Cross Country - How Does It Work?

[gerryuk]

Was just reading the Chiltern v Cross Country thread and it got me thinking. Cross Country must be the most logistically hardest to run lines on the network, so how does it work?

I have taken the longest run on the line, Aberdeen to Penzance. The train departs from Aberdeen at 08.20 and arrives in Penzance at 20.48.I am assuming that the driver at Aberdeen takes the train down as far as Edinburgh or Newcastle but what does the driver do then.
As there are no Cross Country trains back to Aberdeen until the evening does the driver and crew return to Aberdeen as a passengers on another local service?
From Aberdeen to Penzance how many drivers will this service use and where do they change along the route?
What is the longest (station to station) and shortest driving stints along this route?
Do the conductors and buffet hosts book on and off the train at the same place as drivers?
What happens to the train once it arrives at Penzance, as there is no direct Penzance to Aberdeen service?
Sorry if this has all been covered before, just interested.

 

[yorkie]

Was just reading the Chiltern v Cross Country thread and it got me thinking. Cross Country must be the most logistically hardest to run lines on the network, so how does it work?

I have taken the longest run on the line, Aberdeen to Penzance. The train departs from Aberdeen at 08.20 and arrives in Penzance at 20.48.I am assuming that the driver at Aberdeen takes the train down as far as Edinburgh or Newcastle but what does the driver do then.
As there are no Cross Country trains back to Aberdeen until the evening does the driver and crew return to Aberdeen as a passengers on another local service?

I can't think why they would need to return to Aberdeen!

The crew will either be based in Dundee, which is where that turn starts (0640 DEE-ABD), or more likely at Edinburgh (and get taxis or trains between Dundee/Edinburgh as appropriate. The drivers of the 0632 & 0640 could share the same taxi).

I am sure someone here will know if any XC staff are based at, or lodge at, Dundee.

What happens to the train once it arrives at Penzance, as there is no direct Penzance to Aberdeen service?.

It would work the 2208 Penzance - Plymouth.

There would be no need for the train to return to Aberdeen.

 

[Trainbuff]

I cant speak for Scotland but in the South west 3 trains terminate at Penzance in the evening. The first service works the 22.08 back to Plymouth.
The crew of the second train do different things. the driver takes the set to Longrock shed. He waits there for an hour or so.
The Guard travels back on the 22.08 with the crew from that train
The crew of the 3rd train terminating around 2240 also do slightly different thiongs. The Guard gets a taxi from the station to Long Rock, while the driver takes the set to shed. All 3 then taxi back to Plymouth. It is cheaper than having a depot at Penzance.

I assume something similar happens in Scotland. There is NO Catering on XC services in Cornwall.

Incidentally the 06.28 Penzance to Glasgow and the 08.28 Penzance to Glasgow (I believe that is its destination) are both crewed from Plymouth. Booking on at a very early hour and being taxied to Penzance.

I hope this helps

 

[swt_passenger]

Once you start looking out for it, there are crew changes all over the XC network. Reading for instance sees a lot of crew changes, often I see the driver has come up from Bournemouth and then goes back to Bournemouth an hour or so later presumably after a timetabled meal break or whatever. Various crew exchanges occur at Southampton all day, with some joining trains heading for Bournemouth, and of course with 8 units ending up at Eastleigh you'd assume that's where a significant number of driver diagrams start and finish - yet I think the actual crew depot is Bournemouth?

Someone will know far more than me but it's perfectly feasible that the aforementioned Scottish based crew never venture south of New St at all.

 

[Lrd]

with 8 units ending up at Eastleigh you'd assume that's where a significant number of driver diagrams start and finish - yet I think the actual crew depot is Bournemouth?

It is indeed Bournemouth, there may be a few from Reading as well that go to Eastleigh.

IIRC it is a Bomo driver that takes a taxi to Eastleigh, drives the ECS to Guildford and carries on to Reading with a Reading guard passing to Guildford with FGW/taxi.

 

[O L Leigh]

A lot of traincrew start or end their day in taxis going to or from units at various locations. Likewise, quite a few sets will start or end as ECS before or after going into passenger service. The precise details will vary depending on service, location and even day of the week.

Needless to say it's all worked out in advance. Other TOCs have the same challenges too and meet them in broadly similar ways.

O L Leigh

 

[gimmea50anyday]

That particular route sees xc crew depots on its route at Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol and Plymouth. There are also drivers based at derby. No xc crew lodge. Other xc depots are reading, bournemouth, man picc. Former depots at Glasgow, Preston and Brighton with further drivers at old oak common would have contributed to covering he network in vxc days.

 

[NSE]

I believe Cambridge is also one on the Turbostar routes, I always see them changing driver there

 

[O L Leigh]

Are you sure there is a driver depot at Reading...?

O L Leigh

 

[TEW]

IIRC it is a Bomo driver that takes a taxi to Eastleigh, drives the ECS to Guildford and carries on to Reading with a Reading guard passing to Guildford with FGW/taxi.

Believe they pass on the 0434 Reading-Gatwick, with a nice hour to wait then before the XC to Newcastle.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Are you sure there is a driver depot at Reading...?

O L Leigh

Reading is guards only as far as I am aware. XC definitely have a train crew depot there though.

 

[Liam]

The morning Dundee and Aberdeen departures run North ECS from Craigentinny in the morning. The Dundee train used to run in service via Dunfermline (not calling) and connected with a Scotrail service from Perth to Aberdeen. Was quite handy when I worked offshore and expected at Aberdeen at 1000, saved travelling up the night before.

The evening arrival into Aberdeen returns in service to Edinburgh at 2131. I imagine the Dundee arrival runs back ECS.

 

[Lrd]

Reading is guards only as far as I am aware. XC definitely have a train crew depot there though.

Thanks, I knew there were guards and RSMs there so just assumed they would have drivers there as well.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Are you sure there is a driver depot at Reading...?

O L Leigh

TM's and catering crew are based there. When I worked out of reading Drivers were based at old oak common at the time. However as old oak common is not used anymore I am unaware of where they were transferred to.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Apart form the day job - well described above , I have always been impressed by how XC (under various owners) , have managed to plan the weekend engineering alterations. Think on the chances of getting a clear weekend across the network to run the booked service ?.

Admittedly it is done on a rolling programe - but it explains why (presume it still exists) how XC crews have wide "off booked route" knowledge - the Shotts line , via Worcester , for example.