Hot weather off-peak semi-fast Met trains

[A S Leib]

This and last Saturday, I've got semi-fast Met trains back from Baker Street to Rickmansworth (Chiltern services inbound so I don't know if it's the same going south). Would I be correct in thinking that that's due to hot weather and reducing points pressure, or making more space between trains, rather than being a permanent reintroduction of off-peak (semi-)fast services?

 

[Dstock7080]

At weekends northbound trains Amersham/Chesham operate fast from Wembley Park-Harrow 10.30-21.30.
18 May-27 September, Harrow hot weather plan.

TTN11/26 refers

 

[announcements]

How regular are semi fasts during week days? And don't some skip Wembley Park despite this not being made clear on the line diagrams?

 

[A S Leib]

How regular are semi fasts during week days?

With the current timetable, Amersham / Chesham get six semifasts (and thirteen fasts) southbound, all in the morning. Northbound, there's thirty-six all station services all day, thirty-six semifasts, and sixteen fasts.

Watford has twelve southbound services which run fast from Harrow-on-the-Hill to Finchley Road, with all northbound services calling at all Met stations.

And don't some skip Wembley Park despite this not being made clear on the line diagrams?

It seems to be that all southbound (semi-)fast services skip Wembley Park and all northbound ones call there.

 

[Kilopylae]

I was surprised to get an off-peak Chesham semi-fast last night. A couple of weeks ago I saw a real rarity - a semi-fast to Uxbridge.

I think Uxbridge to Aldgate does regularly have at least one peak semi-fast? I took one of these last week but I don't think that's anomalous.

 

[announcements]

It seems to be that all southbound (semi-)fast services skip Wembley Park and all northbound ones call there.

That's quite significant, they ought to make it clearer on the in-car line diagram.

Mind you, the Elizabeth line in-car diagrams don't even show their fast/semi-fast services! So on that basis, it's a luxury.

 

[jumble]

I was surprised to get an off-peak Chesham semi-fast last night. A couple of weeks ago I saw a real rarity - a semi-fast to Uxbridge.

I think Uxbridge to Aldgate does regularly have at least one peak semi-fast? I took one of these last week but I don't think that's anomalous.

There are 9 Uxbridge semi fasts timetabled Northbound Monday to Friday so not very rare
I think there are 6 Timetabled semi fast southbound M to F

 

[eastrail]

That's quite significant, they ought to make it clearer on the in-car line diagram.

Mind you, the Elizabeth line in-car diagrams don't even show their fast/semi-fast services! So on that basis, it's a luxury.

Maybe they could do with a directional arrow? Similar to how they show that DLR Lewisham trains from Bank skip West India Quay.

As for the Lizzy line, I don’t think it’s as easy since there isn’t a clear group of stations skipped. During the day T5 trains skip Acton, Hanwell and Southall while Maidenhead/Reading trains skip Acton, West Ealing and Hanwell. But then Maidenhead and Reading trains also alternatively skip Taplow and Iver. So I would argue adding a fast/semi-fast designation would actually make it more confusing. Especially with some peak trains skipping almost all stations between West Drayton and Paddington. What I think is better would be to make the stations skipped a message/PA on the LCD screens. For example currently it says ‘This is an Elizabeth line service to Destination. The next station is Station.’ but this could be changed to ‘This is an Elizabeth line service to Destination, not stopping at [stations]. The next station is Station.’

 

[Railguy1]

There have also been many train cancellations on the line.

 

[Kilopylae]

My partner reports that their southbound ex Uxbridge train just changed from all stations to semi-fast at Harrow, well off peak (20 past two).

 

[philthetube]

Fast running is often used to catch up time or to put trains in the correct order