Many railway lines that were once two tracks were reduced to a single track in the middle of the last century, and in some cases we may look back and say that the decision to reduce the infrastructure has stood the test of time.  In other cases, the capacity reduction is unfortunate for current times some 60 years later and some re-doubling has taken place.  Can you identify these locations and suggest which might benefit from a second track being relayed?

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0 - Maidenhead-Marlow?

 

It isn't.  I confess to not knowing if the Maidenhead to Bourne End and to Marlow line ever was double and / or whether there were loops on it; I did wonder about looking for a picture in my old set ...

As a (re) doubling candidate or scope for alternative capacity provision, this would be an interesting one. As it is, to get trains up to a 30 minute frequency passengers are required to change trains 'half way' along - a solution which I have also seen adopted in Slovakia but at which shudder at the thought if it were brought to the TransWilts.

 
No cannot be, the line was never doubled apart form loops at Cookham Bourne End stations, and a short section North from Maidenhead station to Grenfell rd bridge

 
1 Yetminster station.
It still shows evidence of he broad gauge with the distance between the platforms. It was first doubled in 1859 to ease congestion of the steeply inclined section to Holywell Tunnel and Evershot.

 
4: Melksham

Cancellations of local trains prolific due to rerouting of long distance services and low capacity/long single block section. Doubling or long dynamic loops would alleviate this problem.

 
3. Newquay, recently redoubled.

 
8. Chandler’s Ford
Six miles of line singled in 1972, but crucially with double track sections at either end to allow a train to be held off the mainline whilst awaiting it’s turn to travel along the single line. Retained for freight and diversionary use, but an hourly passenger service reinstated in 2003. Seems to work relatively well as it is at present, so I wouldn’t have thought a high priority for re-doubling, especially with the cost of providing a second platform at Chandler’s Ford.

 
6. Sea Mills.

 
5. Barnstaple?

 

Darn.  I should have got that one, from my days working with the Severnside Community Rail Partnership. 

 
0:Shiplake Henley branch

 
2. Bad Kleinen (east of Hamburg). Redoubling is definitely not relevant - the line is double, and the whole station has been flattened and rebuilt in the last ten years, still with all four platform tracks (which I think are all back in use).

 

I must stop trying to answer these from my phone

0: is Exmouth

 

You amaze me, staving, with your knowledge.  Spot on, and like you I see no need here for more tracks, though there would be space for two through lines in the centre.   Bit of a naughty picture to include.   For other readers - it's the only one that's that naughty!

 

Yes, it is ... you are not the only one who puzzled a bit over that one as I clipped it quite hard.   I would suggest no need for a second track / platform while trains can turn back quickly to Topsham - though if the service ups to more than two an hour, two platforms would perhaps be needed to one train can leave as the next pulls in

 

It's amazing how photography from a slightly different angle can make some of these non-trivial!

 

Yes, it's Yetminster.  On the single line between Yeovil Pen Mill and Maiden Newton, and (re)opening a loop at least here would allow the service to step up towards hourly.  Care to be taken where the loops go, mind - hourly could in theory be done already, expect that the irregular spacing would mean trains having to wait to pass at existing loops.

Looking at HMG's stated desire to put loads of houses around existing stations there aren't on flood plains, I offer you Chetnole City and Thornford Town.  Hourly Weymouth <-> Westbury <-> Swindon <-> Oxford <-> Bletchely <-> Bedford service.  Change at Yeovil Junction Lower Platform for Salisbury and London. Connections across the platform both ways at Westbury onto the Southampton to Portishead stopper. Change at Swindon for Cheltenham Spa and Birmingham.

 


At very very least, a Romsey to Eastleigh setup with double sections and the ends for Melksham, please.   The Chandlers Ford section at 6 miles is far shorter than Thingley to Bradford Junction.