Request Stops

[najaB]

I've a few basic questions about request stops, I did have a quick search but didn't get any clear answers:

1. I gather that there aren't any 'part time' request stops - it's an either a request stop or not. The reason I ask is that I was working in Blackburn for a few weeks and when I got the 17:35 to Preson, it stopped at Pleasington every time. But I'm guessing that even though it (appears to) always stop, it's still timetabled as a request stop.
2. Speaking of timetables - is the WTT built using the assumption that the train will always stop?
3. Are there recent examples of stops that have gone from request to regular status?
4. Related to the first question - what do you suppose the busiest request stop is on the network?

Thanks in advance.

 

[The Planner]

I've a few basic questions about request stops, I did have a quick search but didn't get any clear answers:
I gather that there aren't any 'part time' request stops - it's an either a request stop or not. The reason I ask is that I was working in Blackburn for a few weeks and when I got the 17:35 to Preson, it stopped at Pleasington every time. But I'm guessing that even though it (appears to) always stop, it's still timetabled as a request stop.

I can't think of a reason why you can't have both to be honest.

Speaking of timetables - is the WTT built using the assumption that the train will always stop?

Yes, what normally happens is a "dot" stop is shown. The train is timed to stop and start again without any dwell time. This allows for the driver to check for passengers waiting to board but to carry on if not.

 

[O L Leigh]

Manea is a request stop for Cross Country but a regular timetabled stop for Greater Anglia, so it can be both.

However, as you have to be prepared to stop in case someone leaps out of the bus shelter at the very last minute it is normal practice just to stop anyway. At the times of day that Cross Country are due to call there are people who want to get on or off anyway.

O L Leigh

 

[najaB]

Manea is a request stop for Cross Country but a regular timetabled stop for Greater Anglia, so it can be both.

Thanks for that (and to ThePlanner as well). I've only seen request stops on lines served by a single TOC (Northern at Pleasington as mentioned, and ScotRail on the Far North Line), so I never considered that different operators might treat them differently.

 

[richw]

There are numerous stops on the Cornish branchlines (all FGW) that are request stop in winter and a normal stop in the summer.

 

[Techniquest]

[*]Are there recent examples of stops that have gone from request to regular status?

There used to be a fair number of them on the North Warwickshire Line to Stratford-upon-Avon, however they're all mandatory stops now. The Bidston to Wrexham line, I swear had almost all stops as request but when I covered the whole thing in 2011 there were none. Pretty sure Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog used to have a fair few request stops too, however I've not looked at what goes on up there now.

 

[najaB]

There are numerous stops on the Cornish branchlines (all FGW) that are request stop in winter and a normal stop in the summer.

Thanks. I suspected that was the case based on ScotRail and Dunrobin Castle: it's a request stop during the summer, but no trains stop there in the winter. I'm curious if there are stations that a single TOC treats differently at different times of day, rather than summer vs winter timetable.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There used to be a fair number of them on the North Warwickshire Line to Stratford-upon-Avon, however they're all mandatory stops now. The Bidston to Wrexham line, I swear had almost all stops as request but when I covered the whole thing in 2011 there were none. Pretty sure Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog used to have a fair few request stops too, however I've not looked at what goes on up there now.

Do you have any idea why the change? Was it a commercial decision based on increased passenger numbers, or a politically driven one "Look how we've improved your service." without actually increasing the number of trains? Perhaps a mix of the two?

 

[Techniquest]

Do you have any idea why the change? Was it a commercial decision based on increased passenger numbers, or a politically driven one "Look how we've improved your service." without actually increasing the number of trains? Perhaps a mix of the two?

Absolutely no idea sorry, could well have been a bit of both but I'd not be able to say for sure I'm afraid.

 

[Railsigns]

Are there recent examples of stops that have gone from request to regular status?

Falls of Cruachan was a request stop up until last year. It's still only open in the summer though.

 

[86246]

I'm sure that a few years back National Express made Bures and Chappel & Wakes Colne request stops on a couple of evening Sudbury to Marks Tey services.

Manea is also a request stop for Greater Anglia.

 

[tractakid]

As far as I can tell Manea is completely a request stop?

http://www.brtimes.com/#!board?stn=MNE&date=20140224

Bearley and Claverdon are request stops on the LM service but not the Chiltern services.

