Barely used scheduled services

[cuccir]

After posting to the latest 'Stations with the sparsest service' thread, I was wondering about least use services themselves, ie, regularly timetabled passenger trains that have barely any passengers. I suspect that there are no figures for this specifically, so it might be the case of what anecdotes, experiences or suggestions do you have from scheduled passenger services that are always barely used.

The service which started the thought for me is the 05:55 from Newcastle, calling at:

Cramlington 06:07
Morpeth 06:15
Alnmouth 06:32
Chathill 06:46

I get that this probably to avoid an ECS running and I can imagine one or two early commuters to Morpeth/Cramlington in particular (cleaners at the council offfces etc?), but can't imagine anyone other than rail enthusiasts boarding at Alnmouth at 06:32 for Chathill!

Anyone got any similar examples, and any experiences of such services either as staff or passengers?

 

[swcovas]

After posting to the latest 'Stations with the sparsest service' thread, I was wondering about least use services themselves, ie, regularly timetabled passenger trains that have barely any passengers. I suspect that there are no figures for this specifically, so it might be the case of what anecdotes, experiences or suggestions do you have from scheduled passenger services that are always barely used.

The service which started the thought for me is the 05:55 from Newcastle, calling at:

Cramlington 06:07
Morpeth 06:15
Alnmouth 06:32
Chathill 06:46

I get that this probably to avoid an ECS running and I can imagine one or two early commuters to Morpeth/Cramlington in particular (cleaners at the council offfces etc?), but can't imagine anyone other than rail enthusiasts boarding at Alnmouth at 06:32 for Chathill!

Anyone got any similar examples, and any experiences of such services either as staff or passengers?

Try using either of the first services on the Heart of Wales ex Swansea at 0431 and ex Salop at 0516. Utterly useless for at least the first half of their journeys and just run as sort of ECS services. Pressure for improvements in the tt include suggestions for stabling units overnight at a point aloing the line (maybe Llandrindod and/or Llandovery) to eliminate these relatively pointless journeys.

 

[Greenback]

Any early morning service that basically is an ECS move, or a late night move back to the stabling point or depot will be barely used. I'm thinking of the early morning trains out of Carmarthen to Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard Harbour as good examples. And the night time return workings.

The first departure from Swansea on the Heart of Wales must also carry few passengers except late night revellers returnign home at weekends! But I expect it will get a bit busier from Llandrindod Wells onwards.

Edit: swcovas, great minds think alike!

 

[Matt Taylor]

2259 Havant-Fareham is largely operated to maintain Fratton depot crew knowledge of Farlington Jnc-Cosham Jnc, I worked it twice last week and we never had more than one person on board at any time, both nights we arrived at Fareham empty.

 

[swcovas]

Any early morning service that basically is an ECS move, or a late night move back to the stabling point or depot will be barely used. I'm thinking of the early morning trains out of Carmarthen to Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard Harbour as good examples. And the night time return workings.

The first departure from Swansea on the Heart of Wales must also carry few passengers except late night revellers returnign home at weekends! But I expect it will get a bit busier from Llandrindod Wells onwards.

Edit: swcovas, great minds think alike!

Yea, SNAP!

Strangely though I HAVE had cause to use the 0431 from Swansea catching it from Llandeilo to get to Liverpool airport. It was a saturday morning and there was just one other passenger on the train, a young guy who, strangely, got off at Cynghordy. I asked the guard if he had any idea as to why! "Out clubbing in Swansea", I was told!

As you say, from Llandod onward the train filled up a bit so that we were up to a respectable 40 odd arriving at Craven Arms.

 

[GodAtum]

I would say an early morning train from Paddington - Slough is very empty in 1st class. It's an HST and I'm usually the only one in the 1st class coach.

 

[Taunton]

.......Utterly useless for at least the first half of their journeys and just run as sort of ECS services.

Some of these operations are unnecessarily long ECS moves, while others are Orcats raids on the revenue between two points.

For example, East Midland make much of their "service" through from London to Leeds in maps of their network, etc, and claiming their bit of Leeds-London pooled revenue. Yet the only two trains a day south from Leeds are at 0525 and 0634, their service finishing before the bulk of the rail customers for the day have even got out of bed (yes, I know all you guys here on early shift are different, but you get my point!).

 

[LowLevel]

The EMT Leeds services at weekends though, which either run at more sensible times or are OK for a cheaper option for a day out in London are very well populated. The 1955 off St Pancras in the evening coming back always seems pretty busy as well!

Last time I was on the 0510 Nottingham to Spalding via Grantham and Peterborough, there were 2 on board, and they boarded at Peterborough.

 

[jopsuk]

I'd love to know how many passengers get the 0833 from Liverpool Street, calling at Tottenham Hale and Audley End only. It's a 12 car service, that as I understand runs so as to avoid splitting the set in Liverpool Street in the rush hour. There's even a reverse working at 1640.

 

[Kite159]

The daily Chiltern South Runslip to Paddington service

 

[leigh1990]

how far do North do Northern rail go?

 

[Class 170101]

How about the 10:13FO Stockport to Stalybridge?

