Northern issues with trains on Friday 29/5/26

[JD2168]

Something I noticed on Friday was that almost all the Yorkshire Flyer Sheffield to Leeds services were cancelled on Friday apparently due to ‘more trains than usual requiring maintenance’. This seemed rather unfair to passengers on this route to have the service not running pretty much all day.

In an unrelated matter the Doncaster to Leeds service that is usually run with a 333 had a 331 on the 4:20pm from Doncaster.

 

[skyhigh]

Shortage of diesel units due to an increased level of failures because of the warm weather.

There are alternative services for the Flyer so it made sense to cancel those rather than others.

 

[sheff1]

Something I noticed on Friday was that almost all the Yorkshire Flyer Sheffield to Leeds services were cancelled on Friday apparently due to ‘more trains than usual requiring maintenance’. This seemed rather unfair to passengers on this route to have the service not running pretty much all day.

Same on Saturday. Pretty sure I saw something about it being due to the heat.

Hardly the way to build up custom on a service which was only recently launched with a lot of publicity locally.

 

[JD2168]

Hardly the way to build up custom on a service which was only recently launched with a lot of publicity locally.

Exactly my thoughts

 

[northernchris]

Same on Saturday. Pretty sure I saw something about it being due to the heat.

Hardly the way to build up custom on a service which was only recently launched with a lot of publicity locally.

It did have the advantage though of reducing shortforms elsewhere, particularly important yesterday when Northern were the only operator running between Leeds and Manchester so probably the best decision overall.

 

[Iskra]

Same on Saturday. Pretty sure I saw something about it being due to the heat.

Hardly the way to build up custom on a service which was only recently launched with a lot of publicity locally.

It’s the best way to keep people moving on the lines affected, without withdrawing a station’s service or incurring delay repay costs. It was also announced in advance. It’s a common sense decision that improved reliability on a line that has struggled all week.

Something I noticed on Friday was that almost all the Yorkshire Flyer Sheffield to Leeds services were cancelled on Friday apparently due to ‘more trains than usual requiring maintenance’. This seemed rather unfair to passengers on this route to have the service not running pretty much all day.

In an unrelated matter the Doncaster to Leeds service that is usually run with a 333 had a 331 on the 4:20pm from Doncaster.

The 333’s have had a bad week in the heat, so swapping them for 331’s avoids breakdowns and again keeps passengers moving.

I can’t understand the criticism here. I commute on these lines and I’d rather a reduced but useable service is delivered than cancellations and line blockages when trains fail, it’s much less disruptive.
It’s also not great being at a local station that’s had two cancellations in a row and then watching the Flyer sail through.

 

[a_c_skinner]

The weather hasn't been so hot that it is reasonable to tolerate failures for that reason alone.

 

[ModernRailways]

This seemed rather unfair to passengers on this route to have the service not running pretty much all day.

There are 5 other trains per hour on this route (2 trains per hour to Wakefield Westgate). It doesn’t leave any passengers without an alternative service, and frees up units for other services.
This is a non-issue in comparison to the rest of the issues Northern have.

In an unrelated matter the Doncaster to Leeds service that is usually run with a 333 had a 331 on the 4:20pm from Doncaster.

There are a few issues with 333s at the minute and so they’re being subbed by 331s, there has been a 331 on that route for the past few weeks now it is unrelated to the recent weather but that has certainly brought a few more issues.

 

[Iskra]

The weather hasn't been so hot that it is reasonable to tolerate failures for that reason alone.

I believe pollen has been a factor too.

There are 5 other trains per hour on this route (2 trains per hour to Wakefield Westgate). It doesn’t leave any passengers without an alternative service, and frees up units for other services.
This is a non-issue in comparison to the rest of the issues Northern have.


There are a few issues with 333s at the minute and so they’re being subbed by 331s, there has been a 331 on that route for the past few weeks now it is unrelated to the recent weather but that has certainly brought a few more issues.

331’s are normal on a Sunday, but yes one has appeared midweek. The reduction in capacity hasn’t been an issue as it has been half term here.

 

[a_c_skinner]

"I believe pollen has been a factor too."

My point remains.

 

[sheff1]

It’s the best way to keep people moving on the lines affected, without withdrawing a station’s service or incurring delay repay costs. It was also announced in advance. It’s a common sense decision that improved reliability on a line that has struggled all week.

If they can't provide the service when it gets a bit hot seems little point in launching it with such hype in the first place.

There are 5 other trains per hour on this route (2 trains per hour to Wakefield Westgate). It doesn’t leave any passengers without an alternative service, and frees up units for other services.

There are indeed other trains, but with the exception of the overcrowded and somewhat unreliable XC trains they take longer than the much trumpeted 47 mins for the new Yorkshire Flyer (~ 1hr 20 mins for the two stoppers).

One of the reasons for introduction the Flyer was to attract new passengers who wouldn't dream of trundling along calling at all stations.

Alex Hornby, Northern’s commercial and customer director :
“Running every hour every day, it offers customers a fast and straightforward alternative to taking the car. They can make affordable journeys with less faff, whether they’re travelling for work, university or days out with friends and family.
“The new Yorkshire Flyer will provide a more effective link between Yorkshire’s economic powerhouses and help drive growth.”

Guess what such people will do when they find the Flyer service withdrawn for days not long after it was launched.

 

[WillC]

Agree with @sheff1, all the guff about heat, pollen, dog ate my homework etc are just excuses. A service is a service and while mitigation measures might be practically understandable, and even well-implemented, the fact remains the service has failed. This is not a good look for something relatively new.

 

[westcoaster]

Agree with @sheff1, all the guff about heat, pollen, dog ate my homework etc are just excuses. A service is a service and while mitigation measures might be practically understandable, and even well-implemented, the fact remains the service has failed. This is not a good look for something relatively new.

Talking of pollen.

I was walking around my train last week prepping it, in the sidings.

As I walked around I could hear multiple fan's going at full chat from 4 coaches away ( a side note you never hear them except at certain stations whilst braking). As i got to the coach/s i could see the whole of the line converter modules air intakes covered in a thick layer of white pollen. I spent a few minutes wiping off the fine pollen shield , after a minute or so the fans cut out. No idea if it would cause issues whilst in service.
So it does and can affect trains in odd ways.

 

[WillC]

Talking of pollen.

I was walking around my train last week prepping it, in the sidings.

As I walked around I could hear multiple fan's going at full chat from 4 coaches away ( a side note you never hear them except at certain stations whilst braking). As i got to the coach/s i could see the whole of the line converter modules air intakes covered in a thick layer of white pollen. I spent a few minutes wiping off the fine pollen shield , after a minute or so the fans cut out. No idea if it would cause issues whilst in service.
So it does and can affect trains in odd ways.

Who knew! Trains get hay fever

 

[AndrewE]

Talking of pollen.

I was walking around my train last week prepping it, in the sidings.

As I walked around I could hear multiple fan's going at full chat from 4 coaches away ( a side note you never hear them except at certain stations whilst braking). As i got to the coach/s i could see the whole of the line converter modules air intakes covered in a thick layer of white pollen. I spent a few minutes wiping off the fine pollen shield , after a minute or so the fans cut out. No idea if it would cause issues whilst in service.
So it does and can affect trains in odd ways.

almost certainly not pollen, but seeds of all sorts of plants which drift on the wind on a cottony sail. Look up in my garden (when it is not raining) and you can see it going past 30 ft up in the air.