LNER Stevenage Pickup/Setdown

[35B]

Perhaps the solution is for LNER Southbound trains not to stop at Stevenage in the weekday morning peak and for LNER Northbound trains not to stop at Stevenage in the weekday evening peak. This would also encourage those who want to join and leave LNER train services at Stevenage to avoid travelling on trains in weekday peak flows.

My experience is generally off-peak, and all northbound.

Until this week's timetable change, many LNER morning peak trains didn't stop at Stevenage; my regular (1Y03) has now had it's intermediate stop south of Grantham changed to Stevenage from Peterborough. It has also been reduced from 9 cars to 5 which, with the loss of Peterborough traffic, is probably a better match to demand.

Northbound, I don't dispute the feedback on peak trains - I've not used them enough. My experience has been on the 19:33 and 20:33 trains, and also at weekends, where the Stevenage flow has been sizeable; my observations are based on that experience.

 

[Table 25]

Looks like the sensible has prevailed, National Rail advising GTR tickets are valid on LNER this evening to Stevenage and Peterborough due to disruption.

According to the "Status & Disprution" page this is indeed so, but if I look in "Live Departures" between Stevenage and Kings Cross and vice versa all LNER services are absent (as per the new normal). What use is this to intending passengers? Despite verbal assurances that I was given at the recent "Meet the Manager" event at Stevenage, things have effectively failed at the first hurdle.

 

[Hadders]

Perhaps the solution is for LNER Southbound trains not to stop at Stevenage in the weekday morning peak and for LNER Northbound trains not to stop at Stevenage in the weekday evening peak. This would also encourage those who want to join and leave LNER train services at Stevenage to avoid travelling on trains in weekday peak flows.

The first LNER southbound used to be at 08:59 so the morning peak wasn’t an issue.

Under this new timetable there’s a 07:49 and 08:01 arrival but my observations of the 07:49 twice this week and 08:01 this morning is that neither train was anywhere near full.

Northbound in the evening peak there used to be a 17:33 and 18:33 from Kings Cross that called at Stevenage. These would be better described as ‘fresh air expresses’ - see my earlier posts on passenger counts.

I’ve not seen any LNER evening peak trains from KGX to SVG this week so can’t comment on loadings.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Dec 2025 ==

According to the "Status & Disprution" page this is indeed so, but if I look in "Live Departures" between Stevenage and Kings Cross and vice versa all LNER services are absent (as per the new normal). What use is this to intending passengers? Despite verbal assurances that I was given at the recent "Meet the Manager" event at Stevenage, things have effectively failed at the first hurdle.

Interesting. I’ll be heading to KGX shortly.

 

[Silver Cobra]

Northbound in the evening peak there used to be a 17:33 and 18:33 from Kings Cross that called at Stevenage. These would be better described as ‘fresh air expresses’ - see my earlier posts on passenger counts.

It's interesting to see that the Newcastle services that run in these timeslots in the new timetable actually omit their Stevenage stops, instead stopping at Peterborough. So during this part of the evening peak there is only one LNER service per hour calling at Stevenage: the 1739 to Bradford Forster Square and the 1839 to Leeds.

**EDIT: I misread the timetable. It's actually the 1633 and 1733 that omit Stevenage, not the 1833.

 

[35B]

The first LNER southbound used to be at 08:59 so the morning peak wasn’t an issue.

Under this new timetable there’s a 07:49 and 08:01 arrival but my observations of the 07:49 twice this week and 08:01 this morning is that neither train was anywhere near full.

Northbound in the evening peak there used to be a 17:33 and 18:33 from Kings Cross that called at Stevenage. These would be better described as ‘fresh air expresses’ - see my earlier posts on passenger counts.

I’ve not seen any LNER evening peak trains from KGX to SVG this week so can’t comment on loadings.

I'm not surprised about the 07:49 - a lot of the loading on it used to be either from north of York (a truly unpleasantly early start!) or Peterborough; that a 5 car set is less than full is no surprise.