I seem to recall in a previous thread, somebody mentioned that a station (or possibly more than one) on the Heart of Wales line is request in only one direction- due to the adjacent level crossing.

 

[BestWestern]

Avoncliff, between Bradford on Avon and Bath, was altered from request stop to mandatory stop a couple of years back. This was a decision by First Gt Western relating to there being a signal just off the down (Bath bound) platform, and the supposed potential for an incident occuring as a result of a Guard giving his Driver the buzzer code '2' (same as ready to start) to indicate that no passengers wished to alight, as the train approached a signal which could be at danger. The mandatory stop status was applied to both directions, although there is only the one signal.

 

[Parallel]

I believe Clarbeston Road is a request stop on the Manchester - Milford Haven services, but not on the Fishguard ones. I think Gowerton might still be a request stop on a selected few services (both ATW)

In the summer when FGW run services to Pembroke Dock, I believe the stations between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock are full stops, compared to some of them being request stops on ATW services.

 

[Crossover]

Hawarden Bridge is the only request stop on the Borderlands Line - but not all services Monday-Saturday are booked to call.

Staveley and Burneside on the Windermere branch used to be request stops but have become normal service stops in the past year or so

 

[najaB]

Thanks to everyone for your contributions so far.

Can you name any stations that are currently request stops where trains always (or almost always) stop? Would there be any benefit in making them mandatory stops? I'm thinking it would make the guard's job a little easier since they wouldn't need to be checking to see if there are any takers.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Regarding the OP's Pleasington query - it is timetabled (to the public at least) to be a request stop on the 1735 ex-Blackburn, however I suggest your experience is for one of two (or both) reasons:
1) There will be a couple of daily commuters from Pleasington ex-the East Lancashire towns returning home;
2) The train is so busy that the guard doesn't have time to ascertain whether anyone needs to alight, hence it stops anyway (that happens semi-regularly in my experience).

As for new / former request stops; Huncoat was one for 6 months in 2011 (I think), when Burnley Barracks, Hapton and Pleasington all became ones too. The Mid-Cheshire line used to have a fair few too, but as years have progressed these have all become mandatory stops. Culrain on the Far North line became one in December 2013.

 

[455driver]

I've a few basic questions about request stops, I did have a quick search but didn't get any clear answers:

1. I gather that there aren't any 'part time' request stops -Yes there are FGW at Exeter have stations which are request at some times and not others on the Barnstaple and Exmouth branches.
2. Speaking of timetables - is the WTT built using the assumption that the train will always stop?No it is built on the assumption the train will stop at 50% of the stations, if the train stops at them all then the train will be late. The request stop is a way of making an unworkable timetable workable.
3. Are there recent examples of stops that have gone from request to regular status?Some have but I cant remember any off hand.
4. Related to the first question - what do you suppose the busiest request stop is on the network?Havent a clue

Thanks in advance.

Hope that helps.

 

[najaB]

The request stop is a way of making an unworkable timetable workable.

That's interesting - I had always looked at it the other way round - that it was a way of keeping service at a station when passenger numbers didn't justify the extra wear and tear of a stop. Thanks.

 

[ValleyLines142]

A few stations on the Mid Cheshire Line were, until 2010, request stops. Ashley, Mobberley, Plumley, Delamere and Lostock Gralam were the stations. All are now, AFAIK, are no longer request stops.

 

[richw]

That's interesting - I had always looked at it the other way round - that it was a way of keeping service at a station when passenger numbers didn't justify the extra wear and tear of a stop. Thanks.

Perranwell on the Falmouth branch was given the reason for becoming a request stop when the Penryn passing loop opened, as being that in general the train doesnt have time to call there.

 

[greatkingrat]

The top 10 request stops based on the 2011/12 usage figures

1. Llwyngwril (39738)
2. Lympstone Commando (38616) - probably inaccurate?
3. Conwy (38136)
4. Aspatria (30078)
5. Corkickle (29294)
6. Dalston (28766)
7. Foxfield (27698)
8. Perranwell (27030)
9. Clunderwen (24812)
10. Umberleigh (23786)

 

[TheWalrus]

Menheniot was a mandatory stop but changed to a request stop in 2009 IIRC.

How does the guard tell the driver someone wishes to alight or does he stop anyway?

