Trivia: services which only call at unmanned stations

[IanXC]

This seems a rare scenario, but I have been wondering how many services are timetabled (ie excluding disruption) to operate from, to and through only unmanned stations?

For the avoidance of doubt I'm not looking for part time manned stations, and the origin station, all of the calling points, and the destination station must be totally unmanned locations.

The only example I have so far come across is Northern's Knottingley to Wakefield Kirkgate service.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Would you categorise the Docklands Light Railway as 'unstaffed'?

(Yes, I appreciate that stations such as Stratford and Woolwich Arsenal have staff in other parts of the stations.)

 

[berneyarms]

Would you categorise the Docklands Light Railway as 'unstaffed'?

(Yes, I appreciate that stations such as Stratford and Woolwich Arsenal have staff in other parts of the stations.)

London City Airport has a booking office, so no!

 

[Deafdoggie]

Ellesmere Port- Helsby. Again it is a Northern Train.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Ellesmere Port- Helsby. Again it is a Northern Train.

Isn't Ellesmere Port staffed? Mainly for Merseyrail Electrics services, of course.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Isn't Ellesmere Port staffed?

It was a Saturday when I was last there, so no! But I hadn't realised there were actually till staff there Mon-Fri. My bad!

 

[berneyarms]

06:50 and 19:08 Fishguard Harbour to Clarbeston Road

07:20 and 20:05 Clarbeston Road to Fishguard Harbour.

 

[Merseysider]

What about the branch lines darn sarf? I'm not overly familiar with the Devon/Cornwall area so I can't say for certain, but it did cross my mind as a possibility.

 

[berneyarms]

What about the branch lines darn sarf? I'm not overly familiar with the Devon/Cornwall area so I can't say for certain, but it did cross my mind as a possibility.

All of the junction stations in Devon/Cornwall are staffed and there aren't any short workings.

 

[TEW]

All of the junction stations in Devon/Cornwall are staffed and there aren't any short workings.

There are short workings in the Summer. 3 Weekday trains on the St Ives branch turn around at Lelant Saltings rather than St Erth, but the stations on the St Ives line are staffed in the Summer.

 

[bramling]

What about the branch lines darn sarf? I'm not overly familiar with the Devon/Cornwall area so I can't say for certain, but it did cross my mind as a possibility.

Thinking of Devon and Cornwall, both Barnstaple and Exmouth are manned so that rules those branches out, whilst further west Plymouth, Liskeard, Par, Truro and St Earth are also all manned so that rules out all of those too. Fowey could have been in with a shout it only it was still open and served by a shuttle from Lostwithiel!

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I would have thought Barton to Cleethorpes, but both Grimsby and Cleethorpes are staffed.

I wouldn't be too suprised if the Wakefield to Knottingley service is the only one that calls at stations that are unstaffed.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

All stations Watford North to St Albans Abbey

 

[Bletchleyite]

All stations Watford North to St Albans Abbey

But the origin (WFJ) is staffed.

I think this is most probably a very unusual scenario. Most branch line junction stations are staffed even if no other station on the branch is. And all the Scottish "middle of nowhere" services have the terminus at least part-time staffed (I think).

 

[61653 HTAFC]

When the Open was held at Royal Lytham, the Blackpool South service was split part way along in order to boost capacity. The "coastal" end of this service would have qualified, though I don't recall where the split took place.

The Wakey to Knottingley is the only one where the situation is the rule rather than the exception. Even then, in the future it will regularly run through to Westgate (rather than just earlies and lates which do so today) and then onwards to Leeds.

 

[43094]

Isn't Wakey K partially staffed now?

 

[Clansman]

This would be far easier if at least the origin or destination can be staffed. I'd be surprised if such a journey exists, where there are no staffed stations en route.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Isn't Wakey K partially staffed now?

Not officially. Regularly "Mobile" RPIs with ticket machines though, like several other "unstaffed" stations in West Yorkshire such as Batley and Mirfield.

 

[berneyarms]

This would be far easier if at least the origin or destination can be staffed. I'd be surprised if such a journey exists, where there are no staffed stations en route.

I've already listed one as has the OP.

 

[Elecman]

When the Open was held at Royal Lytham, the Blackpool South service was split part way along in order to boost capacity. The "coastal" end of this service would have qualified, though I don't recall where the split took place.

The split took place at Ansdell with temporary stop blocks fitted in the middle of the platform, but it was manned for the duration of the golf so sadly won't qualify.

 

[A Challenge]

06:50 and 19:08 Fishguard Harbour to Clarbeston Road

07:20 and 20:05 Clarbeston Road to Fishguard Harbour.

Got any idea why these run, they seem a bit odd, I'm guessing the two pairs run with the same unit?

