Should XC's via Doncaster trains run via Leeds instead?

[61653 HTAFC]

Though it may be possible to serve both Doncaster and Leeds it would increase the chances of delays on the XC services as currently if there problems through Leeds or Doncaster the other route is usually not to bad. Also even though you would benefit lots of Leeds passengers you would probably be in convincing even more with all passengers from north of York having much longer journey times to Birmingham.
A better way to give Leeds services more capacity would be to have all Leeds services as HST's (using off lease sets from GWR fitted with power doors) and then if/when XC order new stock have them built as a minimum of 8 carriage sets.

That's far too sensible, this is the railway we're talking about! Now go away and think about what you've done!

 

[Deerfold]

That's far too sensible, this is the railway we're talking about! Now go away and think about what you've done!

To be fair, XC's original plan to increase usage under Virgin did involve them redoubling their trains. Shame the DoT vetoed that bit of the plan.

 

[DanTrain]

As a user of the service between Sheffield and Newcastle I opt for the trains via Doncaster if possible. They're quicker by 20 minutes than those via Leeds.

However if going further north I'd be choosing the Leeds route to avoid the need to change.

Now TPE are to run from Leeds to Scotland it no longer makes sense to stop the faster XC service at Newcastle. Users from Scotland to York travelling to stations from Sheffield and beyond are not well served by having to drag round via Leeds.

I find that changing at Doncaster (i.e. not using XC at all) tends to be cheaper, more comfortable and almost as quick. Whilst we're forced to use XC to get to Birmingham, it's nice to be able to avoid the dreaded voyagers (and their associated lateness) heading North! That said, withdrawing the XC via Birmingham would be madness as it would remove the fast Birmingham - York/Newcastle link and generally extend journey times. Why not route the Edinburgh train via Doncster now TPE are to extend to Edinburgh (this service coudl then run Edinburgh - Newcastle - York - Doncaster - Sheffield - Derby - Birmingham - beyond) as an express, with TPE and an XC terminating at York/Newcastle filling the gaps. This might give a proper express service to a line desperately in need of one!

 

[Killingworth]

Why would you want some XC services not to call at Newcastle as this is the largest place they serve between Leeds and Edinburgh.

If you'd quoted my full post you'd have noticed I regularly travel to Newcastle. Returning south there are two trains an hour, but they depart about 10 minutes apart and then 50 minutes until the next pair.

The train that drags through Leeds has come from Scotland and is going to places as far as Plymouth or Penzance. That one should go via Doncaster to cut 20 minutes off a long journey time.

The current train via Leeds should be the one that terminates at Newcastle. I am not in favour of reducing direct trains between Sheffield and Newcastle!

 

[transmanche]

IThe train that drags through Leeds has come from Scotland and is going to places as far as Plymouth or Penzance. That one should go via Doncaster to cut 20 minutes off a long journey time.

The current train via Leeds should be the one that terminates at Newcastle. I am not in favour of reducing direct trains between Sheffield and Newcastle!

Whatever change you make is bound to upset someone. If I've understood your suggestion correctly, Leeds would lose direct services to Plymouth/Penzance via Bristol and gain direct services to Reading/Southampton via Oxford.

 

[Killingworth]

Whatever change you make is bound to upset someone. If I've understood your suggestion correctly, Leeds would lose direct services to Plymouth/Penzance via Bristol and gain direct services to Reading/Southampton via Oxford.

Quite, but those travelling from North of Leeds would save 20 minutes on their trip to the Midlands and South West. The conflict will always exist when a TOC serves such a wide catchment area.

It's of course possible that DfT and XC may have statistics to show how many are currently travelling from where to where. Use of split ticketing probably complicates such analysis. The advent of TPEs extended services beyond Newcastle will further confuse comparisons.

At present I notice large numbers changing at York, Leeds and Sheffield, but not so many at other stations.