Topological
Established Member
Is it ever ok to split existing through trains to facilitate improvements in one, or both, halves?
The introduction in 175s on GWR will see Cardiff to Penzance split temporarily at Exeter. The benefits are clear as the IETs freed from the Exeter to Penzance part can go back to operating IET routes (such as South Wales to London) that have been consistently short-formed of late. We do not yet know if the connections will work, but presumably platform 6 at St Davids can assist with the connections. In the case of the Exeter split an end date is in sight because the goal is to get 175s on the full route when training is complete.
South Wales to Manchester has seen a split to accommodate Mk4 between Cardiff and Manchester. The December timetable helps, but for the first year and a half the split has meant no connections between the two halves. The extra terminators in Cardiff do not help with Cardiff either because of the challenges of terminating there.
Should Cardiff to Swansea be electrified then to gain any benefit from the wires some trains would need to split at Swansea. That may last indefinitely since wires would be less likely to continue west.
There are no doubt many more examples people can find.
The introduction in 175s on GWR will see Cardiff to Penzance split temporarily at Exeter. The benefits are clear as the IETs freed from the Exeter to Penzance part can go back to operating IET routes (such as South Wales to London) that have been consistently short-formed of late. We do not yet know if the connections will work, but presumably platform 6 at St Davids can assist with the connections. In the case of the Exeter split an end date is in sight because the goal is to get 175s on the full route when training is complete.
South Wales to Manchester has seen a split to accommodate Mk4 between Cardiff and Manchester. The December timetable helps, but for the first year and a half the split has meant no connections between the two halves. The extra terminators in Cardiff do not help with Cardiff either because of the challenges of terminating there.
Should Cardiff to Swansea be electrified then to gain any benefit from the wires some trains would need to split at Swansea. That may last indefinitely since wires would be less likely to continue west.
There are no doubt many more examples people can find.
