Services you would like to see in the future

[ABB125]

What services would you like to see in the future? These could be created by:
a) combining 2 or more existing routes, eg: Birmingham to Hereford and Birmingham to Nottingham/Leicester;
b) extending existing routes, eg: Stansted Airport to Birmingham to Gloucester; or
c) creating an entirely new service.

 

[DarloRich]

ah the good old RUK service wish list aka make a service that only suits me and/or XC to Brighton.

 

[jopsuk]

I just want the East Coast services to Stirling to call at Peterborough

 

[Rich McLean]

What services would you like to see in the future? These could be created by:
a) combining 2 or more existing routes, eg: Birmingham to Hereford and Birmingham to Nottingham/Leicester;
b) extending existing routes, eg: Stansted Airport to Birmingham to Gloucester; or
c) creating an entirely new service.

I would like to see the following in the future

a) Cardiff - Bristol - Taunton - Exeter - Plymouth - Penzance (semi fast)
This would run hourly between Cardiff and Taunton, with 1tp2hr between Taunton and Plymouth, with 7tpd continuing to Penzance.

The 2018 proposal is for early morning and late evening through services only, with Intercity trains covering the flows between Plymouth/Exeter and Taunton. However this type of pattern maybe possible if 159s are cascaded from SWT.

b) Swansea - Preston 1tp2h via Newport, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Crewe (Avoiding Wolverhampton)

c) Portsmouth - Liverpool 1tp2hr via Westbury, Bristol Temple Meads, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Crewe (avoiding Wolverhampton)

Pie in the sky for B & C but an extra hourly Birmingham - Northwest XC service avoiding Wolverhampton a lot more likely

 

[Ianno87]

HS2 Phase 2 will give several Birmingham-North West services per hour avoiding Wolverhampton. Much quicker as well than the plod via Bescot Yard!

 

[Muzer]

I would like to see the following in the future

a) Cardiff - Bristol - Taunton - Exeter - Plymouth - Penzance (semi fast)
This would run hourly between Cardiff and Taunton, with 1tp2hr between Taunton and Plymouth, with 7tpd continuing to Penzance.

The 2018 proposal is for early morning and late evening through services only, with Intercity trains covering the flows between Plymouth/Exeter and Taunton. However this type of pattern maybe possible if 159s are cascaded from SWT.

b) Swansea - Preston 1tp2h via Newport, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Crewe (Avoiding Wolverhampton)

c) Portsmouth - Liverpool 1tp2hr via Westbury, Bristol Temple Meads, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Crewe (avoiding Wolverhampton)

Pie in the sky for B & C but an extra hourly Birmingham - Northwest XC service avoiding Wolverhampton a lot more likely

...why do you want to avoid Wolverhampton? Is it at capacity or something?

 

[Rich McLean]

...why do you want to avoid Wolverhampton? Is it at capacity or something?

Yes it's down to capacity, and mentioned in the West Midlands ITT, but not limited to the West Midlands Franchise winner to implement (could be ICWC, WM or XC)

 

[ChathillMan]

Newcastle to/from Middlesbrough via Stillington.
I truly believe that creating a quicker link between the two places could be transformational

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

 

[class387]

Would it be possible to run a St Albans Abbey - Watford Jct - London Euston service? I could imagine myself using it if the Thameslink is down.

 

[70014IronDuke]

What services would you like to see in the future? These could be created by:
a) combining 2 or more existing routes, eg: Birmingham to Hereford and Birmingham to Nottingham/Leicester;
b) extending existing routes, eg: Stansted Airport to Birmingham to Gloucester; or
c) creating an entirely new service.

1) Limited (perhaps 4 trains each way per day) Nottingham - Sheffield - Leeds - Carlisle (and ideally beyond) fast service.

2) Four stops per day introduced at Carstairs on Glasgow - Manchester Airport TPEs, to give that area direct train to/from the south. (currently only one train, northbound, stops.)

3) Limited (Perhaps four each way per day) Carlisle-Cumbrian Coast - Barrow - Manchester Airport principal stations only service.

