(Trivia) Examples of splits and joins

[yorkie]

If anyone has any examples of services that split and/or join (do any services do both?), please post them in this thread.

Here are some to get started:

Some services between London Bridge and Caterham/Tattenham Corner:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W37323/2025-03-19/detail

Some services between London Victoria and Bognor/Eastbourne:

Realtime Trains | 1H92 2216 London Victoria to Bognor Regis and Eastbourne | 19/03/2025

Real-time train running information for 1H92 2216 departure from London Victoria to Bognor Regis and Eastbourne on 19/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Some services between Glasgow Queen Street and Oban/Fort William:

Realtime Trains | 1Y21 0822 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig | 15/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 1Y21 0822 departure from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig on 15/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thanks in advance.

 

[A S Leib]

The Caledonian Sleeper (both Highlander – the last one in the UK to split in three in public service, whilst I'm guessing you're not looking for splits outside passenger use? – and Lowlander).

 

[yorkie]

The Caledonian Sleeper (both Highlander – the last one in the UK to split in three in public service, whilst I'm guessing you're not looking for splits outside passenger use? – and Lowlander).

Anything that appears in the data as a split/join of a passenger service is useful to know about!

For example, this one has caused problems with journey planners:

Realtime Trains | 2121 Cumbernauld to Dalmuir | 27/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 2121 departure from Cumbernauld to Dalmuir on 27/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

(link and image show a train erroneously "splitting" at Dalmuir; it should be a termination of a passenger service; the stock then devices, with one portion being ECS and the other forming an entirely new service, but it is wrong in the data, which has caused all sorts of problems for journey planners)

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Southeastern’s Ramsgate & Dover Priory jumps to mind for me:

Realtime Trains | 1S36 1440 London Victoria to Dover Priory and Ramsgate | 13/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 1S36 1440 departure from London Victoria to Dover Priory and Ramsgate on 13/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[A S Leib]

Anything that appears in the data as a split/join of a passenger service is useful to know about!

In that case I noticed when looking at the final LNER service to Sunderland that it joins with another train at Newcastle when running to Heaton.

Realtime Trains | 5N33 2337 Sunderland to Heaton T&R.S.M.D. | 13/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 5N33 2337 departure from Sunderland to Heaton T&R.S.M.D. on 13/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[yorkie]

In that case I noticed when looking at the final LNER service to Sunderland that it joins with another train at Newcastle when running to Heaton.

Realtime Trains | 5N33 2337 Sunderland to Heaton T&R.S.M.D. | 13/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 5N33 2337 departure from Sunderland to Heaton T&R.S.M.D. on 13/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Unless I am misreading it, that appears to be an empty coaching stock working? (Edit: actually, I see it apparently joins itself at Newcastle in passenger service, in a weird never-ending loop! Thanks; that is the sort of thing that could cause problems!)

 

[D6130]

Some services between Glasgow Queen Street and Oban/Fort William:

One of the consequences of the splitting and joining of West Highland services at Crianlarich is that passengers travelling from the Oban line to stations South of Crianlarich are allocated separate seat reservations for the two legs of the journey. This is because in the working timetable the two portions of the train are allocated separate reporting numbers - the portion from Oban being shown as terminating at Crianlarich - although in fact it joins to the rear of the train from Mallaig and they continue through to Glasgow coupled together. Most regular passengers just stay in their seats in the Oban portion, as seat reservations from stations South of Crianlarich are almost always made in the Mallaig portion.

 

[jfollows]

London Waterloo to Weymouth services in peak times detach a stopping portion at Southampton for stations to Bournemouth. And vice-versa. RTT doesn’t necessarily show the split/join at a cursory glance.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Another example operating out of London Victoria is the 2246 for both Hastings and Worthing, which splits en route at Haywards Heath. Doesn't run on Sundays.

Realtime Trains | 2246 London Victoria to Hastings and Worthing | 13/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 2246 departure from London Victoria to Hastings and Worthing on 13/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Anything that appears in the data as a split/join of a passenger service is useful to know about!

