Airedale & Wharfedale Lines (Shipley Triangle)

Airedale & Wharfedale Lines (Shipley Triangle)
Description	The Airedale & Wharfedale Lines between Leeds, Ilkley, Bradford Forster Square and Skipton, including the busy Shipley triangle.
Country	United Kingdom
Time period	2023
Train Operating Company	Northern, London North Eastern Railway
Simulation difficulty
Author	Oxalin
Repository	Airedale & Wharfedale Lines (Shipley Triangle)
Website	Airedale & Wharfedale Lines (Shipley Triangle)
Rolling Stock	Class 158 Class 333 Class 801
Route map Carlisle and Lancaster Gargrave Skipton Carriage Sidings Rylstone Branch Skipton Cononley Steeton & Silsden Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Keighley Ilkley Crossflatts Ben Rhydding Bingley Burley-in-Wharfedale Saltaire Menston Shipley Guiseley Frizinghall Baildon Bradford Forster Square Apperley Bridge Kirkstall Forge Leeds and Bradford

Shipley station is one of only two remaining triangle stations in the UK. Situated on the junction of the busy Airedale and Wharfedale commuter lines, east of Leeds, the station has 5 platforms to serve all three directions.

Included are the Wharfedale Line to Ilkley, the Airedale Line to Skipton, and the branch from Shipley to Bradford Forster Square. These lines are operated by Northern, with an intensive local commuter service all day using electric class 333 multiple units. Additionally, LNER provide some long distance services in the peaks between London King's Cross and Skipton / Bradford Forster Square.

Timetable

A timetable for a weekday in September 2023 is included, with all passenger and ECS moves simulated. Freight has been omitted for ease of operation.

The following services operate:

Airedale & Wharfedale Lines (Shipley Triangle) Services
Train Operating Company	Origin	Destination	Frequency (tph)
Northern	Leeds	Carlisle	0.5
		Lancaster / Morecambe	0.5
		Ilkley	2
		Bradford Forster Square	2
		Skipton	2
	Bradford Forster Square		1
		Ilkley	1
London North Eastern Railway		London King's Cross	2tpd
	Skipton		1tpd

During peak hours, the Bradford Forster Square to Ilkley and Skipton services both increase to 2tph.

In the evening, the Leeds to Bradford Forster Square service is replaced with a shuttle between Bradford Forster Square and Shipley.

Operational Tips

• Check for platform allocations at Ilkley, Shipley, Bradford Forster Square and Skipton. Sometimes trains may need to be called into already occupied platforms, and this may require the train already there to be taken under signaller control.
• LNER services to Bradford Forster Square should use Shipley P3 in passenger service - platform 4 isn't long enough for these trains.
• Don't set routes too early, as trains may suddenly appear and require the junction first.
• Keep an eye on timings - especially at Skipton trains can arrive very early. Don't be afraid to hold them outside the station for a bit until a train has departed.