December 2021 Timetable change

[HamworthyGoods]

I thought LNER was back to pre Covid timetable already?

LNER has found that slightly easier to achieve - the crew training profile was factored around delivering the additional 1tph (now deferred) so has allowed the pre-Covid timetable to more easily be delivered than on AWC.

 

[Martin_1981]

Any plans for the hourly Bournemouth to Manchester to resume from it's currently bi hourly+ state?

Probably not until May 2022 at the earliest, by the sound of it XC are carrying on with their existing temporary timetable (on their long distance Voyager and HST services) and running longer and fewer trains in these routes.

 

[splashoutradio]

Like all sources of timetable information for December, this comes with a huge "will almost certainly be subject to change" warning... But, using Network Rail data released yesterday, PDF timetables for UK routes (minus some lines in the South East) are available at www.railwaydata.co.uk/timetables/Dec21/.

Updates are made approximately 3 times a month up to the December 12th start date.
Hopefully they'll be of interest to someone.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Like all sources of timetable information for December, this comes with a huge "will almost certainly be subject to change" warning... But, using Network Rail data released yesterday, PDF timetables for UK routes (minus some lines in the South East) are available at www.railwaydata.co.uk/timetables/Dec21/.

Updates are made approximately 3 times a month up to the December 12th start date.
Hopefully they'll be of interest to someone.

The site is very useful indeed.

In the absence of TfW pdf (or proper printed) timetables it is the best way to get an overall picture of all services, with all station calls, on lines such as Chester to Holyhead. Real Time Trains provides a good view of station to station times, but not the full picture.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Same situation at my local station give or take some very minor timing changes.
Good to excellent service Monday to Saturday, awful service Sunday.

 

[Starmill]

I thought LNER was back to pre Covid timetable already?

LNER has found that slightly easier to achieve - the crew training profile was factored around delivering the additional 1tph (now deferred) so has allowed the pre-Covid timetable to more easily be delivered than on AWC.

Unfortunately this is also not quite correct. For example, there still isn't the full 2tph between London and Leeds.

 

[DaveHarries]

Probably not until May 2022 at the earliest, by the sound of it XC are carrying on with their existing temporary timetable (on their long distance Voyager and HST services) and running longer and fewer trains in these routes.

Usefully it seems that GWR are increasing the number of local stoppers between Cardiff Central and Penzance to a total of 13 trips per day Mondays to Fridays (up from 7), 13 trips in total on Saturdays (up from 4) and also providing 8 on Sundays. Also on Mondays to Fridays the 1550 Penzance to Exeter St. Davids is extended to Gloucester. To add to that the 2112 Paignton - Exeter St. Davids will leave at 2110 and run through to Bristol TM. The 1915 Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads (arr. 2350) is also set to continue.

Dave

 

[jon0844]

Route learning for the WGC to Sevenoaks services has been ongoing for a while now, but I assume they won't be completed in time to schedule the trains to start from December, but I assume this must now be on for May 2022?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Usefully it seems that GWR are increasing the number of local stoppers between Cardiff Central and Penzance to a total of 13 trips per day Mondays to Fridays (up from 7), 13 trips in total on Saturdays (up from 4) and also providing 8 on Sundays. Also on Mondays to Fridays the 1550 Penzance to Exeter St. Davids is extended to Gloucester. To add to that the 2112 Paignton - Exeter St. Davids will leave at 2110 and run through to Bristol TM. The 1915 Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads (arr. 2350) is also set to continue.

Dave

Also from December on M-F there’s a new 07.52 Bristol to Penzance which allows the current 06.55 (now 07.00) Gloucester to Penzance to run fast from Bristol to Bridgwater and arrives in Penzance some 30 minutes earlier than currently.

 

[DanNCL]

I thought LNER was back to pre Covid timetable already?

Unfortunately this is also not quite correct. For example, there still isn't the full 2tph between London and Leeds.

The Edinburgh route is back to the pre covid timetable. The Leeds route still has quite a few services missing, though some of those were removed back in 2018 because they had a shortage of working HSTs and Mark 4 sets, and those services were never reinstated. I’m not certain how many of the missing services on the Leeds route actually ran up til March 2020, as opposed to having been cut earlier.

 

[800001]

The Edinburgh route is back to the pre covid timetable. The Leeds route still has quite a few services missing, though some of those were removed back in 2018 because they had a shortage of working HSTs and Mark 4 sets, and those services were never reinstated. I’m not certain how many of the missing services on the Leeds route actually ran up til March 2020, as opposed to having been cut earlier.

5 North bound to Leeds, and 4 Southbound from Leeds, Still missing from the current lner timetable.

 

[387star]

Understand some GWR Brighton trains will stop at Portchester from the change ?

 

[GoneSouth]

Also from December on M-F there’s a new 07.52 Bristol to Penzance which allows the current 06.55 (now 07.00) Gloucester to Penzance to run fast from Bristol to Bridgwater and arrives in Penzance some 30 minutes earlier than currently.

This is brilliant news. Now just hope it’s a HST and I’m very happy!

