The
Branch Line is single track and 11 Miles and 55 Chains in
length, and includes one
viaduct, two level crossings and many private and foot crossings.
This page
shows the current information about the line, for details
of the railway before the cutbacks of the 1960s, click
here
Track
and Investment
The
single track on the branch is currently made up of a mixture
of jointed and continuous welded rail, the older jointed
sections are planned to be replaced in the summer of 2005,
requiring the line to be shut for approximately two weeks
to allow for the work (planned from the 29th July onwards),
this will give an improved ride and is being done as the
Network Rail have stated that the current track is nearing
the end of its life.
The last
major investment on the branch by Railtrack (As it was then)
was in 1999, where the 32 arch viaduct at Chappel and Wakes
Colne was overhauled, steel supports were inserted underneath
the brickwork to strengthen the structure and extend its
life for many more years
Signalling
The
branch line has very basic signalling, in Marks Tey
station and up to the first signal (L868), it uses
a track circuit block, which can show the signal man
where the train is, beyond that the train enters the
One Train Working, which means that only one train
can be in the section at any one time, because of
the nature of the branch this is sufficient, and cuts
down on the cost of either RETB or physical signals.
There is access to the Museum
from the Sudbury end at Chappel, before the Museum Ground
Frame can be operated, the annetts key has to be released
from the Marks Tey Ground Frame, to obtain the key it must
be released by the Liverpool Street Integrated Electronic
Control Centre, the IECC also controls access to and from
the line at Marks Tey, drivers must also contact Liverpool
Street via the station phone before leaving Sudbury.
Speed
Limits and Level Crossings
Speed Limits on the line range from 5mph
(Marks Tey Curve) to 50mph, DMUs like the Class 150 are
permitted up to 50mph, however any other trains (Such
as Locomotives) are only permitted up to 20mph. There
are lower speed restrictions on the Level Crossings at
Bures and Cornard both being 20/35D towards Sudbury, towards
Marks Tey, Bures ABCL is 20/45D with Cornard being 20/40D
Both the level crossings on
the line are know as ABCL Crossings, they have the automatic
half barriers found at many other sites, however they are
locally monitored by the equipment and train driver. If
the system is sure that the lights are working correctly,
and both barriers are in place the driver gets a white flashing
light, however if there is a problem, a red light shows,
and the driver must stop and investigate.
TPWS -
The Line has the latest Train Protection and Warning System
at either ends of the line, At Marks Tey it protects the
junction with the mainline, and at Sudbury, it protects
the end of the line. Trains must pass over the TPWS grids
at Sudbury and Marks Tey (if the signal here is red) at
less than 10mph or the trains emergency brake applies to
bring the train to a stand.
Thats the line today, now read
about the line pre-Beeching
