Chester-le-Street from May 23rd

[alexdodds]

Just looked at the CrossCountry timetable for after May 23rd.

Looks like we are losing all of our voyager services and they are getting replaced by transpennine services. I am sure there will be a few people in my hometown that wont be happy with that.

No idea why they would want to do that because there is usualy quite a number of people that board and alight them at CLS.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Just looked at the CrossCountry timetable for after May 23rd.

Looks like we are losing all of our voyager services and they are getting replaced by transpennine services. I am sure there will be a few people in my hometown that wont be happy with that.

No idea why they would want to do that because there is usualy quite a number of people that board and alight them at CLS.

How many go to places that TPE can't get them too? Services from CLS to Newcastle run to Newcastle only, no train stopping ever goes further.

Let's say 1/2 go to Newcasle, and 1/4 to Durham, Darlo or York. 1/4 will be one-off journeys or journeys not completable on the XC services already there...

In essence you are getting a standard hourly service, provided by one TOC, on modern stock, calling at places where I suggest 75% of people in CLS need.

 

[Mojo]

Good. The non-Turbostar routes which CrossCountry provide should stop being local services stopping at shacks like this that really should be served by regional trains. Shame they're not pulling out the pointless stops at Burton on Trent and Tamworth too.

 

[tbtc]

No idea why they would want to do that

Firstly you suspect it's an XC decision - very few changes are because of TOC desire, they are mainly due to DFT ideas

Secondly, we currently have 125mph trains on long distance journeys (Newcastle - Southampton etc) stopping at local stations because there are no "local" services (same as when XC served Dronfield). A 185 would be more efficient use of stock and leave the scarce Voyager seats for those on longer distance journeys.

The Chester le Street service used to be Pacers (when Arriva Trains Northern ran Saltburn - Darlington - Newcastle services), so a 185 is still a load better than before.

 

[alexdodds]

How many go to places that TPE can't get them too? Services from CLS to Newcastle run to Newcastle only, no train stopping ever goes further.

Let's say 1/2 go to Newcasle, and 1/4 to Durham, Darlo or York. 1/4 will be one-off journeys or journeys not completable on the XC services already there...

In essence you are getting a standard hourly service, provided by one TOC, on modern stock, calling at places where I suggest 75% of people in CLS need.

One of them on Saturday evening I think goes to Edinburgh. (off topic for a moment) At least we still have the buses every 15 minutes to durham and every 7/8 minutes to Newcastle so its not bad news.

 

[tbtc]

Shame they're not pulling out the pointless stops at Burton on Trent and Tamworth too

Agreed. Waste of a 125mph long distance train.
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At least we still have the buses every 15 minutes to durham and every 7/8 minutes to Newcastle so its not bad news.

You also have much better trains than most stations in northern England get for a nine minute journey

 

[alexdodds]

The Chester le Street service used to be Pacers (when Arriva Trains Northern ran Saltburn - Darlington - Newcastle services), so a 185 is still a load better than before.

I was glad the pacers went. At the moment the morning workers services into Newcastle have been the same times for at least 8 years

 

[tbtc]

In essence you are getting a standard hourly service, provided by one TOC, on modern stock, calling at places where I suggest 75% of people in CLS need.

The current service is a mess, e.g. one southbound service between 09:21 and 15:19. Not ideal for a trip to Durham...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The current service is a mess, e.g. one southbound service between 09:21 and 15:19. Not ideal for a trip to Durham...

Which is why the new TPE service is better (not on a 220/221 packed to the rafters), and you can almost guarantee a clockface timetable there. I would love to know how many people currently board at CLS for anywhere north of NCL or south of YRK.

 

[alexdodds]

The current service is a mess, e.g. one southbound service between 09:21 and 15:19. Not ideal for a trip to Durham...

Aye i know. 0921 then a 3 hour gap then a train around 1210 or just after and then another 3 hour gap.