The line is classed as a high-speed line because its sections from Birmingham to Wakefield Westgate and from Leeds to York have a speed limit of 125 mph (200 km/h), though the section from Birmingham to Bristol is limited to 100 mph (160 km/h) because of numerous level crossings, especially half-barrier level crossings, and the section from Wakefield to Leeds has the same limit because of a number of curves.[citation needed]
From the Labour Government's nationalisation in 1948 until privatisation in 1990, the route ran through all six regions of British Rail but had timetabling priority in none of them. Therefore the services were poorly promoted and thus not always well-patronised.[citation needed]
Most Derby–Nottingham local passenger trains were taken over by diesel units from 14 April 1958, taking about 34 minutes between the two cities.[1]
The use of the route for freight has decreased, because of the bulk of haulage switching to roads and the building of the M5, M6 and M1 motorways.
Abortive British Rail proposals for complete electrification
In the 1960s the route was considered for electrification.[citation needed] In the early 1980s, electrification was again discussed at length and documentation for various proposals was produced in 1981.[4] This would have been particularly beneficial for climbing the Lickey Incline between Cheltenham and Birmingham, as many of the early diesels were under-powered. In 1977 the Parliamentary Select Committee on Nationalised Industries recommended considering electrification of more of Britain's rail network, and by 1979 BR presented a range of options that included electrifying the cross-country route by 2000.[5] Under the governments that succeeded the 1976–79 Labour government, the proposal was not implemented.
Route
Map of Cross Country network. The core Cross Country Route is between Bristol and York
Milepost zero for the main predecessor Derby to Bristol route has always been Derby, hence a train travelling the whole route starts out going "up" then becomes "down". The Birmingham to Derby section of the route has a line speed of 125 mph (200 km/h), while Birmingham to Bristol is restricted to 100 mph (160 km/h) because of a number of half-barrier level crossings.
Electrification
The line is not fully electrified, but some sections are overhead electrified at 25 kV AC such as Bromsgrove to Grand Junction,[6] with further electrified sections around Leeds and the East Coast Main Line near York. Network Rail stated in 2014 that the line between Derby and Sheffield would be electrified as part of the Midland Main Line upgrade.[7] However, the electrification programme was severely cut back in July 2017.[8] As of 2021[update], Network Rail are working on the sections between York and Church Fenton.[9] The rest of the section between Leeds and York has electrification planned as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade which itself is part of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands.[10][11] This plan includes full Midland Main Line electrification and upgrades.
Electrification between Westerleigh Junction (near Yate, Gloucestershire) and Bristol Temple Meads was planned as part of the 21st-century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line, but as of 2022[update] work has not continued. Bristol Parkway is electrified though.
Services
Most long-distance services on the route are operated by Class 220/221 Voyagers, although a few services operate using High Speed Trains. These trains are capable of achieving 125 mph (200 km/h), compared to the previous Class 47s and Mk 2 coaching stock, which had a top speed of 95 mph (150 km/h).
^Railway Electrification. British Railways Board (Central Publicity Unit). Winter 1979. pp. 0–2, 8.
^"First electric train travels between Birmingham and Bromsgrove". Global Railway Review. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
^. Network Rail. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
^"Rail electrification plans scrapped". BBC News: Business. 20 July 2017. from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
^"York to Church Fenton Improvement Scheme". Network Rail. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
^Philip Haigh (14 December 2011). Nigel Harris (ed.). "£290m to wire York-Manchester trans-Pennine route". Rail (685): 8–9.
^"Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands" (PDF). UK Government. 18 November 2021. (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cross Country Route.
