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As reported in this thread: Class 68 + Mk 5 diagrams the December 2020 timetable change will see the number of class 68 diagrams step up from a pitiful 3 to a slightly less pitiful 4.
The timetable itself has now been mostly uploaded, and confirms that the York - Scarborough short workings are abandoned - apart from one each way in the evening - with hourly Scarborough - Liverpool throughout the day.
It's a 7-hour cycle, so apparently it will be 4 x 68 + Mk 5 per day and 3 pairs of 185s. Any info on which ones will be hauled and which will be 185s would be much appreciated.
That's the theory anyway. A lot could happen between now and then ...
yes, and additional depots are now required to sign the Liverpool CLC diversion.
The north timetable is changing dramatically with increased service provision on top of the Tfn meeting.
The Liverpool to Edinburgh will operate to York only with extensions every three hours to Edinburgh. York to Newcastle served by Victoria to Newcastle shorts operating hourly.
Scarborough shuttles replaced by full Liverpool to Scarborough service pre-covid timetable. (Nova 3/185)
Stopper services will revert to 3 car with some services replaced by additional calls on the express routes on Sundays and evenings
Most (but not all) Redcar and Cleethorpes services will operate as 6 car units as per pre-covid timetable, Cleethorpes services will not operate further than Piccadilly bar 1RJ for route retention purposes
Hull service will start an hour later and finish an hour earlier. Sunday journeys replace Manchester stopping service.
Airport to Edinburgh - no change to timetable, calling pattern changes
Liverpool to Glasgow - 50% timetable
Airport to Glasgow - 50% timetable
The service that the Mk5s and 68s work is SEVERELY cut back, just look at the timetable! It is supposed to hourly Scarborough to Liverpool and return, but there are only 5 a day. Therer are some services that terminate at York, yes half of which are 185s (probably as they are based at York) but only 5 through services is definitely a dramatic cut back from the 15 there should be. Note that even with some services truncated at York there are 4 services completely out of the timetable
Below is a list of what to expect in Dec 2020 in terms of departures from Liverpool. It is of course subject to change and final confirmation closer to the time.
Liverpool Lime St TPE Dec 2020 timetable departures with proposed traction:
York traincrew don’t sign CLC but Liverpool crew don’t sign Nova 3.
It allows 185 trains to be used in times of disruptions by Liverpool, Manchester Pic, Airport and York as apposed to just Liverpool should their be problems on the Chat Moss
I'm not sure about conductors, but there are a number of Manchester Piccadilly drivers who sign both 68/Mk5 and The Cheshire Lines route to Liverpool.
The largest headache now for TPE will be the training regimes being significantly reduced due to COVID-19.
For York/Manchester crews to re-sign the Cheshire Lines is not as simple as handing out a cab pass and being sent on their way. Due to COVID-19, training is only sanctioned when taking place in a "training bubble so you'd need to release an instructor and a unit/set to operate specifically over that route to conduct the route learning.
TPE should in my opinion be looking into training Liverpool crews up on 68/Mk5 before training York crews on the Cheshire lines in my opinion. Liverpool is only a small.depot and it wouldn't take too long.
You currently have the situation where a Liverpool driver/conductor could be sat spare at the depot and a service needs covering at short notice due one of many reasons.
They sign the route so go down to discover the service is operated by a 68/Mk5 set, so can't take the train resulting in a cancellation!
The December timetable has now changed and the plan for a full Liverpool to Scarborough service will now end. All trains will shuttle between York and Scarborough only (hourly) and as such the diagrams posted above will no longer be correct.
Presumably these will be operated by the 2x Nova 3 fleet subject to crew competency
Inevitable I suppose, once a second lockdown was announced. Presumably there must be some cost saving by running 6-car 185s as compared with class 68 + 5-car Nova 3? Otherwise why would TPE be giving priority to 185s? The prospect of a full TPE timetable seems very distant at the moment.
Inevitable I suppose, once a second lockdown was announced. Presumably there must be some cost saving by running 6-car 185s as compared with class 68 + 5-car Nova 3? Otherwise why would TPE be giving priority to 185s? The prospect of a full TPE timetable seems very distant at the moment.
Passenger numbers are nowhere near the expected levels which is the reason for the shuttle, unfortunately it’s as simple as that. The Scarborough route was one of the busiest during the original lockdown but we won’t see the same numbers of passengers flocking to the seaside mid-January
The current train service between Liverpool/Manchester and Leeds/York is sufficient for the time being
It does seem very short sighted of TPE to only run one diagram each way across the Pennines. Traincrew traction knowledge may well lapse. The status quo will have probably been more suitable.
It does seem very short sighted of TPE to only run one diagram each way across the Pennines. Traincrew traction knowledge may well lapse. The status quo will have probably been more suitable.
Cancelled at Carnforth after a reported problem with the loco. The train was formed of 68022 and set 5. 68022 being swapped out (with 68025) as a precaution.
Thanks mate - won't be long until that forum is 206 pages* long in itself. Everybody I've spoken to or known in the railways has something to say about these like no other new train.
*this forum might be a few more or a few fewer pages depending on your software
On 24.12.2020 set TP05 made its debut on TPE passenger workings, with its first train being 1F48 05:54 Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street with 68030 ‘Black Douglas’ in charge.
That now leaves just TP02 and TP03 to be accepted, along with the spare Driving Trailer.
Updated list of introductions into passenger service given below:
TP09 68027 24.08.2019
1F48 05:55 Manchester Victoria-Liverpool
TP11 68026 28.08.2019
1F62 12:56 Manchester Victoria-Liverpool
On 24.12.2020 set TP05 made its debut on TPE passenger workings, with its first train being 1F48 05:54 Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street with 68030 ‘Black Douglas’ in charge.
That now leaves just TP02 and TP03 to be accepted, along with the spare Driving Trailer.
Updated list of introductions into passenger service given below:
TP09 68027 24.08.2019
1F48 05:55 Manchester Victoria-Liverpool
TP11 68026 28.08.2019
1F62 12:56 Manchester Victoria-Liverpool
Didn’t it do pretty much every reversal possible? i.e. reverse at Salford, travel via Rochdale, reverse at Huddersfield, reverse at Leeds then travel via Casvegas?
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