Fantasy: Cromer to Sheringham. Should the North Norfolk completely take this section of NR over?

[Grumbler]

I don’t see the problem with reversing at Cromer. The EMR Liverpool to Norwich services reverse twice, at Sheffield and Ely.

A snag with regular running between the two stations at Sheringham is the level crossing, a complete PITA.

 

[TheEdge]

A snag with regular running between the two stations at Sheringham is the level crossing, a complete PITA.

It was built as a very occasional use thing which it's perfectly suitable for. But as soon as the moves started happening and the NNR ran a few dining specials over it the idea it could be used as a connected line has sprung up. And that's not suitable

 

[dk1]

It was built as a very occasional use thing which it's perfectly suitable for. But as soon as the moves started happening and the NNR ran a few dining specials over it the idea it could be used as a connected line has sprung up. And that's not suitable

Something like twelve movements per annum I think.

 

[pdeaves]

Something like twelve movements per annum I think.

Correct, and that is total movements, not 'per direction'.

 

[Grumbler]

Correct, and that is total movements, not 'per direction'.

So if you miss your train, you'll have a long wait for the next one!

 

[Almyle503]

I don’t see the problem with reversing at Cromer. The EMR Liverpool to Norwich services reverse twice, at Sheffield and Ely.

Oh I don't like any of them. Nothing wrong with them. Just OCD.

 

[ashkeba]

Do the reverse elsewhere in Norfolk and have NR take over the MNR and run Norwich-Deerham-Fakenham as a real service? The route mostly exists and Fakenham could be a better railhead for much of the coast west of Blakeney.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Oh I don't like any of them. Nothing wrong with them. Just OCD.

But a train always has to reverse at some stage, on the operation of the railway reversing between services at say Sheringham or on one service intermediately at Cromer makes no difference. Wether going back to Norwich or continuing on to Sheringham the service has to reverse!

 

[lachlan]

Looking at Google Maps, the level crossing could be removed as there are alternatives to the east and west.

I don't really understand the problem with a reversal at Cromer or why a perfectly good NR passenger line should be handed over to heritage operation.

 

[MarkyT]

But a train always has to reverse at some stage, on the operation of the railway reversing between services at say Sheringham or on one service intermediately at Cromer makes no difference. Wether going back to Norwich or continuing on to Sheringham the service has to reverse!

To be fair, Cromer introduces an additional reversal into the total one-way end-to-end journey between Norwich and Sheringham. That's not a unique feature clearly, and, with two platforms available at Cromer, there's almost always a free one available for run-in from each direction, so, even in perturbation, it's a low-risk operation and, with modern units, reversal is quick to do. Not an issue at all IMO, and enables the line to serve two important destinations at its extremity, both with excellent station sites.

 

[JohnElliott]

If the reversal's that annoying, just demolish the centre of Cromer to put in a balloon loop...

 

[py_megapixel]

If the reversal's that annoying, just demolish the centre of Cromer to put in a balloon loop...

I know this is a tounge in cheek suggestion, but demolishing a small town because someone on an internet forum is slightly annoyed by the route the trains take sounds like something of an overreaction.

 

[zwk500]

I know this is a tounge in cheek suggestion, but demolishing a small town because someone on an internet forum is slightly annoyed by the route the trains take sounds like something of an overreaction.

You don't need to demolish that much, just about a dozen houses behind the Argos, build a new station near Summerhouse Close and straighten the line out from Roughton Road

 

[EllieAquitrain]

I know this is a tounge in cheek suggestion, but demolishing a small town because someone on an internet forum is slightly annoyed by the route the trains take sounds like something of an overreaction.

Check the date

 

[SeanG]

Linked to this, if the level crossing was able to be used regularly, would there be any merit in the NNR running a couple of services a day to Cromer in the peak Summer, similar to NYMR to Whitby (ie to provide a tourist train to complement the standard GA service)?

 

[zwk500]

Linked to this, if the level crossing was able to be used regularly, would there be any merit in the NNR running a couple of services a day to Cromer in the peak Summer, similar to NYMR to Whitby (ie to provide a tourist train to complement the standard GA service)?

You'd have to change the signalling at Cromer to do so - I can't remember the ins and outs but you have to secure the points at Cromer to keep heritage trains from heading off to Norwich.

 

[dk1]

Dining trains operate weekly Holt-Sheringham-Cromer in peak summer.

 

[NorwichRailFan]

I've always thought that the Sherringham to Cromer section would be better run as a Shuttle service

 

[dk1]

I've always thought that the Sherringham to Cromer section would be better run as a Shuttle service

Whatever for?

 

[NorwichRailFan]

Well I feel that the line would benifit from longer turnaround times and with the fastest trains on the route taking 57 mins and the slowest taking 1 hour 1 min it would mean the trains would be able to run at the same time each hour rather then it being give or take a few minutes. I also think in the summer the section from Cromer to Sheringham gets very crowded and having a shuttle service would add extra capacity on the section.

 

[dk1]

The Cromer-Sheringham section gets no more crowded than the rest of the route & all trains are now formed of 3 or 4 carriages. The vast majority of passengers are travelling from Norwich or Wroxham/North Walsham who would be forced needlessly to change trains at Cromer. This would be very unpopular indeed. Also who would crew these shuttle trains & where would their pnb facilities be located?

 

[306024]

Also who would crew these shuttle trains & where would their pnb facilities be located?

Weybourne drivers, PNB in Morrisons

 

[dk1]

Weybourne drivers, PNB in Morrisons

Ironic you say that but as a temporary measure on Cromer Carnival day, GA has an agreement with Morrisons & Mary Janes to use their facilities. Staff may also claim expenses to have food/drink at both establishments. This however is strictly only as a one/off & full pnb facilities would have to be provided in the extremely unlikely event staff wherever to be based at Cromer.

 

[NorwichRailFan]

It would be expensive but they could convert the old Bouncers nightclub outside Cromer station into a ticket office/Waiting room/pnb facilities.

 

[306024]

Ironic you say that but as a temporary measure on Cromer Carnival day, GA has an agreement with Morrisons & Mary Janes to use their facilities. Staff may also claim expenses to have food/drink at both establishments. This however is strictly only as a one/off & full pnb facilities would have to be provided in the extremely unlikely event staff wherever to be based at Cromer.

I remember first suggesting the Morrisons idea years ago when we were working out the best way to crew the Cromer carnival timetable. Good to hear the agreement still exists.

 

[dk1]

It would be expensive but they could convert the old Bouncers nightclub outside Cromer station into a ticket office/Waiting room/pnb facilities.

Now we really are heading into cloud cuckoo land lol.

 

[NorwichRailFan]

I agree that my idea is a bit over the top but I do think that the passenger facilities at Cromer and sherigham are a bit lacking.

 

[transportphoto]

I agree that my idea is a bit over the top but I do think that the passenger facilities at Cromer and sherigham are a bit lacking.

I believe Sheringham now has a ticket machine! What more would you like to see? It’s somewhat comparable to other stations on the line, and indeed across the country.

 

[NorwichRailFan]

Cromer(& Possibly Sheringham) could do with being staffed on Busy Summer Weekends with the amount of people going through

 

[dk1]

Cromer(& Possibly Sheringham) could do with being staffed on Busy Summer Weekends with the amount of people going through

But what would they do? I just don’t understand your thinking.