Trivia: Odd peak services?

[W230]

Some bizarre calling patterns on FCC services to / from Bedford during the peak

Some which skip-stop random stations north of St. Albans with little consistency as to where they stop.
Three northbounds during the evening peak which call at most stations between St. Pancras and St. Albans (even though they are all followed by an all stations St. Albans or Luton service).

As already mentioned, FCC do plenty. Saw this service toay, which leaves Luton as normal but once south of the river turns into a random stopping pattern to Bromley South.

Then there is the return working to Bedford which also misses out a few stations while in SET land and a few more north of Luton.

 

[30907]

No, I mean peak which is why I said peak.

According to old timetables I had there was peak only services from Charing Cross to Dover/Ramsgate/Margate via the Maidstone East Line, some with route code 88.

Apologies then, should have realised what thread I was in anyway.

Headcode 88 is intriguing as its a "diesel" one and originally (hastily cribbed from www.semgonline.com) read CX-New Romney via Maidstone East, which can only have been a Saturday working!). By 1981 this had become a Greenwich line code (Dover via Chatham).

I'd be intrigued to know more if you have any info, cos it certainly escaped my notice)

 

[ert47]

There is a service from Streatham Hill to London Bridge via Tulse Hill departing at 1601.

Not sure if there are any other passenger services that go directly from Streatham Hill to Tulse Hill, can only find one example of it on National Rail Enquiries.

 

[tsr]

There is a service from Streatham Hill to London Bridge via Tulse Hill departing at 1601.

Not sure if there are any other passenger services that go directly from Streatham Hill to Tulse Hill, can only find one example of it on National Rail Enquiries.

It is used to keep up passenger service on Leigham Curve (also used for ECS - plus occasional diversions, ISTR), and is indeed a once-a-day one-way-only semi-Parliamentary what-on-earth-is-that-doing service. When I first used it, the driver did not have route knowledge over said curve, so the train ran fast from Streatham Hill to London Bridge via Sydenham... very helpful for the one or two schoolchildren who regularly use it to get to the Bermondsey area...

 

[Eagle]

I also believe it's the only train that passes through but does not call at Bath Spa?

Apart from when the sleeper does, of course.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Apart from when the sleeper does, of course.

Or diverted Voyagers...diverted B&H services (or at least some)...am I getting too technical now?

 

[Class377/5]

Hi

I've noticed a lot of peak services around London that are quite odd and varied to normal peak/off peak services.

For example:

- Bedford-Beckenham Junction Thameslink
- London Bridge-Wimbledon
- London Victoria-Horsham fast services

Just out of interest, can you recall any 'odd' peak time services around London?

Thanks,
Jim.

The London Bridge to Wimbledon services then become Wimbledon to London Bridge via Sutton services making another odd service.

Also a fast Brighton to Luton service that is none stop from St Pancreas to Luton Parkway. There's a Kentish Town to Orpington service too along with the SET run but 377/5 Rochester to Victoria and Victoria to Ashford services tho latter isn't peak.

Not to mention the Victoria to Guildford and return Southern services.

 

[Buttsy]

There is a morning service from Didcot that stops at all stations to Tilehurst and then Maidenhead, missing out Reading. I think this is the only service that skips Reading

 

[Bald Rick]

The London Bridge to Wimbledon services then become Wimbledon to London Bridge via Sutton services making another odd service.

Also a fast Brighton to Luton service that is none stop from St Pancreas to Luton Parkway. There's a Kentish Town to Orpington service too along with the SET run but 377/5 Rochester to Victoria and Victoria to Ashford services tho latter isn't peak.

Not to mention the Victoria to Guildford and return Southern services.

And the Bedford - Kent House in the morning peak, which runs fast Blackfriars to Kent House.

Intriguingly there are always a couple of people on it from Blackfriars, although I do wonder if they are perhaps asleep.

 

[Eagle]

There is a morning service from Didcot that stops at all stations to Tilehurst and then Maidenhead, missing out Reading. I think this is the only service that skips Reading

This one? I believe that it skips Reading because it's already overcrowded (despite being a HST) and the huge numbers who would attempt to board it at Reading would make it worse.

It's not the only train to skip Reading though; the 0558 Swansea to London does as well (again possibly for the same reason as it reaches Reading right at the height of the peak).

 

[Class377/5]

And the Bedford - Kent House in the morning peak, which runs fast Blackfriars to Kent House.

Intriguingly there are always a couple of people on it from Blackfriars, although I do wonder if they are perhaps asleep.

Just shows you the valve of converting ECS moves in London really.

 

[class303]

A couple that spring to mind:

2J96 07:59 Woodgrange Park to Willesden Junction LL. I think all other services run Barking-Gospel Oak.

that's a cracker!

 

[sammyg901]

Southern's 07:51 London Bridge - Brighton & Tonbridge is a bit of a random one! Quite fast to begin with, divides at Redhill and then on as a peak stopping service into Brighton

Handy for me tomorrow though - £5.90 for a single to Gatwick with a 16-25 - usually the Southern only ticket requires using the stopper or changing at East Croydon

 

[Eagle]

Speaking of Southern, there's a rare example of a three-way split on the 17.32 London Bridge to Horsham and Tonbridge and Reigate. I'd be interested to see how the departure boards and automated announcements cope with that.

 

[mister-sparky]

I was on that service last week. It was chaos on the platform at Redhill, there was only one announcement a few minutes before the train arrived and nothing when it was at the platform. you had to get on the train and listen to the on-board announcement to tell if you were on the right bit or not! the screens on the platform weren't much user either.

 

[CMS]

On the GEML, the Shenfield Metro is effectively split into two at peak hours, with alternate trains calling at all stations to Gidea Park and others calling at Stratford, Ilford and then stations to Shenfield. This means that some Southend Victoria trains are also prone to stop at Ilford, Romford or stations between Gidea Park and Shenfield.

 

[Drsatan]

A couple of unusual peak services run by SWT are the 1638 Winchester to Totton and the 1724 all stations service from Basingstoke to Southampton Central. Both are worked by 158s or 159s.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I am reminded that the 07.21 Horsham - Victoria via Epsom is booked to join the up fast rather than the up slow at Streatham Junctions; I think this may be a Parliamentary and also crew knowledge working for the connecting curve here.

 

[tsr]

I am reminded that the 07.21 Horsham - Victoria via Epsom is booked to join the up fast rather than the up slow at Streatham Junctions; I think this may be a Parliamentary and also crew knowledge working for the connecting curve here.

Technically, it's not a "true Parliamentary", as it's run once per day rather than once per week, but it almost counts!

 

[34D]

I am reminded that the 07.21 Horsham - Victoria via Epsom is booked to join the up fast rather than the up slow at Streatham Junctions; I think this may be a Parliamentary and also crew knowledge working for the connecting curve here.

And indeed, it is listed On PSUL thus http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/2013.htm