One-way services

[Gathursty]

There are some Parliamentary examples of one-way services such as Stockport-Stalybridge and Polesworth which make me ask the wider questions: Why are there not the same amount of services in both directions from every station and who's idea was it to implement such a scant service that you can't return from?

 

[Suraggu]

That parliamentary service keeps the line open.

 

[SS4]

It's easier than shutting down the line (and stations where appropriate)

Another one is the Walsall to Wolverhampton (not via Birmingham)

 

[Class172]

Birmingham - Gloucester via Worcester (Friday night only) is another one.

 

[northwichcat]

Basically because BR didn't want to close the line because the closure procedure was lengthy and expensive so they put one service in one direction on it as the cheapest way of not closing it.

Running a return service would cost more and then people might use it and then say the usage is high enough to justify more services.

 

[Gathursty]

I'm not against one-way services at all. I'd rather parlys to run both ways like the Gainsborough Central service on Saturdays rather than a one-way service at Denton et al.

 

[user15681]

There is a service at 05:42 from Dover Priory to Cannon Street via Chatham in the morning, but no return service in the evening. Pretty sure this is not a parliamentary either, it runs over normal track used by many other different services, so it's not keeping any line open. Appears as thought it's for stock reasons, because the stock used for the service is kept at Dover overnight, so would be inconvenient to get it to Ramsgate to start the service from there where the others start. Could be wrong in the reasoning, though, but it's definitely a one way service.

 

[Liam]

There is a daily Kirkcaldy-Glasgow QS service, but in the evening the return service extends to Markinch. There is a morning Edinburgh-Ladybank-Perth-Dundee, but no return service.

 

[Goatboy]

Birmingham - Gloucester via Worcester (Friday night only) is another one.

I wish that ran more often. It would be very useful instead of the sometimes as little as once-every-2-hours service linking Worcester to the XC network at Cheltenham.

Though which line does it 'keep open'? There are services on all parts of that route?

 

[bb21]

It's to do with route knowledge rather than keeping a section of line open I believe, although I could be wrong.

 

[Class172]

I wish that ran more often. It would be very useful instead of the sometimes as little as once-every-2-hours service linking Worcester to the XC network at Cheltenham.

Though which line does it 'keep open'? There are services on all parts of that route?

I too also wish this would happen, though really to work the service needs to run with LM and FGW services at hourly intervals instead of the imbalance there was before. If it was 1tph, then I wouldn't be so dismayed about the current ticketing situation where a standard Worcester-[somewhere south of there] ticket wasn't so constrained by these times.

It's to do with route knowledge rather than keeping a section of line open I believe, although I could be wrong.

You might be right - I presumed it was due to the franchise requiring a service to Gloucester, so they've gone for the minimum.

Likewise there are the four XC services each day that run via Worcester to remain route knowledge, though this could lead to a separate thread...

 

[Goatboy]

I too also wish this would happen, though really to work the service needs to run with LM and FGW services at hourly intervals instead of the imbalance there was before. If it was 1tph, then I wouldn't be so dismayed about the current ticketing situation where a standard Worcester-[somewhere south of there] ticket wasn't so constrained by these times.

It would be better if there was any sort of connection between LM and FGW but there isn't - try it on a Sunday, you end up with a 2 hour wait in Worcester!

 

[richard1976]

The Halton curve is only served in the north direction as it is only signaled for north running now
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halton_Curve

 

[dk1]

Ely West Curve is currently only served by 15.53 SuO Nrw-Liv due to signalling restrictions. Should change with the re-doubling of the North Jnc.

 

[yorkie]

There are some Parliamentary examples of one-way services such as Stockport-Stalybridge and Polesworth which make me ask the wider questions: Why are there not the same amount of services in both directions from every station and who's idea was it to implement such a scant service that you can't return from?

Whose idea was it? Interesting question...

In fact this cropped up earlier today, you may find DaveNewcastle's post in the 'Failing to Provide seats' thread interesting, as back in 1844 the requirement was for one train each way per weekday.

I do not know when this got to changed to one train one way per week, but I agree it would be interesting to find out who, and why.

(Can we FOI that to the DfT? )

 

[IanXC]

(Can we FOI that to the DfT? )

I have a feeling it would almost certainly breach the FoI cost limit!

 

[tbtc]

I'm not against one-way services at all. I'd rather parlys to run both ways like the Gainsborough Central service on Saturdays rather than a one-way service at Denton et al.

The Gainsborough Central service is six trains a week (albeit all on Saturday), which is probably more than some stations get over a week (and certainly a lot more than the "Parliamentary" requirements).

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There's 2J47 from Leeds-Sheffield via Huddersfield (though advertised as a service to Penistone at Leeds) but no corresponding SHF-HUD-LDS service. A return would be possible, but rather difficult to path due to no access from the Penistone line to P8 at HUD- meaning it'd have to use P4 which is usually treated as two bays anyway. There's no major demand for a through service anyway. I don't think 2J47 runs because of a massive demand for travel from Batley to Dodworth though either- it's more just to switch a unit from WY area to SY whilst providing an evening extra along the Penistone line presumably.