For example, this one has caused problems with journey planners:

Realtime Trains | 2121 Cumbernauld to Dalmuir | 27/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 2121 departure from Cumbernauld to Dalmuir on 27/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

View attachment 170984
(link and image show a train erroneously "splitting" at Dalmuir; it should be a termination of a passenger service; the stock then devices, with one portion being ECS and the other forming an entirely new service, but it is wrong in the data, which has caused all sorts of problems for journey planners)

I did not know Realtime trains does that (I always use detailed mode), it looks fun on the highland sleeper splitting into 3 (the Lowland isn't anywhere near as interesting).

To add some new things to the list
Most Cambrian trains split/join at Machynlleth, e.g. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W18617/2025-02-04
Some Liverpool-Norwich trains have the set that gets detached at Nottingham as a split e.g. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C60488/2024-12-13
This train also gains at Cardiff with a similar issue, https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L40599/2024-12-13

 

[Kite159]

Anything that appears in the data as a split/join of a passenger service is useful to know about!

For example, this one has caused problems with journey planners:

Realtime Trains | 2121 Cumbernauld to Dalmuir | 27/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 2121 departure from Cumbernauld to Dalmuir on 27/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

View attachment 170984
(link and image show a train erroneously "splitting" at Dalmuir; it should be a termination of a passenger service; the stock then devices, with one portion being ECS and the other forming an entirely new service, but it is wrong in the data, which has caused all sorts of problems for journey planners)

That reminds me of a London Euston - Birmingham LNR service in the previous timetable which headed to Northampton as a 8 coach set with the rear set terminating at Northampton to form a stopping service back to London. Somehow the two services got linked together on RTT (so it would be London Euston - Birmingham New Street & London Euston) with the auto announcement at Euston announcing the stops on the return. Pretty sure it's been fixed in the current timetable, although I've not been around Euston around that time since. Might have caused confusion by late runners who saw/heard "Watford Junction" announced and boarded the train which was non-stop to Leighton Buzzard.

Anyhow as for splitters & joiners, SWR at Salisbury for services towards Exeter or Yeovil (via Westbury) [i.e. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L57224/2024-12-12/detailed#allox_id=0 https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L57224/2024-12-12/detailed#allox_id=0) with some services joining at Salisbury with units from Yeovil Pen Mill & from Exeter (i.e. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L57208/2024-12-13/detailed#allox_id=2) [ 0711 Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Pen Mill to London Waterloo]

Also SWR at Bournemouth during the day with some Weymouth trains splitting at Bournemouth with the front 5 coaches running fast to Poole then stations to Weymouth and the rear 5 coaches following to Poole calling at all the stations. Sundays the Alton & Basingstoke services split & join at Woking

 

[dastocks]

If anyone has any examples of services that split and/or join (do any services do both?), please post them in this thread.

Regular services between London Victoria and Bognor/Portsmouth split/join at Horsham e.g.

Realtime Trains | 1C20 1005 London Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour | 18/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 1C20 1005 departure from London Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour on 18/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[CapabilityB]

There's a new one in York with TPE's timetable change next week.

A couple of trains from Scarborough join to bulk up capacity through to Leeds and Manchester.

Realtime Trains | 1P12 0648 Scarborough to Manchester Victoria | 16/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 1P12 0648 departure from Scarborough to Manchester Victoria on 16/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Snow1964]

There are a few GWR local services and Cardiff-Portsmouth services which add or detach portions at Bristol Temple Meads. Confusingly they also reverse there so which is front and back portion is not obvious.

A small number also seem to attach-detach at Westbury, and have even seen a train that unit swapped at both on same journey. Although these oddities seem to be more for operating convenience than serving the expected passenger loading.

 

[swt_passenger]

Should reducing or lengthening the train for capacity reasons at a mid point really be considered the same as splitting/joining in the sense of the original question? It’s not quite the same in terms of journey planning or timetabling.

 

[DunsBus]

An historical one was the splitting of services from Inverness to Wick and Thurso at Georgemas Junction. Trains now do a double run on reaching there.

