Airdrie-Bathgate service

[KBD1]

Thanks folks, for the correct pronunciation.

I can remember one time passing through Kirkcaldy & the presumably english, on train crew, calling stops in Fife. Kirkcaldy was definitely not pronounced correctly.
Thought this was a same slip of the tongue.

The newly constructed, although not finished, cycle path looks a bit of a rollercoaster.
Most likely try once completed.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

:? An RPI on the day of the station's opening told it was pronounced 'crew'... I'll take it as 'crux' though!

 

[Damien1986]

With 2tph from Edinburgh to Helensburgh Monday to Friday would you agree that it's only a matter of time before you have the additional 2tph from Edinburgh to Milngavie?

 

[me123]

I don't think it's too far off. We'll almost certainly see them year's out. But there's still a bit to go. You've got to get more 380s in service; we're seeing that just now. You've also got to get Motherwell trained on 320s (I don't know if this is happening) so that they can take over some Argyle duties.

As such, I don't think we'll see it in the May timetable change, but maybe not long after that. I really don't think there's any real rush; the traffic for the line is going to build up gradually over time.

 

[KBD1]

Hopefully they are going to be more regular, saves me going to the toon!

 

[chris89]

Went on the full line a few weeks ago. One thing that did suprise me was the lack of people at Armadale station. When i was on their on the friday (25th March) it was only Me, my other half & one other random person got off, on the sat no one off, and about 6 others on, and on sunday only us two off.

Im guessing that station will get busier when ever they build what is due to go in next to it?

Also how long would it take for the self service ticket machines at Waverly to actually be updated to let you buy tickets to Armadale? as at the present moment got to buy them on the train, which would be impossible if it was in the bays.

Chris

 

[Damien1986]

I heard on the scotrail.co.uk website that Motherwell drivers have started training on the class 320 units albiet out of Airdrie!

 

[rail-britain]

I heard on the scotrail.co.uk website that Motherwell drivers have started training on the class 320 units albiet out of Airdrie!

There are no details or news items on the ScotRail website for this
Equally, ScotRail are still advising me to contact Transport Scotland with regards to the Class 320 and 380 units!
I suspect this is due to them now receiving payments direct for this as compensation for the late delivery and operation of the Class 380 units, and the knock-on effect this is having
The last email I had advised training was due to be completed in 15 days, only to receive an advisory that it was suppose to read 15 weeks
That takes the training into July for services to commence from August (for both Class 320 and Class 380)

 

[MacCookie]

There are no details or news items on the ScotRail website for this

He meant scot-rail.co.uk - there was a message posted the other day stating that driver training on the 320s had begun.

Ewan

 

[me123]

Went on the full line a few weeks ago. One thing that did suprise me was the lack of people at Armadale station. When i was on their on the friday (25th March) it was only Me, my other half & one other random person got off, on the sat no one off, and about 6 others on, and on sunday only us two off.

The new stations are noticeably quieter than the existing stations, but that's to be expected. I've seen variable numbers of people using the service at stations. I always found Armadale to be one of the better ones TBH; quite a few people going through to Edinburgh. But things will probably improve as people start to use it more. Equally, it may be a few years before people start using it for rush hour commuting, but it will come.

I don't think the delayed opening did them any favours here, though. The new stations opened with neither pomp nor circumstance. Very quiet affairs indeed. And at first there was only one an hour, with a bus for the unopened stations. That's hardly a great advert for the new line. It's hardly been done in such a way to tempt people away from their cars.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The last email I had advised training was due to be completed in 15 days, only to receive an advisory that it was suppose to read 15 weeks
That takes the training into July for services to commence from August (for both Class 320 and Class 380)

15 weeks for everything to fall into place sounds promising. We'll cope with 2tph on A-B until August without a shadow of a doubt. That allows plenty of time for all the training to be completed, all the 380s to enter into service (barring any major mishaps)... that would all fit I think.

