Trivia: Services with Unusual Calling Patterns

[Purple Train]

There are a couple of morning peak Elizabeth Line services on weekdays from Reading that skip the usual calls at Taplow, Langley, Hayes and Harlington, and Southall, but call at Acton Main Line which is normally only served by Heathrow trains. I believe this is simply because Acton Main Line couldn't cope with just 4tph in the mornings. Interestingly in the evening peak, the fast Reading services don't call at Acton, and are, as usual, non-stop from Paddington to Ealing Broadway.

 

[Strathclyder]

An old favourite of mine on the West Highland Line iternary: 1Y20 (0521 Oban - Glasgow Queen St) which runs on Mon-Sat mornings and is usually worked either by a solo 156 (as it was today) or a 156 with a 153 bike van (as it was yesterday, 8th May).

Normal calling pattern as far as Helensburgh Upper, then it changes things up by then calling at Cardross, then Dumbarton Central as with all other WHL services, then non-stop through Dalmuir (at least two 7-car WHL services also do this most if not all of Mon-Sat, one in each direction, due to short platforms) to then call at Singer, then non-stop again to call at Maryhill, the final stop before Queen St being Possilpark & Parkhouse.

This service is a long-standing oddity and a remnant of when SPT had a direct say in the day-to-day running of the Strathclyde heavy rail commuter network. Up until the December 2014 timetable change, started at Arrochar & Tarbet, but initally was started back from Garelochhead when first introduced in the mid/late 90s (after the Maryhill line reopening in 1993). Then as now, it provides the stations on the line within the SPT boundry with a morning commuter service into Glasgow, which explains the odd stopping pattern beyond Helensburgh.

 

[Trainspecial]

Unusual service patterns on the Barnstaple branch with first and last trains…
Monday - Friday 05:22 2B70 Exeter St Davids > Crediton > Eggesford > Umberleigh > Barnstaple
Saturday Only: 00:09 2E97 Barnstaple > Eggesford > Crediton > Exeter St Davids
Sunday Only: 08:34 2B72 Exeter St Davids > Crediton > Eggesford > Barnstaple

 

[mmh]

Some years back, there were other unusual patters such as peak hour Hastings trains that were first stop (after Waterloo East or London Bridge) High Brooms and the peak Tunbridge Wells services were fast London Bridge to Chelsfield, then Sevenoaks and all stations. Many years ago, there were Bexleyheath Line trains fast London Bridge-Kidbrooke. There were one or two morning trains that entered passenger service at Dumpton Park but I think they now run empty to Broadstairs.

I don't know if they still exist but about 20 years ago there were peak hour services from Cannon Street that didn't stop at London Bridge. I only discovered that they did on I think the only time I ever got a train from Cannon Street wanting to change. I was stood in a corridor and as it approached London Bridge went into a compartment to get off, started opening the door when it entered the platform (slam door days) and was pulled back by someone - "it doesn't stop here!".

Oh dear, what's the first stop? Rochester. I was only going to East Croydon. Got off, there was a train back to London just pulling in and that would be the time there were ticket checkers on the bridge. Breathlessly said something along the lines of "sorry mate wrong train gotta get back to London" as I ran past them, waved through, only just caught it.

Got to East Croydon eventually. No penalty fare, no annoyance other than to myself for feeling really stupid that I'd assumed everything from Cannon Street stopped at London Bridge. A different world perhaps.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Some years back, there were other unusual patters such as peak hour Hastings trains that were first stop (after Waterloo East or London Bridge) High Brooms and the peak Tunbridge Wells services were fast London Bridge to Chelsfield, then Sevenoaks and all stations. Many years ago, there were Bexleyheath Line trains fast London Bridge-Kidbrooke. There were one or two morning trains that entered passenger service at Dumpton Park but I think they now run empty to Broadstairs.

I’m pretty sure those Hastings trains still run. I remember seeing evening Broadstairs termininators in 2017z

 

[185143]

It’s not even a connection for Edinburgh; many years ago it was, you were dumped onto a windswept station, you got to watch a GNER Glasgow-King’s Cross go through without stopping but then there was a Pendolino which came empty from Polmadie. The Pendolino then ran the only Edinburgh to Euston service of the day. I did both once, on different days.
EDIT It might just be a +5’ into 2Y94 stopping train to Edinburgh.

