Forth road bridge closed completely, effect on rail network?

[hibtastic]

I wasn't trying to prove any point other than that the train I was on was quieter than I thought it would be.

There is no doubt the cross-Forth trains are extremely busy in the main right now! They are at the best of times anyway! Scotrail have done well to increase the services in the way they have though and seem to be managing them well.

The journey across tonight was very pleasant by the way in a mark 2 carriage all to myself!

 

[455driver]

I wasn't trying to prove any point other than that the train I was on was quieter than I thought it would be.

There is no doubt the cross-Forth trains are extremely busy in the main right now! They are at the best of times anyway! Scotrail have done well to increase the services in the way they have though and seem to be managing them well.

The journey across tonight was very pleasant by the way in a mark 2 carriage all to myself!

What was that rake like when it left Edinburger/Haymaker on its previous or next trip?
They have to get the stock back there to work another train or would you prefer the trains only did a one way trip into Edinburger/Haymaker in the morning and then got stabled for the day before working one trip out in the evening?
They are trying to get the best out of the stock and that means they will run in full, out empty before running back in full again, then the reverse in the evening!

 

[OxtedL]

hibtastic's original post was:

Have the extra loco hauled services started today? I am getting the train from Inverkeithing in the next few hours and wondered if I should hang around for one.

They then attached a photo of a train to answer their own question, and commented that it was empty. I don't think at any point they suggested all services were quiet or did anything else to suggest they were a follower of Crowding-denial, so I don't know why you are getting angry.

 

[Legend]

Is there any more loco hauled services due to run, does anyone know?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'll answer my own question - yes they are! This is how busy the 1729 from Inverkeithing to Haymarket is.

Rather quiet then. Happy Days!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yeah chose a train going the 'wrong' way to prove your point! :roll:

Brilliant. Made me laugh.

 

[overthewater]

I'll answer my own question - yes they are! This is how busy the 1729 from Inverkeithing to Haymarket is.

Yeah chose a train going the 'wrong' way to prove your point! :roll:

Actually to be fair, if he had pick a slightly early train it would have been busier, like 4pm or even 5pm.

Lets be fair here that 1729 from Inverkeithing to Haymarket is just an empty shuttle, all the passengers are on the earlier trains.

People please don't think there are no passengers going Fife to Edinburgh at that time of night.

 

[Starmill]

Yeah chose a train going the 'wrong' way to prove your point! :roll:

Exactly my thoughts.
Sam

Alternatively, it could have been that that was just the journey hibtastic was making and certain posters just like to have a go wherever without actually thinking :roll:

 

[ainsworth74]

Perhaps would could move on now? I think we've discussed the details of hibtastic's journey more than enough.

 

[overthewater]

It seem Stagecoach has confirmed it will NOT operate any buses on xmas or new years day between Fife and Edinburgh. Its possible the Boxing day and 2nd Jan will see an improved 10mins timetable.

That would leave only the trains with the option to provide a service.

 

[me123]

I think the chances of the railway providing Christmas Day service are considerably less than that of Stagecoach. Stagecoach need bus drivers and an engineer at the depot. Scotrail need drivers, guards, signalmen, people to maintain the line and engineers at the depot. It's a more complex operation.

I'm not saying it's impossible, it's certainly possible. But Scotrail need to get loads of people onboard, and don't really have time to negotiate. I suspect that the only way over the Forth at Christmas is taking a car over the Kincardine Bridge

 

[Starmill]

I have always found it curious that Edinburgh has lots of trains on New Year's Day - but all of them go to England!

 

[marks87]

I have always found it curious that Edinburgh has lots of trains on New Year's Day - but all of them go to England!

It's because New Year is much bigger in Scotland than in England and ScotRail more or less treat it the same as Christmas Day. Presumably the same applies to NR Scotland to an extent, which is why VTEC and XC won't go north of Edinburgh.

As a side note, although it's not illegal for large shops to open in Scotland on NYD (unlike Christmas Day), there is provision in the legislation for the Scottish Government to make it so after considering "the economic impact, and the impact on family life, of large shops opening for the purpose of making retail sales on New Year's Day".

