hstsrule
Member
Does anyone know anything about the Alfreton-Ashfield line or the Ruddington-Leicester line opening to passenger services?
Search for "Maid Marian Line".Does anyone know anything about the Alfreton-Ashfield line ... opening to passenger services?
Indeed. It has no real purpose as a transport link unless it can link at least to the Nottingham tram (very unlikely) and probably also into the centre of Leicester (impossible). Even then, of the settlements in between, Loughborough already has a pretty good train service and the others are pretty small.I can guarantee Ruddington - Leicester isn't going to reopen as part of the national network. Ruddington - Leicester North will be a through heritage line when the GCR/GCR(N) link is complete.
and Leicester-Loughborough-Nottingham is 2tph, with a 3rd that doesn't stop at LoughboroughSearch for "Maid Marian Line".
Indeed. It has no real purpose as a transport link unless it can link at least to the Nottingham tram (very unlikely) and probably also into the centre of Leicester (impossible). Even then, of the settlements in between, Loughborough already has a pretty good train service and the others are pretty small.
Reports like this about itDoes anyone know anything about the Alfreton-Ashfield line or the Ruddington-Leicester line opening to passenger services?
Do tend to agree with you on the Ollerton Branch. I guess they will keep talking about it so long as it passes through areas that remain marginal 'red wall' seats, as they currently do.....Calling it Alfreton - Ashfield is a bit misleading. The line does not go to Alfreton as it joins the Erewash Valley Line at Pie Hill which is a few miles south of Alfreton. I agree that it does go through Ashfield but even then it is more a proposed link from Mansfield to the HS2 station at Toton. Therefore Mansfield - Toton would be a better way of describing it. It could very well happen as the line is already there and is used for freight, ECS and an occasional diversionary route if the Robin Hood Line is blocked south of Kirkby in Ashfield. Everything depends upon Toton being developed as the East Midlands hub on HS2. I suppose if trains were to then run beyond Toton to Derby it would also provide a link from Langley Mill and Ilkeston to Derby, as both are in Derbyshire but have no easy direct link by train.
I can’t see the line from Shirebrook through Edwinstowe to Ollerton ever happening. Various local councillors and politicians have been campaigning for it but the route from Ollerton and Edwinstowe to Mansfield and Nottingham is too long via Shirebrook for it to be competitive with road transport.