LM350`s Wolverhampton to Walsall

[svrdan]

Hello All,

Today i traveled on 2A25 1220 Wolverhampton to Walsall, however instead of the usual 323 allocated traction, was surprised to see a 4 car Class 350/1 on the duty.

Normally i just assume its replacing a failed 323, but noticing another 350 on 2W32 1131 Walsall to Wolverhampton, im just wondering if LM have started to use 350`s on those diagrams now or if they have just covered for failed 323`s???

 

[sonic2009]

Having read in Today's Railways issue 139 July 2013 about LM changes, it appears that the 0739 Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street arrive 0803, starts back from Crewe at 0656 which is formed of a 350 then forms 2W08 0808 Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton arrive 0833 and stays on Wolverhampton - Walsall services until 2W41 1619 Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street arrive 1644, this service previously ran through to Walsall, I cannot find what service the 350 operates after 2W41, although I think it may attach to 1Y70 1713 Birmingham New Street - London Euston

 

[Eagle]

All services through Aston were disrupted this morning because of a trespass incident. This could have something to do with it.

 

[sonic2009]

All services through Aston were disrupted this morning because of a trespass incident. This could have something to do with it.

It could be an extra, but you will always see one 350 on Wolves - Walsall until December

 

[The Planner]

One of the better trespass incidents too, bloke slapped a platform assistant on platform 9 at New St then ran into the tunnels and started chucking ballast at trains, BTP chase then ensued. Racked up a good 6000 minutes.

 

[sonic2009]

One of the better trespass incidents too, bloke slapped a platform assistant on platform 9 at New St then ran into the tunnels and started chucking ballast at trains, BTP chase then ensued. Racked up a good 6000 minutes.

I can just imagine watching that on a Police documentary although i do hope the assault was not too serious.

 

[Class172]

Despite all the chaos that would have ensued, I would have loved to have seen this.

 

[the sniper]

All services through Aston were disrupted this morning because of a trespass incident. This could have something to do with it.

No this is the norm now. As sonic2009 says, quite a few Walsall/Wolves stoppers are allocated a 350. It's been a 350/1 every time I've been on it.

One of the better trespass incidents too, bloke slapped a platform assistant on platform 9 at New St then ran into the tunnels and started chucking ballast at trains, BTP chase then ensued. Racked up a good 6000 minutes.

Certainly isn't the first time BTP have chased a nutter down one of those tunnels and I very much doubt it'll be the last!

 

[dvboy]

This has been brought up a couple of times, including my thread about having first class accommodation on a service that doesn't advertise it in the timetable.

 

[WCML]

I started a thread about it a while back where a 323 was doing the Birmingham-Liverpool and 350 101 (which as of Friday had still not had the graffiti cleaned off properly) was operating Wolverhampton to Walsall.

Its a thoroughly stupid idea for a whole host of reasons:

1) There's insufficient capacity on some afternoon BHM-LIV services with a 350 as it is, let alone a 323 with 1 less carriage

2) A 323 is incapable of 100mph on a route where 100mph running is required

3) 323s only have 1 toilet

4) 323s have no first class when 1st class tickets have been sold for this route

5) 350s have first class and first class tickets aren't available for the route so theoretically there will be half a carriage constantly empty.

6) 323s have no air con, not ideal on high speed long distance routes

Can somebody please explain to me why this is a sensible idea???

 

[the sniper]

I started a thread about it a while back where a 323 was doing the Birmingham-Liverpool and 350 101 (which as of Friday had still not had the graffiti cleaned off properly) was operating Wolverhampton to Walsall.

Its a thoroughly stupid idea for a whole host of reasons:

1) There's insufficient capacity on some afternoon BHM-LIV services with a 350 as it is, let alone a 323 with 1 less carriage

2) A 323 is incapable of 100mph on a route where 100mph running is required

3) 323s only have 1 toilet

4) 323s have no first class when 1st class tickets have been sold for this route

5) 350s have first class and first class tickets aren't available for the route so theoretically there will be half a carriage constantly empty.

6) 323s have no air con, not ideal on high speed long distance routes

Can somebody please explain to me why this is a sensible idea???

Calm down dear. The 323 running in place of a 350 to Liverpool was pretty much a one off. Why did the above scenario happen on that day? Well as Sonic2009 points out the 350 probably goes down south after it has finished running between Walsall and Wolverhampton. If you'd sent it up to Liverpool it might not have made its latter job.

That's putting aside that the 323 was presumably one of the free ones off Soho and the 350 was already allocated to its diagram. Getting the 350 into the right place at the right time might not have been doable.

 

[Eagle]

Or to put it another way: would you rather an inferior but available train turned up, or no train turned up?

 

[sd0733]

A few of these Wolves-birmingham stoppers are worked by Crewe drivers and guards between brum and wolves and as 350s are our only traction, we couldn't work them if were 323s.
A couple of units on this route also run ecs/in passenger service to and from Crewe due to capacity constraints at soho and for CETing at LNWR so there are a few reasons for the diagramming this way.
Also I believe that the 350/3s deliveries are supposed to allow more 350s to this route to allow more 6-car 323 running on cross city services.