 

[Magdalia]

The GE Main Line has a few, including these at Colchester:

0735 Colchester Town/0703 Harwich Town-Liverpool Street

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G26862/2024-12-18/detailed

1614 Liverpool Street-Clacton/Walton

Realtime Trains | 2F74 1726 Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze | 18/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 2F74 1726 departure from Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze on 18/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

1642 Liverpool Street-Clacton/Harwich Town

Realtime Trains | 1A40 1747 Colchester to Harwich Town | 18/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 1A40 1747 departure from Colchester to Harwich Town on 18/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Merle Haggard]

There's a morning E.M.R. Inter City Up service from Melton Mowbray that combines at Kettering with one from Nottingham. Presumably because the former is timetabled as a Melton Mowbray to Kettering service an NRES enquiry did result in an itinerary that involved a change of trains at Kettering (to the Nottingham service), but this seems to have been corrected now.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The Caledonian Sleeper (both Highlander – the last one in the UK to split in three in public service, whilst I'm guessing you're not looking for splits outside passenger use? – and Lowlander).

It isn’t. SWR often run services that split into three at Salisbury, such as Exeter, Yeovil Pen Mill and Salisbury. It was common for Exeter and Bristol services to drop a third portion there too.

 

[Route115?]

Peak Javelins at Ashford

Peak Chatham line trains at Faversham.

OP hourly Weymouth trains divide at Bournemouth with a section to Poole. Other trains detach a set but this runs into a siding (essentially its 10 vehicles to Bournmouth & 5 beyond, with, as has been mentioned, some peak trains dividing at Southampton.

 

[yorksrob]

When I first glanced this title, I thought it referenced "spliffs and joints", however I'm happy to see that we haven't joined the counterculture just yet

 

[D6130]

When I first glanced this title, I thought it referenced "spliffs and joints", however I'm happy to see that we haven't joined the counterculture just yet

Except for the residents of Hebden Bridge and surrounding villages!

 

[Fleetwoodflyer]

If anyone has any examples of services that split and/or join (do any services do both?), please post them in this thread.

Here are some to get started:

Some services between London Bridge and Caterham/Tattenham Corner:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W37323/2025-03-19/detail

Some services between London Victoria and Bognor/Eastbourne:

Realtime Trains | 1H92 2216 London Victoria to Bognor Regis and Eastbourne | 19/03/2025

Real-time train running information for 1H92 2216 departure from London Victoria to Bognor Regis and Eastbourne on 19/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Some services between Glasgow Queen Street and Oban/Fort William:

Realtime Trains | 1Y21 0822 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig | 15/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 1Y21 0822 departure from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig on 15/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thanks in advance.

EMR trains from Norwich to Liverpool gain extra coaches at Nottingham, and they are detached there on the return journey.

 

[yorksrob]

Except for the residents of Hebden Bridge and surrounding villages!

Indeed - each to their own

 

[norbitonflyer]

Some SWR services split at Woking for Alton/Basingstoke. Other splits on SWR have already been mentioned.

Avanti has some services split at Chester, with the front portion only continuing to Holyhead. (Is there one service where the other portion goes to Wrexham?)

 

[alistairlees]

It isn’t. SWR often run services that split into three at Salisbury, such as Exeter, Yeovil Pen Mill and Salisbury. It was common for Exeter and Bristol services to drop a third portion there too.

Does any current SWR service arriving at Salisbury split into three parts that then continue to three different destinations?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Does any current SWR service arriving at Salisbury split into three parts that then continue to three different destinations?

Not anymore (although I seem to remember there was one once for Exeter, Bristol and Yeovil via Frome) but that wasn’t what the quoted poster said.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

(Is there one service where the other portion goes to Wrexham?)

Yes, good call
example:

Realtime Trains | 0703 Wrexham General to London Euston | 13/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 0703 departure from Wrexham General to London Euston on 13/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Barnsley]

The 2115 Hull - Halifax on Monday - Thursday drops a portion at Leeds for Neville Hill, booked 3 car 158 and 170, rear set locked out (170)

Realtime Trains | 2115 Hull to Halifax | 12/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 2115 departure from Hull to Halifax on 12/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[cjw714]

One of my favourite quirks of the timetable is the last train of the day from Gunnislake which joins a service from Penzance at Plymouth and runs through to Exeter. I think this is the only train on the Tamar Valley line that doesn't start or finish at Plymouth.

Realtime Trains | 2222 Gunnislake to Plymouth | 18/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 2222 departure from Gunnislake to Plymouth on 18/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk