TPE Mark 5A coaching stock progress

[Solent&Wessex]

You could have a Mk5A set and a class 156 on platform 4 if necessary.

The Local instruction for the Airport says that if a train more than 4 vehicles in length is in the platform then another train can't be signalled into it. It doesn't say platform 4 is exempt from that.

Ah yes. Pity.

Not to mention that Northern seem to run very few 2 car 156s to the Airport nowadays. Most of their diesel workings seem to be 2 x DMU's (of whichever type happens to be at hand) together. A 3 car 185 with a 4 car 156 fits and can work, but obviously the Nova trains will need to occupy a whole platform to themselves. It does strike me that what is needed is to re-write the timetable somehow so that they have 25 min layovers at MIA, so the TPE North Route workings just use the same platform all the time. 10 mins is far too short - irrespective of whether it arrives on time or not. Even if it arrives on time 10 mins isn't long enough to do everything that is needed - unloading and loading passengers and luggage, crew changing ends, cleaning the train, emptying rubbish, doing toilets etc. But 40 mins, if trains are running on time, does perhaps occupy the platforms a bit too long when they are in such high demand.

 

[Greybeard33]

Not to mention that Northern seem to run very few 2 car 156s to the Airport nowadays. Most of their diesel workings seem to be 2 x DMU's (of whichever type happens to be at hand) together. A 3 car 185 with a 4 car 156 fits and can work, but obviously the Nova trains will need to occupy a whole platform to themselves. It does strike me that what is needed is to re-write the timetable somehow so that they have 25 min layovers at MIA, so the TPE North Route workings just use the same platform all the time. 10 mins is far too short - irrespective of whether it arrives on time or not. Even if it arrives on time 10 mins isn't long enough to do everything that is needed - unloading and loading passengers and luggage, crew changing ends, cleaning the train, emptying rubbish, doing toilets etc. But 40 mins, if trains are running on time, does perhaps occupy the platforms a bit too long when they are in such high demand.

A problem is that 25 minute turnrounds at the Airport would require a corresponding 15 minute shift in turnround times at Lime Street, in order to maintain the 15 minute spacing of the fast services through the TP Core. So the Lime Street turnrounds would have to change from the current 25 minutes to 40 minutes, requiring use of an additional platform there.

In any case, 25 minute turnrounds would mean that TPE North services would monopolise one Airport platform. I doubt that the other three platforms would then have sufficient capacity for the other seven hourly services. The TPE South and TPE Scottish services each have 25 minute turnrounds already, and will each occupy a whole platform once they are worked by 6-car 185s and 5-car 397s respectively. The North Wales service has an 18 minute turnround. The Northern Liverpool via Warrington service has a 20 minute turnround, while the Blackpool and Preston services have 9 minutes and 5 minutes respectively. The through Crewe - Liverpool service has two reversals per hour at the Airport, totalling 13 minutes of platform occupancy.

I suspect that the 10 minute TPE North turnrounds were the only way to shoehorn all these services into the four Airport platforms, after allowing for 5/6-car trains on all four TPE services.

 

[LOL The Irony]

If TPE continues to expand at this rate, the airport will have to get more platforms.

 

[AndrewE]

If TPE continues to expand at this rate, the airport will have to get more platforms.

...or a couple of through platforms which would reduce dwell times. OT though.

 

[Jonny]

If TPE continues to expand at this rate, the airport will have to get more platforms.

A cheap(ish) way to do that would be to move the Metrolink terminal. Quite Easily Done.

 

[CHAPS2034]

A cheap(ish) way to do that would be to move the Metrolink terminal. Quite Easily Done.

To where?

 

[EE Andy b1]

This is far out and just hyperthetical... and a bit off topic.
But how about sending some trains back out from Manchester airport up to Wilmslow to reverse there.
If train is on time then send to Wilmslow to get out of the way, then return. If train is running late miss the Wilmslow part and just work next diagram back East.
Not sure what time would be required though but would release some platforms.

 

[LOL The Irony]

This is far out and just hyperthetical... and a bit off topic.
But how about sending some trains back out from Manchester airport up to Wilmslow to reverse there.
If train is on time then send to Wilmslow to get out of the way, then return. If train is running late miss the Wilmslow part and just work next diagram back East.
Not sure what time would be required though but would release some platforms.

