Styal line used for short-notice Pendolino (Class 390) WCML diversions

[All Line Rover]

Owing to problems with the station lighting at Stockport this evening, the current West Coast Main Line long distance operator (Virgin Trains West Coast) has been using the Styal line to divert Manchester Pendolinos between Manchester and Wilmslow. Delays are almost non-existent. An impressive contingency plan which highlights the value of the 19:40 Euston to Manchester being timetabled to run via the Styal line (thus not calling at Stockport) for driver training purposes.

Does the dropping of Stockport as a call constitute a PPM failure? To do so would be harsh and artificial considering that the trains are otherwise running on time and only a small minority of passengers using these Pendolino services board or alight at Stockport. Better to drop Stockport than cause substantial delays for the remaining 90+ percent of passengers.

 

[Rail Ranger]

A lot more than "a small minority" of passengers board or alight from those services at Stockport.

 

[Mathew S]

According to Virgin & Northern, it's only Southbound services affected. Massive inconvenience for commuters travelling home from Manchester, but advice seems to be simply to travel to the next station and then back to Stockport on a northbound service.

 

[All Line Rover]

A lot more than "a small minority" of passengers board or alight from those services at Stockport.

If you're referring exclusively to the Pendolino services as I am, I beg to differ.

 

[Chester1]

If you're referring exclusively to the Pendolino services as I am, I beg to differ.

Plenty of people from Stockport commuting to Manchester use Virgin Trains services for their return journey. In the mornings the low frequency of northbound services makes them less popular. Using the Styal line is a useful contingency but todays problems will inconvenience a large number of people.

 

[Mag_seven]

Plenty of people from Stockport commuting to Manchester use Virgin Trains services for their return journey. In the mornings the low frequency of northbound services makes them less popular. Using the Styal line is a useful contingency but todays problems will inconvenience a large number of people.

Que a "Reading Commuter" style argument about passengers travelling from Manchester to London unable to get a seat because of "Stockport commuters".

 

[Chester1]

Que a "Reading Commuter" style argument about passengers travelling from Manchester to London unable to get a seat because of "Stockport commuters".

Its not an issue in the mornings because there are no northbound VT services from Stockport between 6:37 and 8:17 and London to Manchester passengers will already have a seat. The VT peak time pricing means that the issue you raise rarely happens, its definitely a problem with the EMT, TPE and CrossCountry services though.

 

[Signal Head]

Cue a "Reading Commuter" style argument about passengers travelling from Manchester to London unable to get a seat because of "Stockport commuters".

Until the London service went to 3tph, there were more local services through Stockport. 1tph was cut from the Buxton line services (may have been a Hazel Grove service) around the time the Virgin services increased, to create paths. Prior to this, I think some of the Londons were PU/SD only , as appropriate, at Stockport, a restriction which suddenly disappeared when they went to 3 tph.
I've often wondered if this was the quid pro quo pushed on VT for the loss of the local service.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Owing to problems with the station lighting at Stockport this evening, the current West Coast Main Line long distance operator (Virgin Trains West Coast) has been using the Styal line to divert Manchester Pendolinos between Manchester and Wilmslow. Delays are almost non-existent. An impressive contingency plan which highlights the value of the 19:40 Euston to Manchester being timetabled to run via the Styal line (thus not calling at Stockport) for driver training purposes.

Does the dropping of Stockport as a call constitute a PPM failure? To do so would be harsh and artificial considering that the trains are otherwise running on time and only a small minority of passengers using these Pendolino services board or alight at Stockport. Better to drop Stockport than cause substantial delays for the remaining 90+ percent of passengers.

As a regular Pendolino 'connector' at Stockport from either the Buxton line or (at certain times) the Hope Valley I can confirm that the stops are both important and well-used. The Chester line is another important connectional route. Doubling back from Manchester can easily mean an hour or even two-hour delay to final destination.

