1.5 hours under the wires on a 156

[Blindtraveler]

Hello all.

The Dec 2012 TT saw the introduction of a 2 hourly Edinburgh Glasgow Central Stopper Via Carstairs and Motherwell which along with XCs Glasgow runs saw an hourly train to/from Motherwell.
At the time of introduction these were supposed to be 380s or 334s, but on the last few times of using it its been 156s in both directions to/from Motherwell. Is this now the norm on the service tn run a DMU which could be used on a non electrified run on a little used 2 hourly stoppes on a route cleared for I think All types of Scotrail EMU, even 314s? Help appreciated here!

 

[4SRKT]

What is the purpose of this service? Is three routes with regular services between Glasgow and Edinburgh not enough? Or is it to provide Wishaw and Carluke with a service to Edinburgh?

 

[Blindtraveler]

What is the purpose of this service? Is three routes with regular services between Glasgow and Edinburgh not enough? Or is it to provide Wishaw and Carluke with a service to Edinburgh?

mainly the latter, along with pax from Motherwell and Carstairs, granting the latter a regular 2 hourly service to both cities for the first time.
It takes a while though due to I think pathing which sees the unit held in 1 or both directions in the platform at Carstairs. very little end to end custom obviously but intermediate stops do ok and carstairs which is poorly served by buses does not bad. My surprise is purely due to the insane usage of a 156, where as a 314 or even a 320 which are I believe quite freely available could be used. Obviously I may just have been unlucky and fallen onto diagrams which are used as ways of moving the 156s from East to West, a practice which in itself is odd as the only regular 156 worked services out of EDB are shots line stoppers and semi fasts.

 

[ianthescot]

Don't know for definite why they run like this through the day, but certainly last one is stabled at Motherwell and at present they can't stable 380 units so it runs as a 156. Also remember that the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Shotts are 156 services and so it could be that they may go one direction via Shotts or Carstairs and then back the other way.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Don't know for definite why they run like this through the day, but certainly last one is stabled at Motherwell and at present they can't stable 380 units so it runs as a 156. Also remember that the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Shotts are 156 services and so it could be that they may go one direction via Shotts or Carstairs and then back the other way.

I was aware about the last turn being a 156. My understanding of the shots line diagramming is that a unit works through on the stopper to GLC, has a quick out and back to wifflet before doing the fast service back or vice versa but am happy to be corrected there.

If it is as you say then its certainly logical but still sad that they are running a DMU all the way under perfectly good wires, a fact only exasibated by the Motherwell fasts in the hands of XC Voyagers and an evening HST.