London Midland December 2013 WCML services?

[AndyLandy]

AFAIAA desiros only have the cheaper UDS - unit deselect

Seems likely. Riding around on SWT's fleet, they either do unit deselect, or local door. Never known anything else.

I even recall someone asking me "Why do you have to get off from a specific door at Beaulieu Road? Is the platform just a set of steps down from the train or something?"

 

[Eagle]

Seems likely. Riding around on SWT's fleet, they either do unit deselect, or local door. Never known anything else.

SWT also put the most perversely long-winded explanation of this on their departure screens, something like "If you are travelling to Shawford, Hedge End or Botley then you will have to travel in the front 4 coaches as these stations have short platforms". Compared to a more normal "Passengers for Shawford, Hedge End or Botley must travel in the front 4 coaches".

 

[dvboy]

The 0647 Crewe - Birmingham New Street now calls additionally at Sandwell & Dudley.

 

[swt_passenger]

Seems likely. Riding around on SWT's fleet, they either do unit deselect, or local door. Never known anything else.

Shortly to be history though, because the entire 444/450/458 fleets will have carriage level ASDO brought into use over the full SWT network (except the west of England) during next year.

 

[DarloRich]

On a purely personal level the re timing of the 08:18 northbound service from Bletchley to 08:16 & the slight forward movement of the Marston Vale train make it impossible to reach central MK before 0900 form the 0731 from Bedford - which seems quite stupid as it makes the service even less attractive to workers.

The word on the street is that the first 2 trains of Bletchley and the first off Bedford have been changed by between 5 & 10 minutes to accommodate Amazon workers at Ridgmont. I dont believe it but it makes as good a reason as any.

I would be interested to understand why the changes were made and LM dont seem to forthcoming
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This isn't meant to sound sarcastic but would there actually be any passengers from Bletchley at that time anyway? I appreciate Keynes is a big place but at 0520 in the morning I can't imagine there's much of a passenger demand, certainly not beyond MK Central. On that note MKC still retains its morning VT service to Crewe (the first EUS-GLC) and Stoke (first EUS-MAN), so it only really loses connections to the Trent Valley stations.

I have used it and it did carry quite a number of passengers. On a Saturday it often seemed to be the dirty stop out train There also seemed to be a lot of shift workers on it.

it was very useful in getting to the north east (via Tamworth) for the match even if it meant a very early start!

 

[sd0733]

This is now confirmed as correct.

But does this mean it will run at max 100mph??

All 350/1s are now permitted to run at 110mph in 8 or 12 cars from 8th Dec as they've been fitted with modified pantograph heads.

 

[Eagle]

All 350/1s are now permitted to run at 110mph in 8 or 12 cars from 8th Dec as they've been fitted with modified pantograph heads.

Off topic, but will this apply to the 350/4s too from May?

 

[sd0733]

It will probably also be a bit of a squeeze at Atherstone too - I think both might just about be long enough for 8. If not, I assume 350s have SDO?

Rugeley Trent Valley and Atherstone both require the UDS to be used, rear unit remains locked.
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Off topic, but will this apply to the 350/4s too from May?

Not sure if I'm honest, it was a briefing we were given specifically for the /1s. There was also a TMS software tweak to prevent a /2 running at 110 if anywhere in the train.