Potential solutions for overcrowding on the Hereford - Birmingham line?

[VT 390]

The other day I travelled on the 09:39 from Hereford to New Street, this service was formed of only 2 coaches (class 170) and by Colwall most seats had been taken with people standing all the way from Malvern to Birmingham. There were a few things which I thought were odd and that is that the following service (10:39) was formed of 5 coaches (2+3) why is it that until they get new stock the units are formed using the 3 coach unit on its own and the 2 2 coach units coupled together to form a 4 car set, this would use the same units but split the capacity more evenly.
Also by Bromsgrove it was full and standing but more passengers joined would it not make sense to make it pick up only southbound and setdown only northbound at Bromsgrove now they have there 3 cross city trains per hour.
Finally at Worcester lots of people joined why is it that passengers just going to Birmingham (without cnnectionco at New Street) get the twice an hour Snow Hill service where they will get a seat and the journey time is only 15-20 minutes and costs the same.

 

[Class 170101]

Don't forget the walk at Snow Hill to New Street.

Regarding Bromsgrove they would say why can't we use the non-stop / limited stop service rather than the all stations service. Its faster after all.

 

[185143]

Don't forget the walk at Snow Hill to New Street.

Regarding Bromsgrove they would say why can't we use the non-stop / limited stop service rather than the all stations service. Its faster after all.

If all the Bromsgrove lot get on the stopper, do you not think the same issue will happen at the likes of Bourneville where passengers may be unable to board already overcrowded trains without even more passengers needlessly being onboard?

 

[Class 170101]

If all the Bromsgrove lot get on the stopper, do you not think the same issue will happen at the likes of Bourneville where passengers may be unable to board already overcrowded trains without even more passengers needlessly being onboard?

That too. Dominoes failling over - chain reaction.

 

[VT 390]

Don't forget the walk at Snow Hill to New Street.

Regarding Bromsgrove they would say why can't we use the non-stop / limited stop service rather than the all stations service. Its faster after all.

They could stay on to Moor Street which is like 5 minutes to New Street

In the morning peak the 08:09 and 08:39 arrivals at New Street do not stop at Bromsgrove so only Cross City trains stop in the morning peak also if people at Bromsgrove still want to use the fast service why not just extend 1 or 2 Cross City services to Bromsgrove?

 

[VT 390]

If all the Bromsgrove lot get on the stopper, do you not think the same issue will happen at the likes of Bourneville where passengers may be unable to board already overcrowded trains without even more passengers needlessly being onboard?

Off-Peak services on the Cross City line don't seam to be that full where as the Hereford-New Street trains are and if Bromsgrove manages in the the morning peak to have 2 trains from Worcester not stop at all surely off peak the could cope with having the Worcester trains as Pick up/Set Down only.

 

[Ianno87]

Don't forget the walk at Snow Hill to New Street.

Regarding Bromsgrove they would say why can't we use the non-stop / limited stop service rather than the all stations service. Its faster after all.

And Bromsgrove people are obviously "happy" to stand without affecting those already on board.

 

[VT 390]

And Bromsgrove people are obviously "happy" to stand without affecting those already on board.

But on services from New Street if they get on board first then they take up space which could be used by passengers going further along the route to Worcester/Hereford.

 

[northwichcat]

Remember WMT have new trains on order but new trains don't appear overnight. They also should be getting the D-Trains and the LO 172s but losing the Sprinters.

 

[Man of Kent]

Unfortunately, post 0930 restrictions on cheap fares tend to create excessive demand on the first train they are valid on, but the maximum capacity is needed on trains that arrive in Birmingham in the morning peak.
Trains running in the opposite direction out of Birmingham will not be as busy and so are formed of shorter units. In this case, the previous workings of the 0939 from Hereford appear to be the 0647 Great Malvern-New St arr 0747, then the 0800 to Hereford arr 0922.
The 1039 from Hereford has previously worked the 0709 Hereford-New St arr 0837, which is far more likely to need five carriages than any of the other workings.

