Services you would like to see in the future

[Harbornite]

London to Cheltenham trains should, once they become hourly, be extended to Worcester, calling at Ashchurch, then 1tp2h to Malvern/Hereford, 1tp2h to Walsall via Stourbridge, Round Oak and thence to Walsall via the mothballed line. Possibly continuing to Lichfield and beyond via the reopened Brownhills line.

Extending it to Worcester or even Kidderminster would be enough. I can't really imagine this service coming to fruition for some reason. It's an interesting idea though.


What I wouldn't' mind seeing is one or more of the Chiltern Kidderminster services being extended to Worceser Shrub hill once the signalling has been upgraded to cope.

 

[randyrippley]

1)

4) Four trains per day Plymouth - Exeter - Yeovils - Weymouth: To improve connectivity between Bournemouth/Poole/Dorset and Devon/Cornwall. This could interlace with Exeter - Yeovil Jcn trains to provide faster Exeter - Salisbury services (by missing out stops, but connecting at Yeovil Jcn)

That doesn't really work as it requires a change of station at Dorchester, or change of trains at Weymouth. Plymouth-Exeter-Salisbury(via either route)-Southampton would be the better option........of course you could reopen the S&D and go via Templecombe to Bournemouth

 

[DasLunatic]

Walton/Clacton to Sudbury as a direct service, once the bi-modes come into service. The service would divide at Thorpe-le-Soken and a second platform would be created at Sudbury to allow half-hourly service.

 

[Class 170101]

Walton/Clacton to Sudbury as a direct service, once the bi-modes come into service. The service would divide at Thorpe-le-Soken and a second platform would be created at Sudbury to allow half-hourly service.

A second platform at Sudbury won't help you to achieve that.

A passing a loop at Chappel would be more likely to though.

 

[Clip]

I've thought that a local service could run through the HS1 tunnel under the Thames to connect Essex with North Kent.

How would this happen? Con section at rainhM(Essex)

Seems cost would far outweigh benefits.

Mind you they've always mooted a road bridge from Essex to Shelley but coats again outweigh benefits even for road freight

 

[WestCoast]

1) TransPennine: Blackpool North - Preston - Bolton - Man. Piccadilly - Stockport - (Hope Valley) - Sheffield - Cleethorpes.

2) Merseyrail Electrics: Preston - Ormskirk - Liverpool Central.

3) London Midland (or future WM franchise): Birmingham NS - Crewe - Preston stopper via WCML halts.

 

[adrock1976]

An East-West Rail traditional Intercity service from Gatwick Airport or Redhill every 60 minutes calling at Guildford, Reading, Didcot Parkway, Oxford (is General the proper name of the main station?), Claydon Junction (I think that is where it crosses the Metropolitan Railway/Great Central Railway) for connections to/from Aylesbury, and Bletchley, where the train would divide into 2 portions.

Portion 1 - continue to Manchester Piccadilly calling at Milton Keynes Central, Northampton, Rugby, Nuneaton, Tamworth (every 2 hours alternating), Lichfield TV (every 2 hours alternating), Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, Stockport, and Manchester Piccadilly.

Portion 2 - continue to York calling at maybe a re-sited Bedford St Johns (connections to/from Cambridge), Bedford Midland, Kettering, Leicester London Road, Loughborough, Toton Interchange for HS2 and Nottingham Trams, Chesterfield, re-opened Killamarsh West (or a new name of Killamarsh & Halfway for Sheffield Supertram), Rotherham Central (or a re-opened Rotherham Masborough), Pontefract Baghill, and York.

Furthermore, the present Reading - Newcastle ICXC services via York to have a portion attach/detach at Sheffield Midland, with a portion continuing to Newcastle Central via Doncaster as present, with the second portion continuing to Hull Paragon calling at Wakefield Westgate, Leeds City, Selby, Gilberdyke or Howden, Brough, and Hull Paragon. This would provide a service every 30 minutes between Birmingham New Street and Leeds City.

 

[backontrack]

3) London Midland (or future WM franchise): Birmingham NS - Crewe - Preston stopper via WCML halts.

Can that also stop at Golborne, Coppull and Standish?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Portion 2 - continue to York calling at maybe a re-sited Bedford St Johns (connections to/from Cambridge), Bedford Midland, Kettering, Leicester London Road, Loughborough, Toton Interchange for HS2 and Nottingham Trams, Chesterfield, re-opened Killamarsh West (or a new name of Killamarsh & Halfway for Sheffield Supertram), Rotherham Central (or a re-opened Rotherham Masborough), Pontefract Baghill, and York.