Well building an extra platform or 2 at Wilmslow would be easier and probably cheaper than extending or building new platforms at the airport. Also we probably need to start a thread at this point.

 

[507 001]

A cheap(ish) way to do that would be to move the Metrolink terminal. Quite Easily Done.

The Metrolink platforms are designed to allow an easy extension to T2, and the other half of the Wythenshawe loop. It’s not as easy as you imagine!

 

[mikemcniven]

So the full Liverpool Lime Street schedule for tonight is now in

To Liverpool: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03928/2018/12/18/advanced
From Liverpool: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03929/2018/12/19/advanced

There is also a path for a run across the Pennine tomorrow

To York: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03994/2018/12/19/advanced

For the return there is TWO paths
Option one: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03995/2018/12/19/advanced
Option two: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03996/2018/12/19/advanced

 

[Greybeard33]

Well building an extra platform or 2 at Wilmslow would be easier and probably cheaper than extending or building new platforms at the airport. Also we probably need to start a thread at this point.

See Manchester Airport railway station, discussion and ideas

 

[Driveroopnorth]

Nice to see them potentially getting across their core route now!... Hopefully get my hands on one soonish....

 

[EE Andy b1]

So the full Liverpool Lime Street schedule for tonight is now in

To Liverpool: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03928/2018/12/18/advanced
From Liverpool: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03929/2018/12/19/advanced

There is also a path for a run across the Pennine tomorrow

To York: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03994/2018/12/19/advanced

For the return there is TWO paths
Option one: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03995/2018/12/19/advanced
Option two: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K03996/2018/12/19/advanced

All cancelled by the look of it.

 

[BMIFlyer]

There are others in the system not showing as cancelled, yet.

 

[yorkguy]

Seen passing through Malton yesterday at 13.30

 

[sjpowermac]

68020 crossing Scarborough Bridge, York, on 15.12.2018 and then 68021/20 on their way home to Manchester on 18.12.2018.

Fingers crossed for the Mk5a set tomorrow!

 

[mikemcniven]

All cancelled by the look of it.

New paths added in for the Liverpool, replacing the previous ones I posted, same times

To Liverpool: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O67701/2018/12/18/advanced
From Liverpool: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O67704/2018/12/19/advanced

They have also re added in the York runs with same times

To York: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O67706/2018/12/19/advanced
From York: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O67677/2018/12/19/advanced

 

[petersi]

YouTube video of a training run

 

[EE Andy b1]

New paths added in for the Liverpool, replacing the previous ones I posted, same times

To Liverpool: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O67701/2018/12/18/advanced
From Liverpool: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O67704/2018/12/19/advanced

They have also re added in the York runs with same times

To York: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O67706/2018/12/19/advanced
From York: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O67677/2018/12/19/advanced

Yes fingers crossed that these Mk5a sets are starting to spread there wings. Test flights of coarse!

 

[SP Man]

Pending any failures all should run, drivers allocated so all planned.

 

[Erniescooper]

On the move and currently in Manchester Victoria

 

[sjpowermac]

Class 68 and Mk5a at York this morning. Thanks to all posters for the info. Best wishes to TPE for getting these in traffic, they look fantastic inside and out

 

[SP Man]

View attachment 56869 View attachment 56870
Class 68 and Mk5a at York this morning. Thanks to all posters for the info. Best wishes to TPE for getting these in traffic, they look fantastic inside and out

How about to Freightliner thats foing all the work testing snd commissioning these and rhe 397s!!!

 

[sprinterguy]

Great to finally see the first set to make an appearance on what will be their core route. Tangible progress, though it's a pity that their entry to service is still some time off and I'll still be no doubt wedged on a 3-car 185 this coming Sunday.

 

[sjpowermac]

How about to Freightliner thats foing all the work testing snd commissioning these and rhe 397s!!!

And to Freightliner

 

[SP Man]

Why thank you...

 

[sjpowermac]

5P60 at York this afternoon.
Looks fantastic inside and out.
Nice noise as it left too!

 

[YorkshireBear]

Saw it from my desk, looked very smart!

 

[joshy.fre_2003]

Shed loads of new paths gone in from Manchester Int Depot, looking good for some decent and regular mk5a testing!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...9/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=ZZ

 

[Jamesrob637]

On its way back over t'top by the looks of things!