Trivia: Services that you wouldn't expect to run?

[Parallel]

ISTR circa 2008 there was a daily Maesteg - Manchester Piccadilly service, arriving Piccadilly late at night.

I was on an evening Maesteg - Manchester Piccadilly service a couple of weeks ago!
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I find the 15:53 GWR Bristol Parkway - Bath Spa service very odd, it calls at Filton Abbey Wood, Keynsham and Oldfield Park on the way missing out Bristol Temple Meads... And then the return service from Bath leaves at 16:43, omits Oldfield Park then calls at Keynsham, Bristol Temple Meads, Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road, Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway.

One of the very few services that starts or terminates at Bath Spa, and misses out the biggest station near. Is there a reason for why it exists?

 

[Kite159]

I was on an evening Maesteg - Manchester Piccadilly service a couple of weeks ago!
--

I find the 15:53 GWR Bristol Parkway - Bath Spa service very odd, it calls at Filton Abbey Wood, Keynsham and Oldfield Park on the way missing out Bristol Temple Meads... And then the return service from Bath leaves at 16:43, omits Oldfield Park then calls at Keynsham, Bristol Temple Meads, Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road, Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway.

One of the very few services that starts or terminates at Bath Spa, and misses out the biggest station near. Is there a reason for why it exists?

To maintain route knowledge of the Dr Days Curve for diversions?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I was on an evening Maesteg - Manchester Piccadilly service a couple of weeks ago!
--

I find the 15:53 GWR Bristol Parkway - Bath Spa service very odd, it calls at Filton Abbey Wood, Keynsham and Oldfield Park on the way missing out Bristol Temple Meads... And then the return service from Bath leaves at 16:43, omits Oldfield Park then calls at Keynsham, Bristol Temple Meads, Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road, Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway.

One of the very few services that starts or terminates at Bath Spa, and misses out the biggest station near. Is there a reason for why it exists?

What time train was this?

 

[Parallel]

To maintain route knowledge of the Dr Days Curve for diversions?

True - Though is there a north-bound equivalent?

What time train was this?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C53138/2016/02/25

The return

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C51445/2016/02/25

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

True - Though is there a north-bound equivalent?



http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C53138/2016/02/25

The return

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C51445/2016/02/25

Sorry - I meant the one to Man Picc

 

[PHILIPE]

To maintain route knowledge of the Dr Days Curve for diversions?

And also to pick up MOD staff at Filton Abbeywood, perhaps

 

[duffers2324]

I would have to say the Saturday only 2105 XC Glasgow to Edinburgh is unusual, I know it is for route diversion knowledge but seems a bit strange the time it runs at and the fact there is no westbound equivalent...

 

[185143]

Sorry - I meant the one to Man Picc

20:08 ex Cardiff on a saturday. Done it a couple of times.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

20:08 ex Cardiff on a saturday. Done it a couple of times.

Thanks... That timing looks to be over four and a half hours long!

 

[185143]

It is....

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

It is....

Longest 15x run?

 

[185143]

Liverpool-Norwich is longer

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Liverpool-Norwich is longer

Whats that then?

Looking at that one you suggested, theres no trolley service - best stock up on that one I guess. Where do crews change or is it a straight run through?

Edit: 5 hours and 34 minutes for a train trip on a 15x...? Gods, that must be bottom numbing for the passengers. I wonder how many book through tickets

 

[185143]

ISTR it is the same crew all the way, but the guard wasn't desperate so we never saw him! It often is the same guard until Crewe, but early and late trains keep the same crew.

There was indeed no trolley service. Still, gave me an excuse to spend a lot of money in Burger King...

I did the Far North line recently (around 4 hours) and that was comfortable enough.

 

[sprinterguy]

ISTR it is the same crew all the way, but the guard wasn't desperate so we never saw him!

I don't think that the driver will be working over five hours without a break. EMTs' main depot for that route will be Nottingham, so I'd expect that's where the changeover would occur.

 

[PHILIPE]

Thanks... That timing looks to be over four and a half hours long!

Cardiff depart 2008 arrive Manchester Picc 2344. Start Maesteg at 1916 but that is in effect two services lumped together for diagramming purposes. Class 158 works,

 

[sprinterguy]

Edit: 5 hours and 34 minutes for a train trip on a 15x...? Gods, that must be bottom numbing for the passengers. I wonder how many book through tickets

It's the sort of route that 158s were designed for, so it shouldn't be that bad. Though the seats fitted to the EMT 158s are pretty firm, I find them comfortable (on journeys much shorter than five and a half hours, mind!), and they're also fitted to ATWs' 158s which work one of those other lengthy regional services, Birmingham to Aberystwyth/Pwllheli via the Cambrian line.

