Redditch Branch Line to be partly doubled

[JamieLei]

A consultation is underway, with the aim of of dualling 2 miles of the branch to allow services to increase to every 20 mins. This would also tie in nicely with the ambition of having XC services operating every 20 mins to Bromsgrove.

http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/News ... sults.aspx

[Dave]

What happened to leccy going to Bromsgrove?

[JamieLei]

Dunno. It was in a RUS but seems to have fallen out of plans somehow, especially with many other areas being electrified...

[Ameecher]

Lack of funding to relocate Bromsgrove station to allow space for turnback facilities has ruined it. The money set aside was for electrification only.

[Greengage]

Isn't this just typical of every single scheme that involves the West Midlands??

Remember the fiasco surrounding Moor Street's terminal platforms? They were restored in 2002/2003 but the endless dithering by Network Rail over trying to reconnect a teeny weeny little stretch of line (something like half a million quid's worth of signalling or something like that) mean the process was delayed for almost a decade..... and even now it's not all the three bay platforms, but just two.


Why does Birmingham always get the rum deal when it comes to strategic improvements always being put on ice? Look at New Street - we finally get a major - much needed - redevelopment but only after 25 years of messing about and false starts, and even now it's just the concourse, whilst any prospect of additional tracks and platforms (be they deep level or whatever) have now disappeared into the ether on the spurious grounds of cost - well it wouldn't be if it was London now, would it?

Looks like the North West electrification schemes (FOUR lines!!!!!!) get the nod and priority now whilst a teeny little two mile stretch of crucial commuter route south of Birmingham gets sidelined [originally flagged as 'committed for electrification' but now more like to be 'on hold'] because of yet more dubious excuses.
What a way to run our railway!!!

[61653]

Isn't this just typical of every single scheme that involves the West Midlands??

Remember the fiasco surrounding Moor Street's terminal platforms? They were restored in 2002/2003 but the endless dithering by Network Rail over trying to reconnect a teeny weeny little stretch of line (something like half a million quid's worth of signalling or something like that) mean the process was delayed for almost a decade..... and even now it's not all the three bay platforms, but just two.


Why does Birmingham always get the rum deal when it comes to strategic improvements always being put on ice? Look at New Street - we finally get a major - much needed - redevelopment but only after 25 years of messing about and false starts, and even now it's just the concourse, whilst any prospect of additional tracks and platforms (be they deep level or whatever) have now disappeared into the ether on the spurious grounds of cost - well it wouldn't be if it was London now, would it?

Looks like the North West electrification schemes (FOUR lines!!!!!!) get the nod and priority now whilst a teeny little two mile stretch of crucial commuter route south of Birmingham gets sidelined [originally flagged as 'committed for electrification' but now more like to be 'on hold'] because of yet more dubious excuses.
What a way to run our railway!!!

Never mind, you've had far more new carriages than any of the 'Northern' PTE/ITA areas, and you'll be on HS2 far sooner than Manchester or Sheffield!

[Dave]

Isn't this just typical of every single scheme that involves the West Midlands??

Remember the fiasco surrounding Moor Street's terminal platforms? They were restored in 2002/2003 but the endless dithering by Network Rail over trying to reconnect a teeny weeny little stretch of line (something like half a million quid's worth of signalling or something like that) mean the process was delayed for almost a decade..... and even now it's not all the three bay platforms, but just two.


Why does Birmingham always get the rum deal when it comes to strategic improvements always being put on ice? Look at New Street - we finally get a major - much needed - redevelopment but only after 25 years of messing about and false starts, and even now it's just the concourse, whilst any prospect of additional tracks and platforms (be they deep level or whatever) have now disappeared into the ether on the spurious grounds of cost - well it wouldn't be if it was London now, would it?

Looks like the North West electrification schemes (FOUR lines!!!!!!) get the nod and priority now whilst a teeny little two mile stretch of crucial commuter route south of Birmingham gets sidelined [originally flagged as 'committed for electrification' but now more like to be 'on hold'] because of yet more dubious excuses.
What a way to run our railway!!!

This, except for the Bromsgrove reference. It isn't needed, IMO.

[Kevo00]

Isn't this just typical of every single scheme that involves the West Midlands??

Why does Birmingham always get the rum deal when it comes to strategic improvements always being put on ice? Look at New Street - we finally get a major - much needed - redevelopment but only after 25 years of messing about and false starts, and even now it's just the concourse, whilst any prospect of additional tracks and platforms (be they deep level or whatever) have now disappeared into the ether on the spurious grounds of cost - well it wouldn't be if it was London now, would it?

Ever been to Euston?

Acutally most London terminals are badly in need of expansion but are rarely expanded and, in any case, there often isn't the room to do so.

Lets face it, wherever we live, transport is never quite as ideal as we'd like it to be.