Barely used scheduled services

[martinsh]

How about the 10:13FO Stockport to Stalybridge?

Always fairly well used whenever I've been on it !

 

[ess]

Ah that wonderful feeling of a carriage to yourself. Close up all the windows on the pacer and relax. Those trains I miss. This thread of empty trains even makes me miss a pacer!

 

[Tim R-T-C]

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

True, so presumably they would 'start' from Nottingham. Might as well add some connections. The evening services are better timed, although slow. Although I think this is more due to EC's protectionism. On a Sunday there are three runs from Leeds at normal times.

 

[kevconnor]

I dont think it runs any more but back in 2006/7 on a Friday night/Saturday morning there use to be two late night trains that ran from Manchester Airport to Sheffield at approx 1am and 3am. Very useful for me as I was a student in Sheffield but liked to head home to Manchester for nights out. I never really seen many more than 3/4 people on them, I never seen a conductor and never seen anyone coming from the airport. Patrons were normally just people who, like me, had been out late in Manchester for a skinful and were heading back over the top to the People's republic of South Yorkshire.

 

[johntea]

How busy does the 05:29 Leeds to Carlisle or the 05:50 Carlisle to Leeds services get? I've actually used the Leeds to Carlisle once myself for the whole journey during the winter Metro promotional offer! - It is quite hard to admire the scenery along the line at that time in the morning!!!

 

[bb21]

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!).

I am not sure how much impact it has on ORCATS.

The 0525 is overtaken by the 0530 and the 0605 on its way to London, and the 0634 is overtaken by the 0640, 0700, 0715 and the 0740. From what I understand of ORCATS, these two will receive no revenue from a Leeds - London Terminals ticket. Similarly with the return workings.

More to do with getting trains to/from Neville Hill.

How about the 10:13FO Stockport to Stalybridge?

As already mentioned before me, fairly well used.

 

[VisualAcid]

Sometimes there's a last train from Swindon to Gloucester via Bath, Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Tunnel Junction back up the Gloucester-Newport line with no stops. Never seen a passenger on it however.

 

[marks87]

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.

That's timed as a connection from the northbound lowland sleeper. It means you can go overnight from London to Dumfries (or Gretna/Annan) without having to go all the way to Glasgow and back down, or hang about at Carlisle for the first "normal" service.

 

[transmanche]

That's timed as a connection from the northbound lowland sleeper. It means you can go overnight from London to Dumfries (or Gretna/Annan) without having to go all the way to Glasgow and back down, or hang about at Carlisle for the first "normal" service.

It's also well-timed on it's return from Dumfries; as it forms a stopping service to Newcastle, which is the morning 'commuter' train for many Tyne Valley stations - arriving into Newcastle (just) before 9am.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

How busy does the 05:29 Leeds to Carlisle or the 05:50 Carlisle to Leeds services get? I've actually used the Leeds to Carlisle once myself for the whole journey during the winter Metro promotional offer! - It is quite hard to admire the scenery along the line at that time in the morning!!!

I caught the northbound train last year and it was pretty well populated. It was at the time the best way to get to Glasgow as it linked in to a FTP train at Carlisle at 0825 but that now runs at 0911 so a much longer wait.

 

[FQ]

how far do North do Northern rail go?

Carlisle

 

[Whistler40145]

There must be some services e.g. The Far North & Kyle lines which at some time of the year must be very quiet.

 

[Blindtraveler]

It's also well-timed on it's return from Dumfries; as it forms a stopping service to Newcastle, which is the morning 'commuter' train for many Tyne Valley stations - arriving into Newcastle (just) before 9am.

Always wondered about this, is it a Scotrail 156 that goes to bed overnight in P7/8 at Carlisle or does a Northern unit work it and if the latter, does a 142 ever drop on it, creating the anomaly of one of these units escaping over the Scottish Border?

 

[Tomnick]

Carlisle

Already answered above somewhere - Chathill and Dumfries are both further north. There's at least one service to the latter using a Northern unit worked by a Northern crew, though it might not be a Northern service in name.

