Northern Rail Speed

[northwichcat]

I don't see why that could not work. It could remove the current situation where the LM trains wait 57 mins at crewe.

I can't see how that would work. The Chester-Crewe shuttle needs to be half an hour after the Chester-London service in both directions. It's also around 25 minutes in each direction, so it would probably end up sitting around for around an hour in Chester instead of in Crewe.

Plus if the LM plans for serving Preston go ahead then there wouldn't be any LM trains terminating at Crewe which can be extended to Chester.

 

[simonmpoulton]

I dont know where you get the impression it takes 25 minutes each way. On normal operation with a 158 running the service it usually takes about 21, with a 175 it takes around 19. Only with a 150 does it take a bit longer at around 23 minutes. With a modern Desiro EMU I can see it easily taking only 19 or less.

 

[northwichcat]

I dont know where you get the impression it takes 25 minutes each way. On normal operation with a 158 running the service it usually takes about 21, with a 175 it takes around 19. Only with a 150 does it take a bit longer at around 23 minutes. With a modern Desiro EMU I can see it easily taking only 19 or less.

The timetable says 23 minutes (I knew it was around 25 but didn't check before) - remember an operator wouldn't run a service without recovery time.

Based on the current timetable extending the Euston-Crewe stopper to Chester would work like this:

Euston 06:24
Crewe a: 09:38
Crewe d: 10:23
Chester a: 10:46
Chester d: 10:55
Crewe a: 11:18
Crewe d: 11:33
Euston: 14:49

That would mean 47 minutes combined waiting around time and wouldn't provide a more attractive time for doing a journey like Alsager to Chester.

 

[150sprinter]

The Class 321s on the Wakefield Line between Fitzwilliam and South Elmsall are particularly fast.