Virgin Trains to Shrewsbury

[merlodlliw]

I appreciate the points you make,about the return 0824 service to the large towns of Shropshire, only time will tell,but i'm wondering what occurred when the up 0530 train from Chester went to Maesteg, did it split at Shrewsbury?

I've just seen a letter from the Minister to my AM stating December 2014 will be the biggest timetable change in North Wales since 2008.

 

[Class 170101]

A connection that is surprisingly popular.



It's worked by a Cardiff crew from there to Shrewsbury, so it's an early sign on.

Then signing on earlier isn't exactly going to prove popular if it departs earlier from Cardiff to connect at Shrewsbury,

 

[PHILIPE]

I appreciate the points you make,about the return 0824 service to the large towns of Shropshire, only time will tell,but i'm wondering what occurred when the up 0530 train from Chester went to Maesteg, did it split at Shrewsbury?

I've just seen a letter from the Minister to my AM stating December 2014 will be the biggest timetable change in North Wales since 2008.

No Bob. Just 1 through unit and connected into a starter at Shrewsbury to Birmingham, which now starts back at Chester with 2x158s.

 

[merlodlliw]

No Bob. Just 1 through unit and connected into a starter at Shrewsbury to Birmingham, which now starts back at Chester with 2x158s.

Thanks for that Philipe.

I note a special "Route Proving Run" run is to take place between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury next Saturday according to todays North Wales news board.Is this the first Voyager to visit Shrewsbury.

North Wales News Board 14th October written by Charlie Hume Editor
"Virgin Trains are planning a 'Route Proving Run' with a Class 221 Voyager on Saturday 18 October in advance of the start of through service between London and Shrewsbury. Train 1Q62, Wolverhampton dep 10:32, Shrewsbury arr 11:32. 1Q63 Shrewsbury dep 13:15, Wolverhampton 13:46-13:49, continues to Barton-under-Needwood depot 14:54. It would be interesting to see a picture of this at Shrewsbury."

 

[dvboy]

Here it is
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10985/2014/10/18/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10986/2014/10/18/advanced

Does anyone know if it will be available for passenger use?

 

[merlodlliw]

Here it is
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10985/2014/10/18/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10986/2014/10/18/advanced

Does anyone know if it will be available for passenger use?

If it's anything like the loco hauled trials between Chester & Manchester using Welsh Governments Premier Stock, No Passengers were carried.

 

[berneyarms]

Here it is
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10985/2014/10/18/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10986/2014/10/18/advanced

Does anyone know if it will be available for passenger use?

It's a route proving run and as such I very much doubt it is a public service.

 

[swt_passenger]

It's a route proving run and as such I very much doubt it is a public service.

I'd have thought "Unadvertised" showing on RTT was a bit of a clue...

 

[The Planner]

Why would it be a passenger service? The very nature of it tells you it wouldnt be. It will be to test stepping distances, station operations, running times etc....

 

[Class 170101]

I thought Voyagers had already been to Shrewsbury in days past.

 

[tbtc]

Why would it be a passenger service? The very nature of it tells you it wouldnt be. It will be to test stepping distances, station operations, running times etc....

Going off topic, but do you reckon we'll ever be able to just "model" such runs, without having to run a "Route Proving Run" service?

Given that we surely know the dimensions/envelope of the Voyager and what trains already fit along the line to Shrewsbury, I wonder whether one day we'll be able to trust that one would fit (e.g. if a 23.71m 175 coach* can fit then do we need to find a spare Voyager/ find a spare path/ find spare crew to test the clearances? can't we trust the timings that 175s cope with?)

Does the Network Rail New Measurement Train not provide all of the answers?

(obviously there'll need to be driver training etc done, it just seems like quite an expensive/ complicated/ time consuming exercise to go for in the modern age)

* - figure taken from Wiki, I appreciate that 23.62m long 170s and 23.2m 153/158s are more regular on that route than a 175, and that the extra fourteen centimetres between a Voyager coach and a 175 coach will have to be taken in to account, but this is more of a general question about whether computer simulations will one day be enough to certify route clearance etc

 

[The Planner]

All of it has been computer modelled, from the running times to the gauge clearance etc, but all of that is a desktop exercise and what happens in reality is always better to find out before you go into service.

 

[Rich McLean]

Also Cosford Station has been rebuilt since they last run on the line. Not likely to be an issue, but always worth double checking

 

[merlodlliw]

When VT came to Wrexham with its once a day Voyager service, driver training runs took place from Crewe to W/X General station for several days the month prior to service commencing

Bob

 

[Class 170101]

This modelling is all well and good providing humans (a) stick to the rules and (b) the rules make sense in the first place.

I understand a Class 91 set dragged by a Class 67 went around the Durham Coast before they were offically route cleared and that a 170 went to Liverpool Street via Cambridge, Harlow, Tottenham Hale and Hackney Downs before they were route cleared.

 

[merlodlliw]

I thought Voyagers had already been to Shrewsbury in days past.

