Leeds, maybe York, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Leeds.
Leaving Leeds eastwards two tracks run on arches at roof eaves height widening later to 4 tracks.It can be widened to 4 tracks throughout. The route passes through open country south of Colton and on to the Vale of York.
Leaving Leeds eastwards two tracks run on arches at roof eaves height widening later to 4 tracks.It can be widened to 4 tracks throughout. The route passes through open country south of Colton and on to the Vale of York.
York?
The bend going through York is so sharp that the new route cannot go through York, so I plan a route going straight across the Vale of York. This shortens the distance a little and the only engineering difficulty is that this crosses a lot of flood plains.
But York is a city of 200,000.The route could run side-by-side with the classic routes, and skirt the west side of York, with a station on the A64 near Copmanthorpe which could honestly be called “York”. But that would be 7 kms from York station. Passengers using it would have to take a bus journey of 7 kms to get into the centre of York: would they rather change trains at Leeds, Northallerton and Middlesbrough and get a train direct into York? It’s an open question.
The bend going through York is so sharp that the new route cannot go through York, so I plan a route going straight across the Vale of York. This shortens the distance a little and the only engineering difficulty is that this crosses a lot of flood plains.
But York is a city of 200,000.The route could run side-by-side with the classic routes, and skirt the west side of York, with a station on the A64 near Copmanthorpe which could honestly be called “York”. But that would be 7 kms from York station. Passengers using it would have to take a bus journey of 7 kms to get into the centre of York: would they rather change trains at Leeds, Northallerton and Middlesbrough and get a train direct into York? It’s an open question.
Vale of York
The route route continues across the Vale of York joining with the classic route as it goes into Northallerton. This will be an important interchange point between the new route and the classic route, which will still run.
Northallerton and Middlesbrough
From Northallerton the route runs on to Middlesbrough aka "The Lower Tees", home to 560,000, as against Darlington, population 100,000. The route crosses the Tees on low viaduct between Middlesbrough and Stockton parallel to the A19 road which is also on low viaduct. There is a lay-by station to be called "Stephenson" for obvious reasons on the south bank of the Tees where it interchanges with the Tees south bank railway. This is a key place on the road and rail networks and with its excellent road connections it can also be a parkway station.
From Northallerton the route runs on to Middlesbrough aka "The Lower Tees", home to 560,000, as against Darlington, population 100,000. The route crosses the Tees on low viaduct between Middlesbrough and Stockton parallel to the A19 road which is also on low viaduct. There is a lay-by station to be called "Stephenson" for obvious reasons on the south bank of the Tees where it interchanges with the Tees south bank railway. This is a key place on the road and rail networks and with its excellent road connections it can also be a parkway station.
Middle Rainton
We cannot build another viaduct through Durham like the classic route, and that is not the sharpest bend on the route. So the þ-shaped route runs through County Durham to a lay-by station with bus services and park and ride at Middle Rainton where it crosses the A690 Sunderland-Durham road, near J62 of the A1(M). This serves the west side of Sunderland, Durham city and most of county Durham, both nearby.
We cannot build another viaduct through Durham like the classic route, and that is not the sharpest bend on the route. So the þ-shaped route runs through County Durham to a lay-by station with bus services and park and ride at Middle Rainton where it crosses the A690 Sunderland-Durham road, near J62 of the A1(M). This serves the west side of Sunderland, Durham city and most of county Durham, both nearby.
Newcastle
The route goes on past junction 63 of the A1(M) to join the old route between Chester and Birtley just north of Drum Rd near the Barley Mow. The route runs through Newcastle Central where there is plenty of space for wider trains, and trains 400 M long would fit into an aisle which might have been made for them.
Half the trains will run forward to Heaton works, for cleaning and layover; half will run north on the old route. The trackbed here is not wide enough for another pair of tracks, though only for a short length are there houses close enough to have to be demolished. But unless traffic grows very greatly will there be no need to do so.
The route goes on past junction 63 of the A1(M) to join the old route between Chester and Birtley just north of Drum Rd near the Barley Mow. The route runs through Newcastle Central where there is plenty of space for wider trains, and trains 400 M long would fit into an aisle which might have been made for them.
Half the trains will run forward to Heaton works, for cleaning and layover; half will run north on the old route. The trackbed here is not wide enough for another pair of tracks, though only for a short length are there houses close enough to have to be demolished. But unless traffic grows very greatly will there be no need to do so.
Northumberland
The route forks off at Dudley, and crosses over the old route to the west of Cramlington to pass to the east of Morpeth; The old route through Morpeth has a curve which is a severe restriction on speed. From Widdrington onwards the new route is built side by side with the old route, taking out little kinks as the extra width makes possible.
