Engineering Works - timing

[modernrail]

As we approach another series of blockades, a question. We are always told that the timing is good around Bank Holidays etc because far less people use the system then. However, is this correct? In particular, is it correct of long distance services, which seem to bear the brunt of such blockades.

I can see that overall system use is lower on these days because there are far less commuters. However, I wonder whether the same can be said for long distance services, particularly at some key times when the lack of such service is a real pain. I am thinking in particular of the summer holiday period, bank holidays in general and Christmas Eve.

If there is a distinction to be made, could planning be better, for instance ensuring blockades that adversely affect longer distance routes more than commuter routes happen on 'off-peak' weekends outside summer and Christmas?

 

[InOban]

I quite agree. I can remember when the Christmas period was a time when all the stock used for summer holiday trains was brought into service for all the extra Visiting Friends and Family journeys. And Sunday engineering was finished to allow a full service by 1600.

On the WHL, off-season traffic is concentrated on the weekend. I am always suggesting that they would be more efficient having a three-day Tue/Thurs closure rather than a succession of Sundays.

You only have to look at anglo-scottish airline schedules to realise how little traffic there is on Saturday evenings, unless there is a special event.

 

[Dr Hoo]

One aspect that hasn't been mentioned is 'student' traffic. Speaking very broadly most college and university courses don't require students to be on campus 'up to' and 'immediately after' bank holiday weekends or during high summer. So a material amount of such traffic is not around at those times.

Certain types of engineering work, such as that requiring significant 'wheels free' signal testing are hard to encompass in shorter blockades and a third day can make all the difference.

 

[hwl]

One aspect that hasn't been mentioned is 'student' traffic. Speaking very broadly most college and university courses don't require students to be on campus 'up to' and 'immediately after' bank holiday weekends or during high summer. So a material amount of such traffic is not around at those times.

Certain types of engineering work, such as that requiring significant 'wheels free' signal testing are hard to encompass in shorter blockades and a third day can make all the difference.

Also lots of schools traffic on certain routes. Often Rail Replacement busses and coaches are only available during weekends and school holidays (Ditto University sponsored bus services)

 

[The Planner]

Operators ask for work to be put into Bank holidays as they are the ones who say the passenger flows are lower. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are effectively "free" as we do not have to pay compensation to operators and NR would love to do more blocks on weekends as it evens out resource demands.

 

[Bald Rick]

And Easter weekend has the lowest amount of long distance traffic of any weekend of the year.

Another thing to remember is that long distance passengers make up a relatively small proportion of total passengers.

 

[InOban]

And Easter weekend has the lowest amount of long distance traffic of any weekend of the year.

Another thing to remember is that long distance passengers make up a relatively small proportion of total passengers.

But I don't believe Easter used to be the lowest period for long distance travel. I remember reading that at one time Maundy Thursday was the busiest day in the year for train enquiries. The public now assume that train services will be disrupted over holiday weekends and ignore the train as a realistic travel option.
Of course these times are the best times to work on commuter routes, and that most routes don't fall neatly into 'commuter' or ' long distance' . But it is lazy to assume that weekends or holidays are the least disruptive times for all routes.

 

[30907]

But I don't believe Easter used to be the lowest period for long distance travel. I remember reading that at one time Maundy Thursday was the busiest day in the year for train enquiries. The public now assume that train services will be disrupted over holiday weekends and ignore the train as a realistic travel option.
Of course these times are the best times to work on commuter routes, and that most routes don't fall neatly into 'commuter' or ' long distance' . But it is lazy to assume that weekends or holidays are the least disruptive times for all routes.

It all depends how you define weekend. Peak longer distance travel times are still the last working evening out and the last holiday afternoon/evening back. Good Friday/Saturday lunchtime onwards is much quieter and that's when most engineering work is scheduled for.

 

[al78]

And Easter weekend has the lowest amount of long distance traffic of any weekend of the year.

That is probably because they are all parked on the M25 on Good Friday.

 

[Bald Rick]

But I don't believe Easter used to be the lowest period for long distance travel. I remember reading that at one time Maundy Thursday was the busiest day in the year for train enquiries. The public now assume that train services will be disrupted over holiday weekends and ignore the train as a realistic travel option.
Of course these times are the best times to work on commuter routes, and that most routes don't fall neatly into 'commuter' or ' long distance' . But it is lazy to assume that weekends or holidays are the least disruptive times for all routes.

Maundy Thursday is the busiest day for long distance travel on the railway. The Easter weekend starts the day after, and the drop off is astonishing, and not because of engineering work!

Please be assured that the TOCs know, in terrific detail, how many passengers are on each train / line of route on any given time / day / date, and use this data when discussing engineering works with NR.

 

[DarloRich]

Maundy Thursday is the busiest day for long distance travel on the railway. The Easter weekend starts the day after, and the drop off is astonishing, and not because of engineering work!

Please be assured that the TOCs know, in terrific detail, how many passengers are on each train / line of route on any given time / day / date, and use this data when discussing engineering works with NR.

We have no need of experts here! TOC's do thinks just to upset passengers. Get with the programme.

 

[AlterEgo]

And Easter weekend has the lowest amount of long distance traffic of any weekend of the year.

Another thing to remember is that long distance passengers make up a relatively small proportion of total passengers.

Not only that, but the travellers on a Bank Holiday are some of the poorest-yielding and least frequent customers.

 

[InOban]

And as infrequent customers, they need to be given an excellent experience to encourage them to travel more often. Rather than completing their trip with the phrase 'Never again'

The railway needs to focus more on those who have a choice of travel mode.

 

[InOban]

Deleted.