Rail services to be increased on May 18th

[Ianno87]

A very nice Geoff Marshall video where he starts by longingly looking at the trains he can't get on, but then goes to visit and talk to the station manager at East Croydon (on Sunday 17th) and then remotely Steve White the COO of GTR about service provision levels

Agreed, a very good video.

 

[Silverlinky]

LNW Euston figures

Monday AM (0430-0930) 919 passengers arriving
Monday PM (1615-1915) 621 passengers departing
Tuesday AM 883 arriving
Tuesday PM 687 departing
Wednesday AM 838 arriving

 

[yorkie]

This thread is to discuss the increase in services.

It is not to discuss the legislation (the legislation can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6 and is already under discussion elsewhere)

 

[Max]

Has anyone got any intel on when TfW might start to increase their services again? Certainly the majority of TOCs seem to have gone back to a Saturday-style service now, but the service here is still extremely limited (presumably due to the ongoing 'lockdown').

 

[Jamesrob637]

South TPE was only 2-hourly this week: normally it's hourly. Only 3-car too so there'll be plenty of 185s sitting around in Ardwick depot.

 

[Belperpete]

Has anyone got any intel on when TfW might start to increase their services again? Certainly the majority of TOCs seem to have gone back to a Saturday-style service now, but the service here is still extremely limited (presumably due to the ongoing 'lockdown').

May be when non-essential workers are allowed back to work in Wales?

 

[mmh]

May be when non-essential workers are allowed back to work in Wales?

Non-essential workers outside the list of businesses which must close are allowed to work in Wales, and always have been. The only significant difference in the law around employment to England is that employers are mandated to make adjustments to accommodate social distancing where possible, while social distancing has never appeared in the legislation for England.

Trains along North Wales remain two hourly TFW service with reversals at Llandudno and Llandudno Junction, and a morning Avanti (the 6:30am ish Holyhead departure rather than the 5:30am ish previously run) to London, and a 1710 return from London (unchanged.) Over the past week these have been running as 10 car, they had been 5 car for most of the lockdown period. The retiming means that the service has actually slightly reduced as it means the first train is now an hour later than before the 18th of May.

 

[PHILIPE]

Has anyone got any intel on when TfW might start to increase their services again? Certainly the majority of TOCs seem to have gone back to a Saturday-style service now, but the service here is still extremely limited (presumably due to the ongoing 'lockdown').

TFW review their services on a weekly basis and examine the ongoing COVID situation and Feedback to be able to make any decision. They firmly adhere to the principle that their services are run for essential journeys only and operate a Sunday service (with some amendments) on some routes and a completely special service on others but with some additionals early morning for key workers.. There have been just a few minor additions as time has progressed but no mass increase to the original COVID Timetable. The May 2020 Timetable has not even been published on their Website.

 

[Silverlinky]

LNW have seen passenger numbers into out out of Euston during the peak exceed 1000 this week. Still well down on normal figures of course but showing a slow and steady return to work.

They are also planning a further timetable enhancement to take effect from 6th July.

 

[AJP62]

LNW have seen passenger numbers into out out of Euston during the peak exceed 1000 this week. Still well down on normal figures of course but showing a slow and steady return to work.

They are also planning a further timetable enhancement to take effect from 6th July.

What kind of figure would be the norm?

 

[Silverlinky]

2018 figures were around 31000, but this would have included Virgin and London Overground .....
A conservative guess would be 20-22000 of those on WMT

 

[Jamesrob637]

2018 figures were around 31000, but this would have included Virgin and London Overground .....
A conservative guess would be 20-22000 of those on WMT

So 5 per cent roughly. Wonder what Avanti's figures are like?

 

[Huntergreed]

So 5 per cent roughly. Wonder what Avanti's figures are like?

I would guess considerably less, considering they skip the major commuter stations, I would almost argue running intercity services is a little pointless at this point.

