In message , at 20:32:07 on Fri, 31 May
2019, Basil Jet remarked:
On 31/05/2019 16:41, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 16:14:27 on Fri, 31 May
2019, Certes remarked:
On 31/05/2019 15:38, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 15:14:12 on Fri, 31 May
2019, Basil Jet remarked:
On 31/05/2019 14:45, Roland Perry wrote:

Is bustituting an entire line on weekdays just so they can run more
trains on a different one a year before the paths to run both were
available unprecedented?
* Not sure what element of that is the core of you question. Doing
engineering works ahead of time, or works on a main line needing an
adjacent branch line to be closed to facilitate it.

They're not closing the branch for engineering work. They're closing it
because they've stolen its weekday paths to strengthen services on the
main line.
*If that's the case, I've misconstrued the following reason posted
by GN:
********* "We are providing rail replacement bus services while
Network
******** Rail complete a major upgrade to Stevenage station and the
track
******** that connects Stevenage with Watton-at-Stone and
destinations
******** further south on the Hertford Loop. This upgrade involves

******** construction of a new fifth platform at Stevenage and the
track,
******** signalling and other infrastructure required to connect it
to
******** Watton-at-Stone.
********* This major upgrade will mean that Great Northern can run
more
******** trains per hour between Stevenage and Watton-at-Stone."
*Is it possible that closing the branch line connection for the reasons
they give has *incidentally* released some main line paths which are
useful to LNER ahead of re-timing the whole line for IEP running and KGX
throat upgrade from 2020 (when the branch line reopens for normal
business)?

What that may mean is:
***** "We have reallocated your platform to more important customers.
***** You can have your trains back when we build an extra platform
***** next year."
Which involves closing the branch for engineering work. Chicken,
meet egg.

Except that the extra platform was supposed to be in use when the extra
trains started. They delayed the extra platform but chose not to delay
the extra trains.

Could they have built the platform and connecting tracks, without
causing disruption to the service to Watton-on-Stone earlier (genuine
question).

In other news I see that GN are claiming credit for their team having
built the new carriage berthing facility at Cambridge. Not Network Rail?
https://twitter.com/GNRailUK/status/1129452376216231937
--
Roland Perry