It very much is a connection for Edinburgh and in my experience a significant amount of pax do indeed alight and take it.

Suspect it's a Transport Scotland requirement to give Lockerbie (and indeed Carlisle-Manchester) pre 09:00 arrivals into both Edinburgh and Glasgow?

There used to be a Southbound TPE call in the evening peak on the 16:29 Glasgow-Liverpool. That was often my train of choice. It was back when the Liverpool-Glasgow was first introduced pre 2020, was formed of a 185 and called at Carstairs, Carlisle, maybe Lancaster?, Preston and Liverpool. Was always empty whenever I used it, used to love it! Had 10 minutes or so dwell at Carstairs too to let the 16:40 Virgin service overtake.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 May 2026 ==

Not strictly on topic but sort of…. when Avanti was severely disrupted on 23/4 the last two Euston - Preston dropped their Warrington Bank Quay and Wigan North Western stops as the services were running late and the stations were closed by the time the services were due to call.

Assume Warrington closes around midnight as the last train booked to call is at 2350 - a randomly routed Birmingham International to Manchester Piccadilly TfW service routed via Shrewsbury, Wrexham and Chester (itself an oddity) with Wigan’s last service booked for 2335.

With Avanti running around 75 late on the 23rd those services passed through without stopping (much like two services on the Manchester - Chester route passing through Warrington at 0014 and 0055 I mentioned above) and everyone for Wigan and Warrington had to get off and be put in taxis at Crewe.

This obviously makes Warrington and Wigan travellers on those last two services at risk of yet further delay (taxi from crewe) for the sake of operational convenience as there is a fairly decent chance of a 40 minute plus delay in the event of any significant disruption. This could find those stations closed and the stops removed (last of those two is due in Warrington at 2320, and as above both services on the 23rd were over an hour late).

Wonder how many times it has happened? Certainly doesn’t seem resilient. No doubt an extra 30-60 minutes breaches some agreement or other to keep those stations open if needed.

It happens a lot!

Yet to be caught up in it myself, but it's only a matter of time. You obviously can't force the staff to stay and work forced overtime, and if the only exit is via buildings that need to be locked, there's no real alternative.

 

[PaulJ]

I’m pretty sure those Hastings trains still run. I remember seeing evening Broadstairs termininators in 2017z

There’s a St Pancras bound morning service that commences from Sandwich. An Ashford driver brings it empty via Canterbury West and Minster West junction. A Ramsgate based on board manager gets to Sandwich in a taxi.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 May 2026 ==

The 1712 London Victoria to Gillingham stopping service has additional stops in Crofton Park and Bellingham - usually only served by Thameslink. I have been anecdotally told this enables a couple of SouthEastern executives to get home more readily!

 

[AndrewE]

Yet to be caught up in it myself, but it's only a matter of time. You obviously can't force the staff to stay and work forced overtime, and if the only exit is via buildings that need to be locked, there's no real alternative.

but if you treat staff right and make sure they are remunerated - and thanked as well - you might find that stations stay open until the last planned train has called...

 

[185143]

but if you treat staff right and make sure they are remunerated - and thanked as well - you might find that stations stay open until the last planned train has called...

Well, quite.

I suspect the Industrial Relations issues of recent years have blown any possibility of that for quite some time!

I've no idea of the shifts at Avanti stations, but I do know of dispatchers elsewhere who routinely work 12 hour shifts. So they wouldn't be able to stay on any longer.

 

[rmHawk765]

0106 King's Cross to Royston via Hertford North. Calls at Finsbury Park, Alexandra Palace, Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, Enfield Chase, Gordon Hill, Cuffley, Hertford North (following a typical pre-COVID pattern so far), Stevenage, then all stops to Royston.

It forms from the Cambridge stopper arr KGX 0037 (which also runs via Hertford interestingly), so typically is formed of a 700/0.

Runs on Tuesdays only.

 

[AndrewE]

I've no idea of the shifts at Avanti stations, but I do know of dispatchers elsewhere who routinely work 12 hour shifts. So they wouldn't be able to stay on any longer.

Ah yes, dispatchers... Used to be done by the guard of the train.

And any infrastructure organisation subject to disruption (like the railway) ought to be wiser than to book people onto alternating 12-hour shifts with the same mandatory rest periods in between.

 

[nineteenninety]

The last (or first) Northern service from Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly, 2A49 0044 runs to Piccadilly calling only at the airport.
Sometimes, due to engineering works, it will be routed straight to Piccadilly via Stockport, making it the fastest Crewe - Piccadilly service at 32 minutes, faster than the Avanti.

 

[Class707SE]

Once upon a time there was also a summer special between Cannon Street to Ramsgate via Greenwich, Gravesend and Margate. It stopped at most stations en route except London Bridge. Worse, the inbound return journey DID call at London Bridge. All on a 465.

The summer special still runs. It varies a bit every year but is still a 465 and has a slightly funky stopping pattern.

Realtime Trains | 1E91 0818 London Cannon Street to Ramsgate | 30/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 1E91 0818 departure from London Cannon Street to Ramsgate on 30/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Sad Sprinter]

There’s a St Pancras bound morning service that commences from Sandwich. An Ashford driver brings it empty via Canterbury West and Minster West junction. A Ramsgate based on board manager gets to Sandwich in a taxi.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 May 2026 ==

The 1712 London Victoria to Gillingham stopping service has additional stops in Crofton Park and Bellingham - usually only served by Thameslink. I have been anecdotally told this enables a couple of SouthEastern executives to get home more readily!

I know all about the 17:12. I was living in Crofton Park until recently. Wonderful service. Weirdly there were more morning up trains than down evening trains calling there

 

[rmHawk765]

Weirdly there were more morning up trains than down evening trains calling there

Similar situation for Crews Hill to Hertford North, where there is only 4tph in the evening peak compared to 6tph-ish in the morning peak.

 

[Royston Vasey]

The last (or first) Northern service from Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly, 2A49 0044 runs to Piccadilly calling only at the airport.
Sometimes, due to engineering works, it will be routed straight to Piccadilly via Stockport, making it the fastest Crewe - Piccadilly service at 32 minutes, faster than the Avanti.

That reminds me of the rather fun M-F 1R98 2109 Birmingham International to Manchester Piccadilly arrives 0023, the only service they run all the way to Manchester from Birmingham. It is operated by 2x158 and forms from the penultimate Aberystwyth (and Pwllheli) arrival.

It serves the usual stations as far as Shrewsbury, then goes all stations to Wrexham, then Chester, and then Helsby, Frodsham, Runcorn East, Warrington BQ, Earlestown, Newton-le-Willows, skips Oxford Road and terminates in P14 at Piccadilly.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L64689/2026-05-08

The units immediately form a Manchester to Chester service, where they rest overnight before doing an early Crewe service at 0556 (unusual in itself for 158s) and then the 0658 to Holyhead.

 

[TransportHub]

There’s a St Pancras bound morning service that commences from Sandwich. An Ashford driver brings it empty via Canterbury West and Minster West junction. A Ramsgate based on board manager gets to Sandwich in a taxi.

Taxi to Sandwich! That feels proper dodgy, surely there's no place of safety there? I'm very surprised their T&C's permit that

 

[LRV3004]

Correct, however one minor point - the First North Western services from Manchester Airport to London used 322s. After departure from Manchester Airport, they called at Alderley Edge, Sandbach, Tamworth, Watford Junction and London Euston.

The Central Trains were barred from calling at Wilmslow, I think, possibly as well as the Northern 321 services to London from Manchester Airport.

 

[aliceh]

The 1639 Winchester to Bournemouth definitely fits the bill. Unlike the earlier Winchester to Southampton (ignore the quick diversion via Portsmouth) and Southampton to Bournemouth, this one calls additionally at Swaythling, St Denys and Redbridge (the first and last of those being the realm of the Romsey Rounder service all other times). There's an 0730 Southampton to Bournemouth which also calls at Redbridge - giving you the ability to travel between Redbridge and Totton twice a day, but only ever in that direction.

