All change at Glasgow Central

[me123]

There is a new rail operator in Scotland today, with First Transpennine Express taking over services between Glasgow/Edinburgh and Manchester. I presume that these are using 185s straight away? The new service provides the first direct link to Manchester Airport from Scotland.

Today also marks the "end of an era" at Glasgow Central for intercity rail travel. XC no longer operate a regular service; the few remaining trains run via the ECML, and Virgin's services have probably reduced by about a half. The number of TOCs serving the station has almost doubled.

Is this change good for the city which will host the Commonwealth games in just over 6 years time?

 

[rail-britain]

Class 185 route training has been taking place over the last two weeks, between Preston, Edinburgh, and Glasgow
There was also a strange publicity run from Edinburgh to Glasgow last week as well
The revised West Coast timetable also comes into effect, seeing Class 221 units between Glasgow and Birmingham

The number of trains between Glasgow, Edinburgh and Preston increases slightly
However, at the next timetable change almost all trains between Glasgow and Carlisle no longer call at Motherwell

Is this change good for the city which will host the Commonwealth games in just over 6 years time?

By then the ScotRail franchise should see new EMUs in the SPT area
Ironically, this will make it more attractive to travel by airline rather than rail
The rail travelling options will have improved slightly by then

 

[me123]

The revised West Coast timetable also comes into effect, seeing Class 221 units between Glasgow and Birmingham

Saw one yesterday, Virgin Voyager operated by a XC train? I presume the two fleets will be completely separate as of today?

By then the ScotRail franchise should see new EMUs in the SPT area
Ironically, this will make it more attractive to travel by airline rather than rail.
The rail travelling options will have improved slightly by then

I may be missing something, but can you tell me why?

 

[rail-britain]

As from today West Coast Trains now have their own dedicated fleet of Class 221s for Glasgow - Birmingham, these are easy to identify as they have retained the "Virgin Trains" branding

 

[yorkie]

I may be missing something, but can you tell me why?

EARL?

 

[1D53]

Class 185 route training has been taking place over the last two weeks, between Preston, Edinburgh, and Glasgow

Far more than two weeks. They've been going since September at least!

 

[rail-britain]

The Class 185 training was between Preston and Edinburgh
It has only been along all three routes in the last two weeks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I may be missing something, but can you tell me why?

EARL?

EARL is dead, I was referring to GARL

 

[1D53]

The Class 185 training was between Preston and Edinburgh
It has only been along all three routes in the last two weeks

Carlisle has been going since September with Edinburgh and Glasgow since at 1st November.

http://davids.railway.fotopic.net/p46648862.html - Thats 14th November for one, and that was a 30 second search on Fotopic. :roll:

This info from your contact at the ORR?

 

[me123]

Hopefully will see one tomorrow: should be passing through the station at the right time.

Forgot about GARL, BTW, but I'd still rather travel by train; GLA is still very far away from the gaming locations, and GLC only provides a bit more inconvenience for travelers going to the East End.