Chester-le-Street Ashes test

[cuccir]

Hello,

Was wondering if anyone knew whether there were any planned additional stops at Chester-le-Street for the England v Australia Ashes test (9th August - 13th August). I think HSTs might be too long for the station, ruling out East Coast, but in the past I recall additional stops at Chester-le-Street during tests.

Anyway, there's nothing in Nat Rail Enquiries but I was hoping that might be because it's yet to be confirmed. Any insights from anyone as to whether there will be additional services stopping from Cross Country or TransPennine Express at C-le-S during this time?

 

[ainsworth74]

I think HSTs might be too long for the station, ruling out East Coast, but in the past I recall additional stops at Chester-le-Street during tests.

Far too big, the platforms can't even take a six-car 185.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Far too big, the platforms can't even take a six-car 185.

Do HSTs not have Grandfather rights? I'm sure they'll have stopped there in the past at some point...

 

[Rich McLean]

I thought HSTs had SDO

 

[ainsworth74]

I thought HSTs had SDO

I don't think all of them do. FGW and XC do but I have a feeling EC's don't as it wasn't felt to be necessary (they have grandfather rights for everywhere they call). But I'm happy to be corrected.

Do HSTs not have Grandfather rights? I'm sure they'll have stopped there in the past at some point...

Hmm possibly I suppose but Chester-le-Street has had a terrible service for a long time now so it wouldn't surprise me to discover that the neither London bound HSTs nor CrossCountry HSTs have ever had to call there. Hence no Grandfather rights.

 

[4SRKT]

Interesting though this is OP did not ask about HST grandfather rights, in fact he ruled out EC in the first post. I guess he meant more TPE stops, or possibly some XC ones.

 

[cuccir]

Yeah I should have worded my question a bit better - I meant that my recollection was of XC and TPE both stopping at Chester-le-Street during tests - I think that the last time I traveled when this was happening was when Chester-le-Street was served by Cross Country.