Examples of unusual calling patterns amongst regular services

[swt_passenger]

Though that one's easily explained as it's during the peak. It's more of a mystery as to why an extra service at Woolston and St Denys is needed at around 2200!

They are stations sometimes used for turnrounds during engineering work. Perhaps it’s some kind of familiarisation?

 

[Starmill]

There are two services in the morning peak on weekdays from Coleraine to Belfast Great Victoria Street which call at Whiteabbey, and two in the evening from Belfast Lanyon Place to Coleraine which do the same. They don't run at weekends and no other services on the Derry-Londonderry line call there, it's served only by trains on the Larne line.

 

[RichJF]

Early morning 05:32 London Victoria to Ore calls additionally at Purley, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords & Horley. Only direct train you can catch from Redhill to places like Lewes, Bexhill & Hastings.

All other London to East Coastway trains run via the Quarry Lines from Croydon to Gatwick non-stop.

Another one is the weekday 0550 Victoria to Ashford service. Only Southeastern service to serve Wandsworth Road & Clapham High Street throughout the whole day.

 

[infobleep]

If one is desperate to travel from Haywards Heath to Portsmouth and Southsea but just can't bear the thought of changing trains, there is the 22:02 on a Sunday evening. It saves you just under 30 minutes on the journey time too.

If you want to return on a direct train though you're out of luck.

 

[infobleep]

If want to travel on a direct train from Wanborough to Gatwick Airport then your Tuesday to Sunday 0:12 will do the job.

In the other direction you have a choice of the 05:00 or the 20:00 on Monday to Fridays. On Saturdays one has 05:24 and 22:16.

That 22:16 also stops at Betchworth, as does the 22:00 Monday to Friday service.

There is also an 08:23 and 23:50 from Betchworth to Gatwick Airport.

 

[Ken H]

Ardwick has a petty weird service. Just a few stop there in the peaks. Including an 1802 Picc to Huddersfield

 

[TVLUser]

Up on the TVL, there are plenty of examples of some unusual skip stops, especially during the weekday morning peak.

• 2N07 from Hartlepool skips both Wylam and Corbridge (08:16 arrival at Hexham) - I reckon the turnaround at Hexham to form 2N14 at 08:25 may have something to do with it. This does however provide Riding Mill with a non-stop service to Hexham. 1N53 adds Corbridge to the usual fast calling pattern east of Hexham (MCE, PRU) to compensate. However, Wylam ultimately is left with a large gap in westbound service during the morning peak.

• 2N14 also skips Wylam. However, this stop is picked up by the Prudhoe starter a few minutes behind, so is understandable.

• The Hexham terminators during the day also skip Dunston Eastbound, but Westbound services to Hexham call.

• Many of our Newcastle - Carlisle trains now alternate their calls west of Hexham, meaning that direct travel from, for example, Bardon Mill to Brampton is difficult during the off-peak.

 

[infobleep]

One can still get from Oxford to Gatwick on a direct train but you must leave at 4am on a Saturday.

It also the only Didcot Parkway service to some stations on the North Downs Line. So Didcot to Dorking is possible.

No such return working though.

 

[Kieran1990]

18:46 Waterloo- Ports Hbr first stop West Byfleet- only direct train West Byfleet gets that gets pax south of Guildford on the direct.

 

[pompeyfan]

Another odd one is the 1845 from Waterloo, first stop West Byfleet but slips Worplesdon.

18:46 Waterloo- Ports Hbr first stop West Byfleet- only direct train West Byfleet gets that gets pax south of Guildford on the direct.

Already mentioned...

 

[infobleep]

Just remembed that the 19:56 Guildford to Southampton, on Mondays to Fridays, is the only train to go to Southampton from Guildford.

By travelling without changes, you get to enjoy a longer journey than if you changed at Havant! Up to 32 minutes longer!

