Dumfries Sunday Services (lack of)

[trainophile]

Wondering why the first train in any direction from Dumfries on a Sunday is the 1300 to Carlisle, the first towards Glasgow being 1351.

I know other places are less well served but Dumfries is not that isolated a place, and quite a decent sized town, population nearly 50K in 2011 (census).

I will be on the 1300 today, will be interesting to see if it’s rammed.

 

[PHILIPE]

We have had this debate before and one of the main reasons is the cost of signal box opening

 

[Llandudno]

Wondering why the first train in any direction from Dumfries on a Sunday is the 1300 to Carlisle, the first towards Glasgow being 1351.

I know other places are less well served but Dumfries is not that isolated a place, and quite a decent sized town, population nearly 50K in 2011 (census).

I will be on the 1300 today, will be interesting to see if it’s rammed.

Probably won’t be that many boarding at Dumfries, as it is too late to go anywhere and come back the same day!

Only any use for people on ‘period’ returns.

Rubbish service in this day and age though!

 

[trainophile]

We have had this debate before and one of the main reasons is the cost of signal box opening

Sorry, I did do a titles only search on this board but it didn’t come up.

I just checked and found out that it starts from here, so I should be okay for a seat! Better wander down to the station,Just enjoying sitting in the sunshine in the town centre.

 

[trainophile]

It’s pretty full but not impossible. Just Gretna Green to go, that should fill the remaining few scattered about seats.

 

[PHILIPE]

We had a thread referring to a location named after the poster of #Post 3 who only have a Summer service on Sundays

 

[156478]

The best irony is the Farmers Market is held in the Dumfries station car park on selected Sundays and you can’t get to it from anywhere north of Dumfries by train. As the first train from Glasgow gets in at 1700 and the market finishes at 1500.....

 

[trainophile]

Some sort of Scottish cup final in Glasgow today apparently. Dumfriesians would have had to drive or take a bus if they were going to it.

 

[Bovverboy]

Scotrail certainly believes in generous turnaround times - 1h34m to 1h48m at Carlisle, on a Sunday, on what's basically a two-hourly service!

 

[Al Pal]

Some sort of Scottish cup final in Glasgow today apparently. Dumfriesians would have had to drive or take a bus if they were going to it.

Dumfriesians = Doonhamer
Although on topic. Train service is horrendous on a Sunday. Stagy X74 has a right decent service for a Sunday, although not helpful if you want to travel south.

 

[splashoutradio]

We have had this debate before and one of the main reasons is the cost of signal box opening

Not sure how much the data can be relied upon, but according to Network Rail's Compendium of Signal Box Opening Times, Carlisle and Dumfries signal boxes are open continuously, however New Cumnock box only opens at noon. If this is correct (and I must admit i'm not that familiar with the lines operations,) would there be anything preventing an earlier service between Dumfries & Carlisle?

 

[hexagon789]

Not sure how much the data can be relied upon, but according to Network Rail's Compendium of Signal Box Opening Times, Carlisle and Dumfries signal boxes are open continuously, however New Cumnock box only opens at noon. If this is correct (and I must admit i'm not that familiar with the lines operations,) would there be anything preventing an earlier service between Dumfries & Carlisle?

I imagine it depends on what switching the box out does to the ability to operate trains.

Assuming New Cumnock can be switched out of course.

 

[Bovverboy]

Not sure how much the data can be relied upon, but according to Network Rail's Compendium of Signal Box Opening Times, Carlisle and Dumfries signal boxes are open continuously, however New Cumnock box only opens at noon. If this is correct (and I must admit i'm not that familiar with the lines operations,) would there be anything preventing an earlier service between Dumfries & Carlisle?

I imagine it depends on what switching the box out does to the ability to operate trains.

Assuming New Cumnock can be switched out of course.

I suspect that 'hexagon789' has misread the post from 'splashoutradio', as indeed I did myself initially. New Cumnock is nowhere near either Dumfries or Carlisle, therefore the facility or lack of to switch out the New Cumnock box isn't going to have relevance for operating trains between the latter two points.
As to whether an earlier service between those points could be provided, there are probably several considerations. For instance, if Dumfries and Annan are staffed stations (which I presume they are) then staff may need to be in attendance whenever trains are running.
However, going by what 'trainophile' said in post #5, it would seem that an earlier starting service would be justified.

 

[hexagon789]

I suspect that 'hexagon789' has misread the post from 'splashoutradio', as indeed I did myself initially. New Cumnock is nowhere near either Dumfries or Carlisle, therefore the facility or lack of to switch out the New Cumnock box isn't going to have relevance for operating trains between the latter two points.
As to whether an earlier service between those points could be provided, there are probably several considerations. For instance, if Dumfries and Annan are staffed stations (which I presume they are) then staff may need to be in attendance whenever trains are running.
However, going by what 'trainophile' said in post #5, it would seem that an earlier starting service would be justified.

I was thinking New Cumnock would have relevance for trains from/to Dumfries from/to Glasgow.