Could EMR provide additional Crewe-Derby capacity duing Hope Valley route closure?

[kevconnor]

This is probably well within the remit of crayonista for many reasons. However, when the Hope Valley line blockades come in, for the EMR services, is there any possibility of using the stock, not in use on hope valley, to beef up the Derby to Stoke line. This could be advertised as a diversionary route for those travelling from the east midlands to the north-west (or visa versa).

 

[8stewartt]

This is probably well within the remit of crayonista for many reasons. However, when the Hope Valley line blockades come in, for the EMR services, is there any possibility of using the stock, not in use on hope valley, to beef up the Derby to Stoke line. This could be advertised as a diversionary route for those travelling from the east midlands to the north-west (or visa versa).

EMR don’t sign Kidsgrove to Stockport but if there was some joined up thinking, they could run a fast service derby to picc or lime street calling Stoke Stockport Picc Lime Street with a route conductor?

 

[Starmill]

EMR don’t sign Kidsgrove to Stockport but if there was some joined up thinking, they could run a fast service derby to picc or lime street calling Stoke Stockport Picc Lime Street with a route conductor?

To be fair, now that these trains run through from Nottingham it's pretty feasible to just change at Stoke-on-Trent for Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly and change at Crewe for Liverpool South Parkway and Liverpool Lime Street. The only disadvantage is that there's still a circuit missing from the North Staffordshire services.

 

[kevconnor]

EMR don’t sign Kidsgrove to Stockport but if there was some joined up thinking, they could run a fast service derby to picc or lime street calling Stoke Stockport Picc Lime Street with a route conductor?

Apologies I probably wasn't clear about what I was suggesting. I know from when I lived in Derby, If I had a Derby - Manc ticket it was valid via both Sheffield or Stoke. Assuming there hasn't been any changes in routings for services from East Midlands to North West then this would still remain a valid route for non-TOC specific tickets. I am just aware also that the Derby-Stoke line often suffers overcrowding owing to only getting a single-car 153. I was wondering if this could be improved with stock not in use on days there is a blockade and advertised as a valid diversionary route.

To be fair, now that these trains run through from Nottingham it's pretty feasible to just change at Stoke-on-Trent for Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly and change at Crewe for Liverpool South Parkway and Liverpool Lime Street. The only disadvantage is that there's still a circuit missing from the North Staffordshire services.

This is what I had in mind, but just aware of if capacity and stock movements would allow this.

 

[Starmill]

This is what I had in mind, but just aware of if capacity and stock movements would allow this.

If there's no EMR service at all between Sheffield and Liverpool the released units can probably be redeployed for strengthening. The North Staffordshire line can take four cars. It may be overkill however given lots of people will choose the bus, usually an express bus from Chesterfield runs, and there's usually a TransPennine Express service too. EMR don't use single car trains any longer on any routes so that's a big bonus.

 

[edwin_m]

This is probably well within the remit of crayonista for many reasons. However, when the Hope Valley line blockades come in, for the EMR services, is there any possibility of using the stock, not in use on hope valley, to beef up the Derby to Stoke line. This could be advertised as a diversionary route for those travelling from the east midlands to the north-west (or visa versa).

Didn't they lengthen the Derby-Crewe trains when the Hope Valley was shut for the damburst a few years ago?

 

[Killingworth]

What will happen to the freight out of the Derbyshire quarries during blockades ?

Blockades are at weekends to minimise freight disruption. Although there are quite a lot of paths scheduled at weekends about 20-25 would normally be the maximum likely to run during a a typical weekend over the 54 hour blockade periods. Using westbound routes for urgent loads and adjusting timings forward and back for the rest should be relatively easy.

There may be a blockade of up to 8 days about May 2023 if I've interpreted the planning correctly. That's to connect all the points and signalling before it can all be commissioned. That will be more difficult.