The Anonymous Widower

Tregoss Passing Loop On The Atlantic Coast Line

To increase the frequency of trains on the Atlantic Coast Line between Par and Newquay stations, from two-hourly to hourly, Network Rail are proposing to add a passing loop at Tregoss Moor.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the railway as it runs across the moor.

Note.

  1. Roche station in the North-East corner of the map.
  2. The red and blue crosses indicating level crossings on the route.
  3. The map seems to indicate a number of power cables.

I took these pictures from the train, as I came down to Par station.

Note.

  1. I was sitting on the right-hand-side of the train, looking West.
  2. In addition to the cables, there are about half a dozen wind turbines.
  3. Roche station is typical of the intermediate stations on the line – Small, functional and tidy, with a few car parking spaces.

On past form, I suspect that Network Rail could squeeze in a passing loop, that wouldn’t stir up too many antis.

I have one thought,

The St. Austell Link Road

This Google Map shows where the A30 to St. Austell Link Road is being built.

Note.

  1. The station at the top of the map by the area called Victoria and to the West of Higher Town is Roche station.
  2. The station at the right edge of the map about halfway down is Bugle station.
  3. The South of the map is covered by white china clay workings.
  4. Running diagonally across the map is the A30 to St. Austell Link Road.

This page on the Cornwall web site, says this about the road.

The St Austell to A30 link road will connect the old A30 near Victoria to the north and the A391 at Stenalees roundabout to the south. It will be a new 3.9 mile single carriageway road. It is a vital link to bring opportunities to the area.

This Google Map shows the area, where the Link Road will connect to the A30.

Note.

  1. The A30 running across the top of the map.
  2. The Victoria area and Roche station in the North-East corner of the map.
  3. In the South-West corner of the map their is the site office of the Link Road.
  4. The current end of the construction scar of the Link Road can be seen at the edge of the map.
  5. I would assume that the new road joins the roundabout to the North-East of the Construction Office.
  6. Traffic could be routes North-East from here along the B3274 to join the A30 at Cornwall Services.
  7. The railway sneaks between the A30 and the construction site.

I hope there’s been a bit of joined up thinking here and the road and the railway have been given the best joint design possible.

February 11, 2024 Posted by | Energy, Transport/Travel | , , , | 1 Comment

Par Station – 10th February 2024

Par station will see changes because of the Mid-Cornwall Metro.

I took these pictures as I passed through.

Note.

  1. The level crossing was busy with cars every time I crossed it.
  2. The semaphore signalling.
  3. The arriving GWR Castle in the last picture.

This Google Map shows Par station.

Note.

  1. There three platforms. Platform 1 is in the East, with Platforms 2 and 3 forming an island platform.
  2. There is a footbridge connect the platforms together.
  3. The Atlantic Coast Line leaves the map in the South West Corner.

As one of the modifications for the Mid-Cornwall Metro, the footbridge will be replaced with one that is step-free.

I have a few thoughts.

Will The Mid-Cornwall Metro Reverse At Par Station?

This OpenRailwayMap shows the track layout at Par station.

Note.

  1. The tracks shown in orange form the Cornish Main Line.
  2. The tracks shown in yellow that curve away to the West are the Atlantic Coast Line.
  3. The busy level crossing is shown in the South-West corner of the map.
  4. The Atlantic Coast Line connects to Platform 3 on the West side of the station.
  5. The track layout allows trains to access Platform 3 from both directions on the Cornish Main Line.

It does look like, Mid-Cornwall Metro trains will have to reverse every time, they call at Par station.

Could The Cornish Main Line Be Electrified At Par Station?

At some point in time, it will be desirable to run zero-carbon trains both on the Mid-Cornwall Metro and the Cornish Main Line.

  • Plymouth and Par is a distance of 34.7 miles.
  • Truro and Par is a distance of 19 miles.
  • Newquay and Par is a distance of 20.8 miles.
  • All of these distances would be in range of a typical battery-electric train.
  • In The Data Sheet For Hitachi Battery Electric Trains, I said that a Hitachi express train with a battery range of 43.5 miles.

To my untrained eye, it looks like Par station wouldn’t be the most difficult place to electrify.

I believe there are possibilities to put an island of electrification at Par to give the trains a quick Splash-and-Dash before continuing.

February 11, 2024 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How Many Direct Trains Should There Be Between London Paddington And Newquay?

The Mid-Cornwall Metro will see the following improvements on the Atlantic Coast Line between Newquay and Par stations.

  • A second platform built at Newquay station.
  • There will be a passing loop across Treegoss Moor.
  • There will be a step-free bridge at Par station.

This will allow the current service on the line to be increased from two-hourly to hourly.

FirstGroup’s services in the UK, include several services, where a service is extended to a terminus away from the main line.

  • Avanti West Coast – two trains per day (tpd) to Blackpool
  • Great Western Railway – six tpd to Carmarthen
  • Hull Trains – five tpd to Hull.
  • Hull Trains – two tpd to Beverley.
  • Hull Trains (proposed) – two tpd to Worksop and Sheffield.

Given that there will only be an hourly local service on the Atlantic Coast Line, I suspect that FirstGroup will be able to run up to six tpd to Newquay to satisfy the traffic needs of the London and Newquay service.

How Will Great Western Railway Run A Service To Newquay?

Last weekend, when I went to Ebbw Vale, I wrote My Train To Wales Today Divided At Swansea.

My train, that day was a ten-car train formed of a pair of Class 800 trains.

  • The front train was signed as going to Swansea.
  • The rear train was signed as going to Carmarthen.
  • At Swansea the trains split into two.
  • The front train finished its journey.
  • The rear train reversed out and continued to Carmarthen.

Returning to London Paddington, trains join at Swansea.

Will Great Western Railway use a similar operation with Newquay services.

The train would be a ten-car train formed of a pair of Class 802 trains.

  • One train would be going to Plymouth and the other train to Newquay.
  • At Plymouth the trains split into two.
  • One train finishes its journey at Plymouth.
  • The other train continues to Newquay.

As Bodmin General station, has a second platform, that was recently built with financial help from Great Western Railway, could this be another destination served by splitting a train at Plymouth?

I discuss the implications of the second platform at Bodmin General station in Beeching Reversal – Increased Service Provision Bodmin General-Bodmin Parkway

How Long Would A Round Trip Take Between Plymouth And Newquay?

Current timings are as follows.

  • Plymouth to Par – 34.7 miles – 50 minutes
  • Par to Newquay – 20.8 miles – 51 minutes
  • Turnround at Newquay – 5 minutes
  • Newquay to Par – 20.8 miles – 51 minutes
  • Par to Plymouth – 34.7 miles – 50 minutes

Note.

  1. Times are from Class 802 trains between Par to Plymouth.
  2. Times are for Class 150 trains between Par and Newquay.

Total time is 207 minutes or three hours and twenty-seven minutes.

 

February 11, 2024 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment