My ideas for new train services.

[FQ]

Yeovil Junction to Pen Mill shuttle.

Some of the Weymouth services would probably need to be adjusted by a few minutes so it could connect with SWT services at Junction at xx29 and xx39 past the hour.

Good idea.
Also as I put in my first post a Paddington to Oakhampton.

 

[Class172]

Good idea.
Also as I put in my first post a Paddington to Oakhampton.

I'm sceptical there would be enough (if any) demand for a direct service to London. Before anything can progress that far, the first logical step would be to ensure a regular service all year from Okehampton to Exeter, which is far more likely.

 

[PHILIPE]

I'm sceptical there would be enough (if any) demand for a direct service to London. Before anything can progress that far, the first logical step would be to ensure a regular service all year from Oakhampton to Exeter, which is far more likely.

Where is Oakhampton ? It may be pronounced as such but is "Okehampton".
Been plenty of posts on Forum recently while Dawlish has been out of action.

 

[Class172]

I was fully aware that it was spelt Okehampton, as I have a relative who lives near it; it was just a silly error — as they say I was "on autopilot." I have amended the post now (thanks for pointing it out).

 

[PHILIPE]

I was actually wondering if you had meant it for a joke.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

I think there should be a Bromborough Rake-Langley Mill all-shacks.

 

[Kite159]

Yeovil Junction to Pen Mill shuttle.

Some of the Weymouth services would probably need to be adjusted by a few minutes so it could connect with SWT services at Junction at xx29 and xx39 past the hour.

Isn't there already a bus which does a shuttle service between the 2 Yeovil stations (and the town centre)?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

How about running one of the early morning Leeds-St. Pancras HSTs (and evening returns) via Huddersfield & Barnsley with calls at Batley; Dewsbury; Huddersfield; Honley/Brockholes (for Holme Valley); Penistone; Barnsley & Meadowhall. Short platforms at some stops might be an issue, but don't HSTs have grandfather rights (or at least some form of selective door unlocking) anyway? The biggest problem would probably be the 10mph speed limit (it's 50 for MUs) over Longroyd Bridge viaduct!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Years ago there used to be a train that went from the bay platform at Bournemouth and I think it went to Gatwick and London Victoria. If the pathing is available maybe that could be restored by perhaps running starting from Weymouth (not sure if starting from Weymouth would be viable with the single line section) and going via Brighton, linking 4 seaside towns (two with ferry links) and a major airport.

It could be timed to call at either Fareham or Havent to allow passengers to transfer to trains that goto Portsmouth.

 

[FQ]

Years ago there used to be a train that went from the bay platform at Bournemouth and I think it went to Gatwick and London Victoria. If the pathing is available maybe that could be restored by perhaps running starting from Weymouth (not sure if starting from Weymouth would be viable with the single line section) and going via Brighton, linking 4 seaside towns (two with ferry links) and a major airport.

It could be timed to call at either Fareham or Havent to allow passengers to transfer to trains that goto Portsmouth.

That is a good idea but maybe only run it to Gatwick Airport as there is already a service to London from Weymouth.

 

[swt_passenger]

Years ago there used to be a train that went from the bay platform at Bournemouth and I think it went to Gatwick and London Victoria.

The successor to that service still runs to Gatwick and Victoria hourly Monday - Saturday, but only from Southampton. It also now runs via the Arun Valley, following the comprehensive re-write of the west Coastway timetable with the new SN franchise, from Dec 2007.

The SN trains were apparently a performance issue west of Southampton, but since they ran SWT's service has been significantly revised anyway, and in previous discussions it has been suggested that there is no room in the timetable for SN to run to Bournemouth anymore by extending from the current arrival time at Southampton, even if they had stock available.

(Running one of the two SN services beyond Southampton is a perennial suggestion in these forums, yet no-one can ever show any operational advantages - what it basically comes down to IMHO is a 'rose-tinted view' that it happened once, so it needs to happen again...)

 

[alwaystouchout]

Most of these suggestions sound like they're romanticising a bygone era rather than actually providing meaningful services/connections that get people where they want to go..

 

[s'land]

How about Middlesbrough's to Glasgow, Calling at Hartlepool, Sunderland, Newcastle, Berwick, Edinburgh, Haymarket, Glasgow.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Most of these suggestions sound like they're romanticising a bygone era rather than actually providing meaningful services/connections that get people where they want to go..

Surprised it took 72 posts to reach that conclusion! For every decent suggestion there's at least five questionable / nonsensical ones...

 

[FQ]

How about Middlesbrough's to Glasgow, Calling at Hartlepool, Sunderland, Newcastle, Berwick, Edinburgh, Haymarket, Glasgow.

Or alternately Middlesborough, Thornaby, Hartlepool, Sunderland, Newcastle Central, Metro Centre, Prudhow, Hexham, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell and Glasgow Central.

