The Recent Past

The line was electrified and upgraded by Alstom and was used extensively for the testing and commissioning of the Pendolinos over the last couple of years but now that has been completed and its future looks secure thanks to Metronet.

It is doubtful that  the line will ever see any use for the ERTMS testing contradicting what was widely reported in the railway press up until the beginning of 2005.

12th February 2007 update

At last all the uncertainty about the track's future is over as Metronet announced that they will take control of the track and electrify a limited stretch with the 3rd and fourth rail systems. I understand that the 25kV line will be available for other work so we may yet see IEP at Old Dalby! See their press release here or their very interesting site here.

24th January 2007

The line was host to 37602 and 37609 top 'n' tailing a test train which included MENTOR and TIC. The train was late onto the test track and ran over the main (Down) line and the subsidiary (Up) line. There was snow on the ground and it was cold but here are a few pictures of what might well be one of the last 'proper' trains to run the full length of the track for a while.

The ultrasonic test train (UTU3) train was reported to have visited the test track on 25th January.

Click on the image for the bigger picture!  Photos are the author's

Upper Broughton Looking north from the overbridge at Upper Broughton, 37609 propels the test train over the 'relief' line heading for Widmerpool on 24th January 2007
A46 bridge 37602 is seen heading north passing over the A46 dual carriageway just south of Widmerpool on 24th January 2007
Near Plumtree 37602 nearing the end of its northbound trip as it approaches Plumtree and the end of the wires on 24th January 2007
Widmerpool Later in the day 37609 thrashes past Widmerpool on its way back to Melton Jcn on 24th January 2007

25th December 2006

Well, the lease was up today so I hope somebody had signed on the dotted line!

11th November 2006

Pathfinder Tours  ran their booked tour on the test track on 11th November 2006 and it was late - surprise!

Here are a few pictures courtesy of Chris Ward

Railtour Seen from the footbridge at Asfordby 67016 heads for the depot with the late running Pathfinder tour
Heading for Edwalton 60013 heads north past Old Dalby
Old Dalby 57311 and 67016 bring up the rear of the tour

At the time this was thought to have been the last conventional train to use the line.

13th October 2006

Some good news at last! Two news items in the railway press this month:-

'The Railway Magazine' suggests that Serco may take over the line for testing and calibrating the Network Rail monitoring trains -  a bit of an expensive investment for a limited use. - this appears to be purely press speculation

'Rail' magazine carries a report that Metronet may take it on to test the proposed new trains for the Metropolitan Line for the London Underground. Metronet will be involved with many more new Tube trains over the next few  years. This seems like a much more creditable idea as I don't think Metronet have a dedicated test line in London unlike Tube Lines which have limited facilities at their 'Highgate Test Facility' site. Have a look here for their plans for new rolling stock which as well as the Victoria include the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines.

5th September 2006

Pathfinder Tours are to run on the test track on 11th November 2006 and on the line from Loughborough to Ruddington too. traction will be a class 66 and class 60 top'n'tailing - this may well be the last train to use the line as failing any further use Alstom will give up the lease on 25th December 2006.

6th  June 2006

The latest testing was reported to have taken place on Wednesday 31st May when Network Rail's Ultrasonic Test Train (UTU2)  visited the line for some calibration work and the DMU (UTU3) was due to go the following day too.

It is understood that another visit by a Pendolino was booked for June but I have no confirmation that it happened.

2nd December 2005

A letter appeared in The Times on 21st November 2005 from the Deputy Chief Executive of Network Rail seeming to confirm that they have no use for the test track. However the whole point of the test track is that it should NOT be part of Network Rail.

The Times reported that neither Network Rail nor the Government were interested in taking over the test track so it looks as if there is a real possibility of the line being closed completely at the end of 2006. However common sense may yet prevail.

On 16th November Alan Duncan (MP for Rutland & Melton Mowbray) tabled an Early Day Motion in Westminster deploring the decision to close the test track. We shall see if anything positive transpires.

Testing was reported to have taken place on 17th and 18th November 2005) when the line was temporarily taken out of mothballs for the NMT to run again. The Jubilee Line seventh cars were stabled at Asfordby up to the end of the year before being shipped out by road to Stratford Market depot.

Here are a few pictures of testing undertaken at the test track in September and November 2005

Photos courtesy Andy Royle

Adjustments

On September 6th 2005 the New Measurement Train (NMT) stands in Asfordby depot yard whilst technical staff make adjustments to the pantograph on the newly included development vehicle.

Note the Jubilee Line 7th car stock in the background

More adjustments NMT stands In front of Asfordby tunnel - the stepladder is out again for further adjustments .
Passing Widmerpool Speeding past the viewing platform at Widmerpool with wind speed monitoring kit in place.
Heading north Heading north the NMT is seen approaching the measured mile at Widmerpool on a proving run on September 9th 2005.
The big shed The shed at Asfordby in November 2005 is devoid of trains
NMT heads out Power car 43013 at the head of the NMT on the spur between the shed and the running line at Asfordby on 17th November 2005
Speeding south 43014 heading south pictured between Stanton Tunnel at Widmerpool at high speed with the NMT on 17th November 2005
Oh dear! What happens when a pheasant gets in the way - expensive!

Back to Past index

Back to Main Index