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And if you think Tamworth is bad, try Lichfield Northbound WMCL. When I first moved here the platforms were on loops with flat track and a speed limit of approximately 30mph. The line has been four tracked and as Lichfield is on a curve the platform tracks are now canted with a speed limit of...

5U24 does stay in platform 3 from 1233 to 1715. The terminating 6 coach trains at 1411/16 & 1641/46 (2 trips on same diagram) use platform 2 (the through up platform to terminate), 3 coach trains use the bay platform 3 as normal. 5U24 combines with 2U64 to form 2R71 (1716 Four Oaks to Redditch)

But it is only trains terminating at Four Oaks that will use platform 3. I think the Wolverhampton-Four Oaks and return is so that a Shrewsbury train can be sent to Walsall to avoid blocking a platform at New Street. In fact, I think that working has been in the timetable since the early days...

Four Oaks has 3 platforms. There is room in platform 3 (the bay) to put 3 coaches at the end during the day as the off peak services are only 3 coaches as well. Also, don't forget that your spreadsheet includes the Walsall-Wolverhampton services (2 more sets, making 18) which I agree can't be...

The current Cross-City timetable requires 18 units to provide 1 x 3 car on each service. 4 other sets are used to strengthen rush hour trains to 6 coaches. 2 units are used on Wolverhampton - Walsall (3 car formation) this leaves one spare & one maintenance (out of 26). 36 sets will therefore...

Trivia fact - The 139 (8.7m) is shorter than an 08 (8.92m)!

Technically Crewe - Birmingham via Stoke is a WMR service so it could be right. Unless, of course, the unit is on a Trent Valley or Liverpool service.

From personal knowledge it said Max speed 100 mph in the cab :-)

Yes, they were also used on some Birmingham to Liverpool services before Cross City trains went from 4tph to 6tph. I checked a couple of Platform 5 books, shown as 100 in 2004 & 90 in 2010.

They were originally 100 mph units, reduced to 90 mph somewhere between 2004 & 2010 so could presumably be 100mph again.

As far as seats are concerned, a 319 has 300 seats, a 323 has 284, so not much difference. They were originally designed for the Cross City line in the West Midlands with good acceleration between closely spaced stations - anything like that on Northern that would be suitable?

I only mentioned class 170 as that is what is currently used. Probably better to use 3x172 2 car sets and send 4 to Worcester and 2 to Gloucester. The original idea of splitting/joining a train at Bromsgrove was to save a path in and out of New street by using an existing service to serve two...

How about - Run Birmingham - Hereford as 2 x 170 from New Street to Bromsgrove, then split and one unit continues to Hereford as normal, second set continues to Worcester Parkway, Ashchurch, Cheltenham and Gloucester. WMT used to have a service to Gloucester (albeit 1 train late on Friday night...

I did this one a few years ago and, using Railmiles, calculated 774 miles 16 chains.

There shouldn't be, most platforms only allow for 4 car sets, as do Stone, Kidsgrove and Alsager on the Stoke loop. Hence my suggestion of joining those services together. VT 390 spotted a problem in that by changing Rugeley - Birmingham to all stations instead of running fast from Walsall, all...

Of the current 4tph from Walsall to Birmingham, two are all stations and two only call at Tame Bridge Parkway (usually the Rugeley ones). I was suggesting that the Rugeley trains become the stopping trains and that the 8 coach trains from Euston run via Soho calling at Tame Bridge (front unit...

Hence the next line about two to Walsall and one to Wolverhampton every hour. As Euston - New Street trains are 8 car (usually) the Walsall ones would need to go fast via Soho as stations via Aston will not take 8 coaches, which is why Rugeley to Crewe would have to take the place of the...

How about this? Join the two WMR services together, Rugeley - Walsall - New Street -Stoke - Crewe (if there is capacity on the single line at Barthomley Junction), bonus 2TPH through Stoke. Run the Euston - Birmingham services alternately through to Walsall or Wolverhampton (downside, one hour...

Are Cross Country through services also likely to change?

Would also require Coventry-Nuneaton to be electrified.