 

[redreni]

Looks like the sensible has prevailed, National Rail advising GTR tickets are valid on LNER this evening to Stevenage and Peterborough due to disruption.

Yes, hopefully that'll be interpreted in a commonsense way.

Even though all that does is waive a largely non-existent TOC restriction on people's tickets. It's not lack of acceptance by the operator that stops people going to Stevenage on LNER, it's the restricted call.

Does anybody know if the restricted calls were officially made into open calls, and if this resulted in the station call at Stevenage being advertised on the boards and in announcements at Kings Cross this evening?

 

[Hadders]

The situation at Kings Cross tonight:

Nothing on the departure boards or announcements indicating that LNER were allowing passengers to travel to Stevenage
The pre-departure annoucement gave all the usual guff about Advance tickets, other train operators tickets not being valid etc.
Calling pattern was announced as 'Stevenage to pick up passengers only....', 'you cannot use this service to travel to Stevenage, your ticket is not valid'.
This was announced twice before departure, once after departure and upon arrival at Stevenage.

nationalrail.co.uk and Thameslinkrailway.co.uk said that LNER were conveying passengers between Kings Cross and Stevenage.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The issue was northbound at King's Cross, and because of the mixing up of two very different flows. Something can be an issue before you get to so full that no one can board - passenger comfort and environment are also considerations, even on Azumas.

I used to be fairly regularly on the 2100 to Newcastle which, at the time, called at Stevenage. I can’t say the churn particularly bothered me. First time I did it my heart sank at seeing how busy the train was, but once I got into the pattern of understanding a lot of people were only going one stop it didn’t bother me.

I can’t say I ever felt disturbed or uncomfortable because I had to sit next to someone for 20 minutes and then had to stand up to let them off. Probably less hassle than having to let someone out to go for a wee.

 

[Table 25]

The situation at Kings Cross tonight:

Nothing on the departure boards or announcements indicating that LNER were allowing passengers to travel to Stevenage
The pre-departure annoucement gave all the usual guff about Advance tickets, other train operators tickets not being valid etc.
Calling pattern was announced as 'Stevenage to pick up passengers only....', 'you cannot use this service to travel to Stevenage, your ticket is not valid'.
This was announced twice before departure, once after departure and upon arrival at Stevenage.

nationalrail.co.uk and Thameslinkrailway.co.uk said that LNER were conveying passengers between Kings Cross and Stevenage.

Thank you very much for this accurate report of the situation on the ground this evening. This is not unexpected, but is deeply disappointing. As a Stevenage rail user myself, I hope that many of those affected will voice their concerns to LNER.

 

[yorkie]

The situation at Kings Cross tonight:

Nothing on the departure boards or announcements indicating that LNER were allowing passengers to travel to Stevenage
The pre-departure annoucement gave all the usual guff about Advance tickets, other train operators tickets not being valid etc.
Calling pattern was announced as 'Stevenage to pick up passengers only....', 'you cannot use this service to travel to Stevenage, your ticket is not valid'.
This was announced twice before departure, once after departure and upon arrival at Stevenage.

nationalrail.co.uk and Thameslinkrailway.co.uk said that LNER were conveying passengers between Kings Cross and Stevenage.

This is exactly what I'd expect, sadly. I wonder if @David Horne is aware of this? Maybe he can do something about it...

 

[LickeyIncliner]

But anyway, the ridiculous bit - the Azuma audio announcements and digital screens welcome people aboard for Kings Cross. Nothing to say the stop is alighting only.

I'm not sure any TOC's automated announcements take account of pick-up/set-down only restrictions. TPE Edinburgh - Manchester Airport services are pick-up only at Haymarket, but that doesn't stop the system going into "We are now approaching Haymarket..." routine before the train has cleared the platform at Waverley.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I'm not sure any TOC's automated announcements take account of pick-up/set-down only restrictions. TPE Edinburgh - Manchester Airport services are pick-up only at Haymarket, but that doesn't stop the system going into "We are now approaching Haymarket..." routine before the train has cleared the platform at Waverley.