How about Staveley, Rotherham Parkgate (for Rawmarsh), and Castleford being added on as well? With a curve from the Dearne Valley Line to Monkhill you could use that station instead and run via Castleford.

 

[daodao]

The extra hourly M/c to Northwich train proposed to start in Dec 17 should be extended via Middlewich & Sandbach to Crewe.

 

[The Ham]

Extensions of the Salisbury/Yeovil services to Weymouth (only 15 minutes shower than direct)

Extensions to the Basingstoke stoppers , once electrification happens to Salisbury and/or to run the Salisbury 6 services (Salisbury 6 stations have a direct service to London).

Post Crossrail 2 more services to Farnborough Main.

Extension of the Woking stoppers to Cranliegh.

 

[fairysdad]

Extension of a London service up the Barnstaple branch. Most likely the SWT services rather than the GWR services as, although there was an HST visit up there earlier in the year, pushing a 158/159 up there would be much easier as it would fit in the majority of platforms! (I believe the HST had problems at the Eggesford loop...)

(And, if such a service comes, I expect it will be limited to the non request stops - I'd quite like Umberleigh included on that one as well! Most trains seem to stop there anyway!)

 

[dk1]

Extension of a London service up the Barnstaple branch. Most likely the SWT services rather than the GWR services as, although there was an HST visit up there earlier in the year, pushing a 158/159 up there would be much easier as it would fit in the majority of platforms! (I believe the HST had problems at the Eggesford loop...)

(And, if such a service comes, I expect it will be limited to the non request stops - I'd quite like Umberleigh included on that one as well! Most trains seem to stop there anyway!)

I've always thought Waterloo-Barnstaple would be a perfect fit. Suppose there is the issue of longer distance trains having a knock-on impact with local traffic but from what I see the SWTs service to the West is very reliable & hourly nowadays.

 

[Polarbear]

1. Extend the Lime Street-Warrington Bank Quay Northern service onto Crewe, calling at all stations (at appropriate times for Acton Bridge
2. Speed up the LM Liverpool-Birmingham service by withdrawing stops at Winsford & Acton Bridge
3. Burscough curves
4. Kirkby-Skelmersdale

 

[daodao]

1. Extend the Lime Street-Warrington Bank Quay Northern service onto Crewe, calling at all stations (at appropriate times for Acton Bridge
2. Speed up the LM Liverpool-Birmingham service by withdrawing stops at Winsford & Acton Bridge
3. Burscough curves
4. Kirkby-Skelmersdale

Stops at Acton Bridge and Winsford need to be retained for Liverpool services.

There is some commuting from Acton Bridge to Liverpool - I have twice parked there to travel to meetings in Liverpool.

Winsford is a "Liverpool" overspill town like Skelmersdale and needs to retain a direct service to Liverpool.

 

[backontrack]

Extension of a London service up the Barnstaple branch. Most likely the SWT services rather than the GWR services as, although there was an HST visit up there earlier in the year, pushing a 158/159 up there would be much easier as it would fit in the majority of platforms! (I believe the HST had problems at the Eggesford loop...)

(And, if such a service comes, I expect it will be limited to the non request stops - I'd quite like Umberleigh included on that one as well! Most trains seem to stop there anyway!)

Would you also stop at Copplestone and Yeoford?

 

[ABB125]

Extending it to Worcester or even Kidderminster would be enough. I can't really imagine this service coming to fruition for some reason. It's an interesting idea though.


What I wouldn't' mind seeing is one or more of the Chiltern Kidderminster services being extended to Worceser Shrub hill once the signalling has been upgraded to cope.

Maybe a Paddington to Marylebone service via Swindon and Worcester, then to either New Street or Moor Street in Birmingham via either Stourbridge or Bromsgrove, and Banbury.

 

[HowardGWR]

What services would you like to see in the future? These could be created by:
a) combining 2 or more existing routes, eg: Birmingham to Hereford and Birmingham to Nottingham/Leicester;
b) extending existing routes, eg: Stansted Airport to Birmingham to Gloucester; or
c) creating an entirely new service.

It seems to me, having read through these wish lists, that the OP quoted above might have hoped for something other than personal ones.

One would hope that two goals could be sought.

