Routes that are always empty!

[bAzTNM]

I always find that Bellgrove to Springburn is always a peaceful journey. Most of the time, there is NOBODY on there, even on the return journey. Empty.

What about you? Thanks.

 

[MadCommuter]

Not just referring to today's service are you

 

[trentside]

The Robin Hood line between Mansfield Woodhouse and Worksop is always pretty empty in my experience. The same can be said for Lincoln to Doncaster trains during the daytime.

 

[northwichcat]

Most parliamentary services.

There's two services that I can think of that are packed at peak times and 90% empty on most off-peak trains in school term time - these being Manchester Oxford Rd to Liverpool and Manchester to Buxton.

The Manchester-Alderley Edge service always seem to be very quiet. Perhaps the rail authorities don't realise that there's very few people requiring local services from Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Handforth.

 

[tbtc]

The same can be said for Lincoln to Doncaster trains during the daytime

The only service i've ever been on where I was the only passenger...

(assuming you mean the "direct" service, and not the one via Sheffield)

 

[TheWalrus]

1008 and corresponding westbury-warminster shuttles.

 

[me123]

Bellgrove-Springburn is quiet. I would perhaps argue that the the best option for the Cumbernauld electrification would be to close Springburn and Barnhill stations, build a new Springburn station on the Garngad Chord at Royston Road. It may be politically sensitive to close these stations, but I don't see a future for them and it would free up valuable paths on the line through Partick; these new services could easily be slotted into the existing timetable as an extension of the Dalmuir-Springburn runs. A bus service could connect into this

Another quiet one is Motherwell-Cumbernauld. Rarely see more than about ten people on that service! I think a large part of this is that it's an hourly service, whereas all other public transport is much more frequent, and as such it's not very attractive. Compare the 10-minutely bus service between Coatbridge and Motherwell, for example.

 

[merlodlliw]

Ellesmere Port to Helsby, 4 trains a day, no passengers carried on this Northern service,

 

[me123]

The only service i've ever been on where I was the only passenger...

I can beat that; I've once been the only passenger on a Pendolino! (It was a poorly advertised extra run from Glasgow-Carlisle one Saturday morning when the WCML was closed, and I think it was more about stock positioning than anything else).

 

[trentside]

(assuming you mean the "direct" service, and not the one via Sheffield)

Yes, I certainly did. The last time I used it was a couple of years ago when the Lincoln Christmas market was on, and all trains into Lincoln are usually packed. There were 3-4 passengers on the 156 from Doncaster, and a couple left at Gainsborough.

It doesn't help that the trains run just a few minutes before/after the Northern services between Gainsborough Lea Road and Lincoln.

 

[tbtc]

I can beat that; I've once been the only passenger on a Pendolino! (It was a poorly advertised extra run from Glasgow-Carlisle one Saturday morning when the WCML was closed, and I think it was more about stock positioning than anything else).

You win hands down
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yes, I certainly did. The last time I used it was a couple of years ago when the Lincoln Christmas market was on, and all trains into Lincoln are usually packed. There were 3-4 passengers on the 156 from Doncaster, and a couple left at Gainsborough.

It doesn't help that the trains run just a few minutes before/after the Northern services between Gainsborough Lea Road and Lincoln.

Surprising that, given the popularity of the markets there. I agree its a badly timed line that seems to exist more for operational convenience than to meet passenger demand

 

[Spaceflower]

The only times ive had a train to myself is on the last Witby - Middlesbrough service, and a late night Kilmarnock - Ayr service.

None standard trains, Ive had trains to myself on the Sunderland branch of the Metro between South Hylton and Pallion mid-day and coaches to myself on the Tanfield railway and on the NYMR.

 

[me123]

I forgot about the Kilmarnock-Ayr runs. Again, they're quite because they're not very frequent. However, I reckon that an hourly service on that route (as an extension of existing services at either end) would prove popular.

 

[Spaceflower]

I don't. Glasgow is the main route for both towns.

 

[Safety365]

When I was a conductor I worked a few 'in service' trains with ZERO passengers for almost the entire journey. Mainly Uckfield to Oxted shuttles and a couple of last trains from Horsham toward London via Dorking (back road).

 

[Captain Chaos]

Often the last service from Marlow to Maidenhead and Basingstoke to Reading have zero passengers Monday to Thursday.

 

[Ivo]

The Southminster route is pretty quiet outside of the peaks.

Around here, evening runs on the Severn Beach Line are pretty quiet, as is of course Melksham. And Fishguard trains tend to be quite quiet as well. But one that really stands out is Barry to Bridgend.

