Almost empty 8 car TPE

[Class377/5]

From what I have seen only 2-4 of the 8(?) services a day are allocated 390's.

That's why the word some was used in my reply.

 

[thealexweb]

Wouldn't that just deprive the likes of Edinburgh (about an hour quicker via Preston), Glasgow, Carlisle, the Lakes and Preston of a regular, fast, hourly Birmingham service? Also leads to problems if there's a short term (as in on the day) substitution of stock - what happens when one of the random via Bolton services ends up being worked by a Pendolino?

There will never be an ideal solution as long as there is so much overlap between Virgin and TPE. The best solution would be merge the Scottish services in to Virgin and order more Class 390's. TPE's Class 350's can be sent to London Midland.

An better alternative perhaps would be merge to the (up to 8 car) Scotland to Manchester route with the (up to 11 car) Manchester to London route. Only Manchester Airport would lose out and with the two new platforms at Piccadilly coming it could be doable.
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That's why the word some was used in my reply.

Well it would be a temporary problem until December 2016 when it would be resolve through electrification.

It would have to be ensured that appropriate stock is always selected like TPE ensures no 350's are sent via Bolton at the moment. If stock was accidentally used it would have to be towed using the Thunderbird stationed at Preston.

 

[dk1]

Apart from many being Pendolinos & the Bolton route years away from electrification, I'm sure after growth of over 200% on Brum-Scotland services they would not appreciate vastly extended journey times via Manchester. This would also leave the Airport out in the cold.

 

[thealexweb]

Apart from many being Pendolinos & the Bolton route years away from electrification, I'm sure after growth of over 200% on Brum-Scotland services they would not appreciate vastly extended journey times via Manchester. This would also leave the Airport out in the cold.

Yes my original idea would have negatively affected Birmingham.

However giving Bolton (and Chorley?) a direct service to London and services to Scotland to more important than giving just the Airport a direct link to Scotland.

 

[dk1]

Yes my original idea would have negatively affected Birmingham.

However giving Bolton (and Chorley?) a direct service to London and services to Scotland to more important than giving just the Airport a direct link to Scotland.

Might be an option once electrified as an morning/evening extension of the odd Manchester service in marginal times.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

From what I have seen only 2-4 of the 8(?) services a day are allocated 390's.

More like 15 hourly services a day, alternating Glasgow/Edinburgh.
About half seem to be 390s, some are 2x221, a few still 1x221.

One of the reasons for TPE doubling Manchester-Edinburgh on certain days is the tourist/weekend draw of Edinburgh (Thur-Sun).

 

[najaB]

However giving Bolton (and Chorley?) a direct service to London and services to Scotland to more important than giving just the Airport a direct link to Scotland.

My experience is that these services are very popular with people from Scotland going to Manchester Airport due to it having a larger range of destinations than either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports. And it's not just Scottish people that use them, Manchester Airport's catchment area includes all stations north of Preston.

 

[harz99]

The best solution would be merge the Scottish services in to Virgin and order more Class 390's.

Thank you for your view, but no thank you. I live in Lockerbie and make frequent use of the TPE services over the border to England, and less frequent use of Virgin's Pendolino and Voyager fleets - give me a 185 or 350 any day; more comfortable, more windows to see out of, more friendly staff, proper overhead luggage racks, less bing-bong announcements and for the most part, aircon that works.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Thank you for your view, but no thank you. I live in Lockerbie and make frequent use of the TPE services over the border to England, and less frequent use of Virgin's Pendolino and Voyager fleets - give me a 185 or 350 any day; more comfortable, more windows to see out of, more friendly staff, proper overhead luggage racks, less bing-bong announcements and for the most part, aircon that works.

I think you are saved by platform lengths at Piccadilly and Oxford Road......

 

[thealexweb]

Might be an option once electrified as an morning/evening extension of the odd Manchester service in marginal times.

