Grand Central: 4 trains on Sunday!

[OMGitsDAVE]

Just received an email about my Ambassador Role, and apparently at the last minute they have managed to secure a 4th path on a Sunday.


http://www.grandcentralrail.co.uk/20110522_GC_timetable_north_east_york_to_london.pdf

Pretty good, i must say!

 

[DarloRich]

any chance they could run it to Darlo? lol

Very good news - i wonder how they have done that?

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

I believe some of the trains on a Sunday ran at 12.12 instead of 09.xx due to engineering work, so the slot must have been there and GC simply applied for it?

 

[sprinterguy]

Does anybody think there’s anything to be read into the fact that the southbound Sunday GC services leave York just ahead of a non-stop York to London East Coast service from Edinburgh? (For the record, I know that this isn’t the case, as the Eureka clockface timetable has been developed largely by East Coast themselves).

This is certainly good news, although I wonder if GC will be able to find the market to fill two middle of the day Sunday departures from Sunderland: I have used the 13:28 Sunderland to KX, and loadings must have been at around, but no more than, 50%, even after the Hartlepool stop. That’s a lot of seats to fill with additional custom when this market is split over two trains instead of being grouped onto one.

On the downside, should I take advantage of this service again in the future, using one of the new departures, I’ll barely have time for a pint in York before heading back to Birmingham unless I leave the north east earlier!

 

[swt_passenger]

This is odd, because the fourth Sunderland path was approved by NR back in December.

ORR's confirmation is dated 21st April though - maybe something happened in the interim period.

 

[paul_l]

This is certainly good news, although I wonder if GC will be able to find the market to fill two middle of the day Sunday departures from Sunderland: I have used the 13:28 Sunderland to KX, and loadings must have been at around, but no more than, 50%, even after the Hartlepool stop. That’s a lot of seats to fill with additional custom when this market is split over two trains instead of being grouped onto one.

I've used this mid-sunday afternoon train regularly over the last year, and it is often standing room only from Thirsk, and always rammed from York. An additional service is very welcome.

edit: noticed a few of the journeys have had 10 minutes or so shaved off. a couple are longer, and one northbound train no longer calls at thirsk (change to FTPE at York advised)

 

[sprinterguy]

I've used this mid-sunday afternoon train regularly over the last year, and it is often standing room only from Thirsk, and always rammed from York. An additional service is very welcome.

I must have been fortunate with the days I've been on it then

 

[Adam_Harrison]

WOW! certainly will help packed trains! just get the extra ones during the weekdays and we're sorted !

 

[TomJ93]

^ with what stock? :P

 

[Darandio]

Spare set?

 

[GNERman]

Set that works 4th path in the week or other - not hard

 

[WestCoast]

The Sunday 13:28 from Sunderland has been rather well loaded when I've used it, to the point of very few seats remaining after Thirsk.

 

[GNERman]

very similar to 1a61 0918 ex Sunderland any weekday, from experience

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

The Sunderland route is actually pretty busy, so its good to see some extra services!

 

[DarloRich]

The Sunderland route is actually pretty busy, so its good to see some extra services!

Agreed - i often get the 1918 of the Cross and it is full and standing. The 1740of London is also more often than not full also.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

17:40? ! Do you mean the 16:50?

haha