 

[D6975]

How busy does the 05:29 Leeds to Carlisle or the 05:50 Carlisle to Leeds services get? I've actually used the Leeds to Carlisle once myself for the whole journey during the winter Metro promotional offer! - It is quite hard to admire the scenery along the line at that time in the morning!!!

The 05:50 off Carlisle is deemed to be sufficiently well patronised as to be formed of 158+153 rather than the usual 158 on its own. A peak hour Cumbrian coast service has to be reduced to a single 153 to accommodate this, so it must be needed. (the 153 needs to be at Carlisle overnight)

 

[swcovas]

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

The HOWL tt was recast in the early 90s around time of privatisation and the main objective seemed to be to run the service with 4 trains a day using the minimum number of units. Prior to this there were 5 a day, the first down and last up of which used to convey mail (and a lot of fresh air!) as mentioned by Chief Planner. Nevertheless with 5 trains each way the tt did still provide much better travel opprtunities for days out to Swansea, Salop AND into Mid Wales than the current tt. In view of the announcement made from the WG yesterday I eagerly await to see what improvements are in the pipeline. Anything should be an improvement!

 

[button_boxer]

The 1955 off St Pancras in the evening coming back always seems pretty busy as well!

The 1955 off St Pancras is an anomaly as it's the first valid return train for (super-)off-peak tickets from Sheffield/Chesterfield/Derby. The restriction code allows trains after 1859, but the one before the 1955 is 1857...

(technically there's the 1932 via Nottingham but this stops everywhere and gets overtaken by the 1955)

 

[ECML180]

The 0849 Doncaster - Adwick is usually quiet, I've been catching it regularly the last few weeks and I've only even seen 4 passengers on it, usually one 2(one each from Doncaster and Bentley). I suspect that's a good candidate for a 'normal time' service rather than something dead early or late in the day.

 

[Southend Rider]

I have caught the 08.03 from Liverpool St to Cambridge (stops at Tottenham Hale only) a 12 coach 379 a few times and been the only passenger in the coach the whole way.

 

[Thomas6187]

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

The 03:37 Blackpool-Airport has a reasonable amount of people using it, half of which are railway staff

 

[Minilad]

The 2140 Reading to Birmingham New Street via the whole world rarely has more than a handful on. Usually at least 1 is a enthusiast wanting to do the Foxhall Curve

 

[tractakid]

I have been informed hardly anyone boards the 2309 at Battersea Park...

 

[Class 170101]

The 2140 Reading to Birmingham New Street via the whole world rarely has more than a handful on. Usually at least 1 is a enthusiast wanting to do the Foxhall Curve

Also its scheduled to enter New Street from the north rather than via Proof House Jn for rare curves at Soho and Perry Barr plus Stechford to Aston.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Definately one for an ALR, Preceded by a quick trip to the supermarket for something boozaholic and followed by a nice hotel in Brum sumwhere! What time does this service dock at BHM?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Dont know what its like on a normal day but I used what used to be known as the Orcadian, i.e the first Inverness>Thurso train on its first day of opperation after new year last year, Jan 3rd, the 2nd having had a Sunday service and myself and the Mrs were the only pax at Inverness

 

[Deerfold]

I have been informed hardly anyone boards the 2309 at Battersea Park...

Presumably you refer to the 5 minute run to Clapham High Street?

Not entirely susprising.

 

[tractakid]

Presumably you refer to the 5 minute run to Clapham High Street?

Not entirely susprising.

Which other 2309 is there?

 

[thenorthern]

The 02:52 York to Manchester Airport can't be very well used.

 

[infobleep]

The 0.50 from Waterloo to Portsmouth on a Sunday night [aka Monday morning] can't be that well used unless it's full of the royal navy personal.

I caught it once, unaware it even ran. I was lucky it did.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Deerfold]

Which other 2309 is there?

I thought I'd clarify so anyone else who didn't know the timetable intimately wouldn't have to look it up.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The 02:52 York to Manchester Airport can't be very well used.

It can. Last time I caught it (earlier this year going to the Airport) between Leeds and Huddersfield/Manchester there were a significant number of people catching it after a night out.

 

[12CSVT]

how far do North do Northern rail go?

Carlisle

Pedant mode : Chathill is further north than Carlisle !