Glasgow - Edinburgh: Thursday 27th December

[p123]

Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk High has engineering works on Thursday, but I'm planning a trip across.

National Rail (and ScotRail's advice) state that services are calling at Croy, Falkirk, Polmont, Linlithgow, Edinburgh Park (additionally) but not Haymarket.

I notice it takes 31 (!) minutes to get from Edinburgh Park to Waverley as per this:

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/details/Glasgow/EDB/271212/1049/dep?id=2&fareId=5&return=false&callingPage=tf&realtime=false&alternatives=false&offpeak=false&url=/service/times/Glasgow/EDB/271212/1049/dep&saved=false

and I wanted to find out why... but opentraintimes doesn't have any trains going from Glasgow Queen St high level at all on Thursday! Could someone please explain why this train takes so long?

 

[TheEscapist_]

The trains are going via the suburban line (if its called that) into Waverley.

 

[MCR247]

...which pretty much takes you around Edinburgh almost to Newcraighall before you join the ECML and enter Waverley from the South

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I know there is a general reduction in service across most of Britain in between Christmas and New Year, but I wonder how they find paths for this when I believe the main thing stopping it reopening as a passenger local line (with stations like it had before closure, about 6 I seem to recall) is lack of paths into Edinburgh from the south (or more specifically through the 2 track Colton Tunnels). How often are the diversions per hour?

 

[Zoidberg]

I know there is a general reduction in service across most of Britain in between Christmas and New Year, but I wonder how they find paths for this when I believe the main thing stopping it reopening as a passenger local line (with stations like it had before closure, about 6 I seem to recall) is lack of paths into Edinburgh from the south (or more specifically through the 2 track Colton Tunnels). How often are the diversions per hour?

I think you may mean the "Calton Tunnels" (running under Calton Hill) - I remember using the circular suburban service from Morningside. Just went to whichever platform had the first train if we weren't in a hurry to get into town. Quickest via Craiglockhart, longer route via Newington.

 

[greatkingrat]

The Newcraighall trains will be bustituted on the Thursday so there shouldn't be a problem with paths.

 

[PaulLothian]

More info here: http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/documents/11007_Christmas_Engineering_Poster_2012.pdf

I feel a a trip to Edinburgh coming on - I've never yet been round the Sub!

 

[p123]

Hey thanks for the responses guys, looking forward to an exciting trip on Thursday!

Any ideas as to why Opentraintimes doesn't show anything at Queen St on Thursday at all, though?

 

[KBD1]

There is a new overbridge going over Haymarket Station.
Meant to happen a couple of weeks ago, but they had problems with the road crane.
NR decided to cancel lift & rearrange date.Didn't realise it was this week.

 

[Blindtraveler]

There is a new overbridge going over Haymarket Station.
Meant to happen a couple of weeks ago, but they had problems with the road crane.
NR decided to cancel lift & rearrange date.Didn't realise it was this week.

niether did I! Glad megabus are running today so I can start heading North, tomorrow sounds like it may be just a bit crazy!

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

More info here: http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/documents/11007_Christmas_Engineering_Poster_2012.pdf

I feel a a trip to Edinburgh coming on - I've never yet been round the Sub!

FYI the 21:05 XC Voyager from GLC to EDB is booked via the sub each evening for crew route knoledge

 

[PaulLothian]

FYI the 21:05 XC Voyager from GLC to EDB is booked via the sub each evening for crew route knoledge

Yes, I did know that, but this is the cheapest way to see the Sub! (Can use council rail concession). Plus I can guarantee having daylight...

 

[route101]

So if Queen St High Level is closed , where the high level services operating from?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Are people sure it's closed - I've heard nothing about it and I'm sure someone, somewhere would have mentioned it! It could run ex-Low Level, up through Duke St and Springburn to Cowlairs and rejoin the Croy line there, but I haven't a clue how you'd work that. But like I say, AFAIK the HL is still open.

 

[Zoidberg]

Are people sure it's closed - I've heard nothing about it and I'm sure someone, somewhere would have mentioned it! It could run ex-Low Level, up through Duke St and Springburn to Cowlairs and rejoin the Croy line there, but I haven't a clue how you'd work that. But like I say, AFAIK the HL is still open.

I may have picked up the wrong end of the wrong stick in terms of the question posed, but NRE indicates no services running from Queen St High Level

Extract from http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.html

Engineering work at Glasgow Queen Street High Level on Wednesday 26 December 2012

The following changes will apply:
http://www.railforums.co.uk/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=1310819
No trains will run to / from Glasgow Queen Street High Level.
A train service will run between Cumbernauld and Croy via Springburn and Bishopbriggs.

EDIT: Ahhh, my link is to work on Wed 26th Dec, the OP refers to a journey on Thurs 27th Dec.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk High has engineering works on Thursday, but I'm planning a trip across.

National Rail (and ScotRail's advice) state that services are calling at Croy, Falkirk, Polmont, Linlithgow, Edinburgh Park (additionally) but not Haymarket.

I notice it takes 31 (!) minutes to get from Edinburgh Park to Waverley as per this:

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/details/Glasgow/EDB/271212/1049/dep?id=2&fareId=5&return=false&callingPage=tf&realtime=false&alternatives=false&offpeak=false&url=/service/times/Glasgow/EDB/271212/1049/dep&saved=false

and I wanted to find out why... but opentraintimes doesn't have any trains going from Glasgow Queen St high level at all on Thursday! Could someone please explain why this train takes so long?

The trains are going via the suburban line (if its called that) into Waverley.

...which pretty much takes you around Edinburgh almost to Newcraighall before you join the ECML and enter Waverley from the South

Thanks for the heads up, folks. I might take a wee trip through to Edinburgh tomorrow - haven't been round the suburban line for years.

 

[michael769]

It seems some of the works have overrun causing delays of up to 40mins

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Well, that was an interesting experience, if not quite what I was expecting.

The slightly delayed 5(?) coach 11:45 ex GLQ train was full by the time it left Glasgow Queen Street with enough standing passengers to discourage both catering trolley and ticket checks, and we did indeed go by the Edinburgh suburban line, entering Waverley from the East.

While my out train was accurately tracked by both the station CIS and UK Train Times mobile websites, by the time I was trying to return, all the information systems were struggling. I watched 3 Edinburgh to Queen Street trains being shown as "on time" only to disappear off CIS and Internet without warning or explanation. I felt really sorry for the ScotRail staff who were dealing with confused, irate and openly hostile customers. By the time a train to Glasgow Queen Street actually materialised, the diversion was no longer operative and it was a straight run home through Haymarket.

I did see a Dunblane train, after much animated discussion, phoning and radioing, being instructed to proceed "through a red" towards Haymarket - maybe not all that an unusual occurrence for rail staff but a first for me.

It would appear that there is still some way to go in the matter of providing accurate information to passengers when things go pear shaped.

 

[PaulLothian]

Well, that was an interesting experience, if not quite what I was expecting...

It would appear that there is still some way to go in the matter of providing accurate information to passengers when things go pear shaped.

My feelings exactly. My train into Edinburgh was 3-car (I was not clear why this had to be as we used one of the long through platforms at Waverley), and by the time it had taken on a number of people at Linlithgow from the terminating Dunblane services, it was rammed full! Train conductor was very good at keeping passengers informed about change in stops and explaining our diversionary route.

Returning was very different, with a conductor who gave a minimum of info to direct questions and no PA announcements at all, with the result that there were several panicking people around me as they saw Meadowbank sail by. I did explain to them!