Services That Really Should Exist...

[tbtc]

Yeah, there were some right odd services before VHF: there was one about 1030 on weekdays ex-Manc Picc that called at something like: Stockport, Macc, Stoke, Stafford, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Rugby, Northampton, Keynes and Watford. it was overtook by three other Manc trains during the journey

Given that the Manchester service was hourly before VHF, that'd have to be very very slow to be overtaken by three

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Given that the Manchester service was hourly before VHF, that'd have to be very very slow to be overtaken by three

Half-hourly, my friend , as was Bhm

 

[Scousefandan]

Yep, there were! I do like the fact they removed all the intermediate stops between Warrington-London, an annoyance for those left without a direct London service, such as Tamworth, but ghreat for me, when I want to go back to London from Wigan every now and again

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Yep, there were! I do like the fact they removed all the intermediate stops between Warrington-London, an annoyance for those left without a direct London service, such as Tamworth, but ghreat for me, when I want to go back to London from Wigan every now and again

And if you need to do say, Wigan NW to Milton Keynes or Watford, you have to jump a horrid Voyager to Bhm now

 

[Scousefandan]

Having been brought up in the South East, where over 90% of the network is electrified, it was a bit of a shock to come to the North West, where it seems they have been neglected massively in terms of infrastructure and rolling stock....Class 142 Pacers, anyone? You wouldn't get one of those working a commuter route into London Brige, so why is it acceptable for Manchester Piccadilly, which is just as busy traffic wise, if not more so, and has a similar number of platforms?

 

[Geezertronic]

Yeah, there were some right odd services before VHF

Am I right in saying that when the Trent Valley was being redone, a lot (if not all) services went via Birmingham?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Am I right in saying that when the Trent Valley was being redone, a lot (if not all) services went via Birmingham?

At weekends, stuff was terminated at Cov or New St, or just ran to Crewe (like the Holyheads), during weekdays, random trains went via the West Midlands Dunno why

 

[Scousefandan]

Some were, yes

 

[Geezertronic]

I guess there were few paths through there during the Trent Valley work, I am sure there were some Glasgow Pendos go via Birmingham but can't quite remember

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I guess there were few paths through there during the Trent Valley work, I am sure there were some Glasgow Pendos go via Birmingham but can't quite remember

Weekdays or weekends? I would have thought that would have stayed to the TVML during the week - to stay in competition with air etc

 

[Geezertronic]

Weekdays or weekends? I would have thought that would have stayed to the TVML during the week - to stay in competition with air etc

I can't honestly remember how the TV work affected WCML services... if someone could refresh my memory that would be great

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I can't honestly remember how the TV work affected WCML services... if someone could refresh my memory that would be great

Weekends and holidays (ie Chrimbo and easter) mostly, standard weekdays very rarely

 

[87015]

Weekends and holidays (ie Chrimbo and easter) mostly, standard weekdays very rarely

Apart from the months and months of blockades or restricted (slower) workings in various places?

 

[ChrisTheRef]

This Friday will be the first time in two years where VHF will be a hinderance and not a help. Warrington to Rugby, oh the joys!

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

I would run a service from Hartlepool - Darlington aside from the current Sunday-only service.

It would run every two hours, calling at all intermediate stations - Hartlepool, Seaton Carew, Billingham, Stockton, Eaglescliffe, Allens West, Durham Tees Valley Airport (TEESSIDE)* & Darlington

* = Finally gives the airport a regular service.

 

[12CSVT]

Yeovil Junction to Yeovil Pen Mill

 

[GingerSte]

I'm just wondering, did the cross country route ever go down to Weymouth or Poole, perhaps from Bristol through Bath, Yeovil, Dorchester, etc? Would there be scope to include this as an extra terminus for the North East to South West trains?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'm just wondering, did the cross country route ever go down to Weymouth or Poole, perhaps from Bristol through Bath, Yeovil, Dorchester, etc? Would there be scope to include this as an extra terminus for the North East to South West trains?

XC used to extend to Poole from Bournemotuh.

Also was Blackpool, Swansea, Portsmouth via Haslemere, Solihull, Brighton, Paddington via Slough, Swindon to birmingham via Gloucester, Manchester Airport, Liverpool and St Helens

 

[anthony263]

Coulnt a flyover be built on the west side of airport junction to allow trains from the Reading direction acess to Heathrow Airport.

