Pick-up/Set-down Only through Castlefield

[Manutd1999]

Overcrowding and dwell times exceeding the schedule is a regular cause of delays through the Castlefield corridor. Could the use of pick-up / set-down only restrictions for long distance services be considered as a way to reduce this? I'm a thinking of 2x services in particular:

TPE Scotland-Manchester Airport
TPE Saltburn-Manchester Airport

If future timetable changes allow all long-distance services to run non-stop along the Styal Line, then the TfW and Northern services to Llandudno/Barrow could also be added.

These could be set-down only at Oxford Rd and Piccadilly when heading to the Airport, and pick-up only on the return trip. The idea would be to stop people using these services for local journeys, especially passengers heading for the airport with lots of luggage. It would have the added benefit of reducing overcrowding on the platforms, especially at Piccadilly.

Local journeys would directed to the Blackpool-Airport services instead. It wouldn't have to be 100% enforced, simply removing the services from the departure boards would be enough to dissuade the majority.

A similar concept exists with Avanti and TPE services in Edinburgh, with restrictions at Haymarket.

Something worth considering?

 

[Djgr]

Overcrowding and dwell times exceeding the schedule is a regular cause of delays through the Castlefield corridor. Could the use of pick-up / set-down only restrictions for long distance services be considered as a way to reduce this? I'm a thinking of 2x services in particular:

TPE Scotland-Manchester Airport
TPE Saltburn-Manchester Airport

If future timetable changes allow all long-distance services to run non-stop along the Styal Line, then the TfW and Northern services to Llandudno/Barrow could also be added.

These could be set-down only at Oxford Rd and Piccadilly when heading to the Airport, and pick-up only on the return trip. The idea would be to stop people using these services for local journeys, especially passengers heading for the airport with lots of luggage. Local journeys would directed to the Blackpool-Airport services instead. It wouldn't have to be 100% enforced, simply removing the services from the departure boards would be enough to dissuade the majority.

A similar concept exists with Avanti and TPE services in Edinburgh, with restrictions at Haymarket.

Something worth considering?

I just think that these will just be ignored, particularly in times of frequent operational chaos.

 

[biggerisbetter]

I think the opposite needs to happen longer term with all trains stopping at all stations (excluding Deansgate which I'd close) including Salford Central, Salford Crescent and further down the line, Bolton. This would allow greater rationalisation of services between the terminals - all Southport trains going to Victoria for example.

Also, pre-covid the Airport achieved 5.7m passengers so is a significant destination with a higher than average number of travellers who would not be able to understand the set-down . pick up only restrictions so it would, I imagine, be very difficult to enforce.

 

[Class15]

(excluding Deansgate which I'd close)

Why on earth would you do that?

 

[biggerisbetter]

Why on earth would you do that?

I should have caveatted this but if the Oxford Road upgrades are delivered (with a new western entrance) and Piccadilly platforms 15 & 16, Deansgate then becomes the main bottleneck through the corridor and will be so close to Oxford Road as to provide little additional benefit in terms of connectivity. Would also need a link from Oxford Road to Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop.

 

[Kite159]

A similar concept exists with Avanti and TPE services in Edinburgh, with restrictions at Haymarket.

Pretty sure Avanti has open calls at Haymarket both ways, it's only TPE which is 'set down only' and pick up only at Haymarket, although I suspect for anything heading to Edinburgh it gets ignored, similar to the 'set down only' on the fast services from Glasgow.

Haymarket is a station where trains terminating at Edinburgh will 'go when ready' rather than waiting for the booked departure time owing to how frequent the trains are.

As for making TPE set down only heading towards the Airport and pick up only heading towards Scotland/Redcar, what would be the point. Those trains empty out at Piccadilly and would be carrying fresh air to the Airport

 

[Manutd1999]

As for making TPE set down only heading towards the Airport and pick up only heading towards Scotland/Redcar, what would be the point. Those trains empty out at Piccadilly and would be carrying fresh air to the Airport

Because they empty out at Piccadilly, this leads to very busy platforms. With passengers also trying to board this slows everything down and leads to longer dwell times, plus overcrowding. Set-down only could help keep the 'flow' one-way, increasing both efficiency and safety.

It wouldn't have to be strictly enforced, just removing the trains from the boards and apps would make a decent impact.

 

[Harpo]

Timetable tinkering is Titanic deckchair shuffling.

Castlefields is an inadequate bit of railway trying to be both metro and InterCity, served by lots of differing train types and lengths from a huge range of origins.

A New Street style hub on two platforms will never work reliably. Castlefields needs a strategy and proper investment.