Peterboro' - Doncaster via Spalding & the Joint line

[70014IronDuke]

Looking at what was then Table 19 in 1995-96 (Table 18 today), the service on the Peterboro' to Doncaster via Spalding and Lincoln seems to have changed very little in 20 years, with few, if any, enhancements that might generate extra traffic.

I realise that there were (are still, after the route upgrade?) numerous level crossings on the line, meaning the service between Spalding and Sleaford was restricted to just one shift, but wonder

a) is there demand for improved services as the line stands now? (Yes, I also realise that there is virtually no spare stock stock currently, but were some to become available?)

b) Given the population changes/increases over the years, what about opening/reopening some stations on what feels very much like a remaindered line, cut back in the 60s with very little thought given to improvements since.

For example, could new stations be considered at or around:

a) Peterborough - Spalding section

North of Werrington Jcn, to serve north Peterborough suburbs

And/or near the A15 crossing point, as a P&R for Peterborough and to serve Glinton village

Deeping St Nicholas

b) Spalding - Lincoln section

Pinchbeck (is this the largest place on the line without a station?)

Quadring

Donington

Helpringham

Burton Pedwardine

Digby

Kirkby Green

Dunston,

Nocton

Heighington/Washingborough (joint or two stations?)

c) Lincoln - Gainsborough Lea Rd - Doncaster section

Beckingham

Finningly/Blaxton

SE Doncaster (somewhere near where the M18 crosses the line)


Of course, even if the platforms to some of these stations still exist, the costs of re-openings are awful today – but could some of these be justified?

(Mods, if you want to put this into infrastructure, please do so).

 

[Spankthemonkey]

21 trains a day leave Spalding, all single coach 153's, not many approaching capacity apart from early evening arrival from Peterborough. Very little business to be had at intermediate locations between Spalding and Peterborough, very sparse, and road traffic into peterborough isn't too bad from the north. Pinchbeck (population 3,000) could justify a stop I suppose when u consider other places in the uk of a similar size that have stations.

Most Spalding commuters into Peterborough drive by car as the roads and congestion are not too bad.

 

[class26]

Looking at what was then Table 19 in 1995-96 (Table 18 today), the service on the Peterboro' to Doncaster via Spalding and Lincoln seems to have changed very little in 20 years, with few, if any, enhancements that might generate extra traffic.

I realise that there were (are still, after the route upgrade?) numerous level crossings on the line, meaning the service between Spalding and Sleaford was restricted to just one shift, but wonder

a) is there demand for improved services as the line stands now? (Yes, I also realise that there is virtually no spare stock stock currently, but were some to become available?)

b) Given the population changes/increases over the years, what about opening/reopening some stations on what feels very much like a remaindered line, cut back in the 60s with very little thought given to improvements since.

For example, could new stations be considered at or around:

a) Peterborough - Spalding section

North of Werrington Jcn, to serve north Peterborough suburbs

And/or near the A15 crossing point, as a P&R for Peterborough and to serve Glinton village

Deeping St Nicholas

b) Spalding - Lincoln section

Pinchbeck (is this the largest place on the line without a station?)

Quadring

Donington

Helpringham

Burton Pedwardine

Digby

Kirkby Green

Dunston,

Nocton

Heighington/Washingborough (joint or two stations?)

c) Lincoln - Gainsborough Lea Rd - Doncaster section

Beckingham

Finningly/Blaxton

SE Doncaster (somewhere near where the M18 crosses the line)


Of course, even if the platforms to some of these stations still exist, the costs of re-openings are awful today – but could some of these be justified?

(Mods, if you want to put this into infrastructure, please do so).

I would think a station at Pinchbeck, Donington and possibly Helpringham would work and bring more traffic to the central part of the line. As I live in that area I will confine remarks on stations to that part except to say i have long argued that the service should be extended at either end to be made more useful. Maybe to Cambridge or Stansted and in the north to Leeds. Now I hear the remarks about journey times to Stansted etc but those with heavy suit cases I always think just want to get on a train and sit there until the destination, how ever much longer

 

[Welshman]

I used to live and work in Helpringham, and in my more whimsical moments I used to think it would be good if the station there could be re-opened. It was frustrating to have trains running through the centre of the village, but if I wanted to go to Spalding or Peterborough, having to drive to Sleaford to board them and then pass back through Helpringham 30 minutes afterwards! And you had to drive to Sleaford - the local bus service was, and still is, abysmal. So having got the car out, it was easier to stay in it all the way.

Helpringham could also be a railhead for other villages such as Swaton, Scredington and Burton Pedwardine.

But I'm afraid it is a pipe-dream and not likely to happen.

 

[Phil.]

Totally different line and área but I never understood why a station was never built at Cherry Hinton between Cambidge and Dullingham.

 

[70014IronDuke]

21 trains a day leave Spalding, all single coach 153's, not many approaching capacity apart from early evening arrival from Peterborough. Very little business to be had at intermediate locations between Spalding and Peterborough, very sparse, and road traffic into peterborough isn't too bad from the north. Pinchbeck (population 3,000) could justify a stop I suppose when u consider other places in the uk of a similar size that have stations.

Most Spalding commuters into Peterborough drive by car as the roads and congestion are not too bad.

You obviously know the area, so bow to your knowledge. However, looking further north, it seems the joint populations of Washinborough (appx 3,500) and Heighington (appx 3,000) come to a grand total of 6.5k. Perhaps a lot of new housing?
So maybe the most deserving claim for a new, joint station - if midway site were to be suitable.

 

[30907]

b) Given the population changes/increases over the years, what about opening/reopening some stations on what feels very much like a remaindered line, cut back in the 60s with very little thought given to improvements since.

