Chiltern Mainline - experiences?

[sammyg901]

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone's had any experiences or thoughts on the new service yet?

I was at Marylebone (for a Met service) at 6pm and the concourse was heaving. I think the issue is the old 6pm - 6.21pm flight of services has shifted 10-15mins later for stations to High Wycombe. The first services to leave seemed packed. I have to say I hope this isn't going to be a long term issue - I wonder how many people are able to shift their travel patterns onto the pre 6pm services.

Was very surprised to see a Kidderminster and a Stourbridge Jn leave within 3 mins of each other - surely the 18.10 is carting air once it gets past it's first stops?

I saw mentioned on uk.railway that there are some overcrowding issues. This is a busy week for travel anyway with everyone back at work so hopefully this will settle down. I'm sure the fastest services from stations like Banbury and Haddenham will be very popular though!

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone's had any experiences or thoughts on the new service yet?

I was at Marylebone (for a Met service) at 6pm and the concourse was heaving. I think the issue is the old 6pm - 6.21pm flight of services has shifted 10-15mins later for stations to High Wycombe. The first services to leave seemed packed. I have to say I hope this isn't going to be a long term issue - I wonder how many people are able to shift their travel patterns onto the pre 6pm services.

Was very surprised to see a Kidderminster and a Stourbridge Jn leave within 3 mins of each other - surely the 18.10 is carting air once it gets past it's first stops?

I saw mentioned on uk.railway that there are some overcrowding issues. This is a busy week for travel anyway with everyone back at work so hopefully this will settle down. I'm sure the fastest services from stations like Banbury and Haddenham will be very popular though!

Iirc the 1807 runs fast to warwick Parkway then Solihull

 

[bnm]

Chiltern did struggle yesterday to keep to their new 'Mainline' timetable. Only 16 out of 62 'Mainline' services were on time at Marylebone and Moor Street.

Running better today, but still some small delays and one or two larger ones.

 

[The Planner]

Still some TSRs knocking about I expect and it will take a little while for it to bed in anyway, no timetable with such an extensive re-write works well at the start.

 

[IanXC]

Chiltern did struggle yesterday to keep to their new 'Mainline' timetable. Only 16 out of 62 'Mainline' services were on time at Marylebone and Moor Street.

Running better today, but still some small delays and one or two larger ones.

There's still plenty of TSRs to mess the timings up aren't there?

 

[oversteer]

The Leamington train at about 1830 went off as a 165 - that must have been a pain for timings.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Still some TSRs knocking about I expect and it will take a little while for it to bed in anyway, no timetable with such an extensive re-write works well at the start.

Aye. Drivers will be taking it easy the first few times they drive over it too, the sheer number of changes to take in is a little bit mind boggling.

 

[oversteer]

I think it went a bit better today? Having a wembley event plus failed met line caused overcrowding, but stuff seemed to depart MYB at the right times

 

[NIMBUS]

There were a few issues again today, as the previous poster mentions, not helped by the theft of signalling cable from the Met line causing complete suspension of services into the West End and City from teatime onwards - all of the football traffic to Wembley was being carried by the Jubilee or Chiltern and Marylebone had serious crowd control problems at times.

67 012 on the 15:55 from Moor Street was 6 down at High Wycombe on the way in.

67 018 on the Risborough Flyer (18:13 to Banbury) came to a stand in the platform at [stn]GER[/stn], due to a red light, and was 10 down from Risborough.

 

[Metrailway]

There were a few issues again today, as the previous poster mentions, not helped by the theft of signalling cable from the Met line causing complete suspension of services into the West End and City from teatime onwards - all of the football traffic to Wembley was being carried by the Jubilee or Chiltern and Marylebone had serious crowd control problems at times.

67 012 on the 15:55 from Moor Street was 6 down at High Wycombe on the way in.

67 018 on the Risborough Flyer (18:13 to Banbury) came to a stand in the platform at GX, due to a red light, and was 10 down from Risborough.