The announcements on SWR mainline services from Waterloo say Woking/Basingstoke/Guildford first stop and omit the "The next station is Clapham Junction. Change here for, etc." announcement upon arrival.

 

[tumbledown]

The announcements on SWR mainline services from Waterloo say Woking/Basingstoke/Guildford first stop and omit the "The next station is Clapham Junction. Change here for, etc." announcement upon arrival.

Does this mean naive travellers to Woking/Basingstoke/Guildford hurriedly get off at Clapham Junction by mistake I wonder?

 

[Parallel]

Does this mean naive travellers to Woking/Basingstoke/Guildford hurriedly get off at Clapham Junction by mistake I wonder?

No because it announces ‘This Clapham Junction’ when the doors are released there.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Does this mean naive travellers to Woking/Basingstoke/Guildford hurriedly get off at Clapham Junction by mistake I wonder?

I'd be very, very surprised.

 

[Ecmlleeds]

I've been interested to see how this would play out as a train manager working along this route. So far this week, everyone seems to have done as asked and not boarded at Stevenage going southbound, and not boarded for Stevenage at Kings Cross. I really did expect a few awkward conversations or comments from people but I've had neither, and nobody has questioned it, nor have I had to remind anyone trying to board when they shouldn't. Maybe it's just what I've seen after all, or maybe people were just using the services because they were advertised as being there. I think the end product here, if not for performance, really is the long distance travellers now aren't faced with a service that's extremely busy for only one stop. First impressions and such. I remember being told one area for customer negative feedback was boarding and I suppose if it's less crowded with people who are only going one stop, that's good. I clearly cannot comment on the impact of this on Stevenage commuters, but I expected our regulars to make it known but I suspect most of them don't really care what train they get, as long as it goes to Stevenage. Hopefully it's a happy medium for *most* people.

 

[ModernRailways]

The situation at Kings Cross tonight:

Nothing on the departure boards or announcements indicating that LNER were allowing passengers to travel to Stevenage
The pre-departure annoucement gave all the usual guff about Advance tickets, other train operators tickets not being valid etc.
Calling pattern was announced as 'Stevenage to pick up passengers only....', 'you cannot use this service to travel to Stevenage, your ticket is not valid'.
This was announced twice before departure, once after departure and upon arrival at Stevenage.

nationalrail.co.uk and Thameslinkrailway.co.uk said that LNER were conveying passengers between Kings Cross and Stevenage.

Just to also add I also experienced the exact same. Stevenage was specifically called out as being for pick up only, along with the addition of anyone found to be travelling to Stevenage would be charged a full Anytime fare to the first stop Newark. I can’t imagine trying to charge someone £100+ would go down at all well, nor can I imagine BTP taking kindly to being called out should there be a refusal to pay. From a quick look I didn’t see anybody getting off at Stevenage.

I do find this whole debacle quite funny as being coined as ‘passenger friendly’ for the longer distance passengers and to create a more welcoming environment at Kings Cross when the train crew bombard you with announcements, often then repeated by the auto PIS, then repeated again by the crew, they then ramble on about ticketing restrictions, station calls, advance restrictions, and toc restrictions. A few other posters have hit the nail on the head, this is a pick up/set down on paper but just isn’t enforced, would a train be held for the passenger to be removed should they board and in turn block up the ECML at a critical location?
Both pick up and set down are hard to enforce, if it’s pick up only and someone is on the train for that station you can only really kick them off at the station they’re going too anyway. Set down only is much the same only you can see people boarding when they shouldn’t and this is where things could get dicey especially with some LNER crew have a major superiority issue and would happily block up the ECML for the morning whilst they await BTP.

I circle back to my original point in this post, I believe most other TOCs wouldn’t (and have evidenced they won’t) care about people ‘in the know’ from boarding/alighting a set down/pick up only service. LNER is one of the few TOCs who seem to care about these petty little issues with the crew to match. This is a railway meant for transporting people.