4) Four trains per day Plymouth - Exeter - Yeovils - Weymouth: To improve connectivity between Bournemouth/Poole/Dorset and Devon/Cornwall. This could interlace with Exeter - Yeovil Jcn trains to provide faster Exeter - Salisbury services (by missing out stops, but connecting at Yeovil Jcn)

5) Four trains per day (Oxford?) - Swindon-Melksham-Frome-Yeovil Jcn (reverse) - Weymouth.

 

[Muzer]

I suspect there'll be a lack of capacity for that. There's probably a good reason it hasn't happened.

 

[thenorthern]

A return of the through trains from Crewe to Nottingham would be nice although I don't think it will happen.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Newcastle to/from Middlesbrough via Stillington.
I truly believe that creating a quicker link between the two places could be transformational

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

Oh yes, I agree. One of my favourites too. But isn't it in the pipeline?

While you are at it, extend four per day to Whitby, limited stop, on an enhanced line with a new Battersby chord built to avoid reversal

 

[Harbornite]

Services from Stratford upon Avon to London Paddington and Worcester forgate street via the reinstated line between Stratford and Long Marston.

London Euston to Aberystwyth would be good as well, preferably operated by the West Coast franchise.

I'd also suggest extended some of the Snow Hill to Worcester services to Hereford and maybe even Gloucester, but capacity would be an issue.

Regarding the mention of Gloucester- stansted, there is one service a day but it could be good if this service was more frequent.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

ah the good old RUK service wish list aka make a service that only suits me and/or XC to Brighton.

Not necessarily...

 

[CheekyBandit]

I just want the East Coast services to Stirling to call at Peterborough

Wouldn't mind some East Coast services to call at St Neots - would find it useful for the X5 to Cambridge (which actually goes to the bit of Cambridge where I want to go - not somewhere miles away in the middle of nowhere).

 

[adrock1976]

Not necessarily a new service, but I would like to see the Intercity calls reinstated at Motherwell, Lichfield TV, Tamworth, Nuneaton, and Watford Junction that were cut in the December 2008 timetable change. This would restore connections that were lost at those stations.

ah the good old RUK service wish list aka make a service that only suits me and/or XC to Brighton.

I would like to draw your attention to the following quote by Dee Snider (frontman in the band Twisted Sister) that he gave to the Senate in the mid 1980s in response to the PMRC regarding the lyrics of "Under the Blade":

"the only sadomasochism, bondage, and rape in this song is in the mind of Ms. Gore." He stated, "Ms. Gore was looking for sadomasochism and bondage, and she found it. Someone looking for surgical references would have found it as well."

Substitute that for XC to Brighton. It seems you were looking for that suggestion, and you found it. Similar as to how some forum posters would find useful new, additional, or reinstated services that would provide decent links.

 

[BigCj34]

Would Barrow-Leeds be possible via Carnforth? Just looking at a map though, it would appear that a train would have to change direction after Carnforth.

On a more wishful note, it would be nice to see Carnforth as a mainline stop again, which would be beneficial for Furness Line users wanting to go north, but whether that provides a valid business case I would;t know.

 

[JamesRowden]

I've thought that a local service could run through the HS1 tunnel under the Thames to connect Essex with North Kent.

 

[thenorthern]

Would Barrow-Leeds be possible via Carnforth? Just looking at a map though, it would appear that a train would have to change direction after Carnforth.

On a more wishful note, it would be nice to see Carnforth as a mainline stop again, which would be beneficial for Furness Line users wanting to go north, but whether that provides a valid business case I would;t know.

Until 1998 it was possible by avoiding Carnforth as there was a line as the top of the junction between the Leeds line and the the Furness Line. Any service would no doubt run through Lancaster then reverse but given the line between Long Preston and Carnforth is due for an upgrade I think a Barrow to Leeds service could happen in the future.

 

[G_A_C_C_C]

I'd like to see Southern/GTR running a full service...or is that far to wacky and preposterous an idea?

More realistically I was only talking to my father-in-law about the XC to Brighton service just the other day- would be good to get that back, either that or run the Southern/GTR MK 8 coach service through to Brighton.

 

[Mintona]

London Paddington to Birmingham New Street. Extend the current Cheltenham Spa service, provide 4tph from Cheltenham to Birmingham, and a regular direct service from Swindon and Didcot to Birmingham.

