Second Corby to Kettering railway track to be restored

[whole diary]

[bobm]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Second Corby to Kettering railway track to be restored

Network Rail hopes restoring a second track on a line in Northamptonshire will lead to a boost in train services.

The second track on the line between Corby and Kettering was removed in 1986 when traffic decreased with the closure of steelmaking in the town.

Five years ago, Corby rail station was reopened and passenger services grew.

Network Rail has confirmed plans are under development to reinstate the second track. A consultation with local residents will take place this year.

The scheme is designed to increase capacity in response to growing demand for rail travel and rail freight.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "These plans are still under development. Once we have suitable detail we will carry out a programme of engagement with local residents and stakeholders to inform them of our plans."

[Lee]

Interesting - Who knows what precedents that might set...

[wabbit]

Good news, another step in the right direction (hopefully)!

[paul7575]

This is an already known about part of the CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) HLOS^▸ (High Level Output Specification) though.  DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) included it in their 2012 list of requirements, and it was in the Dec 2012 draft of NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s P5 projects.

Paul

[Worcester_Passenger]

Is it the intention to double the service frequency so that Corby gets a half-hourly service? If so, how does this affect the stopping services on the Midland Main Line?

[paul7575]

The description in the draft enhancements plan now has the re-doubling embedded in the overall 'electric spine' project.  All I can glean is that it is more to do with overall line capacity than any explicit increase in Corby's passenger service:

Midland Main Line capacity (Bedford ^ Sharnbrook - Kettering ^ Corby)
This project seeks to deliver enhanced track capacity for additional services on the Midland
Main Line in the future. The scope of works for this scheme may include; doubling the track
from Kettering to Corby, new track and linespeed increases between Bedford and Kettering
and improvements in the Bedford area. The delivery timescale of these schemes will be
determined by the Midland Main Line electrification programme and the East Midlands
resignalling works.

Is one of the problems with the current setup that they have to leave some gaps in the otherwise regular service to allow for existing freight to run?

Paul

[ellendune]

Is the idea to send more freight via Melton instead of Leicester?