 

[Chris M]

Would you categorise the Docklands Light Railway as 'unstaffed'?

(Yes, I appreciate that stations such as Stratford and Woolwich Arsenal have staff in other parts of the stations.)

London City Airport has a booking office, so no!

Most DLR stations are officially unstaffed, but Bank, Island Gardens, Cutty Sark, and Woolwich Arsenal are subsurface stations for fire legislation purposes so must be staffed when open. Additionally, there are London Underground staff at Canning Town, West Ham and Stratford so these are also not unstaffed stations.
London City Airport has a part-time ticket office (I think the hours approximately correlate with the airport) so counts as staffed for this thread.

Also, while officially unstaffed, there are almost always staff at Canary Wharf and Poplar (even if most of the latter are just en route to or from other parts of the network or waiting to take over a train). There are also sometimes staff at Custom House and/or Prince Regent on ExCeL major event days, but as any normally unstaffed station can be staffed when required for special events I think these can be treated as unstaffed for the purposes of this thread. If we do count these as unstaffed stations, then the longest possible DLR services solely calling at unstaffed stations would be Royal Victoria to Beckton and Tower Gateway to East India or Mudchute. All these journeys are possible but none are run in normal service.

The closest the DLR comes to the OP's requirements is Tower Gateway to Beckton which calls only at only one officially staffed station (Canning Town).

 

[Dr Hoo]

Another thought for the OP. Does "manned"/staffed imply paid employees or contractors?

Many preserved/miniature lines proudly have signs and leaflets explaining that they are "run entirely by volunteers". On that basis many formally unstaffed locations on the national network actually often have Community Rail Partnerships, Friend of ABC Station or station adopters 'hanging around' and generally providing a welcome presence.

 

[greatkingrat]

Got any idea why these run, they seem a bit odd, I'm guessing the two pairs run with the same unit?

They connect at Clarbeston Road into a train from Milford Haven, so it allows an extra journey opportunity to be provided from Fishguard, while only using one unit.

 

[fairysdad]

Another thought for the OP. Does "manned"/staffed imply paid employees or contractors?

Or even non-customer facing staff? For instance, if we disregarded Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple, the North Devon Line could count, except that the signalbox at Crediton is manned. And I'm sure there are other locations like this, but this is just one I know of!

 

[hassaanhc]

Most DLR stations are officially unstaffed, but Bank, Island Gardens, Cutty Sark, and Woolwich Arsenal are subsurface stations for fire legislation purposes so must be staffed when open. Additionally, there are London Underground staff at Canning Town, West Ham and Stratford so these are also not unstaffed stations.
London City Airport has a part-time ticket office (I think the hours approximately correlate with the airport) so counts as staffed for this thread.

Also, while officially unstaffed, there are almost always staff at Canary Wharf and Poplar (even if most of the latter are just en route to or from other parts of the network or waiting to take over a train). There are also sometimes staff at Custom House and/or Prince Regent on ExCeL major event days, but as any normally unstaffed station can be staffed when required for special events I think these can be treated as unstaffed for the purposes of this thread. If we do count these as unstaffed stations, then the longest possible DLR services solely calling at unstaffed stations would be Royal Victoria to Beckton and Tower Gateway to East India or Mudchute. All these journeys are possible but none are run in normal service.

The closest the DLR comes to the OP's requirements is Tower Gateway to Beckton which calls only at only one officially staffed station (Canning Town).

Tower Gateway has an information desk within the station, although I'm not sure if it is DLR staff in charge of it.
Canary Wharf also has an information window on one of the island platforms (although the last time I passed there, a notice said that it is now closed and staff will be found within the station…)

 

[woody505]

There must be some staff at kirgate even if its just to look after the first class lounge?

 

[IanXC]

In terms of what does it mean to be staffed, I was thinking of Franchise Employees working from a permanent location.

There must be some staff at kirgate even if its just to look after the first class lounge?

It appears to be looked after by a station retailer rather than a TOC employee.

 

[Starmill]

If you were to include the DLR, you'd need to include almost every light rail service in the country.

 

[glbotu]

If you were to include the DLR, you'd need to include almost every light rail service in the country.

Well, you couldn't include the T&W Metro; Central Station, Gateshead, Manors, St James, Monument and Haymarket are all staffed. I think Piccadilly on Metrolink is staffed, I think Nottingham Railway Station on the NET is staffed. The Supertram would count. The Beckenham Junction to Croydon loop of Tramlink service counts.

As for metro services down South, they all tend to be staffed at one end (which is usually a major London Terminus) or have connections with the London Overground, where all stations are staffed. Bromley North branch might count? I know SE don't staff most of their stations most of the day.