Something seldom (if ever) seen at Derby Station, services to Liverpool Lime Street, 22/08.

Mugby · 22 Aug 2026

Today, Saturday, I was at Derby Station on Platform 6 and when I looked across to Pl.5, I saw the screens were showing a departure to Liverpool Lime Street at 1313. an announcement was made advising it would be 8 mins late.

This was one of the diversions of Norwich - Liverpool services via Derby due to weekend engineering work on the Erewash route.

I was at Derby two weeks ago when these diversions were happening and saw them passing through, the only announcement then was 'The next train on Platform 5 does not stop here, please stand well clear'.

RTT was showing them as passing through, not stopping, so why would all the screens at Derby be showing them, complete with announcements?

Likewise, when I returned at 1800, one was shown as being cancelled from Liverpool, so they must have been shown on the screens all afternoon.

RailUK Forums

LowLevel · 22 Aug 2026

Some of them are booked to call depending on pathing requirements, but not all.

Djgr · Monday at 10:20

I'm sure there would be lots of demand for Derby to Manchester direct services, had Beeching not stuck his claws in.

Dr Hoo · Monday at 11:42

Djgr said:
I'm sure there would be lots of demand for Derby to Manchester direct services, had Beeching not stuck his claws in.

The Peak Line, Ambergate-Chinley, wasn’t on Dr Beeching’s list so I’m not sure what your point is.

70014IronDuke · Monday at 11:51

Mugby said:
Today, Saturday, I was at Derby Station on Platform 6 and when I looked across to Pl.5, I saw the screens were showing a departure to Liverpool Lime Street at 1313. an announcement was made advising it would be 8 mins late.

This was one of the diversions of Norwich - Liverpool services via Derby due to weekend engineering work on the Erewash route.

I was at Derby two weeks ago when these diversions were happening and saw them passing through, the only announcement then was 'The next train on Platform 5 does not stop here, please stand well clear'.

RTT was showing them as passing through, not stopping, so why would all the screens at Derby be showing them, complete with announcements?

Likewise, when I returned at 1800, one was shown as being cancelled from Liverpool, so they must have been shown on the screens all afternoon.

I don't know when BR stopped the workings, but in Midland and LMS days I believe there were through carriages to Liverpool (not sure which station) on at least some St Pancras - Manchester Central workings. Maybe Nottingham-Man Central too. Of course, they would not have been on TV type screens in those days.

Djgr · Monday at 12:46

Dr Hoo said:
The Peak Line, Ambergate-Chinley, wasn’t on Dr Beeching’s list so I’m not sure what your point is.

Not on direct list but still closed indirectly as a result of Beeching cull.

Dr Hoo · Monday at 12:53

Djgr said:
Not on direct list but still closed indirectly as a result of Beeching cull.

Yeah, so ‘indirectly’ that it occurred under the Wilson, Labour, government, elected on a “halt to major rail closures” manifesto, ably assisted by its own choice of BR Chairman (recruited from inside the industry).

Sir Felix Pole · Monday at 13:21

70014IronDuke said:
I don't know when BR stopped the workings, but in Midland and LMS days I believe there were through carriages to Liverpool (not sure which station) on at least some St Pancras - Manchester Central workings. Maybe Nottingham-Man Central too. Of course, they would not have been on TV type screens in those days.

That'll be Liverpool Central. Through carriages St. Pancras to Liverpool didn't resume post WW2 - and by '30s the LMs had already reduced it to one pair only.

Mugby · Tuesday at 00:15

The diversions at the weekend showed some interesting possibilities. Due to the extra time incurred by running via Derby, it was mitigated by omitting Sheffield completely from the Norwich - Liverpool services. They were routed via the Dore South Curve direct onto the Hope Valley.

This produced journey times of roughly 1hr. 20 mins from Derby to Manchester and around 2hrs.15 mins Derby - Liverpool.

It's a pity it was all rather pointless announcing them if absolutely no one knew they were stopping at Derby!

TT-ONR-NRN · Wednesday at 21:01

Dr Hoo said:
Yeah, so ‘indirectly’ that it occurred under the Wilson, Labour, government, elected on a “halt to major rail closures” manifesto, ably assisted by its own choice of BR Chairman (recruited from inside the industry).

Does it matter who closed it? :rolleyes:

The point still stands: whether it was Beeching, Wilson, Grayling or Elvis Presley, the post clearly says there would likely be demand for Derby to Manchester direct service today, was the line not closed.

Dr Hoo · Wednesday at 22:20

TT-ONR-NRN said:
Does it matter who closed it? The point still stands: whether it was Beeching, Wilson, Grayling or Elvis Presley, the post clearly says there would likely be demand for Derby to Manchester direct service today, was the line not closed.

I agree that it doesn’t really matter who closed the line (or any other routes) almost 60 years ago.

Nevertheless dragging in irrelevant and inaccurate rhetoric does nothing to improve the focus on current cases for service enhancements or infrastructure investment.

Something seldom (if ever) seen at Derby Station, services to Liverpool Lime Street, 22/08.

Mugby

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