Re-arranging the pattern for the WCML commuter services

[Bartsimho]

I was thinking about how to organise services into Euston as there is no space in the trainshed and was thinking if there was way of removing services from the shed.

Could services to and from Tring be reduced to services from Milton Keynes to Euston instead of their own originating. I know Tring has 5 platforms hence the service origin but it seems like it wouldn't be missed. Have all stopping services from Euston to Watford Junction purely on the Watford (an organisation of Harrow and Wealdstone and Bushey) with H&W and Bushey only being served at peak times.

All Milton Keynes trains then run at least as far as Watford Junction before a stop at off-peak.

I'd close Cheddington. Not used as a rail head. It's platforms are on the busy WCML slows so it would speed up journeys on lines at capacity and it was used by only 32,000 people last year when it is London Commuter belt territory (The other option is embracing the commuter belt and building housing).

So the Milton Keynes stoppers would run Euston, (Harrow and Wealdstone Peak Only), (Bushey Peak Only), Watford Junction, Kings Langley, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamstead, Tring, Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley, Milton Keynes Central.

Watford DC would cover all stops from Euston to Watford Junction as they currently do with their 4tph which is a frequency I would say is just less than a turn up and go

 

[Bletchleyite]

In short, no.

The timetable has just been redesigned, and the redesign is a bit of a masterpiece (in particular the Swiss style connections on the Marston Vale*, though sadly we didn't get to enjoy those for very long before Vivarail failed). But the whole thing does "just work" and provides a considerable improvement over what went before for most users, the only people who really lose out are Northampton whose trains are about 5 minutes slower due to the added Bletchley stop**. The only thing it really needs is a few more 12-car services, though 10.730 will provide that soon enough. I think I'd also add a couple more peak Northampton fasts, ideally as close to 30 minutes "opposite" the existing ones as possible though I don't know what paths are available.

Removing the Tring stoppers would cause severe overcrowding south of Tring and carrying of a lot of fresh air north of it (because you'd need to run the stoppers 12 car so you didn't leave people behind).

Cheddington is a bit useless but I"d favour building an eco village centred on the station to make it useful.

Watford DC is too slow for Harrow.

* MV arrives at Bletchley, a full cycle of arrivals and departures both slow and fast, MV departs. Perfect connections!
** Which I assume was added due to the station's forthcoming significantly increased importance with the coming of East West Rail. I'd expect a fair few people connecting from Winslow for London for instance.

 

[The Planner]

Considering the time effort and resource to getting us where we are with Dec 22, no one is going to be touching the WCML for a good while and why would you.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

May I chip in ? - Bushey all day calls are valuable and much appreciated. You just cannot removed then as the trek up on the DC is just too long and tedious , and Harrovians generally would not use DC all stations.

Having operated the service and spent a good while planning it - there are things there for numerous reasons. it is always kept under review in any case.

 

[Bald Rick]

I was thinking about how to organise services into Euston as there is no space in the trainshed

a) it’s not a trainshed
b) it has space
c) no need for this thread…

 

[zwk500]

Removing the Tring stoppers would cause severe overcrowding south of Tring and carrying of a lot of fresh air north of it (because you'd need to run the stoppers 12 car so you didn't leave people behind).

Cheddington is a bit useless but I"d favour building an eco village centred on the station to make it useful.

Strongly agree with both of these. Tring and Cheddington are prime for building a large amount of new housing right next to them between the station and existing settlements.