ECML: Fast + Stopper vs. Skip-Stopping

[Manutd1999]

The recent threads about Lumo and the new 'express' service of ECML have got me thinking - what is the best way to serve Edinburgh and other long-distance destinations? I am using the ECML as an example, but I imagine the same argument applies for lots of other parts of the network.

For Edinburgh, the established practice seems to be to have 1x 'fast' service, calling at York and Newcastle only, and 1x 'stopping' service, calling at Doncaster, Darlington, Durham etc. This results in a minimised headline journey time.

The alternative would be to have both services running at roughly the same speed. For example:
- Doncaster-York-Durham-Newcastle
- Peterborough-Darlington-York-Newcastle

This leads to slower headline journey times, but probably evens out the demand slightly better. It is also easier to timetable and may open up capacity on other areas of the network.

Or perhaps a third option, whereby there are 2x skip-stopping services every hour and then a few (5-6) Lumo-style express services each day, as and when they can be pathed?

 

[HST43257]

Or perhaps a third option, whereby there are 2x skip-stopping services every hour and then a few (5-6) Lumo-style express services each day, as and when they can be pathed?

I’d assume that the path would be accessible every hour, so it’d be either a third tph every hour or only in hours of high demand.