 

[VT 390]

Unfortunately, post 0930 restrictions on cheap fares tend to create excessive demand on the first train they are valid on, but the maximum capacity is needed on trains that arrive in Birmingham in the morning peak.
Trains running in the opposite direction out of Birmingham will not be as busy and so are formed of shorter units. In this case, the previous workings of the 0939 from Hereford appear to be the 0647 Great Malvern-New St arr 0747, then the 0800 to Hereford arr 0922.
The 1039 from Hereford has previously worked the 0709 Hereford-New St arr 0837, which is far more likely to need five carriages than any of the other workings.

Why would so many people join the 09:39 from Hereford at Droitwich and Bromsgrove as they have already had a train after 09:30?
Also why not couple the class 153 from the 08:45 from Hereford on to the 09:39 instead as the 09:39 seams to be busier than the 08:45?

 

[Clip]

Why would so many people join the 09:39 from Hereford at Droitwich and Bromsgrove as they have already had a train after 09:30?
Also why not couple the class 153 from the 08:45 from Hereford on to the 09:39 instead as the 09:39 seams to be busier than the 08:45?

Because people are creatures of habit and will generally want to take the earliest train they can to get to where they want to be for various reasons - youll never stop that from happenning

 

[sufian123]

The other day I travelled on the 09:39 from HerefrHe to New Street, this service was formed of only 2 coaches (class 170) and by Colwall most seats had been taken with people standing all the way from Malvern to Birmingham. There were a few things which I thought were odd and that is that the following service (10:39) was formed of 5 coaches (2+3) why is it that until they get new stock the units are formed using the 3 coach unit on its own and the 2 2 coach units coupled together to form a 4 car set, this would use the same units but split the capacity more evenly.
Also by Bromsgrove it was full and standing but more passengers joined would it not make sense to make it pick up only southbound and setdown only northbound at Bromsgrove now they have there 3 cross city trains per hour.
Finally at Worcester lots of people joined why is it that passengers just going to Birmingham (without cnnectionco at New Street) get the twice an hour Snow Hill service where they will get a seat and the journey time is only 15-20 minutes and costs the same.

0939 is 2 cars and 1039 is 5 cars. 5 cars spilts at new st then the 3 cars forms the next service from new st. The 0939 leaves new st at 0800 as 2 cars. However arrives as 4 cars. The front 2 forms the 0757 Walsall.

 

[VT 390]

Don't forget the walk at Snow Hill to New Street.

Would it be possible to somehow include travel with National Rail tickets on the Midland Metro in order for people travelling from any Snow Hill line station to have easier access to New Street especially as interchange at Jewellery Quarter between Metro and National Rail is very good, so by creating a single through ticket it may make travel to New Steet easier for not just Worcester passengers but those from Kidderminster and Stourbridge.

 

[VT 390]

0939 is 2 cars and 1039 is 5 cars. 5 cars spilts at new st then the 3 cars forms the next service from new st. The 0939 leaves new st at 0800 as 2 cars. However arrives as 4 cars. The front 2 forms the 0757 Walsall.

With the line to Walsall and Rugeley being electrified would this need to continue and if not could these 2 cars stay attached all day as this would be an 100% increace on capacity on the 09:39 and other services it forms.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

We can of course expect the rolling stock diagrams to be significantly different come the May timetable change when Chase Line EMU working has been implemented.

 

[VT 390]

How many units (mostly 170's) are currently used on diesel Walsall/Rugeley services?
Any freed up units could go to strengthening both Worcester/Hereford and Shrewsbury services until West Midlands Railway's new stock arrives as both these routes can get quite crowded.

 

[PHILIPE]

How many units (mostly 170's) are currently used on diesel Walsall/Rugeley services?
Any freed up units could go to strengthening both Worcester/Hereford and Shrewsbury services until West Midlands Railway's new stock arrives as both these routes can get quite crowded.

