Services That Really Should Exist...

[Ivo]

I've said this before (I think), but Southend does need a better service. There is no point in a seaside resort (much less one with as much resort traffic as it) having only commuter services to London! However, I don't feel that sending trains (I would suggest dual-voltage 444s, which would obviously need pantographs fitted) down to Southampton would be the answer. The obvious one, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, would be a fast service through the Crossrail tunnel, but that is unrealistic unless four tracks are built (about as likely as Beeching becoming our best friend). Instead, I propose the following, using ideally dual-voltage 444s (but owing to speed constraints probably Voyagers):

• Southend Victoria
• Southend Airport
• Shenfield
• Stratford
  ----------------
• Brighton
• Haywards Heath
• Gatwick Airport
• East Croydon
• Kensington (Olympia)
  ----------------
• Watford Junction
  ----------------
  (Services merge at Watford Junction)
  ----------------
• Milton Keynes Central
• Rugby
• Coventry
• Birmingham International
• Birmingham New Street
• Wolverhampton
• Stafford
• Crewe
  ----------------
  (Services divide at Crewe)
  ----------------
• Runcorn
• Liverpool South Parkway
• Liverpool Lime Street
  ----------------
• Wilmslow
• Stockport
• Manchester Piccadilly

 

[Greenback]

Surely the only tourists that want to go to Southend are the cockneys?!!!

 

[Ivo]

Maybe, but half of supply and demand involves generating the demand in the first place. If a service exists people will be interested in it, and thus Southend will be more popular again. Ultimately, if it failed, just send it via Reading and curtail the Liverpool section as well - and then say "screw you" to DafT and XC

Besides, it's not as though no-one goes between Southend and Brighton (although this route would be horribly indirect!). There used to be a coach, numbered 795, to that effect.

 

[Mojo]

I'd love to see the return of overnight ''Nightrider'' or normal sleeper trains on the CrossCountry network, maybe from Plymouth to Edinburgh via the East Coast calling at the usual stations served by daytime trains. I suppose the demand for these now would be less than they were around 30 years ago due to the fact CrossCountry services are more frequent during the day, but still think overnight trains would be very handy!

 

[Bittern]

They still run Pendolinos to Edinburgh on summer Saturdays don't they?

But that's only the Birmingham services being a Pendo instead of a Voyager. Same difference.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The WAG EXPRESS REVAMPED

Holyhead
Bangor
Llanudno Junc
Rhyl
Chester
Crewe
Newport
Cardiff
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Scottish Express..

Glasgow/Edinburgh
via WCML
Carstairs ( join)
London Euston

once a day.each direction
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
London Euston - Barrow Upon Furness

Euston
Preston
Lancaster
Then all stops to Barrow ..

Assuming you were to change crews there; Carstairs-Euston would be one hell of a shift for the driver, how about:

As Before to Carstairs:

Lockerbie
Carlisle
Preston
Euston?

WAG Express: Good luck getting that through Flint without calling!

LAncaster to Barrow may be better just Carnforth, Grange, Ulveston, Barrow

 

[lm321412]

Crewe to Leeds via Stafford, Rugeley, Lichfield, Burton Upon Trent, Derby, Sheffield and Doncaster
Or Crewe, Stoke, Derby, Sheffield and Doncaster

Excuse me if its my bad knowledge here but, how would you get from Rugeley - Lichfield - Burton Upon Trent???

Being as LTV is high/low level, you probably would have to reverse at Birmingham New Street?, making the route extremely slow.

I would route this as:

Crewe
Wilmslow
Stockport
Sheffield
Meadowhall
Doncaster
Leeds
York
Scarborough (summer weekends)

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Excuse me if its my bad knowledge here but, how would you get from Rugeley - Lichfield - Burton Upon Trent???

Being as LTV is high/low level, you probably would have to reverse at Birmingham New Street?, making the route extremely slow.

I would route this as:

Crewe
Wilmslow
Stockport
Sheffield
Meadowhall
Doncaster
Leeds
York
Scarborough (summer weekends)

Through Rugeley TV keep on the ML, and over the ladder jn north of Lichfield TV station, avoid the station, onto a chord to the freight branch (beyong HL) to Burton. Probs easier to go Crewe-Stoke-Derby-Sheffield-Wfd W-Leeds

 

[lm321412]

Through Rugeley TV keep on the ML, and over the ladder jn north of Lichfield TV station, avoid the station, onto a chord to the freight branch (beyong HL) to Burton. Probs easier to go Crewe-Stoke-Derby-Sheffield-Wfd W-Leeds

Ah Funny enough the Rugeley - Lichfield bit is the section I have never actually been on!

