An idea for Summer, to help attract passengers

[Sad Sprinter]

Perhaps add some decent non HS1 SouthEastern fast services at least.

 

[Ianno87]

Perhaps add some decent non HS1 SouthEastern fast services at least.

Better to add HS1 services if that'll be more popular, as they're much faster to the coast.

 

[Aictos]

Better to add HS1 services if that'll be more popular, as they're much faster to the coast.

Better also make sure the extras are 12 cars too and try to persuade the Great British Public to use them.

 

[HST43257]

Better to add HS1 services if that'll be more popular, as they're much faster to the coast.

You’ve probably got some extra capacity due to the extent of how minimal Eurostar services are so this is probably fairly easy.

 

[yorksrob]

Better to add HS1 services if that'll be more popular, as they're much faster to the coast.

If you used some capacity on the classic routes, you could pick up some South Londoners at places such as Bromley and Orpington.

And you wouldn't have the HS1 premium fare putting people off.

 

[Ianno87]

If you used some capacity on the classic routes, you could pick up some South Londoners at places such as Bromley and Orpington.

And you wouldn't have the HS1 premium fare putting people off.

Based on last summer, the fare on HS1 did anything but put people off.

 

[yorksrob]

Based on last summer, the fare on HS1 did anything but put people off.

You'd bring in even more people if you had an option without it. Plus who in South London want's to traipse all the way up to St Pancreas ?

 

[Energy]

For people to be impressed by the railway they don't want a heritage train, the want a modern, clean train which comes on time, isn't overcrowded and has reasonable fairs.

 

[Class465pacer]

I can already see a traffic jam of 387s and 700s if one of these "specials" steps foot on the BML

 

[JonathanH]

I can already see a traffic jam of 387s and 700s if one of these "specials" steps foot on the BML

There are occasional "specials" on the BML which seem to run without issue - Railway Touring Company have often run a trip to Eastbourne in late November and I think some of the other operators have also gone there. None advertised at the moment though and best kept for occasional operation to keep them novel.

 

[HST43257]

I do wonder if there’s any scope for extra SN services using GX paths, then continuing towards Brighton or the Coastway. They’d effectively operating as open access, in the way that the regularly timetabled services would be prioritised, and these would just fit in.

 

[zwk500]

I do wonder if there’s any scope for extra SN services using GX paths, then continuing towards Brighton or the Coastway. They’d effectively operating as open access, in the way that the regularly timetabled services would be prioritised, and these would just fit in.

Extension of Gatwick Express is being looked at (and has been talked about for 10+ years). Peak-time already do (did pre-COVID).

 

[yorksrob]

Extension of Gatwick Express is being looked at (and has been talked about for 10+ years). Peak-time already do (did pre-COVID).

I thought that was two an hour throughout the day. I remember getting a 442 on it.

 

[zwk500]

I thought that was two an hour throughout the day. I remember getting a 442 on it.

Might well be tbf, I get lost with what gets proposed and what actually operates now that I very rarely use the line as a passenger.

 

[yorksrob]

Might well be tbf, I get lost with what gets proposed and what actually operates now that I very rarely use the line as a passenger.

Makes sense to me anyway, as Gatwick is less of a premium airport than in the past. Good, frequent connections across the South are more valuable than a dedicated premium fare shuttle nowadays.

 

[Bald Rick]

As I said upthread, GTR already make provision for short notice specials London - Brighton and return on summer days when the sun comes out and people want their day at the beach. Typically at weekends and when there is a major event on at Brighton. They did it several times last year.

 

[jon0844]

You'd bring in even more people if you had an option without it. Plus who in South London want's to traipse all the way up to St Pancreas ?

I think it's fair to say that some people will want the cheapest possible ticket, hence why some people use coaches despite the extra journey time. But let's not pretend that rail is only used by struggling families.

There will be plenty of people who can afford the HS1 premium to travel faster, and possibly on a less crowded service precisely because of that premium. No different to why people pay for first class.

If you want to spend a day in Margate and arrive early to get a place on the beach, HS1 might be well worth it to get the most out of the day (every second counts).

 

[DustyBin]

In relation to yesterday's announcement about the easing of lockdown in time for Summer and the hope of 'a great Summer' and with most tourism this year going to be taking place within our shores, would you like to see this one-off idea come to fruition and do you think it will serve its purpose in attracting the majority of pre-pandemic passengers back to the railway?