 

[samj1]

Colne-Burnley Central, not very busy. However this service then picks up from there onwards.

 

[Yew]

The Robin Hood line between Mansfield Woodhouse and Worksop is always pretty empty in my experience. The same can be said for Lincoln to Doncaster trains during the daytime.

Yeah, the main patronage is in the shirebrook => nottingham area. Firther

 

[gnolife]

I find the Manchester to Rose Hill Marple fasts to be more-or-less dead, from peak and off peak experience of it

The Manchester-Alderley Edge service always seem to be very quiet. Perhaps the rail authorities don't realise that there's very few people requiring local services from Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Handforth.

But it is useful in College term time for Cheadle Hulme to Heaton Chapel and Levenshulme, plus the fact that its competing with the 130 bus between Cheadle Hulme (well, near enough to anyway) and Alderley Edge, with people favoring the 130 because it tends to stop nearer to their houses.

 

[VideozVideoz]

Most parliamentary services.

There's two services that I can think of that are packed at peak times and 90% empty on most off-peak trains in school term time - these being Manchester Oxford Rd to Liverpool and Manchester to Buxton.

I don't agree with Manchester-Buxton being empty during the day. I've seen plenty worse!

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Most parliamentary services.

There's two services that I can think of that are packed at peak times and 90% empty on most off-peak trains in school term time - these being Manchester Oxford Rd to Liverpool and Manchester to Buxton.

The Manchester-Alderley Edge service always seem to be very quiet. Perhaps the rail authorities don't realise that there's very few people requiring local services from Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Handforth.

As I work ALL those routes lol, you would be surprsies how much they make, as I guard I can make quite a bit of commision on all those routes, Wilmslow is busy as it has (Apart from Alderley), Crewe, Manchester Airport down the Style branch onwards to Picc, Picc via Stockport, all reasonably busy routes

Mcr Oxford Road - Liverpool via CLC is always a good "money route" and so are the Buxtons The way a train "looks" empty and what they take can be totally seperate
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I find the Manchester to Rose Hill Marple fasts to be more-or-less dead, from peak and off peak experience of it



But it is useful in College term time for Cheadle Hulme to Heaton Chapel and Levenshulme, plus the fact that its competing with the 130 bus between Cheadle Hulme (well, near enough to anyway) and Alderley Edge, with people favoring the 130 because it tends to stop nearer to their houses.

If you are referreing to the old Mcr - Marple (Now to Rose Hill) always seems dead going to Rose Hill, always ticks over nicely coming back into Manchester, Cheadle is always a busy station (they have just spent a fortune with Lifts and walkways etc).

 

[dmacw]

Ascot to Aldershot?

So quiet, South West Trains decided to more or less close it a few years ago for a few months. (so they could train drivers on the new trains - 450's I believe)

 

[bAzTNM]

close Springburn and Barnhill stations

I'd have to agree with that.

Barnhill is too big a station for how many passengers actually get on there. Waste of money and it is right next door to Springburn Station, you can just about spot it in the distance from Barnhill!

 

[12CSVT]

Bedford - Bletchley (apart from the peak hours)

Kettering - Corby (total waste of a 222 unit which could be better used strengthening a comletely wedged Nottingham service. Incredibly some of the Corby services are diagrammed for 7 car sets and even HSTs)

 

[Minstral25]

Gatwick Express - most of the day and evening - 10 coach high density trains with 20 or so passengers on

 

[The Barlow Boy]

The Robin Hood line between Mansfield Woodhouse and Worksop is always pretty empty in my experience. The same can be said for Lincoln to Doncaster trains during the daytime.

Which is why it was closed in the first place!

 

[asylumxl]

Bedford - Bletchley (apart from the peak hours)

I've got to say, whenever I've been on the route (which is quite a bit), it's not been that quiet. Reasonable loadings on a 153.

Kettering - Corby (total waste of a 222 unit which could be better used strengthening a comletely wedged Nottingham service. Incredibly some of the Corby services are diagrammed for 7 car sets and even HSTs)

'Cos they provide capacity for Luton and Bedford in peaks. Also pre Corby trains, the Kettering to Corby buses usually got decent amounts of people in the peaks.

 

[NLC1072]

Romford to Upminster branch is usually pretty quiet

 

[causton]

North end of the Welwyn Garden City - Moorgate line is dead between about 10:00 and 16:00 - any other time and it's totally rammed! Including 6am and 1am in my experience!