 

[jfollows]

2C65 0752 Bristol Temple Meads to Penzance
Pathed as Class 158/168/170/175 DMU
Planned for 90mph max

but 0749 departure from Bristol to Penzance (from Gloucester) is HST

 

[HamworthyGoods]

This is brilliant news. Now just hope it’s a HST and I’m very happy!

It is planned for an HST yes.

Realtime Trains | 1C71 0700 Gloucester to Penzance | 22/12/2021

Real-time train running information for 1C71 0700 departure from Gloucester to Penzance on 22/12/2021. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Halish Railway]

With Five Ways being my local station now, I am a bit dissapointed to see that 6tph isn’t returning in December.

 

[liamf656]

With Five Ways being my local station now, I am a bit dissapointed to see that 6tph isn’t returning in December.

But 4tph is better than nothing. I would happily have that frequency at my local

 

[Bald Rick]

With Five Ways being my local station now, I am a bit dissapointed to see that 6tph isn’t returning in December.

I’d be surprised if it ever came back.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

I’d be surprised if it ever came back.

Indeed I think it’s been pretty much confirmed the long term plan for the cross city is 4tph

 

[GoneSouth]

With Five Ways being my local station now, I am a bit dissapointed to see that 6tph isn’t returning in December.

Are the 4 tph currently overcrowded?

Some of the stations / services near me have 1 train per 2 hours which make them pointless for commuting so grit your teeth, board the next train that arrives and appreciate what you have

 

[dk1]

I’d be surprised if it ever came back.

There was an article in MR magazine a few months back where WMR said they had no plans to bring 6tph back again as not needed.

 

[newtownmgr]

4 Tph on the cross city for the foreseeable future. All services should be 6 car. Allows for a more robust timetable whilst most depots are short of staff, and also allows for traction training to take place for the 730’s. The Snow Hill lines are also staying at 4 an hour for the time being again due to shortages of both staff & units. Also again 196 training has been factored in for Worcester depot.
To be honest i don’t think we will see any increase in services until the commuter traffic returns to pre pandemic levels.

 

[Jamesrob637]

4 Tph on the cross city for the foreseeable future. All services should be 6 car. Allows for a more robust timetable whilst most depots are short of staff, and also allows for traction training to take place for the 730’s. The Snow Hill lines are also staying at 4 an hour for the time being again due to shortages of both staff & units. Also again 196 training has been factored in for Worcester depot.
To be honest i don’t think we will see any increase in services until the commuter traffic returns to pre pandemic levels.

If they're all booked 6-car, it'll be handy.

 

[Spirit555]

If they're all booked 6-car, it'll be handy.

Currently not all 6 car. There are 11 diagrams, so need 22 out of 26 units. With one usually away and multiple faults on some, there are usually 2 diagrams that are 3 car. Regularly see 3 or 4 units on Soho in the daytime. On a Sunday there are still 3 car diagrams, despite the Bromsgrove service having 1 train removed, that being xx52 from Longbridge to B'ham NS.

Mark

 

[voyagerdude220]

It is planned for an HST yes.

Realtime Trains | 1C71 0700 Gloucester to Penzance | 22/12/2021

Real-time train running information for 1C71 0700 departure from Gloucester to Penzance on 22/12/2021. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I'm intrigued as to why that particular train stops at Bridgwater, but no where else like Highbridge?

Also seems very tightly timed between Bristol Temple Meads and Bridgwater.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I haven't looked but I wonder if cross-country will reintroduce a few more Edinburgh to Glasgow Central via Motherwell services?
Given that ScotRail have clearly stated their non intent to reinstate their services on this flow no due to lack of staff if cross-country don't get in and do something then NH one of the bus companies, most of who are already laughing at the railway in Scotland right now will simply put their hand in their pocket and start a service which passengers will inevitably use and and the railway will have a hard job to bring those passengers back

 

[berneyarms]

I'm intrigued as to why that particular train stops at Bridgwater, but no where else like Highbridge?

Also seems very tightly timed between Bristol Temple Meads and Bridgwater.

Presumably because there is a stopper leaving Temple Meads 3 mins behind it.

It’s got 24 mins to do the trip, compared with 22 mins for a Voyager passing, so not that tight?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

I'm intrigued as to why that particular train stops at Bridgwater, but no where else like Highbridge?

Also seems very tightly timed between Bristol Temple Meads and Bridgwater.

I’m sure Wales & West use to run some “Alphaline” trains fast from Bristol TM to Bridgwater in the old days of Cardiff / Penzance etc.

Bridgwater is largest town (population 35k) on the section assuming you take the Weston avoider so discount WSM (Burnham has population 19k)

 

[casual onion]

Are we likely to ever see a return to the half hourly stopping service between Sheffield & Doncaster VIA Rotherham Central?

I hope so, fed up of waiting in Doncaster for 30 minutes for trains to York. Especially in the winter.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I’m sure Wales & West use to run some “Alphaline” trains fast from Bristol TM to Bridgwater in the old days of Cardiff / Penzance etc.

Bridgwater is largest town (population 35k) on the section assuming you take the Weston avoider so discount WSM (Burnham has population 19k)

Thanks for your replies guys.

I've probably overestimated the time it takes a Castle HST to slow down stopping at Bridgwater.