Basically an addition to the May timetable of a 'seaside special' train, one per day each way and serving most or all seaside resort towns, plus perhaps also some non-coastal tourist hotspots (ie. Devon, Norfolk Broads, Settle and Carlisle)? The train would leave wherever around 9-10am and then make the return from the seaside at 5-6pm and would run at the same time every day, 7 days a week from the May timetable change through to 31st August. It would not be timetabled or priced as a charter train, but just in the normal timetable with the standard fare applying. Reservations however would be compulsory to prevent overcrowding. To help impress passengers and help win them over, each train would be formed of mk1 or 2 coaching stock and with either a steam loco or an early heritage diesel loco pulling (so class 31/40/42/50/52/55). This of course means it won't be sustainable long term, but just for 3 months and with the full timetable not likely to be reinstated until Autumn or December, I feel it could work and with a major advertising campaign it might just be what the railway needs; to bring a bit of romance back to travelling by train and making it convenient for day trippers and people going on holiday to the seaside this Summer, before foreign holidays likely take off again next year. This would impress many and might just persuade them to start travelling by train regularly again, having been put off during the pandemic.

In terms of numbers, perhaps up to 40-50 sets of 6-7 coaches plus the loco should be enough to cover most routes.

Some direct routes run by the specials:

London Victoria to Brighton
Manchester Victoria to Southport
Liverpool to Blackpool North
Manchester Piccadilly to Scarborough
Sheffield to Carlisle via Clitheroe and Ribblehead
Sheffield to Bridlington
Derby to Skegness
Crewe to Llandudno
Newcastle to Cleethorpes
Edinburgh to Wick
London Liverpool Street to Great Yarmouth
London Paddington to Penzance
Birmingham New Street to Newquay
London Paddington to Weston Super Mare
London Euston to Windermere

How about converting some surplus MK3 EMU’s into mobile bars/nightclubs? I’d be well up for rattling along the ECML at 100mph on a 321, the inherent ride quality combined with some decent tunes and a few drinks would lead to a frolicsome journey I’m sure! To trial the concept I’d start with a Kings Cross to Newcastle return service, departing Saturday evening at 7pm and arriving into Newcastle for 11pm which would give people time to visit a bar or two before heading to a proper club. If the return service departed at say 5am Sunday morning it should easily get into Kings Cross for 9am giving people the opportunity to purchase a McDonald’s breakfast before the menu changes over. The more I think about this the more I think it could prove hugely successful!

If the 321 has been converted to run on hydrogen we could call it the Bacardi Breezer! (I’ll get my coat).

 

[jon0844]

How about converting some surplus MK3 EMU’s into mobile bars/nightclubs? I’d be well up for rattling along the ECML at 100mph on a 321, the inherent ride quality combined with some decent tunes and a few drinks would lead to a frolicsome journey I’m sure! To trial the concept I’d start with a Kings Cross to Newcastle return service, departing Saturday evening at 7pm and arriving into Newcastle for 11pm which would give people time to visit a bar or two before heading to a proper club. If the return service departed at say 5am Sunday morning it should easily get into Kings Cross for 9am giving people the opportunity to purchase a McDonald’s breakfast before the menu changes over. The more I think about this the more I think it could prove hugely successful!

If the 321 has been converted to run on hydrogen we could call it the Bacardi Breezer! (I’ll get my coat).

That's possibly the most ridiculous suggestion on here yet, but you mention a bar and opportunities for Maccy D so count me in.

Can we get this done by June 21st?

 

[telstarbox]

It's been done before on Intercity:

https://twitter.com/locationsphotos/status/1150818722350882818

 

[yorksrob]

I think it's fair to say that some people will want the cheapest possible ticket, hence why some people use coaches despite the extra journey time. But let's not pretend that rail is only used by struggling families.

There will be plenty of people who can afford the HS1 premium to travel faster, and possibly on a less crowded service precisely because of that premium. No different to why people pay for first class.

If you want to spend a day in Margate and arrive early to get a place on the beach, HS1 might be well worth it to get the most out of the day (every second counts).

There will indeed be. And HS1 will be there for them.

But there will also be plenty of people who want to jump on the train at Waterloo or Orpington for a bargain day out at Margate/Folkestone.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

You'd bring in even more people if you had an option without it. Plus who in South London want's to traipse all the way up to St Pancreas ?

As a South West Londoner I can concur. Much nicer to walk around the corner on the concourse at Victoria to the "exotic" side.