GA Meridian Water Shuttle

[Domk]

Hi everyone

I’ve been noticing a trend recently where Greater Anglia have been not running the Meridian Water to Stratford service on Sundays. A good example is the Sunday just gone (Sunday 26th March) where there were no engineering works, the Hertford East trains ran to Stratford as normal. GA had no answer when I tweeted them. This has happened a few times with no explanation. How is this allowed to happen!??

 

[Andy Pacer]

Out of interest has the Meridian Water call been added to the Liverpool Street trains on Sundays as a consequence of not running the direct Stratfords?

 

[SargeNpton]

Out of interest has the Meridian Water call been added to the Liverpool Street trains on Sundays as a consequence of not running the direct Stratfords?

Yes. This Sunday, 2nd April, is an example of that.

 

[jon0844]

What are the numbers like at Meridian Water? Since Ikea closed, the only thing nearby is now Tesco? Do a lot of local residents use it (still quite a long walk)?

 

[Andy Pacer]

What are the numbers like at Meridian Water? Since Ikea closed, the only thing nearby is now Tesco? Do a lot of local residents use it (still quite a long walk)?

It seemed lightly used on Saturday when I was there, although there was an event on at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium so the trains were still packed out.

 

[Domk]

Out of interest has the Meridian Water call been added to the Liverpool Street trains on Sundays as a consequence of not running the direct Stratfords?

Yes it was added to the Cambridge service, but restricted to 1tph shared with Northumberland Park. But no explanation from GA as to why as no engineering works indicated. It’s advertised for this Sunday but not last Sunday

 

[Railperf]

Hi everyone

I’ve been noticing a trend recently where Greater Anglia have been not running the Meridian Water to Stratford service on Sundays. A good example is the Sunday just gone (Sunday 26th March) where there were no engineering works, the Hertford East trains ran to Stratford as normal. GA had no answer when I tweeted them. This has happened a few times with no explanation. How is this allowed to happen!??

The problem seems to be that Hertford East trains run in a different path to the Bishops Stortford services. That meant the Meridian Water trains kept in their same path seemed to be only 5 minutes before or after the Hertford Easts - which makes no sense. It woukd have been better to repath the Meridian Water servuces to deliver 4tph at 15 min intervals. But maybe cost cutting is to blame. Stratford to Tottenham Hale via Lea Bridge is always busy even on Sundays. Most people join / alight at Tottenham Hale or Stratford. Lea Bridge is also a busy station too now catering for the South end of Leyton.

 

[Domk]

The problem seems to be that Hertford East trains run in a different path to the Bishops Stortford services. That meant the Meridian Water trains kept in their same path seemed to be only 5 minutes before or after the Hertford Easts - which makes no sense. It woukd have been better to repath the Meridian Water servuces to deliver 4tph at 15 min intervals. But maybe cost cutting is to blame. Stratford to Tottenham Hale via Lea Bridge is always busy even on Sundays. Most people join / alight at Tottenham Hale or Stratford. Lea Bridge is also a busy station too now catering for the South end of Leyton.

Yes at Tottenham Hale they run 14/44 from Hertford East and 25/55 from Meridian Water. The worst part is the Monday-Saturday service which sees the Stratford-Meridian Water service arrive at 26/56 at Tottenham Hale when the Hertford East local is 25/55, so in many instances you see people running to get their connection to continue the local journey. Same happens in the opposite direction at Tottenham Hale, from Meridian Water the times are 13/43 and the Hertford East local is 15/45. So a lack of joined up thinking. I’m sure it’s possible to have the Meridian water service arrive at 17/47 and modify the return similarly

 

[Basil Jet]

What are the numbers like at Meridian Water? Since Ikea closed, the only thing nearby is now Tesco? Do a lot of local residents use it (still quite a long walk)?

There are a very large number of semi-constructed residences looming over it, so I would wait a few months before judging its success.

 

[Railperf]

The whole timetable needs a refresh to reflect the Class 720 running times being superior. At Tottenham Hale southbound in particular - longer than necessary running time and long dwell times of 1 to 1.5 min cause bunching of trains. It is. Shame the track layout doesn't allow use of Platform 2 for all southbound trains to allow some overlapping there. I.E - a second train being to pull into P3 while the preceding southbound train unloads at P2. Probably should have built a platform 1 too for more flexibility. And to help service recovery during disruption.

 

[dk1]

The whole timetable needs a refresh to reflect the Class 720 running times being superior. At Tottenham Hale southbound in particular - longer than necessary running time and long dwell times of 1 to 1.5 min cause bunching of trains. It is. Shame the track layout doesn't allow use of Platform 2 for all southbound trains to allow some overlapping there. I.E - a second train being to pull into P3 while the preceding southbound train unloads at P2. Probably should have built a platform 1 too for more flexibility. And to help service recovery during disruption.

I wonder if anything will change in December? Everything seems on hold awaiting the delayed ECML timetable upgrade/change.

 

[Class 170101]

The whole timetable needs a refresh to reflect the Class 720 running times being superior. At Tottenham Hale southbound in particular - longer than necessary running time and long dwell times of 1 to 1.5 min cause bunching of trains. It is. Shame the track layout doesn't allow use of Platform 2 for all southbound trains to allow some overlapping there. I.E - a second train being to pull into P3 while the preceding southbound train unloads at P2. Probably should have built a platform 1 too for more flexibility. And to help service recovery during disruption.

Consulting RTT suggests that schedules have been changed for May TT change from Class 317s & 379s to Class 720s & Class 745s.

 

[Railperf]

Consulting RTT suggests that schedules have been changed for May TT change from Class 317s & 379s to Class 720s & Class 745s.

Not seeing any change WAML in terms of timings. A few minutes can easily be knocked off Liverpool Street to Cambridge north of Tottenham Hale. The main pinch points are Clapton Jn, Broxbourne Jn, Stansted North Jn and Shepreth Branch Jn - all flat junctions! . If you kept the same paths at Shepreth branch Jn until the ECML changes, then speeding up timings south of there would likely impact the crossing times of trains at Stansted N and Broxbourne Jns and then how will that affect frequencies / timings on the Chingford Branch? probably do-able. But is anyone bothered about faster journey times now with all the DfT cost cutting?

 

[Trainfan344]

The most crucial part of the railway -The passengers I'm sure are bothered and a quicker journey would be crucial.

 

[Class 170101]

Not seeing any change WAML in terms of timings. A few minutes can easily be knocked off Liverpool Street to Cambridge north of Tottenham Hale. The main pinch points are Clapton Jn, Broxbourne Jn, Stansted North Jn and Shepreth Branch Jn - all flat junctions! . If you kept the same paths at Shepreth branch Jn until the ECML changes, then speeding up timings south of there would likely impact the crossing times of trains at Stansted N and Broxbourne Jns and then how will that affect frequencies / timings on the Chingford Branch? probably do-able. But is anyone bothered about faster journey times now with all the DfT cost cutting?

You are forgetting ARL at the southern end who aren't about to change as far as I know. Thats two fixed points north and south.