The last train from Nottingham to Matlock is currently at 2155. Does anyone have any inside info what the proposed later last train will be?
There is currently a 2257 which terminates at Derby so it could be that extended to Matlock.
"If the current Lincoln service will only go as far as Nottingham, the only purpose this route will now have for Leicester is the intermediate calls in Syston, Sileby, Barrow and Attenborough, given that Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway and Beeston are already covered with the Intercity routes."
And let's not forget Leicester lost a direct connection to Coventry in the WCML upgrade days (2007?) - definintely not a minimal flow at the time, I'm sure.
Well, only a few hundred yards - I'd hardly count that as 'doubling back'. But it's a bit of a traipse changing platforms at Long Eaton (or used to be, not been there for decades).
Not long before that it had services beyond Birmingham courtesy of the Central Trains origin-destination lottery.
You still have to use the pavement under the bridge but there are now lifts both sides.
Not very, especially given the franchise agreement (albeit I well know, like the rest of us, that is dead in the water) promised Sunday services for Ivanhoe stations. So, we’ve gone from that to no calls beyond Nottingham.
No other choice though - Barrow, Sileby and Syston are served solely by that service; although stations like Attenborough are served by multiple services. But yes, as you say, quicker to travel IC between Leicester and the larger stations between there and Nottingham.
I would agree, I would be very surprised if the Ivanhoe line sees any reduction, whenever I have travelled on it, it seems well used. When you look at the level of service some stations such as Swinderby (Lincs) get they will be up for the chopper first. Until we see the timetable it is impossible to say why they did it. I remember the original 2025 timetable consultation said a long dwell time would be required at Nottingham heading west. If that was too long then I suspect it just wasn't worth maintaining the through service. That is speculation on my part. The other speculation is that it may have just resulted in bunching of trains between Nottingham and Leicester if it had remained part of the lincolnshire route.
(Although I would welcome the return of a direct service either via Derby or Leicester)That section used to have some serious speed restrictions, especially over one bridge. Not sure what the heaviest train is over that section now.
I doubt that there will be any reductions to the Nottingham - Leicester stopping service especially as the East Midlands now has its own Mayor, Claire Ward ..!
I'm confused as to what basis you think this is as a slope to the service becoming 2 hourly?
One wonders if the service will ever become Nottingham to Coventry? Been a lot of talk of it
Doubt it very much, unless you introduce a reversal in the Nuneaton area and potentially crossing the WCML on the flat.
Unlikely. Leicester/shire opted out so she only covers Notts, Derbys and the respective cities.
I’ve expressed a trend that the Leicester-Lincoln/Grimsby Town service has been diluted since the franchise award - I stated 2 hourly as a figurative example of how it could be diluted more.
The flip side of the Ivanhoe stopper no longer continuing beyond Nottingham is that it should be fairly easy to convert the service to electric traction if electrification of the rest of the MML happens any time soon.
That's all a long way off, but I do agree with you in the far future!
Probably one for a speculative thread, send in to Birmingham (When GBR comes in then it can be joined with the XC service), If you were going to go 2tph surely your would alternate between Nottingham and Derby.
Which is exactly my point. I know there's still other advantages that service will have along route, like the one you've pointed out with Loughborough-Nottingham, but I was talking specifically from a Leicester perspective.
I thought reinstating a direct service between Leicester and Coventry was part of the Midlands Rail Hub project which was announced 3-4 years ago, with a dive under/tunnel at the South end of Nuneaton station being proposed Or is that now dead in the water? If so, extending the Nottingham - Leicester local service to Birmingham would be beneficial as a 3rd hourly service between Leicester and Birmingham to help alleviate overcrowding on this route. This could give South Wigston an hourly service instead of every 2 hours and 2 trains per hour for Narborough and Hinckley. The service could act as a 'cross Leicester' service calling at all stations between Hinckley and Loughborough.
Extending Nottingham to Leicester, would potentially involve the service changing operator from EMR to XC...
I can't see the Coventry proposal ever happening and it doesn't need to if reliable connections could be made at Nuneaton. EMR were originally barred from serving Birmingham New Street as the West Midlands Rail Executive wanted the XC routes to Leicester and Nottingham under their control, and not the control of the East Midlands. Whether that bar still stands now that it isn't a franchise, who knows.
Begs the question of how/why the WMRE became ultimate arbiter?! Thought the DfT would have the final say over something.