 

[AndrewR232]

Although I can't see it happening, I think a service from Carlisle to Perth would be interesting, also stopping at Lockerbie, Carstairs, Motherwell, Whifflet, Cumbernauld and Stirling.

 

[FQ]

Although I can't see it happening, I think a service from Carlisle to Perth would be interesting, also stopping at Lockerbie, Carstairs, Motherwell, Whifflet, Cumbernauld and Stirling.

Maybe one like that and also a slow one for intermediate stops swell calling at Carlisle, Lockerbie, Carstairs, Carluke, Shieldmuir, Motherwell, Whifflet, Coatbridge Central, Greenfaulds, Cumbernauld, Larbert, Stirling, Bridge of Allen, Dunblane, Gleneagles and Perth.

Also the fast one could go on to Dundee.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Lincoln needs more direct trains to London as so far it only has an 07:20 and an 07:04 to London the 07:20 going to Kings Cross and the 07:04 going to St Pancras.
I think there should be an hourly Lincoln-London and an hourly London-Lincoln.
It could go alternate hours so every 2 hours it goes from Kings Cross and every 2 hours it goes from St Pancras International.

The one from London St Pancras could call at London St Pancras, Bedford, Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, East Midlands Parkway, Nottingham, Newark Castle (for Newark North Gate) and Lincoln. The one from London Kings Cross could call at London Kings Cross, Peterborough, Spalding, Sleaford and Lincoln. On saturdays and Sundays the Service from Pancras could carry on to Cleethorpes and the service from Kings Cross could go on to Scarborough.

 

[Manchester77]

Lincoln needs more direct trains to London as so far it only has an 07:20 and an 07:04 to London the 07:20 going to Kings Cross and the 07:04 going to St Pancras.
I think there should be an hourly Lincoln-London and an hourly London-Lincoln.
It could go alternate hours so every 2 hours it goes from Kings Cross and every 2 hours it goes from St Pancras International.

Its likely that services to Lincoln will be improved under the next ICEC franchise as specified in the ICEC ITT. Considering St Pancras (domestic) has little enough capacity for its current services I don't know where all this capacity for Lincoln services would come from. Also as I said in another reply to you which you seem to have ignored Scarborough will probably gain an ICEC service under the next franchise.

 

[route:oxford]

Although I can't see it happening, I think a service from Carlisle to Perth would be interesting, also stopping at Lockerbie, Carstairs, Motherwell, Whifflet, Cumbernauld and Stirling.

That would potentially be useful.

Perhaps with a move and consolidation of Coatbridge Stations onto one site with Upper & Lower levels?

Thinking about it... A consolidation of the stations at Coatbridge might be a very convenient prior to the upgrade work at Queen Street.

Change at Coatbridge for all major stations North...

 

[Yew]

Its likely that services to Lincoln will be improved under the next ICEC franchise as specified in the ICEC ITT. Considering St Pancras (domestic) has little enough capacity for its current services I don't know where all this capacity for Lincoln services would come from. Also as I said in another reply to you which you seem to have ignored Scarborough will probably gain an ICEC service under the next franchise.

To be fair during the day EMT probably have enough slack in their HST fleet to extend some nottingham fasts (or slows) to Lincoln.

 

[FQ]

Since Chiltern go to all the effort to put out the silver sets as frequently as possible on weekdays why don't they on the weekends?
Here are the list of diagrams that would be possible for the weekends. I will put E in brackets for existing services of the class 67s.

(set 2) 07:12 Kidderminster-London Marylebone 09:47 (E)
(set 4) 08:13 Kidderminster-London Marylebone 10:42
(set 1) 09:10 Kidderminster-London Marylebone 11:44 (E)
(set 3) 10:06 London Marylebone-Birmingham Moor Street 11:55
(set 2) 11:06 London Marylebone-Birmingham Moor Street 12:54 (E)
(set 4) 12:06 London Marylebone-Birmingham Moor Street 13:53
(set 3) 12:55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone 14:45
(set 2) 13:55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone 15:48 (E)
(set 4) 14:55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone 16:45
more later.

 

[Manchester77]

To be fair during the day EMT probably have enough slack in their HST fleet to extend some nottingham fasts (or slows) to Lincoln.

Fair point but I don't think passengers would really want to keep switching between terminals for every Lincoln service, after Thameslink 2018 Kings Cross should have some space for all Lincoln services to run from one terminal rather than switching between the two.

 

[Tomnick]

There's already the paths to run a Lincoln service every other hour during the day (i.e. that occupied by the Newark turnback) - I doubt you'd squeeze an extra path out in the other hour, and not just because of lack of capacity at KX. What more does Lincoln need?!

In any case, the current service via the Midland is horrendously slow - extending Nottingham trains during the day, especially the slows, surely wouldn't bring much to the party with the alternative being so much quicker. Most of the stock stabled between the peaks is at the London end anyway, isn't it? Not much use for extending existing services beyond Nottingham if so.

