December 2014 TT changes

[Class 170101]

Not much else in Scotland otherwise.

17:54 Inverness to Kyle and Wivk now goes to Kyle only. Additional 18:28 Inverness to Wick operates.

 

[Starmill]

There's a Santa Special running on the North Downs Line (Table 148).

The 2318 Gatwick Airport to Reading service, which normally arrives at 0040, has been retimed to arrive at 0045 on 26 December.

I can't see it in the journey planner...

 

[Thomas6187]

From December there is extra early morning service from Manchester Piccadilly to Hadfield, departing at 05:32 calling only at Ashburys, Guide Bridge and Hadfield. At a guess it for the benefit of rail staff working at the new Manchester ROC

 

[berneyarms]

Though Leeds - Horsforth only needs 1 unit for the 14 minute journey each way (wonder what it does for the other half of the hour? ).

In other news, the GBTT could do with a bit of proofreading - page 44 still refers to FCC running trains between London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and to Pancras.

That doesn't make it right though, does it? Presumably FCC knew there was a new franchise coming?

I hadn't noticed it also applies to the actual Thameslink timetables too.

Seems likely to confuse the unwary traveller.

The version that I have (downloaded last week) shows GoVia Thameslink on page 44 and the Thameslink timetables are headed with TL.

Are you sure you're looking at the winter timetables? It sounds like you're looking at the summer version.

 

[FenMan]

I can't see it in the journey planner...

Nor can I, however go to the Network Rail site and download the new timetables. Note G is specific.

 

[bILLOO]

*reads through the Northampton to Euston "mini" timetable*

Running 20 coaches (across two trains) on the 17:13, 17:46 and 18:13 departures from Euston? This is good.

Expecting the commuters of Wolverton, Milton Keynes and Leighton Buzzard to cram into four coaches of the 07:38 from Northampton whilst eight coaches of the 07:42 race past? This is moronic

I've just seen this myself. 4 coaches are surely not enough?

Any reasons as to why the Northampton expresses are AM-only (the evenings include a MK stop).

 

[Altnabreac]

I don't know if Ravenscraig is certain to happen. If it does, I would agree that a Wishaw-Whifflet-Glasgow Central LL service is the most likely route, which would also generate 2tph to Holytown once again as an additional benefit! The 1tph terminating at Motherwell from Hamilton Circle actually continues as Motherwell - Whifflet, so that will not continue to Ravenscraig I'm afraid. If the demand is there, this could change to:
2tph Glasgow-Whifflet-Ravenscraig-Wishaw
2tph Glasgow-Hamilton-Motherwell-Cumbernauld
Which would not change the number of services through Glasgow. That option is there for growth if needed.

That makes sense as a suggestion for the Ravenscraig service in future.

As you say the news on Ravenscraig Station has gone very quiet recently. No detailed business case for the Scottish Stations Fund appears to have been drawn up by either SPT or North Lanarkshire Council.

It is definitely now behind Robroyston in the pecking order for new west of Scotland stations as Robroyston has a specific priced option in the new Scotrail contract.

I wonder if, given the new timetable, a better option may be to resurrect the old proposal for a station at Flemington, between Shieldmuir and Motherwell, either as a relocation of Shieldmuir station or as an additional stop.

It would serve the Ravenscraig development as well as the New College Lanarkshire Motherwell campus. Now that line has a 2tph service, the business case would probably be much better than when it was dropped a few years ago.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Expecting the commuters of Wolverton, Milton Keynes and Leighton Buzzard to cram into four coaches of the 07:38 from Northampton whilst eight coaches of the 07:42 race past? This is moronic

Oh it's better than that- the 0738 from Northampton is actually the 0614 from Birmingham New Street, and so it'll be pretty full before it gets anywhere near Wolverton. What's better is that the 0732 is a 12-car but doesn't stop at Wolverton either.

I hope that's a misprint...

The only change I can see for me is that the 1634 off Euston loses four carriages, which is not the end of the world. I'm glad the 1805 stays as a 12-car, as I expected it to lose four carriages now it won't go to Crewe.

 

[greatkingrat]

According to RTT, there is a train 5Y18 which appears to join with the 0738 at Northampton, so it won't be 4 cars long.

 

[merlodlliw]

My AM has had a reply from ATW in regard to errors pointed out in timetable one,specific to the Chester/Shrewsbury line.

The ATW response is "thank you form pointing out the errors"

The 0747 Wrexham to Shrewsbury is extended to Birmingham, not Shrewsbury has shown.
This train on Bank Holidays will commence at Chester,not Wrexham as shown.

We are unsure about the VT service on Public Holidays, however if the VT does not run departing Chester at 2020, ATW will run a service.

However VT have not run the Wrexham service for several years on Bank Holidays,I am not clear why ATW are unsure, has they had timetabled a BHO service ex Chester 2020 all stations to Shrewsbury, which is removed from December/May timetable. ATW gave up its paths to VT,which we pointed out,so with over 100 people stranded at Chester for two hours,ATW ran a service after pressure from politicians. The threat of losing the Mon/Fri 0747 to Birmingham from next May makes us vigilant. Others errors in the timetable have been addressed.

 

[JonathanH]

According to RTT, there is a train 5Y18 which appears to join with the 0738 at Northampton, so it won't be 4 cars long.

and might be expected to work back to Northampton as the 12-coach 0854 service if the platform allocations have been set up correctly:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...7/0839-0854?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=LM

 

[Deerfold]

The version that I have (downloaded last week) shows GoVia Thameslink on page 44 and the Thameslink timetables are headed with TL.

Are you sure you're looking at the winter timetables? It sounds like you're looking at the summer version.

