Stansted Express

[Kingfisher200262]

Stansted Express services are down to half-hourly today, with all stopping Harlow Town and Bishop's Stortford (normally every quarter hour with most alternating between B-S and H-T).

The explanation given was "rolling stock shortage". Does anybody have any background? Cutting the service by 100% must be a heck of a stock shortage.

That said, I'm on the 12.55 down service and it's far from crammed, suggesting that quarter hourly might be too frequent.

 

[jopsuk]

There must be a problem with the NXEA 317 fleet- which would explain why 315s have been finding their way to Cambridge of late.

 

[Fred26]

50% - if it were 100% there'd be no Stansted Express services at all.

 

[Kingfisher200262]

50% - if it were 100% there'd be no Stansted Express services at all.

Duuhhh. Sorry, I did hesitate before posting.

 

[cle]

It works very well providing faster services to HT and BS more than anything.

Otherwise, I'm sure 3tph would be fine. The train is too slow and very expensive, I've never seen it too busy.

 

[Z12XE]

The explanation given was "rolling stock shortage". Does anybody have any background? Cutting the service by 100% must be a heck of a stock shortage.

Lots of units damaged by the recent poor weather, same problem on the other side with 321s

 

[Kingfisher200262]

The train is too slow and very expensive, I've never seen it too busy.

I beg to differ (with the speed at least). Try getting from London to Stansted in 40 minutes by car!!

Also, with fuel costs and parking at Stansted to take into account, I'm not sure the price is that high. It's cheaper than Heathrow Express.

The service works very well for the commuting public from Harlow & Bishops Stortford (including, intermittently myself) and the increased dual use combined with minimal stops has been a major improvement during the NX tenure of the franchise.
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Lots of units damaged by the recent poor weather, same problem on the other side with 321s

I forgot that the 321s are going through overhaul at present. I guess this will be an additional pressure. Are 317s being used on routes normally being served by 321s?

 

[MCR247]

Lots of units damaged by the recent poor weather, same problem on the other side with 321s

What poor weather?!

 

[Z12XE]

I forgot that the 321s are going through overhaul at present. I guess this will be an additional pressure. Are 317s being used on routes normally being served by 321s?

The new timetable increased the number of 321s needed so services are currently being short formed that 4 weeks ago would only have been 4 or 8 anyway.

317s not being used on 321 routes but they have suffered damage to their electrical systems/traction motors etc as well.

What poor weather?!

From before Christmas. The dud list following this weather was quite extensive

 

[MCR247]

But they only reduced the service today?! What about the week between Christmas and New Year?

 

[Z12XE]

But they only reduced the service today?! What about the week between Christmas and New Year?

There has been no Stratford - Stansted service since the week before Christmas, and a reduced service to Liv Street since the same time.

Also in between Christmas and New Year, either a Saturday or Sunday service has been in operation which reduced the number of units required (plus a large number of coaches on the GE for 5 days in total due to engineering works).

 

[MCR247]

So this is really the first full M-F service since before Christmas? Makes sense now

 

[Z12XE]

So this is really the first full M-F service since before Christmas? Makes sense now

Yea - although the last few days before Christmas should have been full weekday service it was reduced on WA and GE thanks to the unit probs.

Incidentally there's only been about 1 weekday so far (the first Tuesday IIRC) where the new GEML TT hasnt been affected by weather, works or infrastructure problems.

 

[lemonic]

"From Tuesday 4 January the Stansted Express train service between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport will operate at a reduced frequency.

Trains will depart London Liverpool Street at 25 and 55 minutes past each hour and wll call at Tottenham Hale, Harlow Town and Bishops Stortford.
Trains will depart Stansted Airport at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour and will call at Bishops Stortford, Harlow Town and Tottenham Hale.
In addition, the services between Stratford and Broxbourne, Hertford East and Stansted Airport will be suspended and passengers will be advised to travel on the half-hourly Airport services and change at Liverpool Street for Stratford instead.

Additional stops will be placed on our Hertford East services between London Liverpool Street and Hertford East for Northumberland Park and Angel Road. Full details will be found on the live travel update section of this website.

The reason for these timetable amendments is that some of our electric trains have suffered damage to their traction motors and electronic systems caused by the severity of the weather in recent weeks. To help in enabling our fleet engineers and technicians to repair this damage as quickly as possible, we intend to continue with this plan until further notice.

During this period, it is also possible that some of our other services across the National Express East Anglia network may operate with fewer carriages than normal.

We apologise to those passengers affected by these alterations. We are working as quickly as we can to bring trains back into service, with our engineers working around the clock to carry out the repairs and the situation regularly reviewed. Please bear with us as we proceed with this work to enable restoration of the full scheduled timetable. The changes we are implementing will enable us to provide the most reliable service in the meantime and give passengers clear guidance when planning their journeys."

http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/rtti/amendments_to_stansted_airport_services

 

[Kingfisher200262]

"From Tuesday 4 January the Stansted Express train service between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport will operate at a reduced frequency.

Trains will depart London Liverpool Street at 25 and 55 minutes past each hour and wll call at Tottenham Hale, Harlow Town and Bishops Stortford.
Trains will depart Stansted Airport at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour and will call at Bishops Stortford, Harlow Town and Tottenham Hale.
In addition, the services between Stratford and Broxbourne, Hertford East and Stansted Airport will be suspended and passengers will be advised to travel on the half-hourly Airport services and change at Liverpool Street for Stratford instead.

Additional stops will be placed on our Hertford East services between London Liverpool Street and Hertford East for Northumberland Park and Angel Road. Full details will be found on the live travel update section of this website.