 

[rail-britain]

The new stations are noticeably quieter than the existing stations, but that's to be expected

At the moment the main issue is service reliability and frequency of service

There are several other issues that need to be overcome, but these are long-term
The first is getting people without cars, who normally use the bus to move to the train
The next is getting people with cars, who may also use the bus, to move to the train
The final group are those with cars, where it would be possible for them to move to the train
There will be many people in this group willing to match the change, but this will mean making changes and in extreme cases disposing of their car

Getting people to swap from car to train is extremely difficult, but once people see the cost savings this is likely to see an increase in passengers
Sadly it is not for everyone, and the usual argument is "convenience of the car"

 

[me123]

Getting people to swap from car to train is extremely difficult, but once people see the cost savings this is likely to see an increase in passengers
Sadly it is not for everyone, and the usual argument is "convenience of the car"

I think that argument will quite easily be blown out of the water. The new stations have far too much parking - the car parks at the moment are empty. Obviously, this is a good thing, as it will encourage people to drive to the station to catch the train. That will definitely help people who say, for example, "it's too long to walk to the station" or "I can't take the train if it's raining because my hair will get wet". When you combine this with the parking in Edinburgh and Glasgow, you've got a winning combination. I know what I'd rather do.

 

[Train Pilchard]

I take it the Milngavie trains on A-B will see the current Milngavie-High Street trains going MIlngavie-Edinburgh keeping it 4tph to MIlngavie or is it going to increase to 6tph to Milngavie at peak times?

 

[me123]

Nope, just 4tph to Milngavie. The current High Street terminators will be extended to Edinburgh. Indeed, this is what currently happens in the rush hours anyway (with the Milngavie services forming the Airdrie limited stop runs).

 

[Train Pilchard]

That makes more sense, it would be a struggle to manage 6 tph on the single track between Westerton and Bearsden I'd imagine.

 

[rail-britain]

I think that argument will quite easily be blown out of the water. The new stations have far too much parking - the car parks at the moment are empty

Croy car park many years ago was always virtually empty

Greenfaulds until recently was the same, however it is now up to about 25% on weekdays
I suspect many people have realised the fares from there are cheaper than Cumbernauld, plus almost the same as from Croy, which is ideal for those from the south east side of Cumbernauld and Greengairs

 

[me123]

I did go on to say that it was a good thing! I don't have a problem with too many parking spaces. If you don't have enough, you end up with the local side streets turning into a de facto car park; a situation that is too common up and down the country.

Having said that, I did hear someone on the train suggesting that they should move these unused parking spaces to Airdrie...

 

[Mex]

According to the National Rail Enquiries website, the Edinburgh - Milngavie limited stop services are due to start Monday 23rd May, bringing the line up to the promised 4tph.

It looks like Coatdyke and Blairhill are missed out though, here's an example journey from BGH to GLQ:

06:34 Bathgate [BHG] [to] Glasgow Queen Street [GLQ] 07:12 [0h 38m]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Calling points Arrives Departs
Drumgelloch [DRU] 06:46 06:46
Airdrie [ADR] 06:49 06:50
Coatbridge Sunnyside [CBS] 06:53 06:53
High Street (Glasgow) [HST] 07:09 07:10

 

[me123]

Ah, but they said that in the run up to the December timetable change! Given that it's not posted here, it would imply that they're not 100% sure about the services starting on that date, but I don't think it will be to long until we see them.

Coatdyke and Blairhill will see these extra trains in the rush hour to and from Glasgow, thus maintaining their current level of service. However, off peak, they'll pass right through non-stop. I say that, but in reality Eastbound services will probably stop at the signals before and after Blairhill, and Westbound services will be stopped at Bellgrove as they catch up with the stoppers...

 

[Damien1986]

Ah, but they said that in the run up to the December timetable change! Given that it's not posted here, it would imply that they're not 100% sure about the services starting on that date, but I don't think it will be to long until we see them.

