FTPE Services north of York

[TrainBrain185]

How disappointing it is that FTPE is not operating north of York during the current weather, when other ops continue. :roll:

 

[mathmo]

That would seem sensible to me - there are ample opportunities to change onto other services at York and it hopefully allows TPE to run a more reliable service.

 

[attics26]

How disappointing it is that FTPE is not operating north of York during the current weather, when other ops continue. :roll:

one of the best decisions made this winter - tpe can concentrate on other routes whilst other operators can cover stops (yes I know not 100%) and less congestion if things go wrong anywhere on the route.

 

[yorkie]

sounds sensible providing XC/EC cover stops. a 185 doesn't hold many compared to a rake of Mk 4s and just causes congestion at times of disruption. whoever organised this showed common sense that was prevailant pre-Privatisation but is so often lacking these days.

 

[TrainBrain185]

one of the best decisions made this winter - tpe can concentrate on other routes whilst other operators can cover stops (yes I know not 100%) and less congestion if things go wrong anywhere on the route.

Really? Good job the other TOC's did not have the same idea, hence nothing would be running.
I can only applaud Northern's services operating from the Heaton Depot over the passed two days keeping as close to normal services as they could where I live providing frozen, but working 142 Pacer's....(yes, those machines many on this forum love to criticise) down the ECML first thing in the morning to keep Durham/Tees services operating, which many people appreciated.
As for FTPE....a let down.

 

[yorkie]

I doubt TPE decided this, I bet it's come from higher up. I'm sure it's happened before too. If TPE did decide this they'd be paying loads of compensation payments, I doubt that's happening.

 

[TrainBrain185]

I doubt TPE decided this, I bet it's come from higher up. I'm sure it's happened before too. If TPE did decide this they'd be paying loads of compensation payments, I doubt that's happening.

Quite so, however, with various XC diagrams out of Newcastle cancelled along with the cancelled by whosoever FTPE diagrams heading southbound, it did not bode well if East Coast Trains hit problems.

 

[devon_metro]

It is probably part of Network Rail's plan to keep the railways as problem free as possible. If TPEX terminate at York the service is more robust and there are less (potential) delays.

 

[Ivo]

If TPE are/were terminating at York, is/was there no service to Scarborough (presumably besides the two-hourly run to Hull) then?

 

[Bellwater]

Isn't this down to their unit shortage earlier in the week?

 

[tbtc]

There are five trains most hours from York to Newcastle, which is too many. Scrapping the shortest slowest service as a reaction to the weather seems very sensible, and allows TPE to concentrate their tiny DMUs where they need the capacity (e.g. on the Trans-Pennine part).

Middlesbrough is another story, as there's no other equivalent service

 

[MCR247]

Isn't this down to their unit shortage earlier in the week?

Yes

 

[Saltleyman]

Really? Good job the other TOC's did not have the same idea, hence nothing would be running.
I can only applaud Northern's services operating from the Heaton Depot over the passed two days keeping as close to normal services as they could where I live providing frozen, but working 142 Pacer's....(yes, those machines many on this forum love to criticise) down the ECML first thing in the morning to keep Durham/Tees services operating, which many people appreciated.
As for FTPE....a let down.

It really was a "no brainer" decision

 

[bluenoxid]

Really? Good job the other TOC's did not have the same idea, hence nothing would be running.
I can only applaud Northern's services operating from the Heaton Depot over the passed two days keeping as close to normal services as they could where I live providing frozen, but working 142 Pacer's....(yes, those machines many on this forum love to criticise) down the ECML first thing in the morning to keep Durham/Tees services operating, which many people appreciated.
As for FTPE....a let down.

Really? Aren't you lucky. The people north of the River Tyne have just been screwed over instead of you. Thankfully, the buses haven't been too badly affected by the snow.

Heaton are doing a good job of keeping it going but TPE are not the only ones making cuts. Northern is too (and it's not just Newcastle, the 323's have been falling down all over the place out of Manchester).

 

[TTI]

.....TPE are not the only ones making cuts. Northern is too.......the 323's have been falling down all over the place out of Manchester).

On the day 185138 was declared a total failure at Beattock, blocking the WCML for 5 hours!, TPE had 13 Class 185s out of traffic.

The 323s have suffered tremendous problems with the freezing temperatures affecting sanders/compressors meaning that they cannot be brought into service from a depot. Alstom have hired oxy-blow torches to "dry out" the sand in the sand boxes apparently, but others have failed with compressor/convertor faults. At one point only four were in service.

Back to TPE and 185s: I wonder if TPE can learn from this. Oh wait, didn't they "learn" all this in the snow last Winter. Hmmm. Golden Spanner Award removed, please

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

To get to Middlesbrough isn't too hard, just get the GC's to Eaglescliffe and change to the Saltburn Northern trains. Although, it is quite inconvenient.

 

[brompton rail]

Isn't the main reason why TPE are not running north of York because of the signalling problems at Northallerton. XC turned many of their trains around at York because they were late coming from Birmingham, or instead they just cancelled the services anyway. The Guildford - Newcastle seems to have missed most days this last week.

Last Wednesday - travelled on 09-00 Newcastle to Kings Cross, from York to Doncaster. It left York about 70 late (due to Northallerton) and was then delayed by points failure at Hambleton junction. Eventual arrival in Doncaster at 12.28 (booked 10.30). Train crew said these sorts of delays had happened each day last week. Not complaining .. warm HST, very few passengers plus tasty toasted bacon sandwich and a cuppa. Thats what train travel is about!

 

[dk1]

Does make lots of sense to simply concentrate on your 'core' network where fewer operators cover. The bread & butter is in the title. With so many units out of traffic, they have to catch up on maintainence. On the subject of thinning the service out during disruption or route problems if NR say jump the TOCs shout 'how high' & agree.

 

[driver9000]

TPE have also been cancelling the Glasgow Central services while they deal with having 13 class 185s out of service and a couple of 170s too. They arent coping too well in the cold weather with compressors (one per 185) getting clogged with snow and ice stopping them working.

 

[Failed Unit]

Who is covering Chester-Le-Street? XC?

This is a sensiable choice of routes to cut, at least other operators cover York - Newcastle frequently.

I see east Coast is stopping at Morpeth more to cover for Northern, but Northallerton doesn't seem to be getting extra stops. Poor passengers heading north,

 

[Bellwater]

Does make lots of sense to simply concentrate on your 'core' network where fewer operators cover.

TPE have been doing that for a while, replacing 185s on the South Transpennine Route(and sometimes Hull Route) with 170s so they can stick them on the Scottish Routes and York-Manc.

 

[HaxbyFur]

I live in Haxby, on the line where they are supposed to go, the 2 level crossings *automatic* in our village both broke.. they were frozen down and were so for several hours, even when fixed looking down the tracks as you were crossing there was a lot of hardened slush and snow covering the tracks.