Stoke Bank is an inclined stretch of the East Coast Main Line (ECML) between Peterborough and Grantham. It is named after the village of Stoke Rochford, close to Stoke Summit, which at 345 feet (105 m) above sea level is the highest point of the ECML between London King's Cross and Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is not however, the highest point of the entire ECML, which is Grantshouse Summit between Berwick and Edinburgh at 400 feet (120 m).[1]
The climb up the bank begins roughly 15 miles (24 km) north of Peterborough, which is close to sea level, and ascends to Stoke Summit over a distance of approximately 10 miles (16 km) with gradients of up to 1 in 178 (0.56%). Shortly after the summit, the line runs through the 880 yards (800 m) Stoke Tunnel. It then descends for around 5 miles at 1 in 200 (0.5%) before reaching Grantham station, and then continues on a more gradual descent for around 15 miles, until reaching Newark North Gate, which is also near sea level.[1]