The route forks off at Dudley, and crosses over the old route to the west of Cramlington to pass to the east of Morpeth; The old route through Morpeth has a curve which is a severe restriction on speed. From Widdrington onwards the new route is built side by side with the old route, taking out little kinks as the extra width makes possible.
The new route separates from the old route to cross the Tweed inland from Berwick. There will be a loop off to Berwick. One train per hour will take the old route, adding about 10 minutes to journey time.
Scotland
The route goes past Fouldens and crosses the old route nearer Reston.
It would be a crime to “straighten out” the pass of Penmanshiel to allow for full-speed trains, so I show a route going up the slope to Huxton and going down diagonally across the slope over expensive earthworks to Cockburnspath, and then along the coast. But I don't believe in it. It's not going to be cheap and it would add only about 5 minutes to journey time to take the route through the pass of Penmanshiel at a slower speed, while still easing the curves as much as possible. It is the only difficult point on the east coast route.
The route continues side-by-side with the old route, taking the opportunity to straighten it as it did in Northumberland, by-passing Drem.
Scotland
The route goes past Fouldens and crosses the old route nearer Reston.
It would be a crime to “straighten out” the pass of Penmanshiel to allow for full-speed trains, so I show a route going up the slope to Huxton and going down diagonally across the slope over expensive earthworks to Cockburnspath, and then along the coast. But I don't believe in it. It's not going to be cheap and it would add only about 5 minutes to journey time to take the route through the pass of Penmanshiel at a slower speed, while still easing the curves as much as possible. It is the only difficult point on the east coast route.
The route continues side-by-side with the old route, taking the opportunity to straighten it as it did in Northumberland, by-passing Drem.
Edinburgh
Entering Edinburgh, there are two tunnels. The north one is the most used. The height of rock above it is so small that probably the most cost-effective thing to do would be to open it out as a cutting, but that would destroy its craggy good looks. But both tunnels will be easy enough to enlarge.
As in Newcastle, the use of only two platforms for the route would be enough; they don't terminate in Waverley. Waverley is so deep that even double deck trains would be below Princes St gardens.
Lowering the tunnel floor and having only one running track in each may allow oversize trains though the tunnels between Waverley and Haymarket or maybe the tunnels can be enlarged. Modern signalling allows trains to be run at 3 minute intervals, which is 20 trains per hour. It is acceptable to run high speed and ordinary trains over the same tracks for such a short distance. When the trains have come out of the tunnels the points can sort the trains to the right platforms and routes.
Entering Edinburgh, there are two tunnels. The north one is the most used. The height of rock above it is so small that probably the most cost-effective thing to do would be to open it out as a cutting, but that would destroy its craggy good looks. But both tunnels will be easy enough to enlarge.
As in Newcastle, the use of only two platforms for the route would be enough; they don't terminate in Waverley. Waverley is so deep that even double deck trains would be below Princes St gardens.
Lowering the tunnel floor and having only one running track in each may allow oversize trains though the tunnels between Waverley and Haymarket or maybe the tunnels can be enlarged. Modern signalling allows trains to be run at 3 minute intervals, which is 20 trains per hour. It is acceptable to run high speed and ordinary trains over the same tracks for such a short distance. When the trains have come out of the tunnels the points can sort the trains to the right platforms and routes.
Across the Central Belt.
The route roughly follows the route of the M8 Motorway to Glasgow. The route passes over or under junction 1 of the M9 and runs between the A69 and the M8 until Deuchmont and from there on runs along the north side of the M8, only roughly parallel to it because it must be straighter than the M8.
The route roughly follows the route of the M8 Motorway to Glasgow. The route passes over or under junction 1 of the M9 and runs between the A69 and the M8 until Deuchmont and from there on runs along the north side of the M8, only roughly parallel to it because it must be straighter than the M8.
Glasgow
The route curves south of Chapelhall and crosses the A8/M8 to run with the south side of it. The route curves again before it reaches the M73 to join the Glasgow Central- Coatbridge railway at Ballieston and from there into Glasgow Central.
But to take 400 M long trains would mean knocking down the front parts of Glasgow Central and/or extending the station on bridge over the Clyde. An alternative would be to bring the route in via Bellgrove to a station on High St. on the goods-only Union chord and through to terminate at Glasgow Airport..
The route curves south of Chapelhall and crosses the A8/M8 to run with the south side of it. The route curves again before it reaches the M73 to join the Glasgow Central- Coatbridge railway at Ballieston and from there into Glasgow Central.
But to take 400 M long trains would mean knocking down the front parts of Glasgow Central and/or extending the station on bridge over the Clyde. An alternative would be to bring the route in via Bellgrove to a station on High St. on the goods-only Union chord and through to terminate at Glasgow Airport..