 

[Grizzly]

Does anyone know please whether Northern are planning to increase services and when? I haven't checked on anywhere else, but between Leeds and Bradford (both routes) services are still at the much reduced level they went to around the time of lockdown on 23 March. Numbers on the train are, I think, only slightly up since the easing of lockdown restrictions a few weeks ago, at the times I usually travel to/from work. It is still easy to maintain a 2 m distance when on the train. It seems possible that numbers of passengers will increase when non-essential shops are allowed to open. Some local buses had an increased service from this week - the X6 between Leeds and Bradford looks close to a normal timetable.

 

[Mikey C]

I imagine the Avanti services will be massively empty, seeing that Pendolinos are fixed formation trains. At least with the commuter EMUs you can run shorter trains than normal.

 

[Trainfan2019]

I imagine the Avanti services will be massively empty, seeing that Pendolinos are fixed formation trains. At least with the commuter EMUs you can run shorter trains than normal.

From what I've seen at Crewe so far this week there's hardly been any passengers on Avanti services in peak time. London Northwestern also very empty of passengers.

 

[sjpowermac]

I would guess considerably less, considering they skip the major commuter stations, I would almost argue running intercity services is a little pointless at this point.

Other than for the fact train crew would rapidly lose traction and route knowledge...

 

[northernchris]

Does anyone know please whether Northern are planning to increase services and when? I haven't checked on anywhere else, but between Leeds and Bradford (both routes) services are still at the much reduced level they went to around the time of lockdown on 23 March. Numbers on the train are, I think, only slightly up since the easing of lockdown restrictions a few weeks ago, at the times I usually travel to/from work. It is still easy to maintain a 2 m distance when on the train. It seems possible that numbers of passengers will increase when non-essential shops are allowed to open. Some local buses had an increased service from this week - the X6 between Leeds and Bradford looks close to a normal timetable.

The Calder Valley seems to have come off worst as between Leeds and Halifax there's only the hourly Leeds - Manchester Victoria and a 2 hourly Leeds - Preston instead of its usual 4 trains per hour. Most lines in and out of Leeds have 2 trains per hour as usual, and if and when I'm told to return to the office this would be the route I'd use so am hopeful an increase is due shortly

 

[Non Multi]

Although they're disliked for various reasons, the 5 car IETs are probably the ideal intercity train to run at present. Remarkable foresight from the DfT's 'Great Cartographer'!

 

[Mikey C]

Although they're disliked for various reasons, the 5 car IETs are probably the ideal intercity train to run at present. Remarkable foresight from the DfT's 'Great Cartographer'!

Unlike the 12 car 700s

 

[Jamesrob637]

Does anyone know please whether Northern are planning to increase services and when? I haven't checked on anywhere else, but between Leeds and Bradford (both routes) services are still at the much reduced level they went to around the time of lockdown on 23 March. Numbers on the train are, I think, only slightly up since the easing of lockdown restrictions a few weeks ago, at the times I usually travel to/from work. It is still easy to maintain a 2 m distance when on the train. It seems possible that numbers of passengers will increase when non-essential shops are allowed to open. Some local buses had an increased service from this week - the X6 between Leeds and Bradford looks close to a normal timetable.

The Mid-Cheshire Line seems to be staying 2-hourly for now but using 4-car where possible.

Not sure if hourly but 2-car or a mixture would be beneficial!

 

[PG]

I would guess considerably less, considering they skip the major commuter stations, I would almost argue running intercity services is a little pointless at this point.

Other than for the fact train crew would rapidly lose traction and route knowledge...

Also, as I think another poster has mentioned, intercity TOCs do provide the only service at certain stations.

 

[route101]

East Kilbride to Glasgow is hourly compared to Hamilton to Glasgow at half hourly , EK getting a raw deal

 

[AJP62]

2018 figures were around 31000, but this would have included Virgin and London Overground .....
A conservative guess would be 20-22000 of those on WMT

Thanks - I had no idea on figures!