Talk:Ipswich–Ely line

West Anglia Main Line on diagram
Not sure why the diagram starts off at the top with West Anglia Main Line. Could just as well be the Hitchin-Cambridge line or the Cambridge-Ely line. What's the rationale for it here? SimonTrew (talk) 03:40, 7 April 2009 (UTC)

Cambridge-St Ives
This must be wrong.

There's no way the Cambridge-St Ives line goes anywhere near Ely or Fordham.

It splits off at Chesterton sidings on the north of Cambridge. It is now the route of the Cambridge Guided Bus.

It shouldn't be put on that branch at all, it should have its own (disused) branch.

SimonTrew (talk) 09:55, 7 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I used Jowett's Railway Atlas to assist in creating the diagram. From Cambridge heading north to Ely, the following branches are found:-


 * Branch to right to Newmarket (open)
 * Branch to right to Fordham (closed)
 * Branch to left to St Ives (closed)


 * Waterbeach railway station


 * Branch from St Ives enters from left (close)
 * Branch from Snailwell Junction enters from right (open)


 * Ely railway station


 * The difficulty is that I can't fit Waterbeach station into the diagram. Other option is to lose the line between Cambridge and Ely. Mjroots (talk) 12:05, 7 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I may be able to fit Waterbeach into the diagram if I can get two new icons made. Mjroots (talk) 12:08, 7 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I see now that I've rearranged the Cambridge/Ely/Newmarket triangle you've managed to fit Waterbeach in. I was a bit stupid not to have noticed it was still missing since I used to use it myself quite a lot! Thanks for adding this. SimonTrew (talk) 08:31, 30 June 2009 (UTC)

Route subsection
Is the Route subsection really required when the information is already available in the info/diagram box to the side? If no one objects I will remove this subsection in 7 days. HelioSmith (talk) 16:26, 22 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I agree with you on the whole, but it may be worth just keeping a few major places in the text as it's quite a complicated diagram and could do with a bit of explaining.


 * I want to add the River Cam on too but have to make sure I get it in the right place. SimonTrew (talk) 19:12, 22 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I have now removed the route list from the main text and provided a brief summary of the route instead. - HelioSmith (talk) 08:39, 2 June 2009 (UTC)

Rejigged diagram
I've rejiggesd the route diagram in a number of ways.


 * I've separated out the two branches so that the stations are not intermingled between the two.
 * I've added the part of the Newmarket-Mildenhall railway (closed) between Cambridge and Fordham since it had links from both sides and fits quite snugly in the middle.
 * I've host Ely up-- fter all it is the name of the branch-- which keeps the Cambridge junction area more compact
 * I've changed the St Ives branches to side links, placed the Ely-St Ives branch nearer Ely and the Cambridge-St Ives one nearer Cambridge, rather than have them literally next to each other. I know it is a topgraphic diagram not a geographic one but even so it is nice if things can go *roughly* closer to where they belong.
 * I've made the barnwel junction area topographically accurate.

Do I mean topographical or topological? SimonTrew (talk) 12:18, 29 June 2009 (UTC)

Bacon Factory chord and junctions near Haughley? Thx! Lawrence18uk (talk) 09:08, 11 February 2021 (UTC)

Barnwell Junction
At Cambridge to Mildenhall Railway Barnwell Junction is marked as a station (and after the actual junction itself. Was it actually a station (as well as a junction proper)? If so, surely the station would be before the junction i.e. to serve both/all branches?

SimonTrew (talk) 12:18, 29 June 2009 (UTC)tch


 * I also see that on the Hitchin-Cambridge Line article it calls it Coldham Lane Jct [sic] (it SHOULD I assume be Coldhams Lane or Coldham's Lane since that is the name of the road-- I forget if it is apostrophised or not). The sign outside where the station would have been definitely says Barnwell Junction (it is probably about half a mile east of Coldham's Lane)-- but Barnwell is the name of the area in Cambridge not of a particular road (there *is* a Barnwell Road but the Newmarket branch via Fulbourn passes over it well after it the junction). Any clues? SimonTrew (talk) 20:16, 29 June 2009 (UTC)


 * The Cambridge News of Thursday 3 September 2009 had a special pull-out supplement on WWII in Cambridge, including a black-and-white photograph of a Ditton Fields Sunday School outing from Barnwell Junction station (apparently to Hunstanton, Norfolk). The Barnwell Juncton signal box s quite visible abutting the platform, includng the nameplate (BARNWELL JUNC), and in the background several (at least five) goods sidings. The picture is held (not explicitly stated in the article but fairly heavily implied) by the Cambridge Joint Ex-Services Club. It would be nice if I could get rights to this, also find out from one or more members at which side of the station the juncton actually lay. I might give the JEx-SC a ring to-day, but I hope besides this information may be useful. SimonTrew (talk) 10:06, 4 September 2009 (UTC)


 * According to this link, below the picture (which does not clearly show the junction itself) it says "This was the former junction station for the Cambridge to Mildenhall line". I think it is clear, assuming this is correct, that the station is before the junction (coming from Cambridge), and I will amend the diagram. SimonTrew (talk) 10:13, 4 September 2009 (UTC)

When did the line line?
This conversation in parliament in 1886 seems to imply that a line between Ipswich and Cambridge was not yet in place. Any thoughts?  PeterEastern (talk) 21:30, 25 January 2010 (UTC)


 * Looking at this I think this was a short lived pan to link the Midland railway to Felixstowe and develop as a port. I have read about such a scheme elsewhere but the existing line was in place at this date. Interesting though.--Davidvaughanwells (talk) 11:42, 13 February 2021 (UTC)

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Soham Station
Soham Station opened today, so it should no longer be in 'proposed developments'! Mdrb55 (talk) 18:25, 13 December 2021 (UTC)