Train paths and stuff

What's a train path? A train path is the infrastructure capacity needed to run a train between two places over a given time-period.

The capacity of the lower end of the AB&T, in terms of its current configuration, is one passenger train per hour each way at the lower end around Blyth and the Seaton Valley.

One train per hour. That's one two carriage train, with 138 seats, and maybe some space for one or two bikes. 138 people per hour from Ashington to Newcastle via Blyth. That's against Arriva's 7 - 10 buses an hour out of Blyth, with a committed capacity of about 400 people per hour, and another 5-7 buses an hour out of Ashington with a capcity of another 300 people.

Supporters of SENRUG's solution aren't actually in the mass people carrying business. They can't be, because their bid is to carry only a fraction of the demand. That's fine if all you want to is to give a fraction of the potential passengers a link into mainline rail at Central Station, but not if you're in the business of getting people to work across Tyneside in a way that reduces congestion, reduces the air pollution caused by Blyth's antiquated bus fleet and which offers car drivers commuting to work on the edge of Newcastle a genuine alternative.

Any rail solution serving Blyth, Ashington, and the Seaton Valley needs to be built round frequent services with mixed use and passing loops at intermediate stations like Seaton Delaval and Seghill to raise capacity. Only Metro appears to have the capacity to bypass Benton Junction and provide that solution.

Let us know if you think differently.