No such working the other way but there is a direct train from Fareham. This leaves 16:44, Mondays to Fridays. Unlike Guildford to Fareham direct, this train is faster than changing. 20 minutes faster.

 

[infobleep]

Anyone fancy going from Redhill to Battersea Park without the effort of changing trains? You can do so. It will need to be on the Saturday only service though. Departs 05:14 in the morning. One for the early birds or the all night outers.

If that's too early for you, always the 06:05 to Ore. That departs Monday to Friday.

If your looking to go to Purley Oaks, that would be the 05:39, again Mondays to Fridays.

Radlett on the other hand has services 7 days a week from Redhill. Just the once a day 0:53 though.

 

[Wirewiper]

On London Overground, there are two MF trains that start from Battersea Park instead of Clapham Junction (06.33 and 23.03 to Dalston Junction) and one MF train that terminates at Battersea Park instead of Clapham Junction (22.04 ex-Dalston Junction, arrives 22.47). These are to retain drivers' route knowledge as trains can be diverted to Battersea Park in an emergency, or during engineering work.

 

[jfisher21]

I am not sure why the first few Horsham thameslink trains stop at Norwood junction, then the stop changes to the Gatwick terminating service.

 

[route101]

Someone mentioned a Kilmarnock to East Kilbride service thats marked on the PIS

 

[palmersears]

1949 Piccadilly to Sheffield is slightly odd. All the usual calls, but then fast from Chinley until Dore. Seen it catch a few people out, particularly on a Friday.

 

[Highlandspring]

1A79 1627 Edinburgh Waverley- Aberdeen, first stop Cupar. All other Edinburgh to Aberdeen flyers are right away Leuchars.

 

[Glenn1969]

1C56 1512 York to Barrow in Furness via Leeds, Calder Valley and Copy Pit. No return working unless I am mistaken

 

[ValleyLines142]

1L20, 1G60, 1G70 and 1U28 all go through Reading non-stop!
1L20 is the only morning Up service which passes Reading, has a usually clear non-stop run from Swindon to Paddington, but was delayed this morning by 1P15’s crossover from the URL to the DM.
1G60/70 go non-stop to Didcot Parkway, whereas 1U28 goes non-stop to Swindon!

Line speed through Reading is 85/HST95, but that’s only because it’s a major station; line is built for 125mph iirc.

Personally I think all/most GWR West of England/South Wales services should be first stop Swindon/Didcot or pick up only from Reading out of Paddington, the number of times I've seen people struggling to get on trains at Paddington who are going as far as Bristol is just ridiculous when 70-80% of them are only going to Reading. A bit of a cheek when they've got those shiny new 387s shuttling back and forth the Thames Valley.

 

[Ken H]

1C56 1512 York to Barrow in Furness via Leeds, Calder Valley and Copy Pit. No return working unless I am mistaken

Old one this. It was the days of modernisation DMUs, so probably 1970's or 1980's There was an early morning Carnforth -York via Preston, Man Vic, & Leeds. Cant remember if via Halifax or huddersfield.
Did they stable DMU at Carnforth then?
Why did I chuck out my NRTT's?

 

[VT 390]

Personally I think all/most GWR West of England/South Wales services should be first stop Swindon/Didcot or pick up only from Reading out of Paddington, the number of times I've seen people struggling to get on trains at Paddington who are going as far as Bristol is just ridiculous when 70-80% of them are only going to Reading. A bit of a cheek when they've got those shiny new 387s shuttling back and forth the Thames Valley.

But the 387 services are a lot slower than the longer distance services. I do agree that passengers to Reading should not get the longer distance trains though but I think the way to do it would be to introduce a new fast service to Reading using 387's running at least every half an hour, though I don't know how this would fit in with the present timetable. At the moment though it may be possible to reduce Reading passengers by having a cheaper fare available on the stopping services.

 

[Wirewiper]

The proposed (and currently postponed) new GWR timetable will feature more trains that non-stop Reading. It is not desirable to cut the Reading stop out of too many services though as it is such a strategic interchange.