January 25, 2023
crosscountry, route, this, article, about, railway, line, from, bristol, york, services, operated, train, operating, company, crosscountry, long, distance, rail, route, england, runs, from, bristol, temple, meads, york, birmingham, street, derby, sheffield, le. This article is about the railway line from Bristol to York For services operated by the train operating company see CrossCountry The CrossCountry NE SW route is a long distance rail route in England It runs from Bristol Temple Meads to York via Birmingham New Street Derby Sheffield and Leeds or Doncaster It facilitates some of the longest passenger journeys in the UK such as Aberdeen to Penzance CrossCountry NE SW routeCrossCountry Class 221 Super Voyager departing Bristol Temple Meads in 2010OverviewStatusOperationalOwnerNetwork RailTerminiYorkBristol Temple MeadsStations48ServiceTypeSuburban rail Heavy rail Inter city railSystemNational RailOperator s CrossCountry principal operator East Midlands RailwayGreat Western RailwayNorthern TrainsTransPennine ExpressWest Midlands TrainsRolling stockClass 43 HSTClass 170 TurbostarClass 220 VoyagerClass 221 Super VoyagerTechnicalTrack gauge1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in standard gaugeElectrificationPartial 25 kV AC OHLE from Bromsgrove to Birmingham New Street Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate to Neville Hill TMD Colton Junction to YorkIn progress Colton Junction to Church FentonOperating speedUp to 125 mph 200 km h maximum some sections limited to 100 mph 160 km h Route map Click to expand vteCross Country RouteLegendEast Coast Main Line amp North TransPennineNorth TransPennine amp York Scarborough lineYorkNational Railway MuseumEast Coast Main Lineformer routeCopmanthorpeEast Coast Main LineBolton PercyUlleskelfChurch Fenton to Wetherby lineChurch FentonDearne Valley line amp Hull to York lineSelby LineMicklefieldEast GarforthGarforthCross Gates Wetherby lineCross GatesOsmondthorpeNeville Hill TMDHunslet branch lineMarsh LaneLeedsHuddersfield lineHallam Line amp Pontefract lineLeeds CentralAiredale line amp Harrogate lineCalder Valley lineHuddersfield line amp North TransPennineHuddersfield lineBeestonGreat Northern RailwayArdsleyEast and WestYorkshire Union RailwayMethley Joint RailwayOutwoodGreat Northern RailwayWakefield WestgateHallam Line amp Pontefract lineSandal and AgbriggMidland Main LineWest Riding amp Grimsby RlyHare Park amp CroftonLancashire amp Yorkshire RlyGreat Central RailwayNostellFitzwilliamHemsworthHull and Barnsley RailwayDearne Valley lineWakefield lineMoorthorpeFrickleyThurnscoeHull and Barnsley RailwayDearne Valley RailwayGoldthorpeHull and Barnsley RailwayBolton upon DearneMidland Main LineGreat Central RailwaySwinton Doncaster lineSwintonKilnhurst WestGreat Central RailwayAldwarke Corus steelyardParkgate and RawmarshRotherham MasboroughRotherham CentralRotherham Westgate S amp R C F Booth scrapyardGreat Central RailwayMidland Main Line former route HolmesGreat Central RailwayHallam Line amp Penistone LineMeadowhall InterchangeBrightsideSheffield District RailwayUpwell Street WharfBrightside WharfAttercliffe RoadSheffield Lincoln lineStocksbridge LineSheffieldHeeleyMillhouses and EcclesallBeauchiefDore amp TotleyHope Valley line amp South TransPennineDronfieldUnstoneNesfield branch lineSheepbridgeGreat Central RailwayMidland Main Line former route ChesterfieldChesterfield Market PlaceLancashire Derbyshire amp East Coast RailwayGreat Central RailwayClay CrossDerwent Valley lineAshover Light RailwayStrettonWingfieldAmbergate Pye Bridge lineDerwent Valley lineAmbergateBelperDuffieldEcclesbourne Valley RailwayRipley branch lineGNR Derbyshire andStaffordshire ExtensionDerby Nottingham RoadChaddesdenSidings MidlandMain LineDerbyMidland Main LineDerby Litchurch Lane WorksRamsline HaltPeartreeSinfin branch lineCastle Donington lineWillington Power StationCrewe Derby lineWillingtonGNR Derbyshire andStaffordshire ExtensionHorninglow WharfBurton on TrentMosley StreetBurton on Trent freight linesLeicester Burton upon Trent lineBranstonBarton and WaltonCentral Rivers TMDSouth Staffordshire