Skegness by EMR this Summer, 2 car 158s today, must be cozy

tram21 · Wednesday at 18:26

I do think Skegness is one that you have to accept won't ever get a perfect service. As talked about above, its at the end of a slow branch line, and its seasonal and low-revenue nature means infrastructure improvements aren't going to give value for money, at all.

A reliable 4 car 158 service I think is the best we can realistically ask for, and should be achievable. And perhaps some Aurora services when that's all sorted out... but is that even worth it?

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dk1 · Wednesday at 18:31

Even in Regional Railways (& into Central Trains) days it wasn’t uncommon for single class 153s to be diagrammed to operate this route. It’s been rather an overlooked line and unfortunately I can’t see much changing in the foreseeable.

Trainman40083 · Wednesday at 18:44

dk1 said:
Even in Regional Railways (& into Central Trains) days it wasn’t uncommon for single class 153s to be diagrammed to operate this route. It’s been rather an overlooked line and unfortunately I can’t see much changing in the foreseeable.

The joys of a Class 153 on a Skegness to Crewe service.

dk1 · Wednesday at 18:47

Trainman40083 said:
The joys of a Class 153 on a Skegness to Crewe service.

I know and some even continued to Manchester Airport :lol:

Russel · Wednesday at 19:10

dk1 said:
Even in Regional Railways (& into Central Trains) days it wasn’t uncommon for single class 153s to be diagrammed to operate this route. It’s been rather an overlooked line and unfortunately I can’t see much changing in the foreseeable.

I certainly recall doing Nottingham to Skegness on a single 153 in CT livery in the early 2000's, it was mid-week during the winter though if I remember correctly, so no problem with capacity there!

Odd how certain journeys can be quite memorable, almost 25 years later!

dk1 · Wednesday at 19:22

Russel said:
I certainly recall doing Nottingham to Skegness on a single 153 in CT livery in the early 2000's, it was mid-week during the winter though if I remember correctly, so no problem with capacity there!

Odd how certain journeys can be quite memorable, almost 25 years later!

Although no social media then the complaints were prolific in the railway press and no doubt the regional passenger complaints departments.

Trainman40083 · Wednesday at 19:27

dk1 said:
I know and some even continued to Manchester Airport

I remember. Did it once... Once too often. I was the only passenger on it.

dk1 · Wednesday at 21:10

Trainman40083 said:
I remember. Did it once... Once too often. I was the only passenger on it.

Will be interesting to follow the Birmingham to Manchester Airport via Stoke/Crewe LNR service. Will serve such a more important market than just the Northern service it replaces.

High Dyke · Wednesday at 21:13

tram21 said:
I do think Skegness is one that you have to accept won't ever get a perfect service. As talked about above, its at the end of a slow branch line, and its seasonal and low-revenue nature means infrastructure improvements aren't going to give value for money, at all.

A reliable 4 car 158 service I think is the best we can realistically ask for, and should be achievable. And perhaps some Aurora services when that's all sorted out... but is that even worth it?

You're probably correct. Network Rail can't even repair the faulty infrastructure they currently have!

An Aurora has seemingly made a test trip to Skeg and back, but there’s no plans to utilise them, as far as I am aware.

As previously mentioned, with a commitment to provide air-conditioned stock on their services, then EMR must've realised they never had sufficient stock for all routes.

evergreenadam · Thursday at 15:23

Dors anyone know if the infrastructure on the Skegness branch is theoretically capable of operating 2tph or has it been rationalised so that 1tph is the max that can be achieved?

Please ignore the rolling stock availability issue for the purposes of this question.

LowLevel · Thursday at 16:21

evergreenadam said:
Dors anyone know if the infrastructure on the Skegness branch is theoretically capable of operating 2tph or has it been rationalised so that 1tph is the max that can be achieved?

Please ignore the rolling stock availability issue for the purposes of this question.

It can, but maybe not at even half hourly spacings with some waits being needed.

Failed Unit · Thursday at 18:37

When the HST ran it was in addition to the standard pattern, but as LowLevel said it wasn’t half hourly spacing. There is still lots of double track. I am not sure what rationalisation has taken place since the later 1980s / early 1990s when a lot of extras used to exist.

If I recall back then there was a pattern of Nottingham, Sleaford, Boston, Skegness with some sorter shuttles running Grantham - Skegness or Lincoln - Skegness.

I can’t really see demand for Lincoln as it is quicker by bus, but restoring the Grantham shuttle maybe welcome for ECML passengers even if it was every 2 hours.

sh24 · Thursday at 19:21

Notabene said:
Skegness is neglected by EMR.

Compared to Newquay, which has a new hourly service, direct London trains and others to Bristol and Plymouth, Skegness does rather badly for a station that has over three times as many passengers.

Newquay 125k
Skegness almost 400k

GWR sends IETs to Newquay daily, but EMR can't manage a single Meridian to the coast.

The locals need to kick up a fuss and maybe involve their new MP, Richard Tice.

Newquay attracts long weekend and holiday traffic from London and the South East, either in the town itself or as a gateway to the North Cornwall Coast, on top of the Boardmasters festivals.

Skegness....well it doesn't have quite the same appeal to Londoners.

Failed Unit · Thursday at 19:25

sh24 said:
Newquay attracts long weekend and holiday traffic from London and the South East, either in the town itself or as a gateway to the North Cornwall Coast, on top of the Boardmasters festivals.

Skegness....well it doesn't have quite the same appeal to Londoners.

It does from Mansfield, maybe they should run a through service from there

bunnahabhain · Thursday at 22:21

sh24 said:
Skegness....well it doesn't have quite the same appeal to Londoners.

There's a significant trade on passengers from Scotland and London to Skegness. I'd say it's almost a 50/50 split between Grantham and Nottingham for holidaymakers.

Skegness by EMR this Summer, 2 car 158s today, must be cozy

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