 

[jfollows]

Correct, however one minor point - the First North Western services from Manchester Airport to London used 322s. After departure from Manchester Airport, they called at Alderley Edge, Sandbach, Tamworth, Watford Junction and London Euston.

Thanks.
I used the Airport-Euston once, when I still lived in Manchester.
Tamworth was perfect for the smokers, there was a long wait there I remember. In the down direction presumably waiting for a path on the two track section to Lichfield.

 

[LRV3004]

Thanks.
I used the Airport-Euston once, when I still lived in Manchester.
Tamworth was perfect for the smokers, there was a long wait there I remember. In the down direction presumably waiting for a path on the two track section to Lichfield.

One of my regrets was not doing that service to London; being only 16 at the time, my view was there was better traction (87s and 90s) to do to London for a day out on a Travelcard! Wish I’d experienced the cheap fares more often and the novelty of having a 322 through the centre roads at Crewe!!! I did do the 322s though whenever I was around Manchester on a Wayfarer; I’d usually do the 1419 off the Airport to Alderley Edge or Sandbach and then wait for the one coming the other way back to the Airport!

 

[nw1]

The 1639 Winchester to Bournemouth definitely fits the bill. Unlike the earlier Winchester to Southampton (ignore the quick diversion via Portsmouth) and Southampton to Bournemouth, this one calls additionally at Swaythling, St Denys and Redbridge (the first and last of those being the realm of the Romsey Rounder service all other times). There's an 0730 Southampton to Bournemouth which also calls at Redbridge - giving you the ability to travel between Redbridge and Totton twice a day, but only ever in that direction.

I presume there's no scope for these services to call at Swaythling and St Denys all day? As they are local services, one might as well stop them at all stations if possible.

 

[Robert Carroll]

I don't know if they still exist but about 20 years ago there were peak hour services from Cannon Street that didn't stop at London Bridge. I only discovered that they did on I think the only time I ever got a train from Cannon Street wanting to change. I was stood in a corridor and as it approached London Bridge went into a compartment to get off, started opening the door when it entered the platform (slam door days) and was pulled back by someone - "it doesn't stop here!".

Oh dear, what's the first stop? Rochester. I was only going to East Croydon. Got off, there was a train back to London just pulling in and that would be the time there were ticket checkers on the bridge. Breathlessly said something along the lines of "sorry mate wrong train gotta get back to London" as I ran past them, waved through, only just caught it.

Got to East Croydon eventually. No penalty fare, no annoyance other than to myself for feeling really stupid that I'd assumed everything from Cannon Street stopped at London Bridge. A different world perhaps.

It used to be common for the longer distance trains from Charing Cross and in the peaks Cannon Street not to stop at London Bridge. This seemed to change to some extent after the platforms at London Bridge were lengthened to take 12 carriages, mainly for the abortive 12-car Networker plan. I recall in the mid-1980s catching a peak hour Cannon Street to Ramsgate via Chatham service to cover one of the Chislehurst curves and it was first stop Chatham. Some peak suburban services did not call at London Bridge either.

 

[aliceh]

I presume there's no scope for these services to call at Swaythling and St Denys all day? As they are local services, one might as well stop them at all stations if possible.

I think it's probably a combination of low demand (if you're going from Swaythling to the city centre, you'd just get the very frequent bus) and limited pathing on that section of line - the up service is only three minutes ahead of the Weymouth-Waterloo semi-fast when it overtakes at Eastleigh, any further delay would have a knock-on effect.

 

[Magdalia]

0106 King's Cross to Royston via Hertford North. Calls at Finsbury Park, Alexandra Palace, Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, Enfield Chase, Gordon Hill, Cuffley, Hertford North (following a typical pre-COVID pattern so far), Stevenage, then all stops to Royston.

It forms from the Cambridge stopper arr KGX 0037 (which also runs via Hertford interestingly), so typically is formed of a 700/0.