lineCroxallElfordTamworth West CoastMain LineWilnecoteBirmingham IntermodalFreight TerminalKingsburyBirmingham amp Derby Junction RlyBirmingham Peterborough lineWater OrtonSutton Park lineCastle BromwichBromford BridgeWashwood Heath yardStechford to Aston lineSaltleyLawley StreetFreightliner depotSaltley ScrapyardRugby Birmingham Stafford lineCamp Hill LineCross City Line amp Chase LineBirmingham Curzon StreetChiltern Main Line amp Snow Hill linesBirmingham New StreetRugby Birmingham Stafford lineCentral GoodsGranville StreetFive WaysChurch RoadSomerset RoadUniversitySelly OakCadbury Railway and WharfBournvilleLifford Wharf branchCamp Hill LineKings NortonNorthfieldLongbridgeHalesowen RailwayBarnt GreenCross City Line amp Gloucester loop lineBlackwellLickey InclineBromsgroveBirmingham to Worcestervia Bromsgrove LineDunhampsteadSpetchleyCotswold Lineto Worcester Shrub HillWorcestershire ParkwayCotswold Lineto OxfordWadboroughBesfordDeffordEckingtonBredonGloucester loop lineTewkesbury and Malvern RailwayMoD AshchurchAshchurch for TewkesburyCleeveCheltenham High StreetCheltenham SpaGloucestershire Warwickshire RlyBanbury and CheltenhamDirect RailwayChurchdownGloucester Newport lineGloucester YardGloucester EastgateHaresfieldGolden Valley lineStonehouse Bristol Road Stonehouse amp Nailsworth RlyFrocesterCam and DursleyCoaley JunctionDursley amp Midland Junction RlyBerkeley RoadSharpness branch lineCharfieldWickwarThornbury branch lineYateSouth Wales Main LineWesterleigh Oil depotBristol and Gloucester RailwayCoalpit HeathWinterbourneBristol ParkwayStoke Gifford depotSouth Wales Main LineHenbury Loop LineFiltonFilton JunctionFilton Abbey WoodHorfieldAshley HillBristol and Gloucester RailwaySevern Beach lineStapleton Road goods branchStapleton RoadBristol and Gloucester RailwayLawrence HillBristol and Gloucester RailwayBristol BartonHill TMD Great WesternMain LineBristol Harbour RailwayBristol Temple MeadsBristol Exeter lineThe line is classed as a high speed line because its sections from Birmingham to Wakefield Westgate and from Leeds to York have a speed limit of 125 mph 200 km h though the section from Birmingham to Bristol is limited to 100 mph 160 km h because of numerous level crossings especially half barrier level crossings and the section from Wakefield to Leeds has the same limit because of a number of curves citation needed Contents 1 History 1 1 Abortive British Rail proposals for complete electrification 2 Route 2 1 Electrification 3 Services 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesHistory EditThe Birmingham Bristol section was built as the Birmingham and Gloucester and Bristol and Gloucester Railways n 1 before joining the Midland Railway the southern forerunner to the cross country route From Birmingham to the north northeast the line had three separately owned sections namely the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway to Derby thence the North Midland Railway to Leeds thence the York and North Midland Railway From the Labour Government s nationalisation in 1948 until privatisation in 1990 the route ran through all six regions of British Rail but had timetabling priority in none of them Therefore the services were poorly promoted and thus not always well patronised citation needed Most Derby Nottingham local passenger trains were taken over by diesel units from 14 April 1958 taking about 34 minutes between the two cities 1 In the 1990s most services were operated by British Rail s InterCity business unit As part of the privatisation of British Rail these were taken over by Virgin CrossCountry in 1997 with the Class 47 hauled Mark 2 and High Speed Train sets replaced by Class 220 and Class 221 diesel multiple units in the early 2000s 2 3 The use of the route for freight has decreased because of the bulk of haulage switching to roads and the building of the M5 M6 and M1 motorways Abortive British Rail proposals for complete electrification Edit In the 1960s the route was considered for electrification citation needed In the early 1980s electrification was again discussed at length and documentation for various proposals was produced in 1981 4 This