Northampton loop
Encyclopedia
The Northampton loop is a railway line serving the town of Northampton
. It is a branch of the West Coast Main Line
, deviating from the faster direct main line which runs to the west.
The Northampton loop leaves the direct London
-Birmingham
line at Hanslope Junction, just north of Milton Keynes
but continues to run alongside it until the two lines separate north of Roade
at the northern end of Roade cutting, it then runs north east for several miles until it reaches Northampton station
. After Northampton, the line verges to the north-west for around twenty miles, until it re-joins the direct London-Birmingham line at Hillmorton Junction at Rugby
, just east of Rugby station
. The line is a total of 23+3/4 mi long.
using Class 350
electric multiple unit
s. As of 2011, the service consists of three 'semi fast' trains per hour between London Euston and Northampton, one of which continues as a through service to Birmingham New Street and one continues to Crewe
. There is also an hourly local service from Northampton to Birmingham.
Virgin Trains
provide a small number of fast Pendolino
services to Northampton at the extremes of the day. But nearly all Virgin trains use the direct main line. Line speeds on the loop line are currently limited to 75 mile per hour compared to 125 mile per hour on the fast line, making the line unattractive to the routing of fast services. As of 2011, line speeds are expected to increase to 90mph once signalling improvements are in place north of Northampton up to Rugby.
Long Buckby
; the one other station on the line, is served half hourly in each direction by the London-Birmingham/Northampton-Birmingham services. However the Crewe service does not call there except on Sundays.
The Daventry International Railfreight Terminal
(DIRFT) is located between Northampton and Rugby on the loop line, and so the line sees heavy freight
traffic. Mostly container trains.
and Long Buckby
. Previously there were six stations between Hanslope Junction and Rugby, but only these two survive. The four stations that have closed were:
(L&BR) was constructed in the 1830s, Northampton was by-passed, with the line running on high ground to the west via Kilsby Tunnel
. Traditionally this was said to have been because Northampton landowners objected to
having a railway run to the town. However, more recently, railway historians have argued that Northampton was by-passed because the gradients would have been too steep for early locomotives to easily cope with. Robert Stephenson
the engineer of the London and Birmingham Railway was determined to avoid gradients steeper than 1:330. As Northampton is located in the Nene Valley
, 120 feet (36.6 m) lower than Blisworth
, the closest point the L&BR came, connecting the town would have required gradients steeper than this.
This meant however that Northampton, despite being a large town, did not have direct rail links to London. A branch from the main line was built to Northampton in the early 1840s, the Northampton and Peterborough Railway
, from Blisworth
, which gave the town indirect rail links to London and Birmingham.
The loop line was constructed in the late 1870s by the London and North Western Railway
and was opened in 1881 (by this stage locomotives had become far more powerful). It was constructed to improve rail services to Northampton and give the town a direct link to London. It also had the advantage of doubling capacity on the line from Roade to Rugby without the expense of widening the tunnel at Kilsby
.
The line was electrified
along with the rest of the WCML during the 1960s in the wake of the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan.
between Roade and Hunsbury Hill tunnel
and the other in 1969 near the nortern end of Roade cutting.
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. It is a branch of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
, deviating from the faster direct main line which runs to the west.
The Northampton loop leaves the direct London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
line at Hanslope Junction, just north of Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
but continues to run alongside it until the two lines separate north of Roade
Roade
Roade is a village in Northamptonshire, England and in the area of the South Northamptonshire District Council where it is in the two-member Blisworth and Roade ward.-Location:...
at the northern end of Roade cutting, it then runs north east for several miles until it reaches Northampton station
Northampton railway station
Northampton railway station is a railway station serving the large town of Northampton and other parts of Northamptonshire in England. Other parts of South Northamptonshire are better served by Kings Sutton, Banbury and Milton Keynes Central stations....
