XC on the Hallam Line

[Iskra]

A voyager just passed through Meadowhall P4 Northbound heading for Edinburgh via Barnsley. Was this planned? Is it for engineering work or route knowledge retention?

Edit: just had an XC HST pass Southwards too near Elsecar.

Realtime Trains | 1S37 0903 Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh | 23/10/2022

Real-time train running information for 1S37 0903 departure from Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh on 23/10/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Whistler40145]

A voyager just passed through Meadowhall P4 Northbound heading for Edinburgh via Barnsley. Was this planned? Is it for engineering work or route knowledge retention?

Edit: just had an XC HST pass Southwards too near Elsecar.

Realtime Trains | 1S37 0903 Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh | 23/10/2022

Real-time train running information for 1S37 0903 departure from Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh on 23/10/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Leeds to Doncaster line is shut for engineering work, Kings Cross services are diverted via Hambleton West and Hambleton South Junctions

 

[Iskra]

Leeds to Doncaster line is shut for engineering work, Kings Cross services are diverted via Hambleton West and Hambleton South Junctions

Thank you

 

[Whistler40145]

Thank you

XC are also running Replacement Bus service Leeds to Wakefield Westgate and return

 

[Mugby]

I had a nice ride down the Barnsley branch this morning on the 0807 (normally 0811) Leeds to Plymouth HST.

 

[Iskra]

I had a nice ride down the Barnsley branch this morning on the 0807 (normally 0811) Leeds to Plymouth HST.

Yes, I quite agree that would be good and would like to do it, sadly the times didn’t work out yesterday for me to do it on the way home.

Does anyone know where I can find out when the next such diverts will be?

 

[mm333]

XC are also running Replacement Bus service Leeds to Wakefield Westgate and return

It's a shame they can't call at Wakefield Kirkgate in lieu of Westgate as they're passing through. I remember boarding a Virgin CrossCountry service there once when such diversions were happening.

If the blockade was between Wakefield and Doncaster, Virgin XC once (it may have be more) called at Westgate, used the curve to get to Kirkgate and then reversed to head off through Barnsley.

 

[Whistler40145]

It's a shame they can't call at Wakefield Kirkgate in lieu of Westgate as they're passing through. I remember boarding a Virgin CrossCountry service there once when such diversions were happening.

If the blockade was between Wakefield and Doncaster, Virgin XC once (it may have be more) called at Westgate, used the curve to get to Kirkgate and then reversed to head off through Barnsley.

It's quite a tight curve on the connection between Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate

 

[Mugby]

It's quite a tight curve on the connection between Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate

It is but it has been used by HSTs on the odd occasion.

Some years ago, I got a Midland Mainline (as was) HST service from Derby to Leeds one Saturday evening, it was diverted via Barnsley and stopped at Kirkgate before reversing up to Westgate.
I remember the Conductor announcing he would release the doors at Kirkgate for anyone who wished to alight, if it was more convenient for them than Westgate.

 

[endofthetunnel]

This topic was discussed last time the diversions happened, but in brief -

This weekend’s blockade included the single line between Kirkgate and Westgate, but XC stock and most drivers do sign and use the Westgate curve frequently - there are daily movements for access to/from Crofton depot.

The diversionary route involving reversing at Kirkgate when diverting between Leeds/Barnsley/Sheffield is a common occurrence for Northern services but for XC the issue is platform length and availability at Kirkgate. A double voyager set cannot stop or reverse at Kirkgate platforms in service as they are too long, and the platforms are not officially signed for passenger stops by XC even if the train happens to be a single 4 or 5 car.

Finally Kirkgate is normally unstaffed and not the best for passenger comfort so it tends to be easier and better to just pass through Kirkgate, making up some of the lost running time, and use RRBs to Leeds for the Westgate passengers.

As always, there are exceptions to everything.

 

[Iskra]

This topic was discussed last time the diversions happened, but in brief -

This weekend’s blockade included the single line between Kirkgate and Westgate, but XC stock and most drivers do sign and use the Westgate curve frequently - there are daily movements for access to/from Crofton depot.

The diversionary route involving reversing at Kirkgate when diverting between Leeds/Barnsley/Sheffield is a common occurrence for Northern services but for XC the issue is platform length and availability at Kirkgate. A double voyager set cannot stop or reverse at Kirkgate platforms in service as they are too long, and the platforms are not officially signed for passenger stops by XC even if the train happens to be a single 4 or 5 car.

Finally Kirkgate is normally unstaffed and not the best for passenger comfort so it tends to be easier and better to just pass through Kirkgate, making up some of the lost running time, and use RRBs to Leeds for the Westgate passengers.

As always, there are exceptions to everything.

Thank you very much for the detailed observation. Do you know when the next occurrence of HST’s on the Hallam line will be please, or how to find out?