First ScotRail franchise extended until 2014

[me123]

My point exactly: a rubbish service on the route. It almost makes you want to drive down the M6: well, it's almost as quick. An additional service to GLC would be beneficial and profitable IMO, but they just don't have the sets. 9 carriages a day is pretty poor.

There will be a major recast of the FTPE timetable in December, this will mean an increase in the number of services from Manchester-Glasgow/Edinburgh and a number of stations being either dropped or will have a significantly reduced number of train stopping to/from Scotland. Timetables are currently being finalised and the 08 TT will appear here in the future.

So much for that then :roll:

 

[djw1981]

I posted the link to teh draft 08 timetable......

 

[me123]

Well noticed

 

[djw1981]

I can't see that changing much, as TPE won't have many more units to play with, and paths are pretty much determined around VWC and freights.

 

[me123]

That is the problem: the fact that from December 08 there will be more 125mph paths running around the much slower freights. The units problem could be helped by the addition of 180s into the mix, whic provide higher capacity than a 185 and are probably better equiped to run to GLC and EDB. Furthermore, this frees up a couple of 185s to potentially be used to expand services elsewhere.

Or course, the problem remains that they can only travel at non-tilting speeds: from that persepctive, they're not much better than 185s.

 

[djw1981]

The freight is not too bad - most WCML freight IIRC runs at 75, slower stuff being routed via GSW and S&C. Thus only through carlisle is there n issue, and here there are avoiding lines and slow lines.

IIRC there is a spare path every hour - hence why Glasgow Trains are applying to run to Liverpool & Nottingham. Interestingly this could mean a 2hourly service to Leeds or Manchester or Liverpool via WCML.

The Pendo's and 185' are not at capacity, and given overcrowding on the long distance EMT routes, I think they will be higher up the queue than TPE for rolling stock.

 

[me123]

Fair point. In Scotland, we get spoiled with trains and sometimes I forget about issues with EMT. (I'm pretty sure I won't forget about FGW of course). Glasgow Trains is something else I'm looking forward to: 2-hourly to Leeds in paricular would be great!

 

[djw1981]

We have long recognised that the main constraint has been the lack of paths between Glasgow and Carlisle, which is essentially a mixed traffic two-track railway where 100 mph timings were difficult to plan alongside 125 mph passenger and 60 mph freight trains.

However, the outlook for providing competitive paths is now better given the future conversion of cross country services from 125 mph to 100 mph timings allowing other 100 mph trains to be more easily 'flighted' into the plan.

From Renaisance Trains (Glasgow Trains) website

It seems they are looking for 2 trains a day to Nottingham, no mention of the frequency to Liverpool or Blackpool (and IIRC the Blackpool was Summer only)

Renaissance also want to run London-Blackpool & Humber Coast & City - they are fast becoming the only people to really grip the bull by the horns as far as OA goes, with possibly part of 4 OA operators. It just goes to show what could happen if a few of the current TOC's were to be a bit more interested in OA application of their own. FSR have a 7year guaranteed franchise now, so lets see them taking some risk and introducing some new services without a TS specification!