Most frequent parliamentary service?

[159jim]

These obviously aren't very frequent, just curious though. I don't suppose the now-hourly Melksham service counts?

 

[CyrusWuff]

Chiltern's Monday to Friday Paddington workings (1057 South Ruislip - Paddington and 1136 Paddington - West Ruislip) have to be in with a shot.

 

[Adam0984]

Leeds to Goole (Knottingley to Goole section) 1 Train PD to Goole 2 Train PD to Leeds

 

[theageofthetra]

The once a day in either direction Beckenham Junction via the Mid Kent.

 

[TUC]

Leeds to Goole (Knottingley to Goole section) 1 Train PD to Goole 2 Train PD to Leeds

that route is a classic example of a commercial opportunity being missed. The market from the M62 corridor has grown massively in recent years, yet this route stays at this low level of service with no attempt to market it.

 

[PHILIPE]

These obviously aren't very frequent, just curious though. I don't suppose the now-hourly Melksham service counts?

Don't understand. Melksham service is not hourly and has never had a Parliamentary service.

 

[louis97]

Don't understand. Melksham service is not hourly and has never had a Parliamentary service.

I don't think the OP understands what a parliamentary service is, I think they must think it is any line with only a couple of services a day.

A parliamentary service is where a service runs purely to keep a railway line open.

Similar can happen with stations too, such as Teesside Airport - only 1 train in each direction on a Sunday.

 

[PHILIPE]

The Friday only Stockport to Stalybridge seems to be the most famous Parliamentary service. Has run for many years now.

 

[Parallel]

Similar can happen with stations too, such as Teesside Airport - only 1 train in each direction on a Sunday.

And Pilning as well - I was on a train that stopped there on Saturday. Nobody got on or off though. I'm surprised a housing development hasn't happened nearby yet, considering the area. If/when it does happen, the station would certainly be a lot busier than it is now. It doesn't help that most of Pilning is nearer to Severn Beach railway station...

Melksham gets a train each direction roughly every 2.5 hours with an extra service each way in the early morning and evening. Also, it's treated as more of a line and less of a shuttle service at weekends (i.e. Trains passing at Chippenham)

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

There's 3 each way on Saturday's Sheffield to Cleethorpes Northern Rail service, aka Brigg Line or the (original) Great Central Mainline.
Durring the later stages of the Hatfield landslide disruption a fourth service by TransPennine was added as a temporary measure.

 

[Buttsy]

The hourly Sundays only Addlestone - Byfleet and New Haw. No other passenger service runs over the flying junction and this service is run to avoid passenger closure procedures over this section.

 

[Ash Bridge]

The Friday only Stockport to Stalybridge seems to be the most famous Parliamentary service. Has run for many years now.

If only they would allow it to make a return journey, but then I suppose it would have the negative effect of encouraging more passengers.

 

[gordonthemoron]

If only they would allow it to make a return journey, but then I suppose it would have the negative effect of encouraging more passengers.

Couldn't they have two services starting at the same time on the same day which would still make them unusable for return journey?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Couldn't they have two services starting at the same time on the same day which would still make them unusable for return journey?

Don't give them ideas!

 

[davyp]

Don't give them ideas!

Ideal for anyone needing to spend 2 or three minutes at South Reddish or Denton Station!

 

[Bald Rick]

that route is a classic example of a commercial opportunity being missed. The market from the M63 corridor has grown massively in recent years, yet this route stays at this low level of service with no attempt to market it.

The market on the M63 corridor ceased to exist in 1999...

(M62 perhaps?)

 

[TEW]

The hourly Sundays only Addlestone - Byfleet and New Haw. No other passenger service runs over the flying junction and this service is run to avoid passenger closure procedures over this section.

There is one service in the early morning, and one in the late evening Monday-Saturday. That would be sufficient to keep the line open. I believe the Sunday service is run because that is what SWT want to run, not because they have to run it.

 

[bb21]

It would be sheer madness for the flying junction to be closed imo. As these last few weeks have shown, this offers a useful diversionary route when the mainline is shut.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Ideal for anyone needing to spend 2 or three minutes at South Reddish or Denton Station!

