Nottingham station query

[David H]

When going from London to Nottingham, what does the intercity train do next? It has a few choices. Stop and return to London, carry on to Newark and Lincoln or something else? The intercity maps pretend it goes to Alfreton and Mansfield, but any rail buff knows that's not true.

[Dassie]

Midland Mainline services from St Pancras normally turnaround at Nottingham but there are the odd ones that continue during peak times

[ugly_bob]

they quite often go on to Sheffield

[David H]

Thanks, the most sensible route would be to turn round despite the maps.
If they go to Sheffield does that mean they have to go back to the main line in reverse (like Gloucester trains but a lot further)?

[Dassie]

No. Midland Mainline schedule separate services to Sheffield that use the other direct line and not around the houses.

[dzug]

They mostly turn round and go back to London,
However a few a day do continue (through Langley Mill and Alfreton) to Sheffield or Leeds. To do this they have to reverse and go back the way they came for a bit.

[David H]

I have just discovered a loop line that runs through Radford (no station) for traffic from the north via the main line, so it is possible to go from London, then reverse and take the loop back to the north without going over much of the identical line, but going two sides of a triangle. That explains how it can continue north on rare occasions without totally going over old ground.

[ugly_bob]

actually, thinking about it, I think it was more the Derby trains that went on to Sheffield than the Nottingham ones. I found I often had to change at Leicester to get to Nottingham.