I'd imagine that it'd be less pleasant on one of the Chapman seated 156s that sometimes stand in for unavailable 158s on the Liverpool - Norwich route, but I don't know whether EMT try to restrict them to strengthened services over the Liverpool - Nottingham section. As you suggest I can't imagine that there's a huge number of through passengers doing the whole route.

 

[james60059]

I'm not sure about nowadays, but back in the days of Central Trains, and when services crossed over on the level at Nuneaton there use to be some different destinations via Nuneaton. Although the bulk would terminate at Nottingham, some did carry on to Sheffield and I think even there was a Coventry - Worksop via Nuneaton and Leicester. Sunday services from Coventry mostly went to Lincoln Central with a Class 156. There was of course a couple of services from Coventry which went to Stoke On Trent as well via the Trent Valley prior to the 4-tracking.

Another one, Wales and West (or Wales and Borders??) at the time, was the early morning boat train from Fishguard Harbour went to Liverpool Lime Street, departed FGH at 01:50 IIRC this was back in the early 2000's.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'm not sure about nowadays, but back in the days of Central Trains, and when services crossed over on the level at Nuneaton there use to be some different destinations via Nuneaton. Although the bulk would terminate at Nottingham, some did carry on to Sheffield and I think even there was a Coventry - Worksop via Nuneaton and Leicester. Sunday services from Coventry mostly went to Lincoln Central with a Class 156. There was of course a couple of services from Coventry which went to Stoke On Trent as well via the Trent Valley prior to the 4-tracking.

Another one, Wales and West (or Wales and Borders??) at the time, was the early morning boat train from Fishguard Harbour went to Liverpool Lime Street, departed FGH at 01:50 IIRC this was back in the early 2000's.

I remember the Lime Street service, the set overnighted in Liverpool and ran back to Cardiff the next morning. I used it to get to the play-off final one year as I was living in Ormskirk at the time.

 

[RichJF]

I nominate a couple more Southern region services:

Any of the London Bridge - East Croydon late evening shuttles. They're good, but run with diesel class 171's on fully electrified tracks.
It's probably for route knowledge or turning moves (idk), but slightly weird given the traction & third rail supply.
Similarly the London Bridge-Oxted & return is a diesel turn.

 

[CC 72100]

To maintain route knowledge of the Dr Days Curve for diversions?

Effectively yes, although West local services are diverted far less often over the curve than HSTs that run via Box instead of Hullavington, and then call at Patchway instead of Bristol Parkway. The latter seems far more common.

A useful bit of track to have.

 

[Bungle965]

Whats that then?

Looking at that one you suggested, theres no trolley service - best stock up on that one I guess. Where do crews change or is it a straight run through?

Edit: 5 hours and 34 minutes for a train trip on a 15x...? Gods, that must be bottom numbing for the passengers. I wonder how many book through tickets

Yes there is a trolley service on most of them.
If you get a table the journey can actually be quite pleasant , but unfortunately the last time i did a long journey from Peterborough to Manchester it was rammed full, which was unpleasant. As for though journeys i was booked on one from Manchester to Norwich and the advance ticket prices are actually not that expensive.
Sam

 

[dk1]

Whats that then?

Looking at that one you suggested, theres no trolley service - best stock up on that one I guess. Where do crews change or is it a straight run through?

Edit: 5 hours and 34 minutes for a train trip on a 15x...? Gods, that must be bottom numbing for the passengers. I wonder how many book through tickets

Yeah as stated, there is a trolley on most between Peterborough & Liverpool. Most trains are doubled up North of Nottingham & sometimes East on a couple of diagrams or for football.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Yeah as stated, there is a trolley on most between Peterborough & Liverpool. Most trains are doubled up North of Nottingham & sometimes East on a couple of diagrams or for football.

I meant no service on the Maesteg - Manchester Piccadilly

 

[PHILIPE]

I meant no service on the Maesteg - Manchester Piccadilly

There certainly wouldn't be one on the Maesteg portion. By the time the train leaves Cardiff trollies are winding down for the day.

 

[dk1]

I meant no service on the Maesteg - Manchester Piccadilly

Understood

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

There certainly wouldn't be one on the Maesteg portion. By the time the train leaves Cardiff trollies are winding down for the day.

I thought there was some rule that they had to have a service. The Hull - Doncaster evening train by VTEC has full service even though it does not need it

Understood

I understand your understanding

 

[PHILIPE]

I thought there was some rule that they had to have a service. The Hull - Doncaster evening train by VTEC has full service even though it does not need it



I understand your understanding

I doubt such a rule exists

 

[philthetube]

London to Glasgow/Edinburgh via Birmingham. Since a much faster London to Glasgow via Trent Valley service exists.

I catch this regularly from Watford Junction, much better than change at MK and Crewe.

 

[racklam]

There's a Monday-Thursday ATW service that goes from Birmingham International to Piccadilly via Shrewsbury, Crewe, Chester and Newton-le-Willows.