That's probably more than enough time to see either

 

[PHILIPE]

And Pilning as well - I was on a train that stopped there on Saturday. Nobody got on or off though. I'm surprised a housing development hasn't happened nearby yet, considering the area. If/when it does happen, the station would certainly be a lot busier than it is now. It doesn't help that most of Pilning is nearer to Severn Beach railway station...

Melksham gets a train each direction roughly every 2.5 hours with an extra service each way in the early morning and evening. Also, it's treated as more of a line and less of a shuttle service at weekends (i.e. Trains passing at Chippenham)

The case of Pilning is a train making a Parliamentary stop rather then a Parliamentary train.

 

[gordonthemoron]

The case of Pilning is a train making a Parliamentary stop rather then a Parliamentary train.

which is presumably also the case with Polesworth?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
does stafford-stoke bus service count?

 

[rwebster]

Ellesmere Port - Helsby; 2 return journeys every early morning and afternoon = 8 journeys per day.

 

[merlodlliw]

The fridays only Birmingham to Barmouth evening service is extended to Pwllheli
from May, paid for by WG,the train dates back to when Lloyd George was Prime Minister who had the GWR run it so he could get home on Fridays.

 

[Carlisle]

If only they would allow it to make a return journey, but then I suppose it would have the negative effect of encouraging more passengers.

Northern are not interested in developing new routes or services, not entirely their fault I know as the system offers maximum rewards for simply running their existing Network reliably and little else, there's no incentive to spend money they don't have to

 

[Ash Bridge]

Northern are not interested in developing new routes or services, not entirely their fault I know as the system offers maximum rewards for simply running their existing Network reliably and little else, there's no incentive to spend money they don't have to

Yes, I did appreciate that fact ( not wishing to sound clever btw.) hence the element of sarcasm in my post.

 

[6Gman]

I don't think the OP understands what a parliamentary service is, I think they must think it is any line with only a couple of services a day.

A parliamentary service is where a service runs purely to keep a railway line open.

Similar can happen with stations too, such as Teesside Airport - only 1 train in each direction on a Sunday.

Quite. The term "parliamentary service" has had two quite different meanings over the years, which are frequently confused - not least by M Portillo recently.

The original use was from the Regulation of Railways Act (1880s?). The railway companies at the time weren't too keen on low-fare 3rd class passengers and so the government required them to run at least one daily train, calling at all stations, and offering 3rd class seating at a fixed fare rate.

In recent years a new meaning has emerged, for services which run only to avoid formal closure proceedings (think Halton Curve or Stockport - Stalybridge). Technically these are NOT parliamentary trains, but - hey - language evolves (!) and since the RoRA parliamentary trains no longer exist ...

There is a further type of service, where a limited level of service (think Brigg & Kirton Lindsey, or Knottingley - Goole) existed at the time of privatisation and has been written into further franchises. These are NOT parliamentary services.

And one could add another element - stations for which a certain level of service was written into the original Acts which allowed construction (usually as a condition by local landowners to secure co-operation). Such stops were "parliamentary" in the sense that they were required by law - not sure if any of these still exist.

 

[PHILIPE]

The fridays only Birmingham to Barmouth evening service is extended to Pwllheli
from May, paid for by WG,the train dates back to when Lloyd George was Prime Minister who had the GWR run it so he could get home on Fridays.

Extended all week from May this year.

 

[pne]

And one could add another element - stations for which a certain level of service was written into the original Acts which allowed construction (usually as a condition by local landowners to secure co-operation). Such stops were "parliamentary" in the sense that they were required by law - not sure if any of these still exist.

Reminds me of Berney Arms, which was a condition of sale but not written into law as far as I know.

 

[merlodlliw]

Extended all week from May this year.

Yes it cuts out that five hour break in the late afternoon & Evening,

 

[Elecman]

I think St Anne's on the Sea is covered by the requirement that all trains using the Kirkham Blackpool South Line must stop.