January 2nd is also a holiday (4th this New Year). It was only about 7 or 8 years or so ago our local Asda closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, NYD and 2nd January. Now it's only Christmas Day.

Anyway, I think I've wandered far enough from the topic

 

[Starmill]

I know why it is; I just find it amusing that mainline trains still operate into England (and call at Dunbar!) - and The North East has the same situation with TP, XC and GR running but not NT (so, bizarrely, Chester-le-Street usually gets a service at about 0600 but no other 'local' station gets any). It's also reflected in other parts of culture, e.g. The Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester is typically heaving on New Year's Day, but Metrocentre in Gateshead isn't even open.

 

[me123]

True. In fact, in relatively recent history (as in my Mother remembers it), NYD was the day off in Scotland over the period, whilst quite a lot of people had to work on Christmas Day. Including my Grandfather who was a builder.

It's flipped around now. Christmas Day is a complete halt for all but the most essential industries. And NYD is much less of a deal. In the last few years, it's become rare for the big supermarkets not to open on NYD in Scotland, for example. However, Scotrail's service still mirrors the old traditions. We don't have service on Christmas Day (like everywhere else in the country), but unlike England we don't operate any service on NYD (aside from services to England) and have a limited Boxing Day service (in Greater Glasgow only). Unlike lots of England, our core routes (including services between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen) have no service for three days of the year.

Families in Scotland still get together for both days. In extreme cases, some people only see each other twice a year, both times within the space of a week! By the time NYD rolls around, you're sick and tired of all this festive nonsense. We now only meet as a family once over this period. And I think that's happening with other people as well - when I worked on the tills, there was a real sense of excitement for Christmas amongst the customers, but the run up to New Year was just lethargic by comparison.

 

[hibtastic]

I was thinking today - Scotrail are hopefully thinking about running extra late trains on Fridays and Saturdays leading up to Xmas over to Fife. In the past few years the last trains home have been rammed and this year will be even worse!

 

[mbreckers]

easyJet have never served PIK. Ryanair have, however, moved some flights from PIK to GLA for various reasons. Not least because Wizzair had already moved their Polish operations to GLA, so FR had to do the same to continue competing. FR continue to have a small base at PIK (and probably will have for the foreseeable future, given that they have a major maintenance base at the airport). OT, but I think the future for PIK lies in non-passenger operations.

Apparently the future of Prestwick Airport lies in this spaceport were apparently getting.

 

[Scotrail84]

I was thinking today - Scotrail are hopefully thinking about running extra late trains on Fridays and Saturdays leading up to Xmas over to Fife. In the past few years the last trains home have been rammed and this year will be even worse!

Absolutely no chance. The last train will be the 23:19 Perth.

Xmas eve and New Year's Eve the last train to Fife is the 21:08 Dundee.

 

[overthewater]

At least the last buses will be 00.05 plus the night buses at 01.20 and 03.20.

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...ridge-man-collapses-on-packed-train-1-3971990

AN elderly man needed oxygen as he was stretchered off a commuter train bursting at the seams because of the Forth Road Bridge closure.

Passengers claimed the man fainted as a direct result of conditions on the three-carriage train taking commuters from Fife to Edinburgh.



Read more: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...apses-on-packed-train-1-3971990#ixzz3twEPhBEl

 

[Class83]

It's because New Year is much bigger in Scotland than in England and ScotRail more or less treat it the same as Christmas Day. Presumably the same applies to NR Scotland to an extent, which is why VTEC and XC won't go north of Edinburgh.

As a side note, although it's not illegal for large shops to open in Scotland on NYD (unlike Christmas Day), there is provision in the legislation for the Scottish Government to make it so after considering "the economic impact, and the impact on family life, of large shops opening for the purpose of making retail sales on New Year's Day".

January 2nd is also a holiday (4th this New Year). It was only about 7 or 8 years or so ago our local Asda closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, NYD and 2nd January. Now it's only Christmas Day.