I may have made a mistake there.

However , FCC are still incorrectly referenced on pages 155, 2286, 2324, 2341, 2475 and 2789.

 

[Tony2215]

Cross country are the only operator that never seems to make any changes to their timetables. Their December timetable will probably just be a re-print of their 2009 timetable but with different dates on the front lol

 

[Class 170101]

XC made changes last year speeding up some services.

 

[The Planner]

Expect some bigger changes from XC for May 15 as Reading starts proving useful.

 

[159jim]

Looks like SWT are preparing for the opening of Cranbrook later on in the new year by including it...

http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/uploads/pocket201412.pdf

 

[M60lad]

Not wishing to go back a number of pages, are there any changes to services operated by Northern and Trans Pennine Express in the December timetable?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

May be worth keeping tabs on this from here on in:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/48.aspx

Always interesting to see which TOCs provide details of every last retiming and which simply provide vague, non-specific statements!

 

[Starmill]

May be worth keeping tabs on this from here on in:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/48.aspx

Always interesting to see which TOCs provide details of every last retiming and which simply provide vague, non-specific statements!

Indeed - I always thing that. Only London Overground and CrossCountry so far, the former with every service detailed, and the latter with 'no changes' haha.

 

[berneyarms]

I may have made a mistake there.

However , FCC are still incorrectly referenced on pages 155, 2286, 2324, 2341, 2475 and 2789.

You'll have to explain what those pages are and which tables they are - the version I have downloaded has tables with individual page numbers, rather than overall page numbers.

 

[Deerfold]

You'll have to explain what those pages are and which tables they are - the version I have downloaded has tables with individual page numbers, rather than overall page numbers.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Greater Anglia timetables are now online.

They are all diagrams of routes - ones where FCC previously ran

 

[berneyarms]

Greater Anglia timetables are now online, as are London Overground.

By my reckoning the only operators remaining now are:
c2c
Grand Central
Merseyrail
Northern WYPTE Services
Southern

 

[Deerfold]

Greater Anglia timetables are now online, as are London Overground.

By my reckoning the only operators remaining now are:
c2c
Grand Central
Merseyrail
Northern WYPTE Services
Southern

Northern WYPTE services have been on for a few days - apologies for not updating.

 

[Tony2215]

I see Cross City services in Birmingham have improved and finally there is a direct service in the daytime from Lichfield City to Redditch operating two trains per hour in both directions aswell as frequency to Redditch increasing from every 30 mins to every 20 mins.

 

[adrock1976]

I see Cross City services in Birmingham have improved and finally there is a direct service in the daytime from Lichfield City to Redditch operating two trains per hour in both directions aswell as frequency to Redditch increasing from every 30 mins to every 20 mins.

This is not really a new direct service between Lichfield and Redditch at all as I remember first time round in the 1980s the service frequency was every 30 minutes Lichfield to Redditch, and every 30 minutes Blake Street to Longbridge, combining to give a frequency of every 15 minutes between Blake Street and Longbridge. These were operated with the slam door diesel stock based at Tyseley depot (the numbers began with the prefix letter "T" then three digits).

In other words, Redditch and Lichfield have had their direct services to each others' end of the line reinstated after a lengthy absence.

In peace

Adam

 

[Starmill]

The key point is that new journey opportunities have been opened up and there are now 50% more trains to and from Barnt Green, Alvechurch and Redditch. How busy are peak time arrivals at New St on leaving Barnt Green? It looks as though the first train from Redditch is slightly earlier now too, which can only be a good thing. Last train at 2315 from New St is not bad all things considered, but could be a tad later. It will be interesting to see how much passenger growth this can generate. If I am honest, I wouldn't have thought this line was doing to badly for itself and probably wouldn't have picked it for an increase in services over some others. But the fact they have done it, fairly quickly, is impressive. Hope it helps the Redditch economy out a bit too!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Has this been posted, from Network Rail's Commercial Information?

The new station at CRANBROOK (Devon), between Whimple and Pinhoe is likely to open at some stage during
this timetable. Details of trains stopping at this station will be advertised locally and on the website at
www.southwesttrains.co.uk.
Pye Corner (Ebbw Vale Branch): Scheduled to open on 14th December 2014
Ilkeston (Derbyshire): Expected to open sometime in-between December 2014-May 2015
Newcourt (near Exeter): Expected to open sometime in-between December 2014-May 2015

Remember when someone created a thread about Energlyn & Churchill Park opening and everyone was like 'I didn't know a station there was under construction!?' Well, looks like that's happening to Pye Corner too :P I knew it was in the pipeline, but not opening in two weeks... Can anyone direct me to a thread?

 

[SprinterMan]

It seems that with no announcement at all, the Saffron Walden to Audley End bus link is ending on Christmas Eve. It is also not in GA's timetable any more. Shame really, presumably it is down to lack of usage.

Adam

 

[Class 170101]

It seems that with no announcement at all, the Saffron Walden to Audley End bus link is ending on Christmas Eve. It is also not in GA's timetable any more. Shame really, presumably it is down to lack of usage.

Adam

Wasn't that a franchise commitment?

 

[greatkingrat]

If it was being cancelled, I would expect it to end on the timetable change date, not Christmas Eve. It may just be that no-one's remembered to upload the new timetable yet.

 

[SprinterMan]

If it was being cancelled, I would expect it to end on the timetable change date, not Christmas Eve. It may just be that no-one's remembered to upload the new timetable yet.

"Saffron Walden" has been removed from the new West Anglia timetable, and I cannot find any tickets available for Saffron Walden on any day after the 24th.

Adam