would have been particularly beneficial for climbing the Lickey Incline between Cheltenham and Birmingham as many of the early diesels were under powered In 1977 the Parliamentary Select Committee on Nationalised Industries recommended considering electrification of more of Britain s rail network and by 1979 BR presented a range of options that included electrifying the cross country route by 2000 5 Under the governments that succeeded the 1976 79 Labour government the proposal was not implemented Route Edit Map of Cross Country network The core Cross Country Route is between Bristol and York The route is well connected and aside from its own alignment it uses parts of the South Wales Main Line Midland Main Line Swinton Doncaster line and the East Coast Main Line Major cities and towns served along the route include Bristol Cheltenham Birmingham Tamworth Derby Sheffield Leeds YorkNominal start point at DerbyMilepost zero for the main predecessor Derby to Bristol route has always been Derby hence a train travelling the whole route starts out going up then becomes down The Birmingham to Derby section of the route has a line speed of 125 mph 200 km h while Birmingham to Bristol is restricted to 100 mph 160 km h because of a number of half barrier level crossings Electrification Edit The line is not fully electrified but some sections are overhead electrified at 25 kV AC such as Bromsgrove to Grand Junction 6 with further electrified sections around Leeds and the East Coast Main Line near York Network Rail stated in 2014 that the line between Derby and Sheffield would be electrified as part of the Midland Main Line upgrade 7 However the electrification programme was severely cut back in July 2017 8 As of 2021 update Network Rail are working on the sections between York and Church Fenton 9 The rest of the section between Leeds and York has electrification planned as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade which itself is part of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands 10 11 This plan includes full Midland Main Line electrification and upgrades Electrification between Westerleigh Junction near Yate Gloucestershire and Bristol Temple Meads was planned as part of the 21st century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line but as of 2022 update work has not continued Bristol Parkway is electrified though Services EditMost long distance services on the route are operated by Class 220 221 Voyagers although a few services operate using High Speed Trains These trains are capable of achieving 125 mph 200 km h compared to the previous Class 47s and Mk 2 coaching stock which had a top speed of 95 mph 150 km h See also EditRail services in the West of England Transport in Wales Virgin CrossCountry CrossCountry Tees Exe lineNotes Edit Briefly amalgamated as the Birmingham and Bristol RailwayReferences Edit Railway Magazine June 1958 p 432 Virgin says farewell to 47s with Penzance Derby trip Rail issue 443 4 September 2002 page 16 CrossCountry HSTs bow out The Railway Magazine issue 1230 October 2003 page 84 1981 Railway archive PDF 1981 Railway Electrification British Railways Board Central Publicity Unit Winter 1979 pp 0 2 8 First electric train travels between Birmingham and Bromsgrove Global Railway Review Retrieved 7 June 2018 Midland Mainline improvement programme Network Rail Network Rail Archived from the original on 26 December 2016 Retrieved 4 May 2018 Rail electrification plans scrapped BBC News Business 20 July 2017 Archived from the original on 25 August 2017 Retrieved 31 October 2017 York to Church Fenton Improvement Scheme Network Rail Retrieved 25 February 2022 Philip Haigh 14 December 2011 Nigel Harris ed 290m to wire York Manchester trans Pennine route Rail 685 8 9 Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands PDF UK Government 18 November 2021 Archived PDF from the original on 18 November 2021 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cross Country Route Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title CrossCountry NE SW route amp oldid 1118716168, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