. After Northampton, the line verges to the north-west for around twenty miles, until it re-joins the direct London-Birmingham line at Hillmorton Junction at Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
, just east of Rugby station
Rugby railway station
Rugby railway station serves the town of Rugby in Warwickshire, England. It opened during the Victorian era, in 1885, replacing earlier stations situated a little further west...
. The line is a total of 23+3/4 mi long.
Services and operations
The majority of passenger services on the line are provided by London MidlandLondon Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
using Class 350
British Rail Class 350
The British Rail Class 350 "Desiro" is class of electrical multiple unit built by Siemens AG from 2004–05 and 2008–09. Thirty of these units, designated Class 350/1, were built for use by Central Trains and Silverlink on regional express services and services on the southern section of the West...
electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s. As of 2011, the service consists of three 'semi fast' trains per hour between London Euston and Northampton, one of which continues as a through service to Birmingham New Street and one continues to Crewe
Crewe railway station
Crewe railway station was completed in 1837 and is one of the most historic railway stations in the world. Built in fields near to Crewe Hall, it originally served the village of Crewe with a population of just 70 residents...
. There is also an hourly local service from Northampton to Birmingham.
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
provide a small number of fast Pendolino
British Rail Class 390
The Class 390 Pendolino is a type of train used in Great Britain. They are electric multiple units using Fiat's tilting train pendolino technology and built by Alstom. Fifty-three 9-car units were originally built for Virgin Trains from 2001 to 2004 for operation on the West Coast Main Line , with...
services to Northampton at the extremes of the day. But nearly all Virgin trains use the direct main line. Line speeds on the loop line are currently limited to 75 mile per hour compared to 125 mile per hour on the fast line, making the line unattractive to the routing of fast services. As of 2011, line speeds are expected to increase to 90mph once signalling improvements are in place north of Northampton up to Rugby.
Long Buckby
Long Buckby railway station
Long Buckby railway station is a small railway station that serves the village of Long Buckby in Northamptonshire, England. The station is 15 km north west of Northampton....
; the one other station on the line, is served half hourly in each direction by the London-Birmingham/Northampton-Birmingham services. However the Crewe service does not call there except on Sundays.
The Daventry International Railfreight Terminal
Daventry International Railfreight Terminal
Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal is a rail port and logistics centre located near Rugby, Warwickshire and Crick, Northamptonshire just south of the beginning of the M6 Motorway and near junction 18 of the M1 motorway...
(DIRFT) is located between Northampton and Rugby on the loop line, and so the line sees heavy freight
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
traffic. Mostly container trains.
Stations
The only stations that are currently operational on the route are NorthamptonNorthampton railway station
Northampton railway station is a railway station serving the large town of Northampton and other parts of Northamptonshire in England. Other parts of South Northamptonshire are better served by Kings Sutton, Banbury and Milton Keynes Central stations....
and Long Buckby
Long Buckby railway station
Long Buckby railway station is a small railway station that serves the village of Long Buckby in Northamptonshire, England. The station is 15 km north west of Northampton....
. Previously there were six stations between Hanslope Junction and Rugby, but only these two survive. The four stations that have closed were:
- Kilsby and CrickKilsby and Crick railway stationKilsby and Crick was a railway station on the Northampton Loop Line serving the villages of Kilsby and Crick in Northamptonshire. It was located to the eastern side of where the railway crossed the A5 road just west of the present Daventry International Railfreight Terminal...
(closed 1960) - Long Buckby
- Althorp ParkAlthorp Park railway stationAlthorp Park railway station served the village of Althorp in Northamptonshire, England. The station, which was situated on the Northampton Loop Line, was adjacent to Althorp House, the ancestral seat of the Spencers, the family of Diana, Princess of Wales....
(closed 1960) - Church BramptonChurch Brampton railway stationChurch Brampton was a railway station on the Northampton Loop Line serving the village of Church Brampton in Northamptonshire.The station was opened along with the line in 1881 by the London and North Western Railway which later became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923. It...