Runs on Tuesdays only.

The 0106 Kings Cross-Royston via Hertford runs on Mondays mornings only, not Tuesdays.

It is usually formed off the 2251 Sundays from Cambridge which normally runs via Welwyn but may be diverted via Hertford because of engineering work.

 

[Krystal]

- The 1618 Paddington to Carmarthen service skips Reading and Swindon. It runs fast between Paddington and Bristol Parkway.
- The 1658 Paddington to Great Malvern service is fast from Paddington to Oxford.
- The 1946 Marylebone to Banbury service calls at West Ruislip and Wembley Stadium, but not Haddenham or Bicester North. It's just fast from Princes Risborough to Banbury.

 

[rmHawk765]

The 0106 Kings Cross-Royston via Hertford runs on Mondays mornings only, not Tuesdays.

Apologies, got that mixed up.

 

[Jim]

On Southern, there is a few odd calling patterns on the Coastway East:
1U06 0552 Brighton to Ore calls all stops Eastbourne to Hastings (except Pevensey Bay obviously) but omits Collington, yet calls at Cooden Beach
1U14 0726 Brighton to Hastings calls all stops Eastbourne to Hastings (including Pevensey Bay) but omits Normans Bay.

The Coastway <> London Bridge commuters do not stop at Gatwick, but do call at Three Bridges and East Croydon.

 

[moonarrow458]

Theres a few ones on the weekends on the Bathgate line between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Now admittedly skip-stop patterns exist on weekdays during the peaks and shoulder-peaks but on Saturdays and Sundays every service calls at all stations between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street except for the following on Saturdays:

• 06:54 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh (2H04) - skips Bellgrove, Cartyne, Caldercruix, Blackridge, Armadale
• 18:23 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh (2H02) - skips Belgrove, Cartyne, Garrowhill, Easterhouse, Blairhill, Coatdyke
• 18:54 Helensburgh Central to Edinburgh (2H04) - skips Bellgrove, Cartyne, Garrowhill, Easterhouse, Blairhill

• 06:19 Bathgate - Helensburgh Central (2H39) - skips Armadale, Blackridge, Caldercruix, Carntyne, Belgrove
• 15:40 Edinburgh - Helensburgh Central (2H55) - skips Shettleston, Carntyne, Bellgrove
• 17:21 Edinburgh - Helensburgh Central (2H37) - skips Armadale, Blackridge, Caldercruix, Carntyne, Bellgrove

In all the above instances these trains distrupt the clockface 2tph/4tph at the skipped stations leaving random gaps in the timetable, with no obvious reason why. Certainly seems odd.

 

[hexagon789]

Theres a few ones on the weekends on the Bathgate line between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Now admittedly skip-stop patterns exist on weekdays during the peaks and shoulder-peaks but on Saturdays and Sundays every service calls at all stations between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street except for the following on Saturdays:

• 06:54 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh (2H04) - skips Bellgrove, Cartyne, Caldercruix, Blackridge, Armadale
• 18:23 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh (2H02) - skips Belgrove, Cartyne, Garrowhill, Easterhouse, Blairhill, Coatdyke
• 18:54 Helensburgh Central to Edinburgh (2H04) - skips Bellgrove, Cartyne, Garrowhill, Easterhouse, Blairhill

• 06:19 Bathgate - Helensburgh Central (2H39) - skips Armadale, Blackridge, Caldercruix, Carntyne, Belgrove
• 15:40 Edinburgh - Helensburgh Central (2H55) - skips Shettleston, Carntyne, Bellgrove
• 17:21 Edinburgh - Helensburgh Central (2H37) - skips Armadale, Blackridge, Caldercruix, Carntyne, Bellgrove

In all the above instances these trains distrupt the clockface 2tph/4tph at the skipped stations leaving random gaps in the timetable, with no obvious reason why. Certainly seems odd.

Possibly it made sense when there was a fuller timetable?

One thing of note is that the Milngavie to Edinburgh services only run as limited peak extras now, previously they ran all day and on Saturdays too.