If crossrail were to run to Reading couldn't the current Oxford - Didcot Parkway- reading - London Paddington stopping services run to Heathrow instead as i am not sure based on the current proposals for crossrail that there would be many paths into Paddington.

Passengers boarding at the local stations on the route wanting to travel to London Paddington can change at Didcot for high speed services or at Reading for crossrail or high speed services.

 

[Damien1986]

I would introduce a Scotrail service between Motherwell and Carlisle that would call at Shieldmuir,Wishaw,Carluke,Carstairs,Lockerbie and Carlisle.It would be an hourly service with the first departure at 4.55am and the last departure at 10.55pm(the 9.55pm and 10.55pm extend to Manchester Airport). It would be operated by a class 158/170 dmu conveying first class accommodation and a catering service on all departures with seat reservations available.
This would be a excellent enterprise providing new journey opportunities from North/South Lanarkshire to North West England as well as making up for the present lack of trains from Motherwell to Carlisle.

 

[CarterUSM]

I would introduce a Scotrail service between Motherwell and Carlisle that would call at Shieldmuir,Wishaw,Carluke,Carstairs,Lockerbie and Carlisle.It would be an hourly service with the first departure at 4.55am and the last departure at 10.55pm(the 9.55pm and 10.55pm extend to Manchester Airport). It would be operated by a class 158/170 dmu conveying first class accommodation and a catering service on all departures with seat reservations available.
This would be a excellent enterprise providing new journey opportunities from North/South Lanrkshire to North West England as well as making up for the present lack of trains from Motherwell to Carlisle.

Interesting service. Would you not think it would be better to run it as an EMU to take advantage of the wires? Do you also consider there to be a demand for it in the first place?

 

[route101]

you could start that service back at stirling . a glasgow and edinburgh avoiding service .

 

[CarterUSM]

you could start that service back at stirling . a glasgow and edinburgh avoiding service .

That sounds better, better stick a 170 on it then.

 

[route101]

yeah a 170 with a decent first class offering . Or tpe with 185s ( cant see where the extra 185s will come from tho)

 

[LE Greys]

yeah a 170 with a decent first class offering . Or tpe with 185s ( cant see where the extra 185s will come from tho)

Maybe use the ex-Hull units. I've always wanted them to put on a buffet car service over the Highland in the summer, but if they want to compete with Virgin and TPX, the extra first class seating would help.

 

[imagination]

Penzance - Wick non stop. Sundays only. One direction each Sunday, then back again the next.

Advertise it like mad and make it clear that the service wouldn't be running for very long.

Would be guaranteed to be successful due to all the people going on it for the novelty value and to be able to have something to tell their grandchildren some day.

Now to work out the best route to take to minimise disruption...

 

[LE Greys]

Penzance - Wick non stop. Sundays only. One direction each Sunday, then back again the next.

Advertise it like mad and make it clear that the service wouldn't be running for very long.

Would be guaranteed to be successful due to all the people going on it for the novelty value and to be able to have something to tell their grandchildren some day.

Now to work out the best route to take to minimise disruption...

Run it with MkIs, and share duties between Western Champion and Royal Scots Grey. You'd make a very tidy profit out of that.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It'd be one hell of a shift for the driver...

 

[me123]

That sounds better, better stick a 170 on it then.

Aye, and then you can upgrade to EMU operation if/when the wires go up to Stirling. That would be a hugely beneficial operation for Motherwell, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld and Stirling.

That said, improving the Virgin Trains service at Motherwell would be a good thing as well. I know it adds to the journey time slightly, but it would undoubtedly be popular, especially as East Coast won't be serving the station any more.

 

[TGV]

Penzance - Wick non stop. Sundays only. One direction each Sunday, then back again the next.

Advertise it like mad and make it clear that the service wouldn't be running for very long.

Would be guaranteed to be successful due to all the people going on it for the novelty value and to be able to have something to tell their grandchildren some day.

Now to work out the best route to take to minimise disruption...

Glasgow Central to Marseille non stop on a North of London Eurostar. Scotland to the Med! Again, just a one off for the hell of it.