existing service?A nice idea, but so many questions...

Barwicker · Post by **Barwicker** » Fri 15 Jul, 2011 9:13 pm

To answer two of the problems raised Underground and Overground trains share the same tracks and platform heights in the Kew/Richmond area of South West London and 25KV AC trains share the same tracks as 650/700 V DC trains for about a mile leaving Euston Station with no apparent difficulty.

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 15 Jul, 2011 9:21 pm

Leodian wrote: On a television report last night there was talk of building a stretch off the Leeds/Harrogate/York route to go to and from Yeadon (oops, sorry, Leeds and Bradford International) Airport as part of the use of the ex-Underground trains. I bet a Yeadon link does not happen! How long would it be before LBA imposed a tax for everyone using the thing;

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sat 16 Jul, 2011 1:35 pm

I'm indebted to all the folks who've pointed out the many technical and operational difficulties - even impossibilities - in this proposal. I have to admit that I was completely carried away by the enthusiast angle and would love to have seen it come to fruition, but I was basing my support on the Isle of Wight success - and of course all journeys in that delightful spot are of very short duration and really the question of toilets is hardly a large one there.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sat 16 Jul, 2011 4:03 pm

I perfectly understand your enthusiasm for some new form of transport Blakey, I'd personally like to see the ex London routemasters replace these dreadful plastic first buses in Leeds.But we all know that will never happen. Transport for passengers is one thing, transport for the enthusiast is another

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Sat 16 Jul, 2011 6:23 pm

The track between Harrogate and York is single track and the crossings are manually operated. Wouldn't this cause problems?

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Sat 16 Jul, 2011 7:26 pm

"The track between Harrogate and York is single track and the crossings are manually operated. Wouldn't this cause problems?"http://snipurl.com/1euqotHow would the crossing keeper cope with the electrified line?

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Sun 17 Jul, 2011 11:28 am

And here at Poppleton crossing.http://snipurl.com/7yodm