Preston - Glasgow Saturdays - strange timetabling

[hammsta]

Hi all. Can anyone explain why the Virgin Preston - Glasgow (staring at Birmingham New St.) service on a Saturday at 1800 takes 5 hours? The only stop appears to be Carlisle and it is not indicated anywhere as a slow train. The only other option on a Saturday evening is the 1950 which takes 4 hours!
Thanks.

 

[philjo]

Are there any engineering works meaning that the train is delayed or diverted?

 

[wibble]

It's being diverted via Blackburn and goes up the Settle-Carlisle line, then runs via Dumfries to Glasgow.

 

[hammsta]

No - these times are in the pdf tmetable on the enquiries site so these appear to be the regular times. And I can't find any mention of engineering works.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks Wibble. Is this a regular thing or just a one off? And any idea why one train takes 5h 2m and the later train takes 4h?

 

[rail-britain]

http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/assets/pdf/timetables/vt-timetable-f-12-2010.pdf
From April it operates via Settle and Kilmarnock

 

[hammsta]

Thanks all. Very confusing to an amateur- Saturday's trains not on the timetable at all!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Hi all. Can anyone explain why the Virgin Preston - Glasgow (staring at Birmingham New St.) service on a Saturday at 1800 takes 5 hours? The only stop appears to be Carlisle and it is not indicated anywhere as a slow train. The only other option on a Saturday evening is the 1950 which takes 4 hours!
Thanks.

from experience, it could be iether a voyager or dragged pendo diverted via dumfries and kilmarnock due to engineering work. Nice run, though id rather have a dragged pendo as its hilly and a 221 would be a noisy ride.

 

[rail-britain]

Very confusing to an amateur- Saturday's trains not on the timetable at all!

The trains are in the timetable...
You noticed it, then wondered why it takes so long

it could be iether a voyager or dragged pendo diverted via dumfries and kilmarnock due to engineering work

It is a pair of Voyagers, diverted via both Settle and Kilmarnock
All the Euston services go to Lancaster, then terminate

 

[Whistler40145]

Obviously, the Engineering Works are taking place between Lancaster & Carlisle, but where are they north of the Border?

Also, any details of what the works are for? e.g. Track Replacement, OHLE replacement or general maintenance?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Depends on the weekend in question, but somewhere between Lockerbie and Haymarket, I believe, also between Motherwell and Lanark.

 

[Whistler40145]

So that also means TPE services are Bus Replacement north of Lancaster?

 

[rail-britain]

So that also means TPE services are Bus Replacement north of Lancaster?

All services are bus replacement, operating between Preston and Carlisle, Carlisle and Glasgow, and Carlisle and Edinburgh

Blockcade commences between Carlisle and Carstairs at 13:00 on Saturdays

 

[Whistler40145]

rail-britain, is it a big job or are Network Rail having longer blockades to get works completed sooner?

 

[ashworth]

I'm up in northwest at end of may using a 7 day nw rover. I notice that on Sat 28th may there is 1346 northbound from Preston that appears to go via settle. Hope to travel on this to carlisle although it will probably mean bus for the return journey.

 

[rail-britain]

rail-britain, is it a big job or are Network Rail having longer blockades to get works completed sooner?

Apologies, didn't put in the end time, but it is 24 hours so ends at 13:00 on Sunday (leaving it very tight if either overruns)
It is just a routine blockcade

The alternative was a complete Sunday blockcade (same as previous years), but objections were raised by EWS and FSR over it affecting the Sunday night sleepers and not enough notice having been given

 

[voyagerdude220]

1052 Edinburgh to Euston via Kilmarnock, Settle & Ribblehead is 221102 & 221116. I'd be very surprised if many others are double sets.

 

[rail-britain]

1052 Edinburgh to Euston via Kilmarnock, Settle & Ribblehead is 221102 & 221116. I'd be very surprised if many others are double sets.

They should all be, as there are just the through Birmingham services for the next 24 hours
Two Euston services are hauled by Class 57s though, as they ended up partially affected

 

[voyagerdude220]

Quick update- All northbound runs are single sets today.