Wigan - Leeds direct trains. Where have they gone ?

[yorksrob]

What's happened to the direct Wigan - Leeds trains tonight ? Everything's showing as a change at Victoria.

 

[jord4774]

Lack of paths through the Calder Valley due to the Hudderfield block and resulting TPE diverts. 2Ixx running Wigan-Todmorden and 2Zxx running Halifax-Dewsbury-Leeds (interworking with 2Kxx at Halifax).

 

[yorksrob]

Lack of paths through the Calder Valley due to the Hudderfield block and resulting TPE diverts. 2Ixx running Wigan-Todmorden and 2Zxx running Halifax-Dewsbury-Leeds (interworking with 2Kxx at Halifax).

Cheers for the info.

That's a bleeding nuisance. I've already had my direct train from Normanton to Manchester curtailed, now my preferred way back is as well.

 

[YorkshireBear]

It is, but I must give TPE/Northern credit they rarely just give up. Some of the best keeping services running attitudes to engineering work I've seen in a long time.

 

[Ant158]

Are these Wigan to Leeds services soon to be split, with the Leeds section terminating at Salford Central? Wonder if 158s will still be used.

 

[jonnyfan]

Are these Wigan to Leeds services soon to be split, with the Leeds section terminating at Salford Central? Wonder if 158s will still be used.

They are planned to be split yes, originally December 2026 but it now looks to be May 2027

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Cheers for the info.

That's a bleeding nuisance. I've already had my direct train from Normanton to Manchester curtailed, now my preferred way back is as well.

Similar thing down here in South London yesterday. Victoria to London Bridge train suspending due to diverts to LB

 

[Andyh82]

They are planned to be split yes, originally December 2026 but it now looks to be May 2027

Split in what way? Leeds to Salford Central, Wigan to??

 

[Segedunum]

Lack of paths through the Calder Valley due to the Hudderfield block and resulting TPE diverts. 2Ixx running Wigan-Todmorden and 2Zxx running Halifax-Dewsbury-Leeds (interworking with 2Kxx at Halifax).

Also 1tph of TPE stopping at Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge & Mytholmroyd. An impressive effort all round to keep stations served (despite the severing of the through link from Wigan).

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, to be fair to the railway, the services flowed, in spite of having to forego my through train.

Careful positioning on the platform at Victoria meant that I was able to travel in uncrowded conditions as wel.

 

[jonnyfan]

Split in what way? Leeds to Salford Central, Wigan to??

I think the Wigan will just terminate at Victoria.

 

[johntea]

Also 1tph of TPE stopping at Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge & Mytholmroyd. An impressive effort all round to keep stations served (despite the severing of the through link from Wigan).

This pleasantly surprised me the other week on a TPE back from Victoria! (although the automated announcer was a bit rusty with 'Mytholmroyd' )

 

[M60lad]

Is there enough room for another service to terminate at Victoria? I thought the original idea of why the Wigan service was extended to Leeds was due to shortage of space at Victoria for services to terminate and why other services were sent to terminate at Rochdale.

 

[ayubdaud]

Is there enough room for another service to terminate at Victoria? I thought the original idea of why the Wigan service was extended to Leeds was due to shortage of space at Victoria for services to terminate and why other services were sent to terminate at Rochdale.

I think these would run off to the Brewery Turnback and come back to avoid sitting around.

 

[Andyh82]

Also 1tph of TPE stopping at Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge & Mytholmroyd. An impressive effort all round to keep stations served (despite the severing of the through link from Wigan).

You also have some TPE services calling at Castleton as well. A station normally only served by the Rochdale stopper now has services to York and beyond

 

[Mcr Warrior]

You also have some TPE services calling at Castleton as well. A station normally only served by the Rochdale stopper now has services to York and beyond

Slightly strange calling pattern?! = Manchester Victoria, and then Castleton (Manchester). Next stop afterwards is Brighouse!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Yes, to be fair to the railway, the services flowed, in spite of having to forego my through train.
Careful positioning on the platform at Victoria meant that I was able to travel in uncrowded conditions as wel.

Northern do seem to keep the Chester-Vic-Leeds Calder Valley service going during Huddersfield blocks.

 

[M60lad]

Another unusual calling pattern during past Huddersfield blocks is when Wigan-Leeds via Brighouse has run its run non-stop from Victoria-Hebden Bridge with TPE taking over all stops inbetween.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Slightly strange calling pattern?! = Manchester Victoria, and then Castleton (Manchester). Next stop afterwards is Brighouse!

So, anyhoo, why has Castleton (Manchester) suddenly become such a well-connected station (instead of, say, Rochdale?) Logic?

 

[chrissawer]

Are these Wigan to Leeds services soon to be split, with the Leeds section terminating at Salford Central? Wonder if 158s will still be used.

I hadn't heard about that. It will be a shame to lose the direct Calder Valley to Salford Crescent service as that is quite well used by people travelling to/from Manchester Airport (nice easy cross platform change) as well as for Salford University.

So, anyhoo, why has Castleton (Manchester) suddenly become such a well-connected station (instead of, say, Rochdale?) Logic?

Good question! I notice that the Clitheroe to Rochdale service is not stopping at Castleton at the moment (see below), presumably for pathing reasons. I'm sure it normally does. So I wonder if the Transpennine Express stop has been added so that Castleton to Manchester commuters still have two services an hour.

There are a lot of trains running between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale at the moment, with most of them continuing on to Todmorden and beyond. I live by the railway in Todmorden and the increased noise, especially of the 185s, has been very noticeable, and I will be quite glad when things go back to normal.

Looking at this coming Monday as an example, leaving Manchester Victoria between 9am and 10am, we have:

• 0903 Northern first stop Rochdale then all stations via Todmorden to Blackburn (originates at Headbolt Lane)
• 0908 Northern stopper to Rochdale including Castleton (originates at Blackburn)
• 0921 Northern first stop Rochdale then stations to Leeds via Bradford Interchange (originates at Chester)
• 0930 TPEx first stop Castleton, then Brighouse, then via Leeds and York to Scarborough
• 0936 Northern first stop Rochdale then all stations to Todmorden (originates at Wigan Wallgate)
• 0941 Northern stopper to Rochdale but not Castleton (originates at Clitheroe)
• 0944 TPEx first stop Brighouse then via Leeds and York to Newcastle
• 0955 Northern first stop Rochdale then stations to Leeds via Bradford Interchange
• 0958 TPEx first stop Todmorden then Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Sowerby Bridge, Brighouse, then via Leeds and York to Redcar

A similar pattern plays out for most of the day. Fair play to the planners for fitting this all in!