1. Longer journeys without changing (people making long journeys will have luggage), especially avoiding an intermediate local journey (tube, bus or tram).

2. Quicker long distance journeys to compete with road and air.

As an example, Southampton to Cardiff, Birmingham to Norwich with very few stops, thus providing an inter-city service the equivalent in quality (comfort and speed) of that enjoyed by Londoners and those places that happen to lie on a London-orientated route (e.g. Swindon or Peterborough).

The typical non-London inter-city service can typically be provided with cramped BR era dmus, with little or no catering and stopping at every farmyard. XC Voyager stock is not high on comfort and does not provide an inter-city fast service, stopping typically every 20 - 30 kms.

I just wonder what times could be achieved by an class 80x from Bristol to Manchester, stopping only at Parkway and Birmingham (later with CC stock).

 

[Clansman]

Bit late to this so apologies.

The sooner trains from Edinburgh to Perth and beyond run fast from Haymarket the better: albeit if it's even via Stirling.

The Stirling to London Kings Cross HST extended to Perth - which I was told was the original plan but lack of capacity at Perth forced it to start at Stirling? (correct me if Im wrong)

A XC service through Perth also. There's a market for rail travel from England connecting to Stirling, Gleneagles, Perth and as far a field as Inverness/Wick/Thurso, so diverting at least 1 XC service a day through Stirling and Perth would prove valuable. Would also allow further direct connections from Falkirk up north. Only issue would be the reduction of service at Leuchars, if XC wouldn't be willing to extend an Edinburgh service.

 

[DarloRich]

Not necessarily a new service, but I would like to see the Intercity calls reinstated at Motherwell, Lichfield TV, Tamworth, Nuneaton, and Watford Junction that were cut in the December 2008 timetable change. This would restore connections that were lost at those stations.

They were cut for a reason - they wont come back under Virgin

I would like to draw your attention to the following quote by Dee Snider (frontman in the band Twisted Sister) that he gave to the Senate in the mid 1980s in response to the PMRC regarding the lyrics of "Under the Blade":



Substitute that for XC to Brighton. It seems you were looking for that suggestion, and you found it. Similar as to how some forum posters would find useful new, additional, or reinstated services that would provide decent links.

I have no idea what you are talking about. It seems that humour is lost on many of you.

Hear Hear!
The WCML needs to regain its function as part of the National Network rather than simply being "Express to Euston." I would also re-examine the value (and journey time costs) of stops at Milton Keynes rather than Rugby.

But that is where the money is! I would cut more stops out further north and add in more Milton Keynes ones. That is where the market lives not Lichfield.

 

[JamesRowden]

How would this happen? Con section at rainhM(Essex)

Seems cost would far outweigh benefits.

Mind you they've always mooted a road bridge from Essex to Shelley but coats again outweigh benefits even for road freight

There is an electrified connection between HS1 and Barking (from what I can see on google maps).

 

[70014IronDuke]

They were cut for a reason - they wont come back under Virgin
........
But that is where the money is! I would cut more stops out further north and add in more Milton Keynes ones. That is where the market lives not Lichfield.

Agree with DarloRich. Since the changes of 2008 (or whenever the LM 1 TPH services were introduced) the Trent Valley stations have had a service that they could never even dream about before.

OK, Nuneaton may have lost out in terms of non-stop services to Euston, and to Liverpool, but even Nuneaton is arguably better connected all round to the network today that it was previously. For most of the day it was impossible to get to Rugby, 12 miles down the line, by a direct service.

Otherwise everywhere has benefited in extraordinary ways. Every hour, on the dot, you can get from Atherstone or or Tamworth or Lichfield to Stafford, Stoke, Crewe and Nuneaton/Rugby. Yes, it's not the fastest you could get between any two points, but the improvement in connectivity is astounding, considering you can then change onto other hourly services across the country.

You let Virgin back in in a big way, and you risk them cutting the services again in 2-3 years as some new manager decides to speed up the "important" Intercity trains.

 

[DarloRich]

as an addition to what the above poster presents I would like to see a second LM operated fast Crewe train per hour running via Weedon not Northampton.