 

[krus_aragon]

In fact this cropped up earlier today, you may find DaveNewcastle's post in the 'Failing to Provide seats' thread interesting, as back in 1844 the requirement was for one train each way per weekday.

The portion of section 6 quoted there says that minimum 3rd class frequencies and standards should exist

as long as they may continue to carry other Passengers over such Trunk, Branch or Junction Line

I take that to say that at least one of your passenger trains on each route must convey 3rd class, but only as long as you're running passenger trains that way. It doesn't stop a company from withdrawing all passenger services alltogether.

 

[dannypye9999]

there is a service every 30 minutes in the daytime from Redditch to Lichfield, but not a single direct return service apart from the last few trains of the evening which I find very odd.

 

[dzug2]

Whose idea was it? Interesting question...

In fact this cropped up earlier today, you may find DaveNewcastle's post in the 'Failing to Provide seats' thread interesting, as back in 1844 the requirement was for one train each way per weekday.

I do not know when this got to changed to one train one way per week, but I agree it would be interesting to find out who, and why.

(Can we FOI that to the DfT? )

The term 'parliamentary' these days is just a nickname, not a legal description. It originally specified a fare of 1d a mile which was actually more important than the frequency.

I would think that the requirement to run such trains got dropped quite early on - at a wild guess no later than grouping in 1922(?)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Whose idea was it? Interesting question...In fact this cropped up earlier today, you may find DaveNewcastle's post in the 'Failing to Provide seats' thread interesting, as back in 1844 the requirement was for one train each way per weekday.

As ever as is his want, DaveNewcastle can be relied upon, not only to provide an answer, but a most fully-detailed informative answer.

 

[yorkie]

There's 2J47 from Leeds-Sheffield via Huddersfield ....

I don't think that's quite what the OP meant, I would suggest another thread be opened if you want to list 'Services that provide direct journey opportunities in one direction only' as it's a separate issue and there will probably be loads of them.

 

[northwichcat]

I don't think that's quite what the OP meant, I would suggest another thread be opened if you want to list 'Services that provide direct journey opportunities in one direction only' as it's a separate issue and there will probably be loads of them.

Indeed. There's a lot of them and under the changes TfGM listed for 2014 in a recent report they'll be a lot of services via Manchester Victoria that will do that.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Surely Wirral Loop line services James St-Moorfields-Lime Street-Central-James St are one way only services?

 

[Martin_1981]

Cross Country have a few one way only services that I'm aware of:-

0637 Nottingham-Bournemouth (Via Derby, Brum and Coventry)
0710 Gloucester-Stansted Airport (Via Brum and Leicester)
0610 Bath Spa- Glasgow (Via Bristol TM, Brum and Leeds)
0940 Penzance-Manchester

There may be a few others as well. I know there is an afternoon Manchester-Cardiff train, not sure if there's one in the other direction.

 

[yorkie]

Surely Wirral Loop line services James St-Moorfields-Lime Street-Central-James St are one way only services?

They are, but is Moorfields to Liverpool Lime Street or Liverpool Lime Street to Liverpool Central "a scant service that you can't return from"?

Technically, I suppose so, but given that Central and Lime Street are a 4 minute walk from each other, I am not convinced it meets the OPs definition!

 

[anthony263]

I too also wish this would happen, though really to work the service needs to run with LM and FGW services at hourly intervals instead of the imbalance there was before. If it was 1tph, then I wouldn't be so dismayed about the current ticketing situation where a standard Worcester-[somewhere south of there] ticket wasn't so constrained by these times.

You might be right - I presumed it was due to the franchise requiring a service to Gloucester, so they've gone for the minimum.

Likewise there are the four XC services each day that run via Worcester to remain route knowledge, though this could lead to a separate thread...

I remember when London Midland ran a limited Worcester - Gloucester service. Sadly the timetable was a bit eractic and was not too well used by passengers. A standard hourly clockface timetable between Cheltenham & Worcester would be ideal.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Cross Country have a few one way only services that I'm aware of:-

0637 Nottingham-Bournemouth (Via Derby, Brum and Coventry)
0710 Gloucester-Stansted Airport (Via Brum and Leicester)
0610 Bath Spa- Glasgow (Via Bristol TM, Brum and Leeds)
0940 Penzance-Manchester

There may be a few others as well. I know there is an afternoon Manchester-Cardiff train, not sure if there's one in the other direction.

Yes there is an 0700 Cardiff - Manchester service via Bristol TM in fact this is the only Crosscountry service which serves Patchway and Filton Abbey Wood

 

[Starmill]

Yes there is an 0700 Cardiff - Manchester service via Bristol TM in fact this is the only Crosscountry service which serves Patchway and Filton Abbey Wood

Patchway! Honestly, always makes me laugh hearing that. It might as well call at Pilning for all it's worth!

 

[Eagle]

Yes there is an 0700 Cardiff - Manchester service via Bristol TM in fact this is the only Crosscountry service which serves Patchway and Filton Abbey Wood

Apart from last weekend when they couldn't call at Bristol Parkway, of course.