Anyway, I think I've wandered far enough from the topic

GNER used to operate to Aberdeen on New Years Day, though I'm not aware of Scotrail ever doing so. Presumably it wasn't deemed worth paying the signalmen for 4 trains. But there is precedent for trains running north of Edinburgh on New Year. I don't see Christmas Day happening, but possibly Boxing Day as Scotrail already run some trains in the Glasgow area so it's presumably a matter of practicality & demand, rather than principle.

 

[Carntyne]

I would assume there'll be engineering works over the Christmas shutdown affecting Edinburgh & Haymarket

 

[Scotrail84]

GNER used to operate to Aberdeen on New Years Day, though I'm not aware of Scotrail ever doing so. Presumably it wasn't deemed worth paying the signalmen for 4 trains. But there is precedent for trains running north of Edinburgh on New Year. I don't see Christmas Day happening, but possibly Boxing Day as Scotrail already run some trains in the Glasgow area so it's presumably a matter of practicality & demand, rather than principle.

That's an old spt agreement. Spt does not exist anymore, not seen if any services are planned for Xmas or New Years days here.

 

[najaB]

I would assume there'll be engineering works over the Christmas shutdown affecting Edinburgh & Haymarket

I think it was posted up-thread that there's work at one or more of the Haymarket junctions. There was certainly what looked like a pointwork stored at the side of the track when I passed there on Sunday.

 

[overthewater]

That's an old spt agreement. Spt does not exist anymore, not seen if any services are planned for Xmas or New Years days here.

Good to see some people are on the ball.

And will continue this year:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/de...t/christmas-timetable-2015-electronic-002.pdf

 

[Scotrail84]

Good to see some people are on the ball.

And will continue this year:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/de...t/christmas-timetable-2015-electronic-002.pdf

Aye, very funny, wideo

 

[Scotrail84]

Good to see some people are on the ball.

And will continue this year:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/de...t/christmas-timetable-2015-electronic-002.pdf

Was that a dig at me?

 

[overthewater]

Was that a dig at me?

No, it was more of a complement since nearly everyone tends to forget SPT run the train until about 10 years ago. It was them that demanded the Boxing day service.

 

[FQ]

Does anyone know if Scotrail will put the 68s/67s out on Saturday the 19th since it's on the run up to Xmas?

 

[Scotrail84]

No, it was more of a complement since nearly everyone tends to forget SPT run the train until about 10 years ago. It was them that demanded the Boxing day service.

Ah, appologies
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Does anyone know if Scotrail will put the 68s/67s out on Saturday the 19th since it's on the run up to Xmas?

There are no ScotRail/DRS loco hauled services running at weekends. Only Mon-Fri the booked trains and the additional specials run.

 

[caliwag]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...-train-used-to-tackle-Forth-bridge-chaos.html

The Telegraph can disclose that ScotRail has been forced to bring in a diesel locomotive and six carriages from Hampshire to handle peak demand from commuters travelling between Edinburgh and Fife.

A train from the south of England has been brought into Scotland in attempt to spare the SNP’s blushes amid the ongoing travel chaos caused by the Forth Road Bridge closure.

The Telegraph can disclose that ScotRail has been forced to bring in a diesel locomotive and six carriages from Hampshire to handle peak demand from commuters travelling between Edinburgh and Fife.

ScotRail, which is run by Dutch company Abellio, said it has leased a locomotive with six carriages and more than 300 seats from DB Schenker, a transportation logistics company.

Its depot is based more than 400 miles away in Eastleigh, near Southampton, and the train will remain on hire for as long as the bridge is closed.

A second locomotive and set of six carriages has been hired from another company ...

 

[Carntyne]

'Can reveal' it's hardly a secret.

 

[me123]

The Telegraph can disclose that ScotRail has been forced to bring in a diesel locomotive and six carriages from Hampshire to handle peak demand from commuters travelling between Edinburgh and Fife.

"Has been forced to hire..." makes it sound like a bad thing. I think it's a sensible thing. They're getting in more carriages, more seats, more standing space... why has it been phrased in such a negative light? A cheap shot.