 

[tumbledown]

Would you be happy for passengers for beyond Stevenage to have preferential boarding?
I think it's in everybody's interest that rules be applied with equal vigour everywhere - best to know where you stand.

 

[Silver Cobra]

The screens at Stevenage make it clear enough that the southbound LNER services are set down only.



**EDIT: Intriguing situation this morning. Both the 0745 to Horsham and 0752 to Kings Cross are cancelled due to the trains 'being late from the depot' (RTT indicates it's the knock-on effect from yesterday's broken rail at Hitchin). The 0749 LNER service that rolled in, while being only 5 cars, had about 35% empty seats in standard class from my observation. That service could easily have taken those waiting at Stevenage without anyone needing to stand, but alas.

 

[xotGD]

The screens at Stevenage make it clear enough that the southbound LNER services are set down only.

View attachment 194158

**EDIT: Intriguing situation this morning. Both the 0745 to Horsham and 0752 to Kings Cross are cancelled due to the trains 'being late from the depot' (RTT indicates it's the knock-on effect from yesterday's broken rail at Hitchin). The 0749 LNER service that rolled in, while being only 5 cars, had about 35% empty seats in standard class from my observation. That service could easily have taken those waiting at Stevenage without anyone needing to stand, but alas.

I'm amazed that nobody boarded in those circumstances.

Has anyone here actually boarded, and is able to share their experience?

 

[styles]

I'm not sure any TOC's automated announcements take account of pick-up/set-down only restrictions. TPE Edinburgh - Manchester Airport services are pick-up only at Haymarket, but that doesn't stop the system going into "We are now approaching Haymarket..." routine before the train has cleared the platform at Waverley.

In the Haymarket example, heading to Edinburgh, I board anyway. Never had an issue.

 

[Hadders]

The screens at Stevenage make it clear enough that the southbound LNER services are set down only.

View attachment 194158

**EDIT: Intriguing situation this morning. Both the 0745 to Horsham and 0752 to Kings Cross are cancelled due to the trains 'being late from the depot' (RTT indicates it's the knock-on effect from yesterday's broken rail at Hitchin). The 0749 LNER service that rolled in, while being only 5 cars, had about 35% empty seats in standard class from my observation. That service could easily have taken those waiting at Stevenage without anyone needing to stand, but alas.

It's actually worse than that:

07:17 to Horsham ran
07:31 to Brighton was cancelled
07:45 to Horsham was cancelled
07:49 LNER set down only to Kings Cross ran
07:52 to Kings Cross was cancelled
08:01 to Brighton ran
08:01 LNER set down only to Kings Cross was 10 mins late

LNER really should have taken passengers on their 07:49 service.

 

[Wallsendmag]

The situation at Kings Cross tonight:

Nothing on the departure boards or announcements indicating that LNER were allowing passengers to travel to Stevenage
The pre-departure annoucement gave all the usual guff about Advance tickets, other train operators tickets not being valid etc.
Calling pattern was announced as 'Stevenage to pick up passengers only....', 'you cannot use this service to travel to Stevenage, your ticket is not valid'.
This was announced twice before departure, once after departure and upon arrival at Stevenage.

nationalrail.co.uk and Thameslinkrailway.co.uk said that LNER were conveying passengers between Kings Cross and Stevenage.

Ignore me

 

[Bikeman78]

The issue was northbound at King's Cross, and because of the mixing up of two very different flows. Something can be an issue before you get to so full that no one can board - passenger comfort and environment are also considerations, even on Azumas.

That can apply to any pair of fairly close stations on a longer journey. For example Cardiff to Newport, or Bristol Temple Meads to Bath. And of course Paddington to Reading.

 

[35B]

That can apply to any pair of fairly close stations on a longer journey. For example Cardiff to Newport, or Bristol Temple Meads to Bath. And of course Paddington to Reading.