For example, could new stations be considered at or around:

a) Peterborough - Spalding section

North of Werrington Jcn, to serve north Peterborough suburbs

And/or near the A15 crossing point, as a P&R for Peterborough and to serve Glinton village

Deeping St Nicholas

The problem with a station at Werrington/Glinton is that it's on the far edge of the new town built up area, so not very attractive for local commuting. And Deeping St N isn't that big.

I agree there's no longer a reason for the evening gap between Spalding and Sleaford, but I suspect the services might not be self financing.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Spalding is a fairly sizable town so its likely the people who live in the aformentioned villages near to the tulip town may live there and quite possibly commute to Spalding for work.

 

[Starmill]

If Ruskington and Metheringham are worthy of stations... Pinchbeck and Heighington (Lincs) certainly are.

Good luck finding someone to fund them though given the price of new 2-platform stations and associated footbridge these days.

 

[70014IronDuke]

21 trains a day leave Spalding, all single coach 153's, not many approaching capacity apart from early evening arrival from Peterborough. Very little business to be had at intermediate locations between Spalding and Peterborough, very sparse, and road traffic into peterborough isn't too bad from the north.
.......
Most Spalding commuters into Peterborough drive by car as the roads and congestion are not too bad.

But I have since read that access to Peterborough station is not so good by car (I think it was in here on an ancient thread about the poor quality of Lincolnshire rail services.)

If so, would there be a case for extending the GN locals to terminate at a new P&R station north of Peterborough, near the A15-Glinton area?

This, of course, might have a negative effect on those using the Spalding and Stamford line services to access the electric trains - they might just drive to the new P&Y station
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If Ruskington and Metheringham are worthy of stations... Pinchbeck and Heighington (Lincs) certainly are.

Good luck finding someone to fund them though given the price of new 2-platform stations and associated footbridge these days.

Oh, I'm sure you are too right there. I suspect one reason nothing has happened on this line in terms of positive developments is because the local populations are car-centric, and not out lobbying their councils to do anything about local rail infrastructre. Without that, given the pressures elsewhere, nothing will happen.

 

[bluealley]

Travelling between Sleaford and Doncaster in the 80s was not a pleasant experience, especially in the summer on the BR Dmus. There were several services a day then, now there is nothing direct from Doncaster. It needs a motor across there, and something which can at least be called a service.

 

[MisterWhippy]

Travelling in and around Peterborough during peak times is dreadful, however, with the local bus services being strengthened recently, it's not warrant of extra services/stations.

There were plans to put a station by Foxcovert Road near Werrington, but now the new footbridge is in place, I doubt that will happen.

You also have to say, the population of Spalding work in Spalding as its mostly agricultural jobs and people who do work in Peterborough, drive as its not a long journey once you get through the traffic.

 

[desmo]

Washingborough/Heighington blur into each other so you wouldn't have a station at each.
The line at Washingborough is in a deep cutting. Similar with Heighington. There is one area where you could potentially put a station (Sheepwash Lane), but house gardens back up to one side of the track.
The original station serving the villages was on the Bardney line (now a cyclepath into Lincoln).
The bus service is good into Lincoln from the villages also.
Best hope would be a new park and ride station when they complete the bypass, but would only be a 5 min train ride into Lincoln.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

You obviously know the area, so bow to your knowledge. However, looking further north, it seems the joint populations of Washinborough (appx 3,500) and Heighington (appx 3,000) come to a grand total of 6.5k. Perhaps a lot of new housing?
So maybe the most deserving claim for a new, joint station - if midway site were to be suitable.

the previous Branston and Heighington Station site is still a reasonable site, especially if also include Branston in your catchment ...

roughly https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.2120078,-0.4620388,16z


Station road Branston being so named as it runs from Branston crossroads to Heighington station and


--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Washingborough/Heighington blur into each other so you wouldn't have a station at each.
The line at Washingborough is in a deep cutting. Similar with Heighington. There is one area where you could potentially put a station (Sheepwash Lane), but house gardens back up to one side of the track.
The original station serving the villages was on the Bardney line (now a cyclepath into Lincoln).
The bus service is good into Lincoln from the villages also.
Best hope would be a new park and ride station when they complete the bypass, but would only be a 5 min train ride into Lincoln.

Branston and Heighington was not far from where Station Road crosses over the railway ... and was accessed at pretty much a level

At sheepwash the line is actually on an embankment as the stream is the low spot for Heighington

I think you may be gettign confused with Washingborough Station which was down by the witham

 

[desmo]

Behind the old station building is now a housing estate and the gardens of that estate back up to the line. The area boundaried by Station Road/Sheepwash/the beck is now being potentially developed for housing.
Not saying there isn't plans for a station on the backburner.

 

[trentside]

I just can't see a case for a station at Heighington. I can't see an hourly at best train service competing with the bus every 20 minutes during the day, that serves the village centre and all the Washingborough estates. The convenience and journey time on the train to Lincoln would be great, but I don't think there would be a business case. If and when we see timetable improvements on the GNGE then it might be time to look again - Sunday services are a likely next step.

As for the north section, there won't be stations at Beckingham and Finnigley unless there are serious timetable improvements. Finnigley station platforms are still largely intact, but with 5 trains per day, you're not going to see a reopening. I'd like to see a two hourly service north from Lincoln as it would improve connections to destinations like Leeds that currently require changes at Newark and Doncaster for much of the day. The Doncaster trains currently are little use to anyone, with 2 in the late morning, one early afternoon then 2 in quick succession in the evening - the latter of which rarely takes more than a handful of people to and from Doncaster.