Spalding to Boston Link: A New Idea

[class26]

That is a reasonable proposal, but it doesn't need a new line, just a station re-opening. It could be marketed as Donington & Boston Parkway.




Bids to re-open the Louth-Firsby line and Mablethorpe were made in the 3rd round of the "Restoring Your Railway" competition for funds, and were unsuccessful (not surprisingly).

@backontrack "We should not be closing rail in 2021."

That would have been hasty, but sadly there will be a need to close/mothball lines in 2022.

Hull Trains once proposed a service from Grimsby via Lincoln to Kings X using the Joint Line and to open a station at Donington called "Boston Parkway"

I doubt the cost of constructing a chord from Helpringham towards Boston would be beneficial. Consideration for upgrading the single line between Hubberts Bridge & Boston also needs to given, with regards to capacity along that route.

It`s possible to operate 2 trains an hour each way under the present arrangement. it happens on Summer Saturdays at various hours .

 

[backontrack]

Hull Trains once proposed a service from Grimsby via Lincoln to Kings X using the Joint Line and to open a station at Donington called "Boston Parkway"

Off-topic but didn't GNER also propose a few parkway stations at some point?

 

[MarkyT]

Hull Trains once proposed a service from Grimsby via Lincoln to Kings X using the Joint Line and to open a station at Donington called "Boston Parkway"

Grrr, the parkway name again. Excuse me while I count to ten... Nonetheless, it could be a good Boston railhead being directly on the A52 and serving all the surrounding villages too. Perhaps a bus service could connect it with Boston as well, with through fares available, clearly.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Off-topic but didn't GNER also propose a few parkway stations at some point?

I recall one near Doncaster and one in Hertfordshire near motorways, they were false promises made during franchise awarding.

 

[randyrippley]

two questions:

how wet is that fenland?
do any of the watercourses that would need bridging have navigation orders?

 

[class26]

two questions:

how wet is that fenland?
do any of the watercourses that would need bridging have navigation orders?

If you refer the the stretch of land between west of Swineshead station and the Joint Line then Greengauge 21`s idea was to branch off the Sleaford line after where the Forty Foot drain deviates left but NOT cross the drain. There is no river to cross but several drainage ditches. I can`t image these have navigation orders, they are not big enough.
Now one more question - Why would there be a curve built to the Joint Line rather than reversal at Sleaford ? Presumably to save time? Might it be cheaper to raise the speed of the line between Boston and Sleaford which would save time then call at Sleaford before reversal to Spalding ?

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Indeed, the South Forty Foot itself is the only one that's navigable.

 

[randyrippley]

If you refer the the stretch of land between west of Swineshead station and the Joint Line then Greengauge 21`s idea was to branch off the Sleaford line after where the Forty Foot drain deviates left but NOT cross the drain. There is no river to cross but several drainage ditches. I can`t image these have navigation orders, they are not big enough.
Now one more question - Why would there be a curve built to the Joint Line rather than reversal at Sleaford ? Presumably to save time? Might it be cheaper to raise the speed of the line between Boston and Sleaford which would saver time then call at Sleaford before reversal to Spalding ?

thanks I misunderstood what he was saying - I thought he meant to cross the 40'

 

[DeltaAustralia]

Louth has a population of 16,000 - that is *not* a large town. A large town is at least 50,000.

In Lincs it's the 12th largest place.

Nevertheless, it is still the largest town in Lincs without a surviving rail link.

Why would there be a curve built to the Joint Line rather than reversal at Sleaford ? Presumably to save time? Might it be cheaper to raise the speed of the line between Boston and Sleaford which would save time then call at Sleaford before reversal to Spalding ?

You know, that might actually work.

 

[A0]

Nevertheless, it is still the largest town in Lincs without a surviving rail link.

So what ? That's not a measure as to whether it should have a rail station.

Doesn't even feature in the Top 25 of places which don't have a station in the England https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_towns_in_England_without_a_railway_station