I'd also like to see the future London Paddington - Bristol Parkway - Weston Super Mare IEP service extended to Paignton, to provide a regular second train per hour between Exeter and Bristol, and direct regular trains from London and Bristol to Torbay.

And whilst we're at it, let's have a Cardiff Central to Swindon via Gloucester service, calling at all stations. It would allow the Cardiff-Nottingham XC service to run fast between Newport and Gloucester again, and provide a second train per hour for Stonehouse, Stroud and Kemble in each direction, to make better use of the newly redoubled track. And also a second train per hour for Lydney, Chepstow, Caldicott and Severn Tunnel Jn.

...I think I'm going to need some more 800s

 

[jopsuk]

London Paddington to Birmingham New Street. Extend the current Cheltenham Spa service, provide 4tph from Cheltenham to Birmingham, and a regular direct service from Swindon and Didcot to Birmingham.

A third (to be 4th) London-Birmingham route and a 4th (to be 5th) operator?

 

[Ron Hale]

Leeds to Doncaster Airport.

 

[Harbornite]

London Paddington to Birmingham New Street. Extend the current Cheltenham Spa service, provide 4tph from Cheltenham to Birmingham, and a regular direct service from Swindon and Didcot to Birmingham.

I'd also like to see the future London Paddington - Bristol Parkway - Weston Super Mare IEP service extended to Paignton, to provide a regular second train per hour between Exeter and Bristol, and direct regular trains from London and Bristol to Torbay.

And whilst we're at it, let's have a Cardiff Central to Swindon via Gloucester service, calling at all stations. It would allow the Cardiff-Nottingham XC service to run fast between Newport and Gloucester again, and provide a second train per hour for Stonehouse, Stroud and Kemble in each direction, to make better use of the newly redoubled track. And also a second train per hour for Lydney, Chepstow, Caldicott and Severn Tunnel Jn.

...I think I'm going to need some more 800s

Back in the 1970s and 80s, there were cross country services from Liverpool etc to Paddington via New Street and other services that started at New Street. Before 1967, Snow Hill had been served by Paddington trains. In 1993, a Stourbridge to Paddington service was trialed and ditched, while Virgin xc continued running services via New street into Paddington until 2002. You have to ask if Birmingham really needs services to a third London terminus, not to mention the capacity issues between Cheltenham and Birmingham. It's a nice idea though, I think Snow Hill- Paddington Via Stratford and Long Marston would be better, but that would face similar issues.

 

[J-2739]

Direct Barnsley to London route!

 

[cle]

Watford Junction calls on fast lines (excl current Brum) would be good - the station is growing in numbers a lot, and the Met line is coming too! But very difficult to path. Maybe a second per hour at the opposite clock time to the Birmingham, or some odd peak calls.

Cheltenham Spa train sped up - i.e. drop Gloucester or serve Cheltenham first. Plus some speed improvements on that line.

Agree that Derby-Crewe is a wasted line, it could do far more regionally.

 

[Ibex]

Would it be possible to run a St Albans Abbey - Watford Jct - London Euston service? I could imagine myself using it if the Thameslink is down.

This is entirely possible, the complicated yard shunting move off the Abbey line onto the mainline at Watford was removed when Watford was resignalled in 2014 so the Abbey line is directly linked to the mainline now.

There are empty stock moves which use this new bit of track (clicky) on Sundays when the unit is swapped; I presume there are just no direct services because it's not included in the franchise specification so LM don't bother?

 

[E_Reeves]

Stansted Airport/Leicester to Cardiff by extending both XC routes, as they are both operated by class 170.

 

[ABB125]

Stansted Airport/Leicester to Cardiff by extending both XC routes, as they are both operated by class 170.

Possibly calling at under served stations. Example stopping pattern from Birmingham: Bromsgrove, Worcester Parkway, Ashchurch, Cheltenham, Gloucester, then "fast" to Newport?

 

[AndrewE]

Not necessarily a new service, but I would like to see the Intercity calls reinstated at Motherwell, Lichfield TV, Tamworth, Nuneaton, and Watford Junction that were cut in the December 2008 timetable change. This would restore connections that were lost at those stations

Hear Hear!
The WCML needs to regain its function as part of the National Network rather than simply being "Express to Euston." I would also re-examine the value (and journey time costs) of stops at Milton Keynes rather than Rugby.