Odd LNWR calling pattern -Sunday - Euston > MKC

[DarloRich]

On Sunday evening I happened to end up on the 2039 Euston to Milton Keynes service. Nothing odd there but the calling pattern was:

• Watford
• Hemel Hempstead
• Berkhamsted
• Tring
• Milton Keynes

Is this normal for this service? What's the story here? The stopping pattern is slightly odd. Is this simply the last Tring stopped extended to run fast to MKC in service rather than empty or something else.

Interestingly the train ran slow line to Cheddington then fast line to MKC. Cant recall the last time I went slow to fast at Ledburn junction. There were very few passengers on the train.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is that one the first train on the evening 2 track timetable? Could well be like the morning peak ones you used to get from Bletchley which were extended Tring stoppers, if running fast line and unable to
cross to the slows you can't sensibly
get to Bletchley depot without going via MKC.

 

[DarloRich]

Is that one the first train on the evening 2 track timetable? Could well be like the morning peak ones you used to get from Bletchley which were extended Tring stoppers, if running fast line you can't get to Bletchley depot without going via MKC.

It wasn't 2 track last Sunday as we were over taken a couple of times.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It wasn't 2 track last Sunday as we were over taken a couple of times.

The evening timetable every day is designed for 2 track running even if 4 are actually in use. On a weekday this only kicks in quite late, 2200ish I think (you can tell as the Avantis start taking an hour), but on a Sunday it may be earlier?

 

[jfollows]

2K53 20:39 Euston to Milton Keynes is followed by 1P06 20:53 Euston to Preston which arrives in Milton Keynes 4 minutes after 2K53. If 2K53 stopped more, 1P06 would be forced to run later. Both booked to use the same line, although on the day it might not run as booked. Next Sunday both are booked to use the down slow line, see https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W33310/2026-06-21/detailed for example.

 

[DarloRich]

2K53 20:39 Euston to Milton Keynes is followed by 1P06 20:53 Euston to Preston which arrives in Milton Keynes 4 minutes after 2K53. If 2K53 stopped more, 1P06 would be forced to run later.

and it cant run on the slow line because, usually, the two track railway rules are in operation at that time?

It seemed very odd because 2/3 minutes behind 2K53 is a semi fast Northampton serving Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley and MKC.

 

[jfollows]

and it cant run on the slow line because, usually, the two track railway rules are in operation at that time?

It seemed very odd because 2/3 minutes behind 2K53 is a semi fast Northampton serving Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley and MKC.

It's a two track railway, at least in the timetable, with both trains using the same line, so 1P06 has to be booked to follow 2K53. This allows one pair of lines to be closed for whatever reason.

 

[Omnishambles]

I think as Bletchleyite suggests, the only thing I can think of is a sensible permanent WTT service which will cover the weekends in the timetable where access is only available to Bletchley CS via north end access. Odd calling pattern mind you

 

[800002]

The current 2-Track timetable plan (where all services are planned to operate on only one pair of running lines- in this case all schedules are planned to operate over the Slow Lines is:

Mon-Fri overnight into Tues-Sat
2230 - 0600 Camden Jn - Ledburn Jn
2240 - 0600 Ledburn Jn - Hanslope Jn

Sat overnight into Sun
2000 Sat - 1200 Sun

Sun overnight into Mon
2100 Sun - 0600 Mon


*Addendum
So, 1N57 (20.42 Euston - Northamton) is planned to cross FL -> SL at Bourne End infront of 2K53 (20.39 Euston - Milton Keynes).
1P06 is then planned to follow both down which ever line is in use on that evening.

 

[CHobbs]

On Sunday evening I happened to end up on the 2039 Euston to Milton Keynes service. Nothing odd there but the calling pattern was:

• Watford
• Hemel Hempstead
• Berkhamsted
• Tring
• Milton Keynes

Is this normal for this service? What's the story here? The stopping pattern is slightly odd. Is this simply the last Tring stopped extended to run fast to MKC in service rather than empty or something else.

Interestingly the train ran slow line to Cheddington then fast line to MKC. Cant recall the last time I went slow to fast at Ledburn junction. There were very few passengers on the train.

Don’t they alternate the stations? So the next to Northampton will be Leighton Buzzard and Bletchley and omit Hemel and Berko? They do this in evening peaks

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think thinking more it's basically a Tring semifast that's going "home" to Bletchley for the night, but because it might be fast line only it runs via MKC to access from the north end (with the lack of stops being to avoid slowing fast trains). There are Bletchley terminators at similar times on weekdays which extend north of Tring primarily for that reason, but that's when access from the south is known to be available.

There used to be southbound Bletchley starters in the morning that didn't stop until Tring which were a similar idea, these no longer operate in service (I don't quite know why, as while Bletchley doesn't need the frequency they were handy in the event of a cancellation of one of the others).