Nottingham-Leeds. First service in 25 years

[P156KWJ]

Today marked the beginning of a new timetable which sees the first direct regular services from Nottingham to Leeds in 25 years.
The new service is operated by Northern Rail and is provided every hour by class 158s. Today, 158791 was named 'County of Nottinghamshire' in a ceremony at Nottingham station today.

Link to news story: http://media.northernrail.org/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=315&NewsAreaID=2

Myself, this new service will be useful, as this also provides a second train every hour between Nottingham and Sheffield, and also means that most Liverpool-Norwich trains now don't have to stop at Langley Mill.

 

[jacknottm]

http://www.garyschofields-railwaypics.fotopic.net/p55403090.html

The service also conveyed a headboard and the name is also visible.

For the record, 158845 worked the first one

Jack

 

[P156KWJ]

looks great, seems odd that East Midlands Today haven't picked up the story, or at least not on their website anyway!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
looks like they had a couple of very small problems. 1Y29 passed Radford Junction 7 late, was delayed for 8 minutes at both Wakefield and Langley Mill

 

[LTJ87]

It's not often there is good news for Nottingham passengers, but this is a very welcome development.

 

[jacknottm]

For anyone interested, the following have worked in today

158790 791 795 843 845 901 905 907

Not in that order obviously..

This service benefits in more ways then one, with the Liverpools not having to stop at Langley Mill as often, where normally quite a few get on, leaving more desperately needed vacant seats for up the line and for the first time in ages, the people of Dronfield have a regular service

Jack

 

[ashworth]

It's not often there is good news for Nottingham passengers, but this is a very welcome development.

All the service now needs are some cheap fare offers. Currently the cheapest offpeak return from Nottingham to Leeds is £26.50. A peak return is £33. This will not attract day leisure travellers for day visits and shopping etc. This high fare seems very unrealistic for this type of journey.

The journey can be done for approx £18 return by buying Day Returns from Nottingham to Sheffield and then Sheffield to Leeds. Slightly cheaper by by splitting the ticket at Meadowhall rather than Sheffield.
Advance Single tickests from Nottingham to Leeds are available online for £8.45 from National Express East Coast.

 

[1D53]

For anyone interested, the following have worked in today

158790 791 795 843 845 901 905 907

Not in that order obviously..

This service benefits in more ways then one, with the Liverpools not having to stop at Langley Mill as often, where normally quite a few get on, leaving more desperately needed vacant seats for up the line and for the first time in ages, the people of Dronfield have a regular service

Jack

902 also made it.

 

[glynn80]

All the service now needs are some cheap fare offers. Currently the cheapest offpeak return from Nottingham to Leeds is £26.50. A peak return is £33. This will not attract day leisure travellers for day visits and shopping etc. This high fare seems very unrealistic for this type of journey.

The journey can be done for approx £18 return by buying Day Returns from Nottingham to Sheffield and then Sheffield to Leeds. Slightly cheaper by by splitting the ticket at Meadowhall rather than Sheffield.
Advance Single tickests from Nottingham to Leeds are available online for £8.45 from National Express East Coast.

Surely for shopping people would go to either Nottingham which is known for having excellent shops or Meadowhall which is actually on the way to Leeds. I doubt anyone would travel for a day shopping trip to Leeds with very good shops in two closer locations.

 

[adamp]

How did the two car deal today?

-Adam

 

[Techniquest]

It looks weird to see a headboard on a 158!

Good to hear the service started reasonably well!

 

[1D53]

Quite well - the 30 min frequency reduced the overcrowding between Leeds - Sheffield, between Sheffield and Nottingham the service was fairly quiet - no problems.

My photos from the day are up now at http://jst.fotopic.net/c1625343.html

 

[Spaceflower]

The service to Langley Mill seems to have improved somewhat since I was there last in 1997. Remember having to wait a VERY long time for a train to Sheffield/Chesterfield. I suppose this makes Nottingham alot more accessible from the north by rail now, which always seemed to be lacking back in the day.

 

[Flyboy]

New service = Good

Naming a DMU = You've got to be kidding, what has the world come to? :roll:

Edit : OMG, I've just seen there's a long list of DMU names!

 

[Bayum]

So, how many sets are needed to actually make the service work?

I'm trying to work it out, but like is it:

1 x Leeds - Nottingham
1 x Nottingham - Leeds
and then the same hourly for two hours, so about 4 sets?

 

[LilLoaf]

Its good to see that they managed to have a 158's running back and forwards all day. The pic of the inside of the train is a little worrying as their isn't many people using the service but that will probably pick up in the next week or so.

Why is 158905 ? is it called trainbaby, always wanted to know why, i was on it a bit ago and i see nothing special.

Thats the very first blue xmas tree i've seen. Whats wrong with tradtional green and red.

Nice photo's JST.

 

[1D53]

So, how many sets are needed to actually make the service work?

I'm trying to work it out, but like is it:

1 x Leeds - Nottingham
1 x Nottingham - Leeds
and then the same hourly for two hours, so about 4 sets?

Leeds- Nottingham interworks with the existing Leeds - Sheffield express. It needs 7 units.

Typical pattern:
LDS - NOT
NOT - LDS
LDS - SHF
SHF - LDS
and it starts again.

 

[WillPS]

Its good to see that they managed to have a 158's running back and forwards all day. The pic of the inside of the train is a little worrying as their isn't many people using the service but that will probably pick up in the next week or so.

Why is 158905 ? is it called trainbaby, always wanted to know why, i was on it a bit ago and i see nothing special.

Thats the very first blue xmas tree i've seen. Whats wrong with tradtional green and red.

Nice photo's JST.

It's blue to match the Sheaf Square fountains and those pod/bench things:

 

[Bayum]

They look amazing

I always wondered what my grandma was talking about when she mentioned those !

 

[WillPS]

It's brilliant, shows people arriving in Sheffield exactly the nature of the city they're entering: modern and quick to adapt.

I love this place .