I am not clear why, for a station lighting failure, trains could not just 'non-stop'. What happens if there is no diversionary route? E.g. Lighting failure at Watford Junction. Does the West Coast Main Line have to stop?

Anyway, I can also confirm that any 'missed call' triggers a PPM failure. It is a fundamental part of the definition of the measure.

 

[northwichcat]

I am not clear why, for a station lighting failure, trains could not just 'non-stop'. What happens if there is no diversionary route? E.g. Lighting failure at Watford Junction. Does the West Coast Main Line have to stop?

It seems Northern services are running non-stop through Stockport, so I'm not sure why Virgin had to divert.

 

[northwichcat]

but advice seems to be simply to travel to the next station and then back to Stockport on a northbound service.

Better advice would to be travel on a service towards Hazel Grove/Cheadle Hulme so that you aren't diverting too much and can get a return service without waiting too long. Alternatively walk from Heaton Chapel.

 

[Chester1]

As a regular Pendolino 'connector' at Stockport from either the Buxton line or (at certain times) the Hope Valley I can confirm that the stops are both important and well-used. The Chester line is another important connectional route. Doubling back from Manchester can easily mean an hour or even two-hour delay to final destination.

I am not clear why, for a station lighting failure, trains could not just 'non-stop'. What happens if there is no diversionary route? E.g. Lighting failure at Watford Junction. Does the West Coast Main Line have to stop?

Anyway, I can also confirm that any 'missed call' triggers a PPM failure. It is a fundamental part of the definition of the measure.

I have just done the journey. I think its a near complete power failure. Platforms 3 and 4 are opperational but the subway is lit by emergency lamps. The ticket gates, timetable screens and doors have no power. I think some are running southbound without stopping but VT have diverted to reduce the congestion from the initial failure.

 

[The Planner]

Delays are almost non-existent. An impressive contingency plan which highlights the value of the 19:40 Euston to Manchester being timetabled to run via the Styal line (thus not calling at Stockport) for driver training purposes.

So it should, there are contingency plans for the vast majority of disruption scenarios on every piece of line stating what gets diverted where, what gets SSOs, what drops stops and what gets cancelled.

 

[yorksrob]

It just goes to show the value of having secondary/diversionary routes available for when there are difficulties on the main line.

 

[Silver Cobra]

Manchester Evenings News reports on the story

I spotted a mistake in this article:

“Virgin Trains customers may use Great Northern, Transpennine Express, East Midlands Trains, Crosscountry and Arriva Wales via any reasonable route until further notice.”

I would assume they actually meant (Arriva Rail) Northern, since Great Northern wouldn't help too much here.

 

[RJ21]

I ended up going to Macclesfield with VT and back with XC, only 60 minutes later at Stockport than I should have been. South bound XC were putting in extra calls at Macclesfield for the normally express services but did not do the same with the north bound express and due to flighting on that route it meant an extended wait.

 

[northwichcat]

I spotted a mistake in this article:



I would assume they actually meant (Arriva Rail) Northern, since Great Northern wouldn't help too much here.

Perhaps they meant if you see a great train operated by Northern you can use it but if you see a rubbish one you can't.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Perhaps they meant if you see a great train operated by Northern you can use it but if you see a rubbish one you can't.

A great train operated by Northern? Good luck with that!

 

[tsr]

Failure of station lighting (or general domestic power) doesn't usually mean trains are diverted away from the problem. The main reason for that to happen is that if there's a significant lighting failure on the platform, trains are not generally allowed to move from the platform when there are still passengers anywhere nearby. The busier the station or time of day, the harder it is to make sure the platform is clear. As long as it isn't clear, trains will be stood, and delayed.

If said delayed trains are in the way of other services, it may be the most practical option for some trains not to call, and if they could be diverted as part of that - it could be considered.

Services can technically pass through non-stop, but if there's a significant risk that passengers could not find their way around and therefore become too close to the platform edge, there's also a chance they may need to be "cautioned" through the station, so they can stop short of anyone in a precarious position.