9 car Azumas to Middlesbrough?

[Sf9k]

Just noticed this week on Monday and Tuesday that LNER have decided to run 9 car Azumas from Middlesbrough to King's Cross - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C71625/2025-03-03#allox_id=0. Did a bit of searching on the LNER website and it seems to be the same for next week, but then a few weeks later it all seems to be 5 car services again. Is this some sort of a trial that LNER are doing or is it because they've had to rejig the diagrams/timetables a bit temporarily?

Also, it's a bit annoying that the 9 car services have left from Platform 1 when Platform 2 was literally extended to accomodate them

 

[D1537]

I think diagrams have been a bit disrupted recently, possibly in the aftermath of the weekend work where everything north of York has to be bi-modes. I noticed there was a 9 car on the York-Newcastle shuttle yesterday as well, which I don't think has happened before.

 

[43094]

Monday was pre-planned, it’ll give flexibility if needed in the future due to engineering etc.

Tuesday was due to the requirement for a 9-car to work instead of a 5-car on Monday and Tuesday, as a result of fleet constraints.

 

[ainsworth74]

Also, it's a bit annoying that the 9 car services have left from Platform 1 when Platform 2 was literally extended to accomodate them

It's amused me for ages that we had all this song and dance by the local mayor (Mr Ben Houchen) made of the platform extension but then a) LNER use P1 anyway and b) it's nearly always 5-car units anyway which I'm fairly sure could have been accommodated without any extensions at all!

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Yes, it is rather amusing! I suppose it was all about room for growth....once the Mayor's plans delivered fruit?

 

[Sf9k]

At least we got the Platform 2 extension earlier, because we all probably know what happened with Platform 3...

 

[swt_passenger]

At least we got the Platform 2 extension earlier, because we all probably know what happened with Platform 3...

Hasn’t it got a sign in the subway? So it’s definitely about 0.5% complete…

 

[bearhugger]

Also, it's a bit annoying that the 9 car services have left from Platform 1 when Platform 2 was literally extended to accomodate them

I think P1 was already long enough to accomodate 9 car units & P2 needed extending. As an aide, generally P1 is for trains heading In Darlington / Yarm direction & P2 is for trains to Saltburn / Whitby direction. I have very occasionally seen both platforms used "wrong direction". And as @ainsworth74 and @Gerald Fiennes have alluded to, I think the original plan for the LNER services was a shorter unit doing a trip each way to start off with, and see about using a longer unit and increasing services as demand grew.
I have no idea how well the service is used to / from Middlesbrough but would be interested in the stats if anyone has them.

Hasn’t it got a sign in the subway? So it’s definitely about 0.5% complete…

I've not noticed that but will try to have a look next time i'm in the station. You would think it would be taped over until the work is done.

 

[ainsworth74]

Hasn’t it got a sign in the subway? So it’s definitely about 0.5% complete…

It must certainly does!

I have no idea how well the service is used to / from Middlesbrough but would be interested in the stats if anyone has them.

I don't have specific stats but observation of the train departing York towards Boro on a number of occasions suggests somewhere between 50 and 100 stay on to Thornaby/Boro. I've seen a few times at Boro when it terminates and my count is about the same around 50 to 100 off.

No idea on the morning service I'm not there at that time, far too early!

Personally I've always been quite impressed by the loadings considering the time it departs London at the moment.

I've not noticed that but will try to have a look next time i'm in the station. You would think it would be taped over until the work is done.

It's there in the subway near the lift up to P2.

 

[bearhugger]

It must certainly does!

I don't have specific stats but observation of the train departing York towards Boro on a number of occasions suggests somewhere between 50 and 100 stay on to Thornaby/Boro. I've seen a few times at Boro when it terminates and my count is about the same around 50 to 100 off.

No idea on the morning service I'm not there at that time, far too early!

Personally I've always been quite impressed by the loadings considering the time it departs London at the moment.

It's there in the subway near the lift up to P2.

That sounds quite a good passenger usage to me considering the early start for the return from London. The morning service leaves too early for me too and i'm normally at work when the afternoon service gets in so haven't really had a chance to see for myself.
I'll have to have a closer look in the subway for that P3 sign.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Mar 2025 ==

Just been to Middlesbrough to see the Network Rail Track Recording Unit so took the opportunity to look for the signs for platform 3. Sure enough, there's a smallish notice attached to the lift & a larger one on the arch in the sunway just before you head right up the stairs to p2.

 

[Riverside Redz]

At least we got the Platform 2 extension earlier, because we all probably know what happened with Platform 3...

Yeah keeps getting pushed back , it’s being designed atm with the final design to be agreed by August, plan for spades in the ground next Jan

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Mar 2025 ==

I have no idea how well the service is used to / from Middlesbrough but would be interested in the stats if anyone has them.

On Fridays the train is very close to being full normally north of York

 

[Kite159]

I have no idea how well the service is used to / from Middlesbrough but would be interested in the stats if anyone has them.

When I did it the vast majority of customers after York boarded the train at York, it rolled into York with the front 2 coaches empty with the middle coach having a handful of passengers in.

Just one of those pointless LNER token daily services.

 

[ainsworth74]

When I did it the vast majority of customers after York boarded the train at York, it rolled into York with the front 2 coaches empty with the middle coach having a handful of passengers in.

This doesn't match my own observations which certainly isn't every day by any stretch but must be into double figures by now. At least for the northbound. If you mean the southbound I haven't seen it since I did it on opening day when, as you might imagine, it was very full!

 

[Riverside Redz]

This doesn't match my own observations which certainly isn't every day by any stretch but must be into double figures by now. At least for the northbound. If you mean the southbound I haven't seen it since I did it on opening day when, as you might imagine, it was very full!

I’ve seen both regularly and for me I agree with you in that it does well , especially with the timings. I imagine it gets a lot of walk ups on open returns at York as well as I have done myself on a few occasions

 

[ainsworth74]

I’ve seen both regularly and for me I agree with you in that it does well , especially with the timings. I imagine it gets a lot of walk ups on open returns at York as well as I have done myself on a few occasions

Once the evening runs later from December 25 I will likely be one of them as it's an ideal time to come home for me!

 

[Kite159]

I’ve seen both regularly and for me I agree with you in that it does well , especially with the timings. I imagine it gets a lot of walk ups on open returns at York as well as I have done myself on a few occasions

Only because it runs 10 minutes or so in front of a TPE heading towards Middlesbrough.

 

[Riverside Redz]

Only because it runs 10 minutes or so in front of a TPE heading towards Middlesbrough.

Still money though isn’t it , I very regularly check on the lner website how busy it is and specifically on the return on an average week north of York , Monday and Tuesday are moderate , Wednesday busier , Thursday busier and Friday almost full.

I regularly either travel on it or see it pass my work and to the eye this is matched. Defintely gets more use than the other “token” lner services so when it increases I see the service being a success

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Mar 2025 ==

Once the evening runs later from December 25 I will likely be one of them as it's an ideal time to come home for me

Same for me to be fair when I travel a bit further afield because I normally catch the 8:39 Tpe from York. Planning on catching the lner from York today though all being well