Coatdyke and Blairhill will see these extra trains in the rush hour to and from Glasgow, thus maintaining their current level of service. However, off peak, they'll pass right through non-stop. I say that, but in reality Eastbound services will probably stop at the signals before and after Blairhill, and Westbound services will be stopped at Bellgrove as they catch up with the stoppers...

They might just start operating that day,after all considering that Scotrail has more class 380's in service we have seen the Monday to Friday Edinburgh to Helensburgh increase to 2 tph so we might just see the Edinburgh to Milngavie up and running!

 

[rail-britain]

ScotRail have already confirmed that the proposed North Clyde and A2B timetables will be implemented from the next timetable, no amendments will be required
Class 380 units will take over most, but not all, Ayr Line services

A contingency is in place for the North Berwick and Dunbar services, although I don't think passengers will be too happy until the Class 380 units take over some time around August

 

[Damien1986]

ScotRail have already confirmed that the proposed North Clyde and A2B timetables will be implemented from the next timetable, no amendments will be required
Class 380 units will take over most, but not all, Ayr Line services

A contingency is in place for the North Berwick and Dunbar services, although I don't think passengers will be too happy until the Class 380 units take over some time around August

What kind of contingency plan will Scotrail have? Will it be class 158 DMU'S,class 156 DMU'S,class 170 DMU'S or class 318 Emu's?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
So will that also mean we may see some class 320 units operating Argyle Line services as soon as the new timttable is up and running?

 

[rail-britain]

What kind of contingency plan will Scotrail have?

Transport Scotland have requested that I do not publish details until 14 May as they will be confirmed on the previous Friday (ie, the contingency is required)
With the Class 322 units being returned this leaves ScotRail short of six units (North Berwick and Dunbar services), is that enough of a clue?

So will that also mean we may see some class 320 units operating Argyle Line services as soon as the new timttable is up and running?

This is a separate issue from the very delayed introduction of Class 380 units
See previous posts

 

[CarterUSM]

Won't it leave us short of 5 units since that is the number of 322's?

 

[rail-britain]

Won't it leave us short of 5 units since that is the number of 322's?

Yes, plus the one unit that takes up the Dunbar services, and that is the issue which is going to result in this contigency put into place until September 2011
The issue ScotRail have is that cancelling these services would come under SQUIRE and so would result in fines being applied
This is not an issue on the former SPT routes, which are exempt

Therefore ScotRail and Transport Scotland have entered into an agreement to avoid these fines being applied during the contigency

 

[MadCommuter]

Buses??

 

[rail-britain]

Buses??

As above, can't comment until 14 May
Was there a contract for the buses on the Temporary Bus service between Airdrie and Bathgate? (or was it covered in the normal way as RRBS)

 

[MacCookie]

Yes, plus the one unit that takes up the Dunbar services, and that is the issue which is going to result in this contigency put into place until September 2011
The issue ScotRail have is that cancelling these services would come under SQUIRE and so would result in fines being applied
This is not an issue on the former SPT routes, which are exempt

Therefore ScotRail and Transport Scotland have entered into an agreement to avoid these fines being applied during the contigency

The EWD timetable for North Berwick and Dunbar is covered by four diagrams, including the additional services between Edinburgh and Glasgow and the additional Dunbar services.

And cancelling the services wouldn't come under SQUIRE. It's a different part of the franchise agreement.

Ewan
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Won't it leave us short of 5 units since that is the number of 322's?

You only actually need four units, depending on how you deal with having a spare. For example, you only need four 380s, with the spare unit coming out of the fleet as a whole.

 

[CarterUSM]

Yeah, I knew only 4 were diagrammed for work per day, but didn't understand how we are losing 6 units, there are only 5 of them!

 

[rail-britain]

The EWD timetable for North Berwick and Dunbar is covered by four diagrams, including the additional services between Edinburgh and Glasgow and the additional Dunbar services

Is this the current timetable or the May timetable?
TS have already confirmed to me there is extra requirements from May, one more unit than current to provide these revised services that (were planned to) commence from May