Query on Conwy Valley Line request stops

[JoeGJ1984]

Just a query on the request stops on the Conwy Valley Line. According to Arriva Trains Wales's timetable, Tal-y-Cafn is a request stop northbound but not southbound. I presume this is because of the manual level crossing south of the station. (Going southbound the train goes through Tal-y-Cafn and then across the level crossing).

But this video on youtube here (watch from about 1:56) shows the train skipping Tal-y-Cafn southbound! You can hear two buzzes from the guard, presumably giving the instruction to pass through the station. Now, how can they know the level crossing is open to them (it has manual gates that swing across to block either the road or the railway line)? And what if somebody wanted to get off at Tal-y-Cafn? If they had looked at the timetable, they would have seen no x indicating that it was a request stop, so would assume that there was no need to tell the guard they were getting off (and if they had a rover or ranger ticket, even if the guard went through, they could not have known where they were getting off). So they could have missed their stop!

And also North Llanrwst station is apparently a request stop, but it is a passing point and I think they have to exchange tokens. So surely this stop must be compulsory as they would have to stop to exchange tokens.

 

[sprinterguy]

I don’t know the ins and outs of the operation of the Conwy Valley line, I’m sure someone else will be able to answer your query about Tal-y-Cafn, but as regards North Llanwrst, the Conwy Valley line is operated on a “one engine in steam” principle under normal circumstances, with just one unit shuttling backwards and forwards between Blaenau and Llandudno all day, so in normal practice there is no crossing procedure carried out at North Llanwrst. This would only change when charters or other out of the ordinary “as required” services operate, which I’m sure would be incorporated into any operating notices as needed.

That’s my best reasoning on the situation at any rate.

 

[krus_aragon]

I dont know the ins and outs of the operation of the Conwy Valley line, Im sure someone else will be able to answer your query about Tal-y-Cafn, but as regards North Llanwrst, the Conwy Valley line is operated on a one engine in steam principle under normal circumstances, with just one unit shuttling backwards and forwards between Blaenau and Llandudno all day, so in normal practice there is no crossing procedure carried out at North Llanwrst.

On the contrary, while all the services are operated by one single unit, tokens are still exchanged at Llanrwst North, and also Llandudno Jn. They were on all the journeys I've made recently, at least.

Drivers pull up to the signal box to exchange tokens at Llanrwst North, at which point I'm pretty sure the train doesn't line up with the platforms. The train would have to stop in the station itself as well (or instead, with a walk for the driver) for passengers to alight.

As for Tal-y-Cafn, I've only travelled northbound from there. The train was hailed onward by the crossing guard's flag; I can't remember if the same is neccesary southbound.

 

[sprinterguy]

Ah fair enough, I stand corrected

 

[175001]

As a Conwy Valley born and bred boy, I can help. All stations are request stops, with the exception of Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed an ovbiously Blaenau Ffestiniog. Tal-y-Cafn IS a request stop on the down or the up, despite the timetable saying otherwise.

North Llanrwst ISN'T a request stop as the signal box is a very good distant from the station it's self.

The 1990's was the last time when passenger services used to pass each other in the loop when services used to originate from the likes of Holyhead and Chester

 

[JoeGJ1984]

As a Conwy Valley born and bred boy, I can help. All stations are request stops, with the exception of Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed an ovbiously Blaenau Ffestiniog. Tal-y-Cafn IS a request stop on the down or the up, despite the timetable saying otherwise.

North Llanrwst ISN'T a request stop as the signal box is a very good distant from the station it's self.

The 1990's was the last time when passenger services used to pass each other in the loop when services used to originate from the likes of Holyhead and Chester

You contradict yourself - your first paragraph implies that North Llanrwst is a request stop, but your next paragraph says that it isn't a request stop. The timetable indicates that it is a request stop.

On the Heart of Wales Line, there are a few 'one-way' request stops - i.e. they are request stops in only one direction. I presume this is because they have a level crossing at one end of the station. And I think all the passing point station on the Heart of Wales line are not request stops as they have to obtain the token (the timetable has separate arrival and departure times separated by a couple of minutes at these stations).

 

[175001]

Apologies North Llanrwst IS a request stop. I was thinking of Llanrwst at the time.