Railway Myths (2013)

[AndyLandy]

That example is debateable, as I'm sure I've heard that the current service on that line is the minimum they can legally provide for the specific stations involved.

Adam

I suspect there are probably quite a few places where TOCs provide the "minimum service legally required" if a route isn't profitable. A great deal of rural branch lines could likely qualify for this, even if they're getting a regular 1tph.

 

[tbtc]

That example is debateable, as I'm sure I've heard that the current service on that line is the minimum they can legally provide for the specific stations involved.

Adam

What do you mean "legally provide"?

In terms of the franchise requiring them to run four trains a day on the route? Because a lot of lines only see the same level of service that the franchise specifies as a "baseline".

Or is there something specific to the Ellesmere Port line (above the "one a week" definition of a Parliamentary service required to keep a line open)?

 

[Eagle]

Four trains a day is the minimum franchise specification.

The minimum franchise specification for London to Bristol is 2tph, so by this logic London to Bristol is a parliamentary service.

 

[AndyLandy]

As an aside, presumably there are routes where a TOC may choose to run more services than they're required to?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Absolutely

 

[Trainfan344]

Whenever designing new stock it has to be based on pre existing stock.

 

[TheKnightWho]

Myth π: It is entirely fair to judge that new stock will be inferior to current stock before any information about said new stock has been released.

 

[Eagle]

Myth: Reddish South and Denton are lonely and isolated shacks far from civilization, and if you miss the train there you'll have to spend a week on the platform (as opposed to, say, walking round the corner to the main road and getting a bus).

 

[Starmill]

Myth: Reddish South and Denton are lonely and isolated shacks far from civilization, and if you miss the train there you'll have to spend a week on the platform (as opposed to, say, walking round the corner to the main road and getting a bus).

Or to Reddish North, in the case of the former at least.

 

[quarella]

Myth 109 No rail replacement bus driver ever has any idea of the route.

 

[Buttsy]

Myth 197-3: The driver on a rail replacement bus service will always check your ticket.

 

[Eagle]

Myth 197-4: The driver of a RRB will always let you off where's convenient for you, rather than taking you all the way to the scheduled stop (the station).

Also

Myth 0.99999repeating: If a TOC has spare stock at a certain time of day or week, it is always possible to put them to use on a service. There is no need at all to consider where the staff are going to come from.

 

[deltic1989]

Myth 0.99999repeating: If a TOC has spare stock at a certain time of day or week, it is always possible to put them to use on a service. There is no need at all to consider where the staff are going to come from.

Or that the train(s) that you saw in the depot were out of service for a technical reason.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Myth 197-3: The driver on a rail replacement bus service will always check your ticket.

Myth 197-4: The station staff know where the coaches are going

Yes this happened at Manchester one morning. All of us on the coach nearly ended up going to Blackpool instead of York, and those going towards Blackpool nearly ended up going to York. If I hadn't double checked with the coach driver, we'd never have known. The driver had an argument with the station staff in the end!

 

[CyrusWuff]

As an aside, presumably there are routes where a TOC may choose to run more services than they're required to?

Plenty of examples of that. Minimum requirements are found in the franchise agreements.

Looking at Chiltern, for example, the first train from Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone on a weekday is required to arrive by 10:15 (in the present timetable it arrives at 07:01), with a maximum interval between trains of 60 minutes (currently they generally leave at xx:15 and xx:55, giving a 20/40 split).

In the reverse direction, the last train needs to leave Marylebone no earlier than 20:30 (currently 23:07) and again there should be no more than 60 minutes between trains.

 

[Flamingo]

Myth of the day; If you have your friends Advance ticket and they have not turned up, you can use that seat for luggage, regardless of how crowded the train is.

 

[Eagle]

To which the correct response is: "Since the luggage is in your friend's seat, I must assume it's his luggage. And he's not here, so it's unattended luggage and I'm going to have to remove it and let security deal with it at the next station."

 

[Flamingo]

Removing it at the next station as it is causing an obstruction is my usual fallback, if the nice approach doesn't work.

 

[tsr]

Myth: On a train which is over half empty on a quiet route, it is morally offensive to put luggage on the seat next to you. You must instead block the doorways and vestibules with it, or scatter it over what limited luggage rack space there is (if any). It is impossible for you to choose to remember to be considerate and thus choose to move your luggage to the floor in the event that the train becomes unexpectedly busy.

 

[tbtc]

Myth number 27018:

Every train in the UK is either "overcrowded" or "carrying fresh air"

 

[90019]

Myth 197-4: The driver of a RRB will always let you off where's convenient for you, rather than taking you all the way to the scheduled stop (the station).

Myth popcorn: Bus drivers are allowed to let you off the bus absolutely anywhere, even if it's in the middle of a busy junction, we just choose not to to annoy you.


Not railways, but someone actually asked me if I would yesterday. :roll:

 

[tbtc]

Myth number 27109:

If you are on a train without a ticket, it's perfectly normal and accepted to only purchase a ticket from the station at which the Guard/ Conductor catches you (rather than purchasing a ticket that covers your full journey)

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=89662

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Myth popcorn: Bus drivers are allowed to let you off the bus absolutely anywhere, even if it's in the middle of a busy junction, we just choose not to to annoy you.


Not railways, but someone actually asked me if I would yesterday. :roll:

Unless you travel with Faresaver. Our local company does let you off anywhere by request and is stated in their timetables too. I've seen people let off down country lanes with no pavement and also at an A-Road junction (on the A350), though they only do this if the light's are red. I've been let off at Asda in Melksham once on the A350 min-dual carriageway bit before even though it's a grass verge, was surprised he stopped there and not in the bus stop slip road bit.

 

[90019]

Unless you travel with Faresaver. Our local company does let you off anywhere by request and is stated in their timetables too. I've seen people let off down country lanes with no pavement and also at an A-Road junction (on the A350), though they only do this if the light's are red. I've been let off at Asda in Melksham once on the A350 min-dual carriageway bit before even though it's a grass verge, was surprised he stopped there and not in the bus stop slip road bit.

Hail and Ride is a slightly different matter, as in those cases the driver is allowed to let you off where it is safe to do so (but still not in the middle of the road when it's possible to get the bus to the side). We don't have many sections of that - the only one on any of my routes is between Ratho Station and Ratho on the 12.

 

[marks87]

Myth #24601 - an HST is a D(E)MU.

(Lights touch paper, runs...)

 

[AndyLandy]

Myth #24601 - an HST is a D(E)MU.

(Lights touch paper, runs...)

Myth #24601a: Making the distiction is actually useful or relevant.

 

[FGW_DID]

Myth 47555:

HST doors close themselves!

 

[MK Tom]

Myth no. 121034: There are vast numbers of commuters every day at Aylesbury who stand next to bubbles looking for buttons and waiting for the doors to open themselves.

 

[quarella]

Myth number two. The person answering the help point is hiding on the station.

Myth 1963 Porters will help with your luggage.

 

[Eagle]

Myth 1938: Island Line is a purely heritage/tourist operation. As such it shouldn't get newer stock.