 

[Chapeltom]

From experience the 0550 from Manchester Picc to Sheffield on a Saturday isn't too well used, caught it twice after clubbing as far as Chinley and been the only one on on one of those occasions! Caught it from Chinley to Sheffield for early starting days-out, been one of a handful.

 

[Deerfold]

make much of their "service" through from London to Leeds in maps of their network, etc, and claiming their bit of Leeds-London pooled revenue. Yet the only two trains a day south from Leeds are at 0525 and 0634, their service finishing before the bulk of the rail customers for the day have even got out of bed (yes, I know all you guys here on early shift are different, but you get my point!).

They leave Leeds very early, but arrive in London at 0856 and 0945 by which time most of us will be out of bed - and possibly wanting to arrive in London.

 

[merlodlliw]

ATW table four early morning,will show a few empties,but have to run to return full. The HOWL is difficult,such a distance with no stables between Swansea & Shrewsbury. I do recall the early morning Shrewsbury HOWL years ago being more of a freight with tons of Newspapers from Manchester & post off the York/Aberyswyth TPO for Llandod etc.

 

[1018509]

Can I claim one of the longest journeys on a barely used service.

Los Angeles - Heathrow, steerage class on a TWA 747 - 7 of us. Sometime in the 1980's.

 

[TheEdge]

Most of the first rural services out of Norwich tend to be pretty dead. 05:10 to Sheringham stands out, it rarely carries any more than 3, often it is empty. The rest are fairly quiet but not as much as that one.

 

[D1009]

Yea, SNAP!

Strangely though I HAVE had cause to use the 0431 from Swansea catching it from Llandeilo to get to Liverpool airport. It was a saturday morning and there was just one other passenger on the train, a young guy who, strangely, got off at Cynghordy. I asked the guard if he had any idea as to why! "Out clubbing in Swansea", I was told!

I'd have guessed on a Saturday the 0431 from Swansea would have had quite a few such people at least as far as Llanelli.

 

[plastictaffy]

The last one or two Bedford-Bletchley services usually only have 2, perhaps three punters on them.

 

[Whistler40145]

I wonder how many passengers use the 03:38 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport or the 03:37 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport?


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[plastictaffy]

I wonder how many passengers use the 03:38 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport or the 03:37 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport?


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Those that don't wanna pay for a ticket, I should think!!!

 

[Kite159]

I wonder how many passengers use the 03:38 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport or the 03:37 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport?


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People with early morning flights from Manchester Airport?

4:35 arrives at Manchester Airport, first flights appear to take off from 5:55.

 

[transmanche]

how far do North do Northern rail go?

Chathill on the ECML.

I believe there's an early morning Carlisle to Dumfries service (which forms a service to Newcastle on its return) which is crewed by Northern staff - but probably runs officially as a Scotrail service.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I'd have guessed on a Saturday the 0431 from Swansea would have had quite a few such people at least as far as Llanelli.

Once upon a time - the trains on the HoW wold have been mails and parcels services - they are now fresh air for too many miles, as a result of (a) maintaining out of date crew rosters (b) inability of those in charge to match available resources (with compromises) to actual needs.

These , like Chathill , probably burn money for no real purposes. Doubtless others....

 

[D1009]

Once upon a time - the trains on the HoW wold have been mails and parcels services - they are now fresh air for too many miles, as a result of (a) maintaining out of date crew rosters (b) inability of those in charge to match available resources (with compromises) to actual needs.

These , like Chathill , probably burn money for no real purposes. Doubtless others....

So are you saying there is a more efficient way to provide service on the HoW?

 

[thealexweb]

This service (Mon - Sat) is barely used between Newcraighall and Edinburgh (maybe further but I won't speculate). I have filmed it twice now with no one on it.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G61854/2014/04/07

 

[ChiefPlanner]

So are you saying there is a more efficient way to provide service on the HoW?

Totally - and this was suggested , to use the 2x153 better. Waste of my (home planning) effort.

 

[30907]

For example, East Midland make much of their "service" through from London to Leeds in maps of their network, etc, and claiming their bit of Leeds-London pooled revenue. Yet the only two trains a day south from Leeds are at 0525 and 0634, their service finishing before the bulk of the rail customers for the day have even got out of bed (yes, I know all you guys here on early shift are different, but you get my point!).

But aren't these HSTs off Neville Hill, so necessary from that viewpoint?

More generally, plenty of trains run - and always have - with very light loads "against the flow" - in the days of 4-SUBs the last train off Beckenham Jn on the Crystal Palace line was one such IIRC! It only becomes a serious resource issue when you are wasting a unit thereby.

 

[thenorthern]

Trains to Rugeley Trent Valley on the Walsall Line seem to be quite empty, I have used them a couple of times and been the only person on them.

 

[Bald Rick]

Can I claim one of the longest journeys on a barely used service.

Los Angeles - Heathrow, steerage class on a TWA 747 - 7 of us. Sometime in the 1980's.

How about Nadi-LAX on Air Pacific 747. Two passengers. Best landing ever though.

And my Mrs still ended up next to a weirdo (me).