 

[richw]

That's probably correct for Lympstone Commando, as I understand they bring the majority of soldiers in by train, or at least they used to. It will be a few very busy services arriving on Sunday afternoons and departing on Friday evenings.

Perranwell on the other hand is almost certainly inaccurate, as it's well known locally Truro barrier staff won't let anyone through to help with luggage, so to get through the barrier relatives were buying a return to Perranwell as the cheapest way to assist and wave off. Barrier staff were not allowing relatives through due to alleged health and safety relating to the narrow platforms at Truro.
This made local media not too long back due to the large numbers apparently travelling to Perranwell.

 

[455driver]

How does the guard tell the driver someone wishes to alight or does he stop anyway?

If there is somebody to get off the Guard doesnt do anything and the driver will stop, if there is no-one to get off the guard will give 2 buzzes on the bell as the train approaches the station, the driver will slow down to see if anyone wants to get on and if there is will give one on the buzzer back to the guard, if nobody to get on the driver will give 2 buzzes back and take power.

 

[richw]

Menheniot was a mandatory stop but changed to a request stop in 2009 IIRC.

How does the guard tell the driver someone wishes to alight or does he stop anyway?

Menheniot is available as a request stop on 3 service in each direction a day. The timings of those services are inappropriate for commuting and not much good for a day out neither (for Menheniot as start point travelling elsewhere)!

 

[TEW]

It used to have more frequent services but they've been cut back due to the poor use. The timings are pretty decent for commuting to Plymouth with an arrival at 0803 at Plymouth and departures from Plymouth at 1704 and 1817. The main use of the station is by school children travelling to Devonport/Plymouth. The 0733 departure from Menheniot and 1625 arrival at Menheniot are both pretty busy.

 

[Gathursty]

If there is somebody to get off the Guard doesnt do anything and the driver will stop, if there is no-one to get off the guard will give 2 buzzes on the bell as the train approaches the station, the driver will slow down to see if anyone wants to get on and if there is will give one on the buzzer back to the guard, if nobody to get on the driver will give 2 buzzes back and take power.

And there goes me thinking that the driver of the 5.42am Lancaster-Carlisle via Sellafield service kept me in mind for over two hours until my departure at Braystones after telling the guard as I jumped on.

 

[LowLevel]

Used to be request stops on the Notts - Lincoln line but they all got made into full calls a few years ago.

 

[driver9000]

Regarding the OP's Pleasington query - it is timetabled (to the public at least) to be a request stop on the 1735 ex-Blackburn, however I suggest your experience is for one of two (or both) reasons:
1) There will be a couple of daily commuters from Pleasington ex-the East Lancashire towns returning home;
2) The train is so busy that the guard doesn't have time to ascertain whether anyone needs to alight, hence it stops anyway (that happens semi-regularly in my experience).

As for new / former request stops; Huncoat was one for 6 months in 2011 (I think), when Burnley Barracks, Hapton and Pleasington all became ones too. The Mid-Cheshire line used to have a fair few too, but as years have progressed these have all become mandatory stops. Culrain on the Far North line became one in December 2013.

Huncoat became a request stop along with Pleasington,Hapton and Burnley Barracks in May 2012. It ceased to be a request stop in December 2013 in preparation for the signalling alterations and changes to the level crossing controls which will take effect when the gatebox closes.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If there is somebody to get off the Guard doesnt do anything and the driver will stop, if there is no-one to get off the guard will give 2 buzzes on the bell as the train approaches the station, the driver will slow down to see if anyone wants to get on and if there is will give one on the buzzer back to the guard, if nobody to get on the driver will give 2 buzzes back and take power.

We do it the other way round. If there is no one waiting to board we give 2 to the Guard and if no one is waiting to get off they give 2 back and we carry on. If 2 isn't given back we stop. If there is someone waiting to get on we simply stop.

 

[najaB]

We do it the other way round. If there is no one waiting to board we give 2 to the Guard and if no one is waiting to get off they give 2 back and we carry on. If 2 isn't given back we stop. If there is someone waiting to get on we simply stop.

Thanks to all who've contributed, I've learned a lot.

I've definitely seen (heard?) it done this way round at Pleasington. It's been a while since I travelled far enough on the Far North Line to see how ScotRail do things. I used to go to Thurso on occasion, but since we shut our site up there I only go as far as Alness and it's all mandatory stops as far as there.