The reason for these timetable amendments is that some of our electric trains have suffered damage to their traction motors and electronic systems caused by the severity of the weather in recent weeks. To help in enabling our fleet engineers and technicians to repair this damage as quickly as possible, we intend to continue with this plan until further notice.

During this period, it is also possible that some of our other services across the National Express East Anglia network may operate with fewer carriages than normal.

We apologise to those passengers affected by these alterations. We are working as quickly as we can to bring trains back into service, with our engineers working around the clock to carry out the repairs and the situation regularly reviewed. Please bear with us as we proceed with this work to enable restoration of the full scheduled timetable. The changes we are implementing will enable us to provide the most reliable service in the meantime and give passengers clear guidance when planning their journeys."

http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/rtti/amendments_to_stansted_airport_services

The funny things is that when the 319s on FCC were falling over left, right and centre (was that last winter, or the one before... time flies?!??!), the 317s, which have the same traction system appeared to get away pretty much scot free. This time, the 317s seem to be struggling yet 319s are fine.

Maybe a function of point in the overhaul cycle?

 

[Z12XE]

Going back through various things it was Monday 20th December was the first day of the thinned our Stansted Express Service, and non running of the Stratford Stansteds. Plus amended service on GEML

 

[cle]

I beg to differ (with the speed at least). Try getting from London to Stansted in 40 minutes by car!!

Also, with fuel costs and parking at Stansted to take into account, I'm not sure the price is that high. It's cheaper than Heathrow Express.

The service works very well for the commuting public from Harlow & Bishops Stortford (including, intermittently myself) and the increased dual use combined with minimal stops has been a major improvement during the NX tenure of the franchise.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I forgot that the 321s are going through overhaul at present. I guess this will be an additional pressure. Are 317s being used on routes normally being served by 321s?

I think that it is quite pricey. And it's not an express like HEx, so comparing apples with oranges, it'd be the Southern train to Gatwick or FCC (it's not quite Heathrow Connect) - both of which are much cheaper due to being on the main railway, rather than a BAA monopolised spur.

Compared to 30-35 mins to Gatwick and similar to Luton, both with two stops (CJ, EC and St Albans/Harpenden) it's at least 10-15 minutes slower. And feels it!

I think it's the section between Liverpool St and Tottenham which feels slow, and some sections around stations like Cheshunt and Broxbourne. Other sections do feel faster, but I think speeds could be better. Maybe too many tph creates more pathing issues?

 

[MCR247]

I accidently got a StanEx from Tottenham Hale. Bloody hell that was slow. It felt liek we were going at 35mph all the way

 

[dk1]

You definatley need a 15 minute frequency on any major Airport express as it needs that turn up & go feel else passengers look for a more convenient way. This is a major selling point for the service. I have travelled on very quiet Gatwick Express trains & also very busy ones. All depends on flight arrivals, departures, air delays etc.

 

[barrykas]

Additional stops will be placed on our Hertford East services between London Liverpool Street and Hertford East for Northumberland Park and Angel Road. Full details will be found on the live travel update section of this website.

I'm impressed...Looking at the LDBs, they've managed to make the "service" at Angel Road even more useless.

The "additional stops" comprise 13 trains...but only towards Liverpool. Not a single down train calls there!

Northumberland Park suffers from the same problem, though has calls between the peaks at least.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[Daniel]

That said, I'm on the 12.55 down service and it's far from crammed, suggesting that quarter hourly might be too frequent.

Although the now 2 an hour, (without Strat-Stan) Lee Valley Local services have been rather busy

 

[O L Leigh]

I'm impressed...Looking at the LDBs, they've managed to make the "service" at Angel Road even more useless.

The "additional stops" comprise 13 trains...but only towards Liverpool. Not a single down train calls there!

Northumberland Park suffers from the same problem, though has calls between the peaks at least.

Eh...?

I've been doing Hertfords and they have ALL been given stop orders for Angel Road (in the peaks) and Northumberland Park in BOTH directions. This actually gives both stations a BETTER service because the frequency is up from 1tph to 2tph with most of those being 8 cars rather than 4 cars.

Incidentally, one spare Cl315 was found lurking behind all the failed units at the bottom of Bishops Stortford CS. Two drivers spent some time yesterday winkling it out so that at least one unit diagram for Stratfords could be covered.

O L Leigh

 

[barrykas]

Eh...?

I've been doing Hertfords and they have ALL been given stop orders for Angel Road (in the peaks) and Northumberland Park in BOTH directions. This actually gives both stations a BETTER service because the frequency is up from 1tph to 2tph with most of those being 8 cars rather than 4 cars.

Ahh...That'll be why they weren't showing properly on LDBs then. If it was being done as stop orders instead of by uploading an amended timetable, the change won't be reflected in TSDB.

They're showing as stopping in both directions today.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[Daniel]

Two drivers spent some time yesterday winkling it out so that at least one unit diagram for Stratfords could be covered.

Please thank them from at least two Enfield Lock passengers!

 

[Kingfisher200262]

Eh...?

I've been doing Hertfords and they have ALL been given stop orders for Angel Road (in the peaks) and Northumberland Park in BOTH directions. This actually gives both stations a BETTER service because the frequency is up from 1tph to 2tph with most of those being 8 cars rather than 4 cars.

Incidentally, one spare Cl315 was found lurking behind all the failed units at the bottom of Bishops Stortford CS. Two drivers spent some time yesterday winkling it out so that at least one unit diagram for Stratfords could be covered.

O L Leigh

So that's why, when I used the Stansted EXPRESS (:roll twice yesterday, it was literally crawling all the way between Tottenham Hale and Broxbourne!!