Manchester - Euston Via Stone (Help)

[xtradj]

Just intrigued really.. dont know how it works now..

but from Dec 14th theres 3 trains an hour to euston from manchester

1 via wilmslow, and the other 2 via stoke

the 2 via stoke, do they branch off at stone straight onto the trent valley line, or do they follow into stafford then onto the trent valley

im guessing they branch off at stone? and the 3/4 sheduled to stop at stafford from manchester to london, go through to stafford then onto the trent valley?

just wondering any one know?

 

[Gizmogle]

Branch off at Stone.

 

[xtradj]

cheers mate thought so

good to see Stone being used again though by london midland

 

[Gizmogle]

What? They're using the station now? I didn't know that.

What about all the other stations around there with no service?

 

[xtradj]

they still dont use the other 3, wedgewood, norton and barleston
but london midland are using stone once an hour during the day on the crewe - euston service via trent valley stopper

http://londonmidland.go-cms.co.uk/app/webroot/files/cache/LM08D_BOOK2_GRIDS_WEB.pdf

 

[Benn88]

Norton Bridge is now inacessable as a rail link as they have removed the footbridge to the island platform, although it is still regarded as open because they run a poxy bus service aparently... Farce.

 

[The Planner]

Norton no Bridge, will never see a train again. If you realise how difficult it is to close a station then any workaround will do.

 

[Jordy]

Rugeley Trent Valley, Lichfield Trent Valley Low Level, Tamworth Low Level and more importantly Atherstone (which had a diabolical service) will all greatly benefit from the new London Midland timetable with hourly trains to London and Crewe via Stoke.

 

[87015]

Rugeley Trent Valley, Lichfield Trent Valley Low Level, Tamworth Low Level and more importantly Atherstone (which had a diabolical service) will all greatly benefit from the new London Midland timetable with hourly trains to London and Crewe via Stoke.

I'd argue Rugeley residents are worse off as travel to/from Stafford - Rugeley Town (TV station being well placed for not a lot) will now require a change at a windswept hovel with no facilities and practically no service information. Its a nervy plus 10 in both directions - anyone who travels with London Midland regularly will know how often that is likely to miss!

 

[yorkie]

Just intrigued really.. dont know how it works now..

but from Dec 14th theres 3 trains an hour to euston from manchester

1 via wilmslow, and the other 2 via stoke

the 2 via stoke, do they branch off at stone straight onto the trent valley line, or do they follow into stafford then onto the trent valley

They don't branch off at stone, they continue along the Stoke Lines to Colwich Jn, where they join the Trent Valley line, thus avoiding Stafford.

im guessing they branch off at stone? and the 3/4 sheduled to stop at stafford from manchester to london, go through to stafford then onto the trent valley?

just wondering any one know?

If they are shown as calling at Stafford then they branch off the Stoke Lines at Stone and join the short branch to the Trent Valley at Norton Bridge.

Edit:

Before WCRM, the time penalty for branching off at Stone was approx 6 mins, this was due to having to slow to 25mph for the very tight curve at Stone and 30mph to join the WCML at Norton Bridge, plus the 85mph restriction for the curve just south of Stafford and the longer distance. This compares unfavourably with remaining at 95mph until Colwich then slowing to 55mph.

I'm not sure exactly what effect WCRM has had, but I'm pretty sure the junction at Colwich is a lot faster than 55mph now, while the junctions at Stone and Norton Bridge are little improved if at all, so the time penalty may be greater than 6 minutes these days. Of course, that's without a stop at Stafford - a brief call there and the time penalty would be around 10 minutes.