This and last Saturday, I've got semi-fast Met trains back from Baker Street to Rickmansworth (Chiltern services inbound so I don't know if it's the same going south). Would I be correct in thinking that that's due to hot weather and reducing points pressure, or making more space between trains, rather than being a permanent reintroduction of off-peak (semi-)fast services?
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Hot weather off-peak semi-fast Met trains
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Dstock7080
Established Member
At weekends northbound trains Amersham/Chesham operate fast from Wembley Park-Harrow 10.30-21.30.
18 May-27 September, Harrow hot weather plan.
TTN11/26 refers
18 May-27 September, Harrow hot weather plan.
TTN11/26 refers
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How regular are semi fasts during week days? And don't some skip Wembley Park despite this not being made clear on the line diagrams?
With the current timetable, Amersham / Chesham get six semifasts (and thirteen fasts) southbound, all in the morning. Northbound, there's thirty-six all station services all day, thirty-six semifasts, and sixteen fasts.
Watford has twelve southbound services which run fast from Harrow-on-the-Hill to Finchley Road, with all northbound services calling at all Met stations.
It seems to be that all southbound (semi-)fast services skip Wembley Park and all northbound ones call there.
Kilopylae
Member
I was surprised to get an off-peak Chesham semi-fast last night. A couple of weeks ago I saw a real rarity - a semi-fast to Uxbridge.
I think Uxbridge to Aldgate does regularly have at least one peak semi-fast? I took one of these last week but I don't think that's anomalous.
I think Uxbridge to Aldgate does regularly have at least one peak semi-fast? I took one of these last week but I don't think that's anomalous.
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That's quite significant, they ought to make it clearer on the in-car line diagram.
Mind you, the Elizabeth line in-car diagrams don't even show their fast/semi-fast services! So on that basis, it's a luxury.
jumble
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There are 9 Uxbridge semi fasts timetabled Northbound Monday to Friday so not very rare
I think there are 6 Timetabled semi fast southbound M to F
Maybe they could do with a directional arrow? Similar to how they show that DLR Lewisham trains from Bank skip West India Quay.
As for the Lizzy line, I don’t think it’s as easy since there isn’t a clear group of stations skipped. During the day T5 trains skip Acton, Hanwell and Southall while Maidenhead/Reading trains skip Acton, West Ealing and Hanwell. But then Maidenhead and Reading trains also alternatively skip Taplow and Iver. So I would argue adding a fast/semi-fast designation would actually make it more confusing. Especially with some peak trains skipping almost all stations between West Drayton and Paddington. What I think is better would be to make the stations skipped a message/PA on the LCD screens. For example currently it says ‘This is an Elizabeth line service to Destination. The next station is Station.’ but this could be changed to ‘This is an Elizabeth line service to Destination, not stopping at [stations]. The next station is Station.’
Kilopylae
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My partner reports that their southbound ex Uxbridge train just changed from all stations to semi-fast at Harrow, well off peak (20 past two).
philthetube
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Fast running is often used to catch up time or to put trains in the correct order
Why are they called fast when they call at Wembley park? I remember a fast train would call at Moor Park, Harrow on the Hill , and Finchley Road, then Baker st. It would be the same in the opposite direction. This was back when they had A stock which seemed to be faster...
Apart from Wembley Park, fast vs semi-fast's the clearest distinction for whether or not it calls at stations from Northwood to North Harrow; skipping six of the seven stations any Met train is scheduled to skip still seems closer to fast than semi-fast.
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I do wonder if the semi fast confuses matters if it's only skipping two stations, what is the actual time saving?
Going off of the working timetable, about two minutes.
Failed Unit
Established Member
I remember getting stung by that once with a wheelchair user. We wanted to get off at Wembley Park, it didn’t stop so we need to alight a Finchley Road. Then what? The station is not Wheelchair friendly. The needed to get on train to Baker Street, wait for it to reverse and go back. To make it even better got stung with a penalty fare (Which was appealed and won without an apology). So a 5 minute journey from Harrow-on-the-hill turned into a 45 minute one.
bluegoblin7
Established Member
In practice 3-4 minutes on the North and up to 5 on the South. The real 'saving' comes from the increased throughput at Harrow and reduction in conflicting moves.
i don’t think the time savings have ever been that great. Probably 2-3 for northbound services from Finchley Rd to Harrow and 3-4 for southbound services leaving Harrow.
Due to the SSR signalling upgrade, the fast and semi fast trains at present also need to stop in the Preston area. So the time savings reduce further still, although TfL claim it’s only 15 seconds delay. Also the northbound trains tend to slow down on approach to Harrow from the south, further limiting any saving.
As an aside, vast numbers of people also hurry onto any southbound fast service, leaving behind a plethora of seats on the stopping service and crammed carriages on the fast train. So it’s worth considering that if you need a seat too.
Chilterns are timed faster, but often arrive in platforms 5 and 6, meaning a long walk to the barriers to the station (Marylebone), potentially negating any time savings if you still need to head into the city using the tube. I reckon it ends up being a good 3-4 mins if you walk quickly and also walk down the escalator.
Plus the additional two minutes from Marylebone to Baker Street, and Chiltern only being 2 tph to begin with.
bluegoblin7
Established Member
My experience of running multiple fast trains a day begs to differ…
I will agree that times are presently slightly slower due to the change at Preston Road, but it genuinely is negligible.
Yeah, pretty much.
It’s fab to have the option though and I often will take it just to break the routine a bit. If the Met in suspended, everyone has the same idea to use Chiltern services so I will often just go Wealdstone and take the fast service into Euston, which at peak can be every 15 minutes.
Egg Centric
Established Member
Plus you get a bit of nostalgic thrash on the 165s; so long as it's not hot out a far more fun travelling experience.
Kilopylae
Member
Can you expand on the reasons behind this?
Dstock7080
Established Member
The change between manual and CBTC/ATO operation has to be made when stationary.
The boundary is currently close to Preston Road station on the fast line.