Regarding Chiltern 67s - I see a list of individual schedules, but certainly not a list of diagrams. Is that the most misused word on this forum??

 

[Manchester77]

There's already the paths to run a Lincoln service every other hour during the day (i.e. that occupied by the Newark turnback) - I doubt you'd squeeze an extra path out in the other hour, and not just because of lack of capacity at KX. What more does Lincoln need?!

Regarding Chiltern 67s - I see a list of individual schedules, but certainly not a list of diagrams. Is that the most misused word on this forum??

Sorry what the way user fishquinn was talking I was under the impression it received 1tpd or something low like that not a decent level of service!

Haha I think it's up there! For those who don't know a diagram would be all the services a train operates from the stabling point into service, service runs, then back to stabling point. An example would be the current EMT HST diagrams shown here: http://www.125group.org.uk/HST Diags EMT 301213.pdf
With a diagram number showing all booked workings for that one train. Hope that helps those who don't know

 

[Tomnick]

It does just have the one train per day at present (as well as the one to St Pancras), but there are the paths for more - as discussed on another thread somewhere recently, the London - Newark service every other hour was initially intended to run through to Lincoln. If it did run through, I reckon that'd be adequate!

Thanks also for pointing out the difference between a schedule and a diagram - I'd already given up on that one .

 

[43106]

Following on from the ideas about linking Perth to the WCML, I have an old LMS timetable dating from 1953, which shows a very healthy service between Perth and what is now called the WCML. Trains operated from Perth down to Birmingham and London, usually joining up with services from Glasgow, Blackpool and Liverpool, with similar services in the opposite direction. Bearing this in mind, I'd like to see a version of the Clansman re-introduced, but 3 of them in each direction - say 6 hours apart. I'd only run it between Birmingham and Perth, but I'd extend 1 journey to & from Inverness and another to/from Aberdeen via Dundee.

 

[FQ]

I think there should be a really fast service from London to Kyle of Lochalsh via the EMML calling at London St Pancras, Sheffield, York, Darlington, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Haymarket, Perth, Pitlochry, Newtonmore, Avimore, Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh.

 

[Tomnick]

Perhaps it'd be helpful if suggestions were supported by some attempt at justification, if only so that others can judge whether it's meant as a serious proposal or just someone repeatedly taking the piddle.

 

[43074]

I think there should be a really fast service from London to Kyle of Lochalsh via the MML calling at London St Pancras, Sheffield, York, Darlington, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Haymarket, Perth, Pitlochry, Newtonmore, Avimore, Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh.

Obviously this is fantasy.

Realisticly, re-timing the current Highland Chieftain to provide a connection to Wick/Thurso & Kyle of Lochalsh at Inverness might be a possibility. A through London to Kyle service frankly isn't going to happen, probably ever, apart from an odd railtour. ''Really fast'' for that route would be (from London St P) 5 and a half hours to Edinburgh, 9 hours to Inverness and 12 hours to Kyle.

That is verging on ludicrous, sorry.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
My earlier Birmingham to Cambridge fast service suggestion was far too sensible, I therefore would like to suggest a service running from...

Penzance to Wick & Thurso
calling at Truro, Plymouth, Exeter St Davids, Bristol Temple Meads, Birmingham New Street, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Motherwell, Stirling, Perth, Inverness and Georgemas Junction, where the train would divide for Wick & Thurso. I think there is a real market for such a service, and would provide an alternative to nutters people intending to walk or cycle between Lands End and John O Groats. It would also speed up links between all of the major cities, but that's just an aside and far too sensible for this thread. Traction would be a 47 between Penzance and Birmingham, 86259 between Birmingham and Motherwell and a 37/4 between Motherwell & Wick/Thurso, with 7 Mark 2 coaches behind.

 

[Aictos]

My suggestion would be an extra train every hour from Cambridge to Birmingham, calling only at Ely, Peterborough, Leicester, Nuneaton & Birmingham with extra calls at peak times, to relieve the Birmingham to Stansted services of overcrowding and to speed up journey times on the East Anglia - Midlands corridor.

This gets my vote although I would extend it to Stansted as you only move the overcrowding further up the line with the existing idea, it be better to have a half hourly service and to extend the last train until 2230/2300 at night.

Maybe extend the Northern Leeds to Carlisle up to Glasgow and give to another TOC (poss TPE). There's currently press going round that says this service needs longer stock than the current 2 cars (even though in real world most diagrams are 3/4 cars).
Also extend the Leeds - Nottingham somewhere useful divert if possible via Westgate probably give to EMT/XC. Run additional Northern express via Barnsley.
Some people say run Glasgow to Nottingham but that would possibly be operational nightmare

Personally I think the Leeds to Carlisle and Nottingham to Leeds services could be merged to give better though journey opportunities, no sense in extending it to Glasgow imo and run it as XC/TPE