Probably Rugeleys get overcrowded as well. Perhaps you're fortunate that you don't live in my area and then you would have something to complain about as overcrowding is rife apart from the Birmingham, Worcester and Hereford route.

 

[VT 390]

Probably Rugeleys get overcrowded as well.

But with the Rugeley line being electrified I think they are getting 4 coach EMUS (probably 350's) so there will be DMU's to strengthen other West Midlands services.

 

[Class 170101]

They could stay on to Moor Street which is like 5 minutes to New Street

This walk remains a deterrent either Snow Hill or Moor Street but yes I should have clarified I meant Moor Street.

 

[VT 390]

This walk remains a deterrent either Snow Hill or Moor Street but yes I should have clarified I meant Moor Street.

If through ticketing could be introduced the passengers could change to the West Midlands Metro at Jewellery Quarter.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Probably Rugeleys get overcrowded as well. Perhaps you're fortunate that you don't live in my area and then you would have something to complain about as overcrowding is rife apart from the Birmingham, Worcester and Hereford route.

Be advised that crowding is the norm on Worcester-Birmingham New Street services, 170s released from Chase Line will be most welcome.

 

[sufian123]

With the line to Walsall and Rugeley being electrified would this need to continue and if not could these 2 cars stay attached all day as this would be an 100% increace on capacity on the 09:39 and other services it forms.

Funnily that 0757 bhm-Walsall then forms 0830 Walsall-bhm then 0905 bhm-Shrewsbury. The 3 cars from Shrewsbury goes to the depot. Then returns to form the 1749 bhm-Shrewsbury.

 

[sufian123]

Be advised that crowding is the norm on Worcester-Birmingham New Street services, 170s released from Chase Line will be most welcome.

Odd weekends 172s on the route too.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Odd weekends 172s on the route too.

That just seems to be a Saturday afternoon/evening job.

 

[sufian123]

That just seems to be a Saturday afternoon/evening job.

On Saturdays 171/2 is doing 0850 bhm-Hereford till 1620 to wos then back on the snow hill line. Also 1650 to Hereford. ThAt is the only 2 cars on Saturday. Sunday’s I’m not sure.

 

[VT 390]

When Worcestershire Parkway opens will this help with overcrowding form New Street to Worcester as some people may drive in to Worcester and Passengers going to Birmingham from the Cotswolds line will change here or will the new station attract new passengers instead?

 

[Old Hill Bank]

When Worcestershire Parkway opens will this help with overcrowding form New Street to Worcester as some people may drive in to Worcester and Passengers going to Birmingham from the Cotswolds line will change here or will the new station attract new passengers instead?

Only the North Cotswold and Nottingham-Cardiffs will call at the place. The white elephant is of no use to the majority of Worcestershire commuters.

 

[Meole]

Worcester Council in its project initiation claims :-

Once it's completed, Worcestershire Parkway Station will aim to:

• remove existing regional and national car journeys from the strategic road network, thereby reducing road traffic congestion
• address Worcestershire's current poor accessibility to and from London arising from the limited frequency and length of journey time of North Cotswold Line services
• transform access to the rail network for Worcestershire passengers currently restricted by minimal car parking capacity and limited opportunities for expansion at other County stations
• tackle Worcestershire's exclusion from the Cross Country network (Bristol-Birmingham-North West/North East). Despite the services passing through the very heart of the County, rail access is only viable by making connections at Birmingham New Street and Cheltenham Spa. This must be addressed as it severely restricts the County's economic relationship with other parts of the United Kingdom

 

[VT 390]

Only the North Cotswold and Nottingham-Cardiffs will call at the place. The white elephant is of no use to the majority of Worcestershire commuters.

I thought that once the Nottingham to Cardiff services run the aim was to call some of the Manchesters there as well? If not could the second Nottingham service possibly extend to Gloucester providing a half hourly service and 4tph from Cheltenham to Birmingham?