Im not aware of any voyagers visiting Shrewsbury station, I do recall several Chiltern 165s running between Shrewsbury & Wolves during Wrexham & Shropshire days. I only mention this for interest,

 

[merlodlliw]

North Wales Rail website have pictures of the Shrewsbury Voyager Trial,taken from the signal box. Heres some comment written by the editor

"We hoped someone would photograph 18 October's gauging run to Shrewsbury by a Virgin Trains Class 221 Voyager in preparation for the start of the through trains to London in December, and here they are, with many thanks to Mike Jones, signaller at Abbey Foregate. Above, it is heading for bay platform 5 after checking for fit, platform edges and 'S stop' sign placement."

link http://nwrail.org.uk/nwnews.htm

 

[Gareth Marston]

5 car 22x stop boards up in Shrewsbury this evening.

 

[merlodlliw]

5 car 22x stop boards up in Shrewsbury this evening.

which platforms?bay five and platform 4?

 

[craigybagel]

Theres one at the north end of platform 4, it's been there a few weeks. The existing S board on platform 4 has been moved further north as well.

 

[merlodlliw]

Theres one at the north end of platform 4, it's been there a few weeks. The existing S board on platform 4 has been moved further north as well.

At least it wont be like Wrexham,here the arriving voyager has to travel a good mile past the Hospital box on the up line to be switched on the down to platform
two, I watched this on Tuesday morning, very time consuming.
Has an aside, building work has commenced on the new joint Ambulance/Fire station on the South of the hospital thus eventually taking away emergency vehicles from near the hospital level crossing on Rivulet Road,
The current Ambulance station is next door to Morrison's,which is built on the old Croes Newydd engine sheds area, the store was delayed over a year due to traffic concerns for ambulances, The fire station is currently situated next to the Bidston line railway bridge East of the hospital level crossing.

Bob

 

[Gareth Marston]

Theres one at the north end of platform 4, it's been there a few weeks. The existing S board on platform 4 has been moved further north as well.

The ones I noticed were on the inner ends of the Bays 5&6 about 5m short of buffers and there was one platform 7 more or less parallel with them.

 

[Starmill]

Seems they ran today!

 

[crewmeal]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-30470761

Had a mention on BBC Midland's news

 

[Starmill]

Modern Railways reported this month that VT were looking at a dedicated First Class crew for these trains. I wonder if anything came of it. Some of their First Class hosts are almost too enigmatic for their own good as it is. Anyway we'll see if anything comes of it I suppose.

 

[crewmeal]

Modern Railways reported this month that VT were looking at a dedicated First Class crew for these trains. I wonder if anything came of it. Some of their First Class hosts are almost too enigmatic for their own good as it is.

Probably because the Transport Minister plus local MPs were onboard for the first service. After all they require first class service where ever they go

 

[Gareth Marston]

Around 40 people in Standard on departure of the 1524 to Euston today, about 1 in first. they held it in 5 since arrival earlier so 1519 arrival from INTL went onto 4 instead of 5 and 1525 arrival from Aberystwyth was kept stopped on the posts on English Bridge and arrived slightly late into 5 instead of the usual 4.

 

[vtpendolino]

Not sure if VT crewing will be able to roster a fixed crew on these trains every day, but as it stands all Shrewsbury services on the weekdays are rostered with three members of staff on what I believe is a single voyager (going forwards from Birmingham New Street) as opposed to the usual two members of staff rostered on other services. All Shrewsbury services are operated with Wolverhampton based catering crew, with the exception of the back set of the 10:23 departure which has two Euston based crew working it who only go as far as Birmingham and then return on the 12:30 departure south.

An interesting point to make is the 16:33 Blackpool North service is actually crewed by Carlisle based catering crew! So would be interesting to know their knowledge, if any, of what to see and do in Blackpool. It's also a very long day for them, they travel down to London on the 09:40 ex Glasgow, up to Blackpool, pass back on empty stock to Preston and then pick up the 18:30 ex Euston to take them home.

 

[dk1]

An interesting point to make is the 16:33 Blackpool North service is actually crewed by Carlisle based catering crew! So would be interesting to know their knowledge, if any, of what to see and do in Blackpool. It's also a very long day for them, they travel down to London on the 09:40 ex Glasgow, up to Blackpool, pass back on empty stock to Preston and then pick up the 18:30 ex Euston to take them home.

Seems rather excessive to bother with catering between Preston & Blackpool. Wonder how long it will be until the shop closes after Warrington with crew bailing at Preston to head home?

 

[vtpendolino]

Exactly, any delay on the way up from London and they will bail at Preston to ensure they don't miss their departure from Preston, even if it means a lengthy wait there.

I agree with the reasoning for what surely will be a very small demand for catering facilities between Preston and Blackpool North. Spare a thought for the morning crew (Preston based) who have to board the empty stock at 04:50 to take them to Blackpool. Randomly, the train is only timetabled to wait there 7 minutes before departing (arrival 05:18, dep 05:25) which from my memory of Blackpool North's archaic boarding procedures, doesn't leave much time!!