 

[Greenback]

Maybe, but half of supply and demand involves generating the demand in the first place. If a service exists people will be interested in it, and thus Southend will be more popular again. Ultimately, if it failed, just send it via Reading and curtail the Liverpool section as well - and then say "screw you" to DafT and XC

Besides, it's not as though no-one goes between Southend and Brighton (although this route would be horribly indirect!). There used to be a coach, numbered 795, to that effect.

True enough, through services from elsewhere may influence more people to visit Southend.

Traditionally, industrial and urban areas have always had strong links with particular seaside resorts and areas. Barry Island was always popular with those in the Rhymney and Rhondda coalfields, Blackpool with the Lancs cotton towns, Skegness with the East Midlands, to name but a few examples. Southend was the perfect choice for East Londoners, Margate and the like were patronised by the Sarf of the river crowd.

Not sure there's enough of a flow between Brighton and Southend to warrant a through train though!

I'd love to see the return of overnight ''Nightrider'' or normal sleeper trains on the CrossCountry network, maybe from Plymouth to Edinburgh via the East Coast calling at the usual stations served by daytime trains. I suppose the demand for these now would be less than they were around 30 years ago due to the fact CrossCountry services are more frequent during the day, but still think overnight trains would be very handy!

Yes, I'd like to see some more night trains. We lost a lot of useful services with the demise of the overnight services that had a couple of coaches attached to a newspaper train.

 

[route:oxford]

But that's only the Birmingham services being a Pendo instead of a Voyager. Same difference.

Starts at Euston.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

True enough, through services from elsewhere may influence more people to visit Southend.

Traditionally, industrial and urban areas have always had strong links with particular seaside resorts and areas. Barry Island was always popular with those in the Rhymney and Rhondda coalfields, Blackpool with the Lancs cotton towns, Skegness with the East Midlands, to name but a few examples. Southend was the perfect choice for East Londoners, Margate and the like were patronised by the Sarf of the river crowd.

Not sure there's enough of a flow between Brighton and Southend to warrant a through train though!



Yes, I'd like to see some more night trains. We lost a lot of useful services with the demise of the overnight services that had a couple of coaches attached to a newspaper train.

Maybe not all usual daytime stops, but somthing like:

Penzance
St erth
Camborne
Redruth
Truro
St Austell
Par
Bodmin Parkway
Liskeard
Plymouth
Newton Abbot
Exeter St D
Taunton
Bristol Parkway
Cheltenham Spa (if available)
Birmingham New St
Derby
Sheffield
Leeds
York
Darlington
Newcastle
Edinburgh, maybe continue
Carstairs
Glasgow Central

The reasson I say this is because they may be locked from say 2330-0500 places like Chesterfield and Berwick-u-T, but this could work

 

[Greenback]

No Bristol TM call?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

For all concerned by the Bhm N St/Edinburgh Pendolino stuff, see this for summer only:

http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk/2010/07/thousands-more-seats-for-cumbria-and.html

This is strengthened services BHM-EDB for the summer. The trains EUS-BHM-PRE etc (the three a day or whatever) are Votagers.

The 2010 Glasgow-Crewe on a FRIDAY ONLY is worked by a Pendolino

Hope this helps all
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No Bristol TM call?

Me getting Bristol TM and Parkway mixed up. Actually stop at both

 

[Greenback]

That sounds more like it!

 

[Ivo]

The trains EUS-BHM-PRE etc (the three a day or whatever) are Votagers.

What's a "Votager"? I assume it's a better unit than a Voyager?

(sorry)

 

[MidnightFlyer]

On the subject of former services, why did InterCity services stop calling at Hartford?

How's this for a new service...? (Sleeper!):

Cardiff Central
Newport
Hereford
Shrewsbury
Crewe
Wilmslow
Stockport / Manchester Airport
Manchester Piccadilly
Bolton
Preston
Lancaster
Carlisle
Carstairs
Motherwell
Falkirk G
Stirling
Perth
Dundee
Arbroath
Aberdeen
Dyce
Elgin
Inverness (in time for the Far North early trains)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

What's a "Votager"? I assume it's a better unit than a Voyager?

(sorry)

Yeah... that's what you get when you type and don't look at the screen.

 

[route:oxford]

I'd love to see the return of overnight ''Nightrider'' or normal sleeper trains on the CrossCountry network, maybe from Plymouth to Edinburgh via the East Coast calling at the usual stations served by daytime trains. I suppose the demand for these now would be less than they were around 30 years ago due to the fact CrossCountry services are more frequent during the day, but still think overnight trains would be very handy!