First and Virgin had both committed themselves to one service per day to and from London Euston for Bolton. I don't know where these plans are now given the franchising problems. Anyway one service just isn't ambitious enough. The new West Coast franchise should require all services to stop at Wigan North Western and / or Bolton.
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Thank you for your view, but no thank you. I live in Lockerbie and make frequent use of the TPE services over the border to England, and less frequent use of Virgin's Pendolino and Voyager fleets - give me a 185 or 350 any day; more comfortable, more windows to see out of, more friendly staff, proper overhead luggage racks, less bing-bong announcements and for the most part, aircon that works.

All the stock you mentioned are extremely high quality for a station as small as Lockerbie. There are 20x bigger stations in England making do with mostly Pacers and Sprinters.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think you are saved by platform lengths at Piccadilly and Oxford Road......

Platform 13 and 14 of Picadilly are long enough to accomodate Class 390's. Unsure of Oxford Road at this time but they are being lengthened.

Also at Haymarket station despite all its fancy rebuilding the platforms still aren't long enough for an 11-car 390 but they still call daily at the station so its not really a problem.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

More like 15 hourly services a day, alternating Glasgow/Edinburgh.
About half seem to be 390s, some are 2x221, a few still 1x221.

One of the reasons for TPE doubling Manchester-Edinburgh on certain days is the tourist/weekend draw of Edinburgh (Thur-Sun).

I meant approx 8 services a day in each direction, sorry for the confusion.

 

[Blindtraveler]

made a return Edinburgh>Lankaster trip last Fri both ways on the 8-piece and full and standing Northbound, thats in March. TPE Have not made many friends up this way till lately as with Edinburgh Tourism, Manchesters Airport, The Lakedistricts beuty and Blackpools Stag and Hen Doos a Scottish TPD Trip at any time ment horrid crush loads so Im sorry if the Northwest Commuters feel hard done by but Scotland is not the quiet pieceful empty train haven of your dreams. ↲

 

[edwin_m]

Platform 13 and 14 of Picadilly are long enough to accomodate Class 390's. Unsure of Oxford Road at this time but they are being lengthened.

What about the new 15 and 16 which will be used for all westbound trains after Northern Hub?

 

[thealexweb]

What about the new 15 and 16 which will be used for all westbound trains after Northern Hub?

I would imagine they will be identical in length to 13 and 14.

 

[sd0733]

Travelled on the 16:12 yesterday from Edinburgh to Penrith yesterday the 8car 350 and the train was extremely busy with lots of passengers joining and alighting at Lockerbie and Carlisle.

 

[M60lad]

Most if not all Manchester-Scotland services today were formed of 2x185s, probably due to the engineering works taking place at Manchester Airport unless its normal that the 350s don't get a run out on Saturday's for some reason

 

[harz99]

Most if not all Manchester-Scotland services today were formed of 2x185s, probably due to the engineering works taking place at Manchester Airport unless its normal that the 350s don't get a run out on Saturday's for some reason

Not sure of precise reason why, but 350s are not used at the weekend proper, yet.

 

[Class377/5]

Because currently there are only 3x 350 diagrams with an increase 5 diagrams this month.

As they are slowly rolled out this will increase but there's a lag from delivery to acceptance in fleet to being in service which is sensible planning.

There's currently 8x 350 that have been in service now? Well that good as it gives you a couple of weeks until you need 5 all day. As reported, one conductor only did his first 350 trip in the last week so its clear training is still on going.

Its also easy to forget its just over two months since the first 350 came into service so its still early days.

 

[harz99]

Because currently there are only 3x 350 diagrams with an increase 5 diagrams this month.

Yes; understand the above and agree with your other comments, but the fact there are no Saturday/Sunday diagrams yet,and the reasoning for that, is not explained by the above.

 

[Chris125]

Yes; understand the above and agree with your other comments, but the fact there are no Saturday/Sunday diagrams yet,and the reasoning for that, is not explained by the above.

Staff are still being trained on the new units, hence a gradual introduction.

Chris