MP calls for extra stop on West Coast service

[tbtc]

Personally, I would prefer that the Leeds-Carnforth-Lancaster to be truncated to Skipton (i.e. Skipton-Carnforth-Lancaster) and run more frequently. This would ofcourse mean that passengers from east of Skipton would have to get a connecting train, but they already run far more frequently than the through services.

I'd agree with that, I think that this would be of more practical use to people in Carnforth (giving a better balanced service to Lancaster etc), plus a clockface service could give better Barrow connections.

I do tend to wonder whether an MP demanding fast direct services to London from his small town is really saying he wants a faster journey to/from Westminster, I'd imagine that people from Carnforth would be more concerned about services to Lancaster, Preston, Manchester etc.

As for cutting the service at Skipton, I know its not ideal, but it'd allow the path from Leeds to Skipton to be run by a four coach EMU rather than a Pacer (or 150), so would give better capacity there. Or it could be used as a path for additional Settle/Carlisle services at Leeds.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I'd agree with that, I think that this would be of more practical use to people in Carnforth (giving a better balanced service to Lancaster etc), plus a clockface service could give better Barrow connections.

I do tend to wonder whether an MP demanding fast direct services to London from his small town is really saying he wants a faster journey to/from Westminster, I'd imagine that people from Carnforth would be more concerned about services to Lancaster, Preston, Manchester etc.

As for cutting the service at Skipton, I know its not ideal, but it'd allow the path from Leeds to Skipton to be run by a four coach EMU rather than a Pacer (or 150), so would give better capacity there. Or it could be used as a path for additional Settle/Carlisle services at Leeds.

Yes i must admit i do agree, but i would rather you ran them and split at skipton or beyond. I do often think it would be better a EMU, but i really think the loss of a direct service to leeds to some of those stations may have a detrimental effect

 

[185]

and Ardwick's new platforms 3-18 for Voyagers, Pendos an Eurostars open during 2014.

 

[tbtc]

Yes i must admit i do agree, but i would rather you ran them and split at skipton or beyond. I do often think it would be better a EMU, but i really think the loss of a direct service to leeds to some of those stations may have a detrimental effect

I admit that there's no perfect way to do it.

You can run direct services from Lancaster (Heysham/ Morcambe/ Whatever) to Leeds, but that means a Pacer/150 from Skipton to Leeds. As the longer distance trains omit a few smaller stops on the Aire Valley line, they are a bit faster than some 333s, meaning you end up with some Skipton - Leeds passengers cramming onto the Pacer.

You can cut the service at Skipton, ensuring that a four coach EMU takes over the Leeds - Skipton service (reducing DMUs under the wires, using the Pacer/150 freed up as capacity enhancement on another Northern service), but then you lose the direct service.

Maybe the way forward could be like I suggested for Windermere - Manchester - if you run a service from Lancaster arriving in Leeds in the morning rush hour (the current 09.04 arrival in Leeds is the 07.10 ex Lancaster), which becomes the "tourist" train from Leeds to the countryside (say leaving at half nine/ten, which is a friendlier time for ramblers/ tourists). Then, a similar direct service in the afternoon (e.g. 15.47 arrival in Leeds, with 16.39 departure).

However, it'd benefit from having a later Skipton - Lancaster service (since you can't do much business in Leeds if you need to leave on the last train at 16.39 - if there were a connection at Skipton allowing you to leave Leeds after 17.30 then this may be more attractive)

 

[YorkshireBear]

I admit that there's no perfect way to do it.

You can run direct services from Lancaster (Heysham/ Morcambe/ Whatever) to Leeds, but that means a Pacer/150 from Skipton to Leeds. As the longer distance trains omit a few smaller stops on the Aire Valley line, they are a bit faster than some 333s, meaning you end up with some Skipton - Leeds passengers cramming onto the Pacer.

You can cut the service at Skipton, ensuring that a four coach EMU takes over the Leeds - Skipton service (reducing DMUs under the wires, using the Pacer/150 freed up as capacity enhancement on another Northern service), but then you lose the direct service.

Maybe the way forward could be like I suggested for Windermere - Manchester - if you run a service from Lancaster arriving in Leeds in the morning rush hour (the current 09.04 arrival in Leeds is the 07.10 ex Lancaster), which becomes the "tourist" train from Leeds to the countryside (say leaving at half nine/ten, which is a friendlier time for ramblers/ tourists). Then, a similar direct service in the afternoon (e.g. 15.47 arrival in Leeds, with 16.39 departure).

However, it'd benefit from having a later Skipton - Lancaster service (since you can't do much business in Leeds if you need to leave on the last train at 16.39 - if there were a connection at Skipton allowing you to leave Leeds after 17.30 then this may be more attractive)

The question is (this is a question as i do not know) is the aire valley line at capcity, because if it is the answer is yes we should cut it short at skipton and run it as EMU to there.

If you make the times of trains more regular, more options for commuting, and connect well then i see no problem. I just think the current service provision is too little to try and trim down even further.

Does skipton have any north facing bays?

 

[LE Greys]

Yet another reason why the main line stopping service needs to be revived. A train calling all stations from Carlisle to Crewe, or perhaps Carlisle to Liverpool, could cover somewhere like Carnforth easily. The alternative (which is based on my idea of two Glasgow trains per hour from the other West Coast timetable thread) would be to put in a Carnforth stop on the London slow service while withdrawing various stops on the London fast. Main line wayside stations do not necessarily need a direct service to London, but a train to take local people to the nearest big city would be very useful. It also provides a cheaper way to allow expresses to miss some other smaller stations. Besides, Carnforth is a junction, and certainly hikers and people on the tourist trail would welcome a train that connects effectively from the Dales to the Lake District. I would much prefer to go via Carlisle, but people who happen to be nearer Clapham or Bentham might find Carnforth a better place to change.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Does skipton have any north facing bays?

No.

I think that Morecambe-Lancaster-Skipton should be made an hourly service (maybe an all shacks train every two hours, and a fast every other hour), but just as far as Skipton only. I would keep S&C services through to Leeds, but, in the hours where they do not run, replace it (and make it connect with the Morecambe trains) with a 333 service from Skipton-Leeds calling at Keighley, Bingley and Shipley only (and maybe at the new stations proposed between Shipley and Leeds).