(closed 1931) - Northampton
- RoadeRoade railway stationRoade was a railway station serving the Northamptonshire village of the same name on the West Coast Main Line. Roade Station opened in 1838 as the principal station for Northampton , but its importance diminished upon the opening of the Northampton and Peterborough Railway in 1845...
(closed 1964)
History
When the London and Birmingham RailwayLondon and Birmingham Railway
The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway ....
(L&BR) was constructed in the 1830s, Northampton was by-passed, with the line running on high ground to the west via Kilsby Tunnel
Kilsby Tunnel
The Kilsby Tunnel is a railway tunnel on the West Coast Main Line railway in England. It was designed and engineered by Robert Stephenson.The tunnel is located near the village of Kilsby in Northamptonshire roughly 5 miles south-east of Rugby and is long.The tunnel was opened in 1838 as a part of...
. Traditionally this was said to have been because Northampton landowners objected to
having a railway run to the town. However, more recently, railway historians have argued that Northampton was by-passed because the gradients would have been too steep for early locomotives to easily cope with. Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson FRS was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer; many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were actually the joint efforts of father and son.-Early life :He was born on the 16th of...
the engineer of the London and Birmingham Railway was determined to avoid gradients steeper than 1:330. As Northampton is located in the Nene Valley
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
, 120 feet (36.6 m) lower than Blisworth
Blisworth
Blisworth is a village and civil parish in the South Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England. The West Coast Main Line, from London Euston to Manchester and Scotland, runs alongside the village partly hidden and partly on an embankment...
, the closest point the L&BR came, connecting the town would have required gradients steeper than this.
This meant however that Northampton, despite being a large town, did not have direct rail links to London. A branch from the main line was built to Northampton in the early 1840s, the Northampton and Peterborough Railway
Northampton and Peterborough Railway
The Northampton and Peterborough Railway was an early railway promoted by the London and Birmingham Railway to run from a junction at Blisworth to Northampton and Peterborough.-Origin:...
, from Blisworth
Blisworth railway station
Blisworth railway station was opened by the London and Birmingham Railway in Blisworth, Northamptonshire in 1838.-History:The station was opened on 17 September 1838. In 1845 the L&BR opened their Northampton and Peterborough Railway a line which connected Peterborough and Northampton from a...
, which gave the town indirect rail links to London and Birmingham.
The loop line was constructed in the late 1870s by the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
and was opened in 1881 (by this stage locomotives had become far more powerful). It was constructed to improve rail services to Northampton and give the town a direct link to London. It also had the advantage of doubling capacity on the line from Roade to Rugby without the expense of widening the tunnel at Kilsby
Kilsby
Kilsby is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of Northamptonshire, England situated approximately five miles south-east of Rugby....
.
The line was electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
along with the rest of the WCML during the 1960s in the wake of the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan.
Accidents
Two very similar railway accidents occurred on the Northampton loop in 1967 and 1969. The 1967 incident was near the village of Milton MalsorMilton Malsor
Milton Malsor is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England. It is south of Northampton, south-east of Birmingham, and north of central London; junction 15 of the M1 motorway is east by road...
between Roade and Hunsbury Hill tunnel
Hunsbury Hill Tunnel
Hunsbury Hill Tunnel is a railway tunnel on the Northampton Loop Line of the West Coast Main Line. The tunnel runs in a straight line from the Briar Hill district of the town of Northampton, England about north by east to the West Hunsbury district south south of the town. The tunnel has a single...
and the other in 1969 near the nortern end of Roade cutting.
Sources
- The Last Days Of Steam In Northamptonshire, by John M.C. Healy (1989) ISBN 0-86299-613-9
- Rugby's Railway Heritage, by Peter H Elliot (1985) ISBN 0-907917-06-2
- Kingscott, Geoffrey, Lost Railways Of Northamptonshire (2008), Countryside Books, ISBN 978-1-84674-108-1