They could very build a link bridge from Haymarket across the lines to the Southsub line thus:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p86/Dave_Crampton/Untitled_zps343b05e2.jpg
After all they built a similar bridge at the Golfists park near Broomhouse.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Upgrading A9 'more relevant than trams' campaigner says
(46 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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Apart from all the potential local passenger traffic (not all going to/from Waverley/Haymarket) there would be opportunities for trains from outside Edinburgh to go to Galashiels without going via Waverley - change at Edinburgh Park if people wanted to go to centre of town.
Imagine getting a train at Bathgate changing at EP getting on a train that might have started at Dunblane, and seeing people getting off at Newcraighall (for QMU) with a shorter journey time than if they had changed at Waverley.
Yeah, they could do that now if they wanted to. Just the renovation of a few stations to pay for, and some rolling stock maybe. Rejig the timetables and you're off...
IIRC I read something in the early 1990s (when I lived in Morningside) that the South Sub was used to transport nuclear waste. I presume going from Torness to Sellafield for reprocessing?
Indeed there is a loop from the East Coast mainline which connects to the South Sub via Newcraighall. Passes through the goods yard at Millerhill/Whitehill.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@DaveC Doing that in a "live railway environment" would be carnage. Network Rail would have a hairy fit and charge a fortune for doing it.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
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They could also run passenger trains along via Slaetford and out to Livingston, and thence the Shotts line. Then no need to block the Queen Street or Fife lines.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"They could also run passenger trains along via Slatetford and out to Livingston, and thence the Shotts line. Then no need to block the Queen Street or Fife lines."
Eh? I thought they already did?
I've collected friends from South Livingstone on the Glasgow - Edinburgh train. There are 4 lines into Edinburgh from Near Broom house. The lines from Fife use the north 2 lines through the west of Edinburgh while the Glasgow/Bathgate/Livingston trains use the south 2 lines.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"Eh? I thought they already did?"
Not via South Sub (except when lines between Waverley and Haymarket are closed - not often).
Reopening SS to passengers means re/opening stations - eg Morningside, Cameron Toll Craigmillar, maybe Gorgie and (outside chance) Porty.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I wasn't talking about the south sub. Chris appeared to be saying if Scotrail run trains south of Livy to Glasgow it would free up the Fife circle. My point is they do run trains to Glasgow north through Bathgate and south through shots. The Fife line carries no traffic on its way to glasgow as there is no way for it to get south again. This was why they proposed the new line running near Queens Elizabeth Yards, which they later abandoned. The Fife line splits nr Broomhouse. Glasgow traffic flows out next to the Fife circle to Edin Park, not on the Fife Circle line.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yeah, but I was talking about the South Sub. Instead of running all those Livingston trains via Haymarket, they could go south after Sateford, loop round the South Sub, and go into Waverley via Newcraighall and Brunstane. Or they could run on to the ECML and on to North Berwick. Or (eventually) go on the Borders railway to Galashiels...
Posted 11 years ago # -
There's even less capacity going into Waverley from the east. Very little chance of getting more local services into the timetable that way given the importance and frequency of East Coast services.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"Very little chance of getting more local services"
Perhaps/probably.
Though ScotRail trains to Dunbar have been added, and presumably services to Galashiels are accounted for - though they may just be extensions of current Newcraighall ones.
The approach to Calton Tunnel used to be four track from Portobello until electrification (I think). So possible to add capacity - would mean relocating electric wire supports. Not easy or cheap - but perhaps better than HS2 or dualling the A9.
Changes to signalling might be possible.
There have been plans to reinstate the Abbeyhill Loop in connection with the South Sub. There have also been plans to sell it off (and build on the trackbed), but that was stopped 'just in case'.
Transport has never exactly been 'rational'.
Posted 11 years ago # -
DaveC and PS - that's a very good idea about getting the Trams to run along the South Sub.
New tram line at very little cost
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
The Karlsruhe Stadtbahn is a German tram-train system combining tram lines in the city of Karlsruhe with railway lines in the surrounding countryside"
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
‘Successful citie’s such as Frankfurt and Karlsruhe power their light rail systems with electricity from hydro and solar energy and this would be a useful option for Edinburgh, the group said.It is important to understand that in mainland Europe, new light rail and tramway construction projects do not bear the cost of utility modernisation or improvements to the highway to the extent that they do in the UK.
"
http://www.rail.co/2011/07/06/tramforward-welcomes-edinburgh-tram-decision/#
Posted 11 years ago # -
It is important to understand that in mainland Europe, new light rail and tramway construction projects do not bear the cost of utility modernisation or improvements to the highway to the extent that they do in the UK.
Accounting in government is always political. Note how the true extent of the costs of the Forth Resilience Crossing are being squirreled away into other Transport Scotland budgets to make it look less expensive...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
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