In article , Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 09:19:35 on
Sat, 26 Jan 2013, Brian Watson remarked:
I found myself thinking, "why start at Shenfield?"

Is there so much demand on that line for such a route, or capacity further
up it (at Chelmsford for example)?

Shenfield is where the line stops being 4-track and splits into two
2-track lines (one to Southend the other to Chelmsford and beyond). As
well as being a junction, it's always been an important railhead and
interchange point. And the "town on the edge of London" although being a
couple of miles inside Essex.

Also the railway through Chelmsford, and the station itself, is on a
brick viaduct, which makes any additional trackwork required to turn
back a large number of trains somewhat impractical.

well ok you say that, and Id agree, but local politicians have started pushing
that kind of thing for a few years now, and then today Greater Anglia possibly
to remind the government HS2 isnt the only railway investment needed published
a letter calling on interested parties to the ORR to make the case

http://www.greateranglia.co.
uk/about-us/news/2013/01/greater-anglia-seeks-stakeholder-support-to-build-the
-case-for-major-east-anglian-rail-upgrades

and it specifically mentions track expansion north of chelmsford as a
solution, presumably as holding loops for freight.