London Midland December 2013 WCML services?

[pt_mad]

Crewe-Euston timetable is avaliable on LM website here

Interesting stuff. Why does the route map on the front not show Kidsgrove and Alsager when nearly everything is stopping there?

Also I notice the 1724 from Eus still misses out Stafford. Shame they couldn't have changed this as there is a long wait between LM Stafford services during this period.

 

[tractakid]

The train you mention bypasses Stafford and Stone completely, presumably for route knowledge purposes. It can't stop there if it doesn't go there!

 

[pt_mad]

The train you mention bypasses Stafford and Stone completely, presumably for route knowledge purposes. It can't stop there if it doesn't go there!

I know. I mean that its a shame it wasn't routed that way.

I think it is more likely down to pathing reasons at that time of day?

 

[Eagle]

Interesting stuff. Why does the route map on the front not show Kidsgrove and Alsager when nearly everything is stopping there?

It's also missing Atherstone, Rugeley TV and Stone.

 

[pt_mad]

It's also missing Atherstone, Rugeley TV and Stone.

Strange, can't see why.

 

[Nym]

8 car train?

 

[pt_mad]

8 car train?

Don't think so. Map misses out those stations but the timetable itself shows nearly every train stopping at those stations. The 1724 calls at Kidsgrove and Alsager (I think?) so thus must be single unit.

It seems the only hope of 8 coach running will be splitting at Stafford and it doesn't seem likely in December as they havn't given any more time at stafford for uncoupling.

 

[swt_passenger]

Surely the whole point about any possible 8 car services is that they can't start until the new trains are delivered? With TPE taking the priority for their batch, LM's won't be in service for a few months...

 

[sd0733]

I believe that from 8th Dec 1U43 16:46 Euston-Crewe is booked 8-car operation from London to Stafford and looking at Realtime trains looks correct as there is a 5K43 ecs to Crewe formed of the detached unit.

 

[Greeby]

1U43 will have a lot more room available soon, regardless of 4 coach or 8 coach. As all the Milton Keynes commuters who overcrowd that train are going to want to get on what will now be 9S93 to Edinburgh

 

[DarloRich]

1U43 will have a lot more room available soon, regardless of 4 coach or 8 coach. As all the Milton Keynes commuters who overcrowd that train are going to want to get on what will now be 9S93 to Edinburgh

eh? Can you explain this in English please?

 

[calc7]

eh? Can you explain this in English please?

The 1620 and 1643 will become open stops at Milton Keynes. 9S93 is the 1643 service (which continues to Edinburgh via Birmingham), which will presumably be the new choice of departure for MK passengers currently on the 1646.

 

[All Line Rover]

eh? Can you explain this in English please?

The 16:43 Virgin Trains departure from Euston, which currently terminates at Birmingham New Street and calls at Milton Keynes Central to pick up only, will be extended through to Edinburgh via Wolverhampton and call at Milton Keynes Central to pick up and set down. It will be rammed.

 

[DarloRich]

The 1620 and 1643 will become open stops at Milton Keynes. 9S93 is the 1643 service (which continues to Edinburgh via Birmingham), which will presumably be the new choice of departure for MK passengers currently on the 1646.

A virgin train? A virgin train to MK after 15:30 but before 18:49? What is this madness you speak of?

Rammed is not the word - bursting might be better!

 

[All Line Rover]

Both of these services will also accept Off-Peak Milton Keynes to London tickets, which makes them all the more of a rip off for passengers travelling further afield.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The 07:15 Manchester to London (arriving 09:24) will also begin to pick up passengers at Milton Keynes at 08:47, plugging the existing gap between 07:14 and 09:19. Another popular service, I am sure!

 

[DarloRich]

Both of these services will also accept Off-Peak Milton Keynes to London tickets, which makes them all the more of a rip off for passengers travelling further afield.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The 07:15 Manchester to London (arriving 09:24) will also begin to pick up passengers at Milton Keynes at 08:47, plugging the existing gap between 07:14 and 09:19. Another popular service, I am sure!

all sounds good to me

 

[Greeby]

Both of these services will also accept Off-Peak Milton Keynes to London tickets, which makes them all the more of a rip off for passengers travelling further afield.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The 07:15 Manchester to London (arriving 09:24) will also begin to pick up passengers at Milton Keynes at 08:47, plugging the existing gap between 07:14 and 09:19. Another popular service, I am sure!

Well, who knows what the Fares Change will bring in terms of restrictions. But proceeding on the assumption that it will stay the same. They can now use those trains to split ticket at Milton Keynes and take advantage of the fact that Virgin was forced to drop it's evening peak from MK last year

 

[tractakid]

all sounds good to me

Yes. Sounds good.

 

[IanD]

all sounds good to me

Yes. Sounds good.

Couldn't agree more.

We've been shafted in the past for the benefit of people travelling to/from further north, it's about time the balance was redressed.

 

[pt_mad]

I believe that from 8th Dec 1U43 16:46 Euston-Crewe is booked 8-car operation from London to Stafford and looking at Realtime trains looks correct as there is a 5K43 ecs to Crewe formed of the detached unit.

This is now confirmed as correct.

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

 

[Starmill]

This is now confirmed as correct.

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

Will it fit in Rugeley Trent Valley?

 

[tractakid]

Hmm. What's happened to the 0517 Bletchley to Crewe service?!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Will it fit in Rugeley Trent Valley?

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?

Hmm. What's happened to the 0517 Bletchley to Crewe service?!

Now 0542 off Northampton, I presume it now comes off the depot there in lieu of Bletchley?

 

[tractakid]

Not that I have ever used that service, but it's a loss for Bletchley. MKC gets a Birmingham train instead that runs slightly later.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Not that I have ever used that service, but it's a loss for Bletchley. MKC gets a Birmingham train instead that runs slightly later.

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.

 

[tractakid]

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 don't doubt it would have been quiet. But it's always nice to have options. Sometimes the only way to get somewhere on time is to leave on one of these very early services and we're fortunate to have them in the MK area.

So, not the hugest of losses (most BLY passengers could go from MK instead even though it might mean a taxi) but a small little loss nonetheless.

 

[MCR247]

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?

AFAIAA desiros only have the cheaper UDS - unit deselect

 

[IanD]

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 had used it quite a few times on a Saturday and found it to have a surprising number of people waiting for it at Milton Keynes - maybe they were only going as far as Northampton. Was always very useful for connections at Tamworth for the East Midlands, Yorkshire and beyond.

 

[pt_mad]

Will it fit in Rugeley Trent Valley?

They will obviously have a plan for this but I'm pretty sure Atherstone doesn't have an 8 car stop.

 

[33056]

AFAIAA desiros only have the cheaper UDS - unit deselect

Think you are correct, get the same problem at Wembley Central; anything over 4 coaches and the doors are only released on the front unit.