Indeed.

 

[xotGD]

That can apply to any pair of fairly close stations on a longer journey. For example Cardiff to Newport, or Bristol Temple Meads to Bath. And of course Paddington to Reading.

Or in the case of LNER, Newcastle to Durham or Leeds to Wakefield.

Mind, they should be dragging people in off the streets to use their services from Leeds to Bradford or Leeds to Skipton.

 

[Dewedin]

If Leeds to Wakefield had several alternative 8-12 coach trains per hour then I probably wouldn't mind if LNER was pick up only southbound / drop off only northbound.

 

[Starmill]

I'm fairly sure (correct me if I'm wrong) you can apply counted places for one pair of stations and actual seat reservations for another pair of stations on the same train? That would achieve what is suggested.

I'm not a fan of having restrictions or rules in any context that are not enforced. See also "compulsory" reservations. If the rule is worth having enforce it, if the rule is not worth having don't have it. One could even argue that having rules that are sometimes optional is disability discriminatory, because it can be quite a big issue to e.g. autistic people.

The railway industry has a specific cultural problem with unenforceable, or all but unenforceable, rules. They're frequently suggested as "solutions" to perceived problems and unfortunately a lot of the people who've implemented them have got good careers in the industry.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Dec 2025 ==

I agree, it doesn't seem unreasonable to want to avoid being cramped in an intercity train when half the people are only going one stop and could have taken a different one.

A different train that needs all of that capability for the people who aren't going to Stevenage, and thus don't get a choice of operator (which is the majority of people).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Dec 2025 ==

The situation at Kings Cross tonight:

Nothing on the departure boards or announcements indicating that LNER were allowing passengers to travel to Stevenage
The pre-departure annoucement gave all the usual guff about Advance tickets, other train operators tickets not being valid etc.
Calling pattern was announced as 'Stevenage to pick up passengers only....', 'you cannot use this service to travel to Stevenage, your ticket is not valid'.
This was announced twice before departure, once after departure and upon arrival at Stevenage.

nationalrail.co.uk and Thameslinkrailway.co.uk said that LNER were conveying passengers between Kings Cross and Stevenage.

That belongs in the same category as Avanti West Coast removing customers with valid first class tickets from their first class accommodation, or Network Rail keeping thousands of people locked outside Liverpool Lime Street while trains departed empty. Utterly bonkers - honestly the industry deserves its reputation for providing a dog's dinner of a service while this kind of thing is ongoing. It actually makes several people I know who work for passenger operators feel privately ashamed.

To borrow phrasing from @AlterEgo in one of those previous cases:

More pathetic pettifogging again though, from an industry totally lost in the sauce - talking to and about itself, where all the ticket money ends up in the same place. Profoundly stupid.

 

[blimmo]

The railway industry has a specific cultural problem with unenforceable, or all but unenforceable, rules. They're frequently suggested as "solutions" to perceived problems and unfortunately a lot of the people who've implemented them have got good careers in the industry.

This. Unenforceable rules give an advantage to people who are willing to break them. The system should not incentivise breaking its rules like this.

 

[Starmill]

This. Unenforceable rules give an advantage to people who are willing to break them. The system should not incentivise breaking its rules like this.

Indeed. Bike reservations are "mandatory" on a stopping service from Greenfield to Manchester. Who's going to enforce that and how? I buy a Rochdale to Shrewsbury return and I'm prohibited from breaking my journey in Manchester. Who's going to enforce that, and how? A customer purchases an Interrail pass and uses the two in/out days to travel domestically in their home country without actually making a journey to a port. Who's going to enforce that and how? Staff with a Rail Staff Leisure card must be in a "serious relationship", whatever that means, with their cohabiting partner to qualify for a spouse pass. Who's going to enforce that, and how? Those are simply the first things that popped into my head.

Now I accept you'll never get this perfect. But a proliferation of silly rules that serve minimal purpose are obviously making this worse.