The Met suffered some serious problems today with cable damage at Neasden, and flooding between Finchley Road and Swiss Cottage causing multiple signal faliures. Thus the police was brought in to MYB to manage the crowds

 

[RPM]

It was the most crowded I've ever seen Marylebone. Picture here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks/6122244460/

I had my first go at 100 over the new works yesterday (i.e. in a 168 not a 165). Fantastic going round the new down main at Northolt doing the ton. Passengers on the platform at Gerrards Cross seemed to visibly flinch when I passed at line speed. On the return run it was interesting judging where to brake for Northolt park from 100 - got it just about right!

 

[Intermodal]

It was the most crowded I've ever seen Marylebone. Picture here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks/6122244460/

I had my first go at 100 over the new works yesterday (i.e. in a 168 not a 165). Fantastic going round the new down main at Northolt doing the ton. Passengers on the platform at Gerrards Cross seemed to visibly flinch when I passed at line speed. On the return run it was interesting judging where to brake for Northolt park from 100 - got it just about right!

Is this is the first time you've done 100 then?

 

[RPM]

Is this is the first time you've done 100 then?

On the upgraded bit yes.

 

[js47604]

Just for info,the 1844 Mbne-Leam is booked a 4-car 165

 

[barrykas]

Just for info,the 1844 Mbne-Leam is booked a 4-car 165

The 18:44 isn't advertised as a Mainline service though.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[chill1234]

The mainline experience so far has not been good. They have changed the services at Beaconsfield between 06:30 to 07:30 which now means trains are full when reaching Gerrards Cross. Thank god I don't get on the train there.

They seem to have cut services yet have not added any extra carriages, what is going on? Two weeks ago there was plenty of space on the trains and despite the journeys taking slightly longer it was a pleasent experience.

Now it is packed.

Also my train home yesterday ended up delayed by 15 mins.

I hope this can all be sorted out, I suspect a big timetable change will be required in december to increase provision on the services.

 

[KiddyKid]

Worked the 1710 departure from Snow Hill last night, 2H60 is booked a 2 car 165 and we left wedged to the gunnals.. to be honest it was fairly well loaded all the way to Mbone even though its a bit of a stagger calling at numerous stations.

 

[IanXC]

I guess the big question is are these and the hoards seen at MYB new to the railway or would they otherwise be on Virgin or LM?

 

[Clip]

Rush on MYB is as busy as that a lot of the time anyway - it comes around 4 ish the settles off then comes back for the services around 6.. Though that does look a bit busier then normal - were there any delays?

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Worked the 1710 departure from Snow Hill last night, 2H60 is booked a 2 car 165 and we left wedged to the gunnals.. to be honest it was fairly well loaded all the way to Mbone even though its a bit of a stagger calling at numerous stations.

What 2 car all the way from Brum to London, that's not very good is it.

 

[oversteer]

Passengers on the platform at Gerrards Cross seemed to visibly flinch when I passed at line speed.

It's quite noticeable, the larger amount of "buffering" - especially when a 67 set goes through ! Even on the yellow line.

Quite reminiscent of the Fast lines at WCML stations.

 

[mickey]

Has the halving of services south out of Snow Hill caused any problems?

 

[TDK]

Still some TSRs knocking about I expect and it will take a little while for it to bed in anyway, no timetable with such an extensive re-write works well at the start.

All TSR are SPATE only a 50mph ESR at Wycombe south of Aynho
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Aye. Drivers will be taking it easy the first few times they drive over it too, the sheer number of changes to take in is a little bit mind boggling.

I didn't Fully open at line speed, arrive MYB 1m early on a flyer To be honest there are not that many changes driver wise only the braking for stations in a 168 needs to be earlier because the higher speed, the speeds themselves are pretty easy, the places you need to slow down are the same places as before if you think about it, just different speeds.

The track has been laid really well I didn't notice any parts that were not smooth.

 

[thewolf]

Went down on the 0655 from Moor Street yesterday (for only a quid ), left Brum and Solihull reasonably busy, but then filled up quite a lot at Warwick.

Arrived about 5 minutes late I think, which wasn't too bad considering a number of speed restrictions and coming to a stand for a minute or so just short of Beaconsfield after catching up a stopper, which we then passed at Gerrard's Cross.

 

[AlterEgo]

Went to use the 1055 ex-Moor St today. Sat down in the declassified (and empty) Business Zone.

Train cancelled after five minutes of sitting in the platform. Shame.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Almost certainly related to this.