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

A bit of a cheek when they've got those shiny new 387s shuttling back and forth the Thames Valley.

There are 387s in the peaks that do fast PAD-RDG or PAD-SLO etc (1Pxx, 1Dxx)

 

[southern442]

There are 387s in the peaks that do fast PAD-RDG or PAD-SLO etc (1Pxx, 1Dxx)

One can hope that when (if?) the Elizabeth Line is up and running, decent chunks of those people will just stay on those trains instead of transferring to the faster ones because it's a bit easier. (especially if you miraculously get a seat)

 

[VT 390]

One can hope that when (if?) the Elizabeth Line is up and running, decent chunks of those people will just stay on those trains instead of transferring to the faster ones because it's a bit easier. (especially if you miraculously get a seat)

Also by the time you have walked from the Elizabeth Line platforms to the main Paddington station there should not be that much difference in overall journey time.

 

[Kite159]

One can hope that when (if?) the Elizabeth Line is up and running, decent chunks of those people will just stay on those trains instead of transferring to the faster ones because it's a bit easier. (especially if you miraculously get a seat)

Yes I'm sure folk heading to Reading from stations within the Crossrail core will hang around for the half hourly Crossrail stopper so they don't have to change at Paddington...

...After all what is an extra 30 minutes+ to folk, on a metro spec 345 with no luggage racks or toilets.

Will it be the same folk heading to Shenfield deciding not to change at Liverpool Street for a GA fast service?

 

[BobSmith833]

Some years ago the last train of the day from Swindon to Gloucester via the Stroud valley line did not stop at any of the intermediate stops (Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse). I got on it by mistake once, trying to get to Stroud, and ended up sailing through where I wanted to be and having to walk the 10 miles back from Gloucester to Stroud at midnight.

 

[southern442]

Yes I'm sure folk heading to Reading from stations within the Crossrail core will hang around for the half hourly Crossrail stopper so they don't have to change at Paddington...

...After all what is an extra 30 minutes+ to folk, on a metro spec 345 with no luggage racks or toilets.

Will it be the same folk heading to Shenfield deciding not to change at Liverpool Street for a GA fast service?

Point taken, however;

• Whilst there will only be 2tph to Reading, I'm sure some people will time their commute accordingly to get these trains rather than just take any train to Paddington and change for a fast. I'm saying some not all, but it would be a great deal cheaper and more convenient and there will definitely be people who do it.
• Secondly there will be loads of trains to Shenfield in the peak, so staying on a Liz train instead of changing is far, far more likely on this end.

 

[Kite159]

Point taken, however;

• Whilst there will only be 2tph to Reading, I'm sure some people will time their commute accordingly to get these trains rather than just take any train to Paddington and change for a fast. I'm saying some not all, but it would be a great deal cheaper and more convenient and there will definitely be people who do it.
• Secondly there will be loads of trains to Shenfield in the peak, so staying on a Liz train instead of changing is far, far more likely on this end.

Assuming there will be a cost saving. But an hour+ on a hard seat (assuming you get one), with luggage on your crossed legs (after all no luggage racks so you can put a coat/small bag, nor any toilets) compared to changing at Paddington.

The commuters will change at Paddington for the next available fast service, no doubt when the metro-spec 345s roll into Reading the numbers on board who have travelled from Paddington will be minimal.

 

[VT 390]

Assuming there will be a cost saving. But an hour+ on a hard seat (assuming you get one), with luggage on your crossed legs (after all no luggage racks so you can put a coat/small bag, nor any toilets) compared to changing at Paddington.

The commuters will change at Paddington for the next available fast service, no doubt when the metro-spec 345s roll into Reading the numbers on board who have travelled from Paddington will be minimal.

I have travelled on both a class 800 and 345 and I thought that the seats on the 345 were actually slightly more comfortable than the 800 seats which have no padding at all, especially the original grey seats in them.