"Service stop unadvertised"

[flitwickbeds]

I wonder if anyone can explain what exactly "Service stop unadvertised" means?

On the Worcester Parkway thread there is discussion of this appearing before the station opened - presumably to allow staff to practice stopping and starting from there.

But on (for example) https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C81531/2021-02-09/detailed for today, Valley is shown as this whereas previously it's either been a normal stop or a request stop.

Why would this be? Are passengers allowed to alight/join the train here? Do the doors even open? Why would Valley suddenly gain this status?

 

[_toommm_]

Isn’t Valley one of the stations that TfW has temporarily closed due to ‘social distancing’ because of local door operation?
If so, I aspect they’ve kept the stop in the timetable, possibly due to the level crossing, but it’s not advertised so you cannot join or board.

 

[StephenHunter]

Could be various reasons. Changing crew, letting another train pass ahead, a formation change.

It ultimately means that the stop isn't on the public timetable.

 

[221129]

Are passengers allowed to alight/join the train here? Do the doors even open?

Generally the answer to both of these is no.

 

[Watershed]

I wonder if anyone can explain what exactly "Service stop unadvertised" means?

On the Worcester Parkway thread there is discussion of this appearing before the station opened - presumably to allow staff to practice stopping and starting from there.

But on (for example) https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C81531/2021-02-09/detailed for today, Valley is shown as this whereas previously it's either been a normal stop or a request stop.

Why would this be? Are passengers allowed to alight/join the train here? Do the doors even open? Why would Valley suddenly gain this status?

It's a generic non-traffic stop. Non-traffic stops are sometimes used for reversing at locations where the train doesn't call (e.g. Nottingham-Lincoln via Newark Northgate services, which reverse at Newark Crossing East Jn). Other times they are for crew changes, for overtaking/pathing related stops, or to denote that a portion of the train is attached/detached.

TfW are currently not making passenger calls at a number of stations, including Valley. From a timetabling perspective, removing a stop at Valley would mean revalidating the train - a wasteful exercise when the paths are pretty much fixed throughout the journey. So by marking it as a non-traffic stop, they achieve their objective without altering the train's timings.

 

[StephenHunter]

To give a foreign example, there's a non-traffic stop on the upcoming Amsterdam-Vienna Nightjet at Cologne West for a loco swap from the ELOC 193 to the OeBB 1116 as well as coupling on the ex-Brussels portion to the train.

Also, isn't the Highland Sleeper stock split stop at Edinburgh unadvertised?

 

[221129]

Also, isn't the Highland Sleeper stock split stop at Edinburgh unadvertised?

Normally yes for the INV and ABD portions.

 

[zwk500]

It's also been used to account for the stops at Worcestershire Parkway before it opened, and for Special Stop Orders in specific services.

 

[43096]

Also, isn't the Highland Sleeper stock split stop at Edinburgh unadvertised?

Normally yes for the INV and ABD portions.

Although if you are booked as a seated passenger on the Fort William portion the Aberdeen portion is advertised as you have to change vehicles at Edinburgh.