 

[LLivery]

Would like to see:
1) Reading (or Gatwick) to Sheffield with stops at Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley, Bedford, Wellingborough, Kettering, Leciester and onwards to Sheffield.
2) Extend London - Corby to Melton Mowbray and maybe Nottingham. Bi-mode units would be ideal.
3) Maybe a peak direct Basingstoke to Paddington (split/join at Reading) to relive SWT.
4) Increased number of overnight Thameslink services (calling at stations along the Sydenham corridor once London Bridge is complete)
5) Cambridge or Stansted West Anglia services diverted via Stratford once Crossrail open.
6) Barking (Riverside) to Feltham via NLL & Hounslow Loop if freight does get diverted eventually.
7) Southeastern Ldn Victoria - Orpington calling at Clapham High Street all day

 

[Clip]

There is an electrified connection between HS1 and Barking (from what I can see on google maps).

Is there? Ive never noticed. Also apologies for my spelling on that post - was late and using my phone

 

[anti-pacer]

In my neck of the woods, after electrification...

1) York-all stops via Leeds to Bradford FS (1tph)
2) Selby-all stops via Leeds and Wakefield to Doncaster (1tph)

3) York-Leeds-Bradford Int-Halifax-Hebden Bridge-Burnley MR- Accrington-Blackburn-Preston-Blackpool North (these stops only).

4) Leeds-Shipley-Bingley-Keighley-Skipton (1tph calling at these stops only).

 

[philthetube]

In my neck of the woods, after electrification...

1) York-all stops via Leeds to Bradford FS (1tph)
2) Selby-all stops via Leeds and Wakefield to Doncaster (1tph)

3) York-Leeds-Bradford Int-Halifax-Hebden Bridge-Burnley MR- Accrington-Blackburn-Preston-Blackpool North (these stops only).

4) Leeds-Shipley-Bingley-Keighley-Skipton (1tph calling at these stops only).

3 to stop at Rose Grove as well to connect with services from Colne

 

[anti-pacer]

3 to stop at Rose Grove as well to connect with services from Colne

Would there be demand though?

I grew up in Colne and spend every Saturday with friends from there who generally come over to West Yorkshire. They get the bus to Keighley and train to Leeds.

If we meet in Hebden Bridge they get a Transdev K-Day ticket for £4 which allows them bus travel from Colne, via Keighley.

 

[fandroid]

I would plug Portsmouth into the Xcountry network. For a place of its size and position it has very poor connections to the Midlands and North. Brighton has often been the subject of a desire for the restoration of Xcountry services, but it's a lot further east than Portsmouth and its services to/through London are good anyway ( or should be!). For purely selfish reasons I would like to see a Reading terminator extended via Basingstoke ( faster connections to Portsmouth and a fast service to Reading twice every hour), but I can see that potential traffic considerations might make Guildford the better route.

 

[Iskra]

In my neck of the woods, after electrification...

1) York-all stops via Leeds to Bradford FS (1tph)
2) Selby-all stops via Leeds and Wakefield to Doncaster (1tph)

3) York-Leeds-Bradford Int-Halifax-Hebden Bridge-Burnley MR- Accrington-Blackburn-Preston-Blackpool North (these stops only).

4) Leeds-Shipley-Bingley-Keighley-Skipton (1tph calling at these stops only).

4) Isn't far from being achieved by the Leeds-Carlisle/Morecambe trains already. Both lines are due modest service enhancements too, which will help improve the frequencies of those services.

 

[Ianno87]

Agree with DarloRich. Since the changes of 2008 (or whenever the LM 1 TPH services were introduced) the Trent Valley stations have had a service that they could never even dream about before.

OK, Nuneaton may have lost out in terms of non-stop services to Euston, and to Liverpool, but even Nuneaton is arguably better connected all round to the network today that it was previously. For most of the day it was impossible to get to Rugby, 12 miles down the line, by a direct service.

Otherwise everywhere has benefited in extraordinary ways. Every hour, on the dot, you can get from Atherstone or or Tamworth or Lichfield to Stafford, Stoke, Crewe and Nuneaton/Rugby. Yes, it's not the fastest you could get between any two points, but the improvement in connectivity is astounding, considering you can then change onto other hourly services across the country.

You let Virgin back in in a big way, and you risk them cutting the services again in 2-3 years as some new manager decides to speed up the "important" Intercity trains.

The hourly Trent Valley service will, in my view, get even better when it's sent directly from Stafford to Crewe instead of meandering via Stoke. Crewe will then offer good onward connections throughout the North West, Scotland, and North Wales.

Plus, it will also be freed of its restriction to 4-car trains solely for the purpose of stopping at Stone, Kidsgrove and Alsager.

It would be by far the best service the TV starions will have ever had.