Future Remapping to CrossCountry

[4-SUB 4732]

The route study said that before actually finding out they don't fit which was clever.



Why is terminating at Macclesfield a bad idea? The only reason it does that is because the original lay over time it had at Stoke, where the original plan to terminate was, is enough to get it to Macc and back.

Because it's terminating in blooming Macclesfield. The reality is that it will be a classic-compatible set and there would be absolutely no issues at all with it operating beyond Macclesfield to Stockport and perhaps on to Bolton so it has through trains to London or indeed just terminating at Piccadilly. There is a lot to be said for flows such as Macclesfield > Stockport > Piccadilly. A Macclesfield terminator is no good use of capacity and that train will never, ever be full!

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Because it's terminating in blooming Macclesfield. The reality is that it will be a classic-compatible set and there would be absolutely no issues at all with it operating beyond Macclesfield to Stockport and perhaps on to Bolton so it has through trains to London or indeed just terminating at Piccadilly. There is a lot to be said for flows such as Macclesfield > Stockport > Piccadilly. A Macclesfield terminator is no good use of capacity and that train will never, ever be full!

I believe an extension of that Classic Compatible Service to Manchester Piccadilly Via Stockport is being investigated.

 

[pt_mad]

Removing the extremities is obviously the most logical thing to do if you're remapping, and the franchise is short of capacity and available stock. Then attempt to lengthen as much through the core as can be done.

Practically though a mini attempt was proposed in (2017 I believe?) and there appears to be much stakeholder opposition to this. Realistically it probably can't happen without causing much controversy so probably not likely anytime soon.

 

[The Planner]

Noted. Reminder to doubt any future route study’s accuracy...

Like I have often said, they are effectively a shopping list for funders, they decide what to buy. Would be interesting to see what has made it and hasnt from old RUS documents.

 

[The Planner]

Because it's terminating in blooming Macclesfield. The reality is that it will be a classic-compatible set and there would be absolutely no issues at all with it operating beyond Macclesfield to Stockport and perhaps on to Bolton so it has through trains to London or indeed just terminating at Piccadilly. There is a lot to be said for flows such as Macclesfield > Stockport > Piccadilly. A Macclesfield terminator is no good use of capacity and that train will never, ever be full!

Why isnt it a good use, it removed wastage in a diagram? You can't get it to Manchester anyway, that has been looked at already.

 

[The Ham]

Removing the extremities is obviously the most logical thing to do if you're remapping, and the franchise is short of capacity and available stock. Then attempt to lengthen as much through the core as can be done.

Practically though a mini attempt was proposed in (2017 I believe?) and there appears to be much stakeholder opposition to this. Realistically it probably can't happen without causing much controversy so probably not likely anytime soon.

Which is why there should be consideration given to remapping where Voyagers operate and provide suitable alternative rolling stock (such as 185's to Paignton, 350's to Manchester, etc ) so that locations keep their direct services but don't use Voyagers when alternitves could work.

Cutting off places like Plymouth and Guildford tend not to provide many extra units, due to the limited number of services they run. In the case of Guildford it's one service in the morning and one in the evening at a time when the unit would be of little use elsewhere.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

Which is why there should be consideration given to remapping where Voyagers operate and provide suitable alternative rolling stock (such as 185's to Paignton, 350's to Manchester, etc ) so that locations keep their direct services but don't use Voyagers when alternitves could work.

Cutting off places like Plymouth and Guildford tend not to provide many extra units, due to the limited number of services they run. In the case of Guildford it's one service in the morning and one in the evening at a time when the unit would be of little use elsewhere.

(At a time when the unit just goes empty from Eastleigh to Reading via Guildford anyway to keep driver route knowledge up and vice versa in the evening...)