Forget "Nightriders" - last service from Birmingham to Reading is 22.03!

Sort out a 23.03 & 00.03 service first - allow connections with post 4pm services from Scotland with confidence and at the same time allow people to enjoy dinner/theatre/post work drink in Birmingham.

 

[Ivo]

MattE2010: I'm sure the seven passengers would appreciate it very much!

It's the kind of service we would love... because no-one else would. It would make for an ideal overnight RailUK meet in my opinion! Just book the lounge car, ensure we have both male and female posters, and go!

(Again, sorry.)

 

[Greenback]

Yes, some of the last services on XC are ludicrously early. Reading to Brum used to be similarly early. I hated telling intending passnegers that the last train had gone at 2150 (or whatever it was in 2000!)

 

[Ivo]

When is the last Saturday train from Birmingham to Bristol again?

(I do know this.)

 

[MidnightFlyer]

MattE2010: I'm sure the seven passengers would appreciate it very much!

It's the kind of service we would love... because no-one else would. It would make for an ideal overnight RailUK meet in my opinion! Just book the lounge car, ensure we have both male and female posters, and go!

(Again, sorry.)

Are you talking about my super-cool new Sleeper service?

Wasn't doing it entirely for the massive need of Hereford-Arbroath passengers, saw it more ass a late-afternoon starting Sleeper, so that if you need to do Crewe-Perth, you don't end up there at 0330, more like 0000

 

[route:oxford]

On the subject of former services, why did InterCity services stop calling at Hartford?

How's this for a new service...? (Sleeper!):

Cardiff Central
Newport
Hereford
Shrewsbury
Crewe
Wilmslow
Stockport / Manchester Airport
Manchester Piccadilly
Bolton
Preston
Lancaster
Carlisle
Carstairs
Motherwell
Falkirk G
Stirling
Perth
Dundee
Arbroath
Aberdeen
Dyce
Elgin
Inverness (in time for the Far North early trains)

Best to drop F*****k G as it would require a reversal and add Cumbernauld, Larbert or Gleneagles Instead

 

[Ivo]

It's hardly a sleeper then is it? It's more like a day-night service

Get it started, and then we can stage a charity event where we all go from Cardiff to Inverness and back again without dozing off!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Best to drop F*****k G as it would require a reversal and add Cumbernauld, Larbert or Gleneagles Instead

Good point, me reading my Baker Atlas wrong . Larebert instead. Was intending 1800 about at Cardiff, 2145 Manc, 0000 at say Larbert, 0200 Aberdeen, break a bit, Inverness for 0530, and all off by 0800, then a return journey.

 

[route:oxford]

When is the last Saturday train from Birmingham to Bristol again?

(I do know this.)

21:12!

Hope the staff at New Street are able to recommend hotels to stuck passengers.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It's hardly a sleeper then is it? It's more like a day-night service

Get it started, and then we can stage a charity event where we all go from Cardiff to Inverness and back again without dozing off!

Read my above reply to routexford, bit of an early Sleeper. We could do the sleep-deprivation challenge, I'll bring along the Arriva MDs so you can tell them how much you love their company
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

21:12!

Hope the staff at New Street are able to recommend hotels to stuck passengers.

Along the actual New St the Holiday Inn isn't too bad. Good views over the city too... just saying, if any of us get stuck, we all know there's one somewhere

 

[Ivo]

To quote Scrappy Doo,

"Lemme at 'em!"

I still don't see why there is no 22:12 on Saturdays. Even the Sunday timetable includes that service.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

To quote Scrappy Doo,

"Lemme at 'em!"

I still don't see why there is no 22:12 on Saturdays. Even the Sunday timetable includes that service.

It's like that sometimes - maybe stock being used on Newquay trains.

 

[43106]

I'd like to see (I'm probably repeating ideas already mentioned)...
1) Cumbernauld, Coatbridge, Stirling and Perth with direct services to the WCML. They could extend as 2 seperate daily services to Inverness and Aberdeen (the latter via Dundee and NOT Edinburgh)
2) re-introduction of XC services to Brighton (3 a day), Portsmouth (3 a day) and Paddington (again, 3 a day)
3) passengerisation (pardon?) of the line from Wichnor Junction, via Lichfield and Brownhills to Walsall. This would give an alternative route in & out of Birmingham and stop reversing for Derby - Bristol/Oxford services.
4) Liverpool - Carlisle - Scotland services.
5) Liverpool - Birmingham - beyond, and (controversially)...
6) Stoke - Crewe - Hartford - Warrington - Earlestown - Newton-le-Willows - Wigan - Preston - Blackpool