Cross Country sneaky marketing

[DR18037]

Just thought I'd call out XC for a second.

XC claim to have "additional services between Birmingham and Leicester" on weekdays. From what I can see, the only additional train is a 6 car train split to run 2×3 car trains.

At New Street, the Leicester/Cambridge's are staggered xx52 and xx22 respectively. However the 0752 is currently 6 car to Leicester as a stopper, then runs 3 car on the 0822's path after Leicester, with the 0822 not running between New St and Leicester.

Thats the only change on the timetables as far as I can see. 66 diagrams through Nuneaton tommorow, and 67 the following week after the change. It's a reinstated Bristol to Stansted leaving Birmingham at 0822.

So yes, technically more services, but unless they throw an extra unit on there won't be any capacity increase.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I suppose pedanticly speaking the statement by Cross Country that they're running extra trains is correct and accurate. Yes this of course implies that they're offering more seats than they were previously, but they don't specifically claim to be offering extra seats.

The main advantage here is that passengers have an extra departure time to choose from for their journey on this route, but they won't necessarily benefit from extra seats.

 

[Rab Smith]

Even 1 extra service can be stated as 'a whole new, improved timetable!'
It's a bit like Carlsberg stating they are probably the best lager in the world

 

[30907]

Is 3 cars enough for the 0752? Can't remember the reason for cutting the 0822.

 

[DR18037]

Is 3 cars enough for the 0752? Can't remember the reason for cutting the 0822.

The short answer is no. Never. None of these services should be so short.

Normally all but i believe 2 morning services are 2 or 3 coaches (1st of the day was 5 car with them splitting at leicester to have 2 diagrams on return).

The 0752 was, until this TT change, essentially a 6 car by using the 0822 unit aswell. Then that schedule is picked up when it would have been at Leicester, leaving Melton and beyond as their normal hourly service.