Shotts Line Ideas

[Manutd1999]

The off-peak current service pattern along the Shotts line is as follows:
1p2h EDI xx12 - TPE Manchester
1ph EDI xx25 - all stop - GLC xx56
1p2h EDI xx52 - Avanti Euston
1ph EDI xx57 - semi-fast - GLC xx11

IMO, this arrangement two notable issues:

• Only 1ph is a poor service level for the suburban stations in south Edinburgh
• Uncompetitive Glasgow-Edinburgh journey times (1hr 15m). There is a reasonable commuting flow from South Glasgow to Edinburgh, which today involves an annoying walk from Central to QS.

How about these possible improvements?

1. Stop both current Scotrail services at all stations in Edinburgh. A stopper takes 25m to get to Midcalder Jn vs 14m non-stop, so there should be space without delaying the TPE.
2. After Midcalder Jn, switch the semi-fast and stopper services compared to today. So the xx25 runs semi-fast after Livingston, whereas the xx57 stops everywhere.
3. #2 creates the space to run a 1p2h fast Edinburgh-Glasgow in the hours where Avanti doesn't run, calling only at Haymarket and Livingston. Assuming it's possible without adding in lots of pathing, this would have a journey time close to 1hr. That would make it a viable option compared to walking across to QS, albeit only every other hour.

Something like this, if pathing into Glasgow allows it:
1p2h EDI xx12 - TPE Manchester
1ph EDI xx25 - all stop to mid Calder, then semi-fast - GLC xx50 (approx)
1p2h EDI xx52 - Avanti Euston
12ph EDI xx52 - fast - GLC xx54 (approx)
1ph EDI xx57 - all stop - GLC xx28

 

[Zomboid]

TPE and Avanti via Shotts? I'd have thought they'd run via the Midcalder line direct to Carstairs. Do they call at Motherwell?

 

[Brubulus]

TPE and Avanti via Shotts? I'd have thought they'd run via the Midcalder line direct to Carstairs. Do they call at Motherwell?

They run via Midcalder - however there is also roughly 1tp2h via Carstairs Edinburgh-Glasgow. Not sure why there should be a fast on the Shotts - though a Carstairs Fast might be a good way to link South Glasgow, Motherwell and Edinburgh. Potentially Breich and Hartwell should alternate to save a couple minutes.

 

[Manutd1999]

TPE and Avanti via Shotts?

Not via Shotts but they share the same approach into Haymarket from Midcalder Jn, so it's a key constraint in the timetable.

Not sure why there should be a fast on the Shotts - though a Carstairs Fast might be a good way to link South Glasgow, Motherwell and Edinburgh.

That could be an alternative - run the 'fast' Shotts I've proposed via Carstairs instead. The Carstairs services are currently quite ad-hoc, so making it a regular 1p2h could work well. Journey times would be similar, ~1hr.