Trivia: Trains with unusual stopping patterns

[BestWestern]

Some of the FGW stoppers through Bristol are a little odd; various instances of trains to or from Avonmouth and Severn Beach which stop everywhere except Lawrence Hill or Stapleton Road (unsure which now, could still be either, but none miss both!), and there are some Weston Super Mare stoppers which call everywhere except Parson Street, which is very bizarre when they do call at Bedminster. There are some odd ones on the Portsmouth - Cardiff runs also, with some calling Dilton Marsh (by request) but not the equally quaint Avoncliff or Freshford, and vice versa. 1F06, the first run over from Pompey in the mornings, calls Dilton and Freshford but not Avoncliff.

 

[ValleyLines142]

There are some odd ones on the Portsmouth - Cardiff runs also, with some calling Dilton Marsh (by request) but not the equally quaint Avoncliff or Freshford, and vice versa. 1F06, the first run over from Pompey in the mornings, calls Dilton and Freshford but not Avoncliff.

1F06 probably calls at Dilton Marsh and Freshford because it gets into Bristol for 0841, which is perfect for commuters.

The same can be said for 1F03, the 0628 from Cardiff to Portsmouth, which calls at Patchway also. It's usually just the Taunton locals that call at Patchway. The last train from Temple Meads to Cardiff (2254 off BRI) calls at Patchway too.

I actually wonder how many people use Patchway station. With just a basic hourly service and the 75 bus running every ten minutes straight in Bristol and Cribbs Causeway, I'm surprised it hasn't been made a request stop. Of course, it is an excellent alternative to when things go tits up at Parkway with signalling problems and weather conditions (as I experienced in November, when I got stranded at Patchway!!)

One I do find very bizarre is the 0700 Cardiff to Manchester. It calls at every station between Cardiff and Bristol except for Pilning. Again, it's relatively good for commuters, arriving into Bristol at 0751, but considering it's supposed to be a long-distance express service to Manchester, it's highly annoying when it calls at little piddly stations. I believe, though, that it follows exactly the same timings and paths as that of the Taunton stoppers that follow hourly for the rest of the day.

The 2140 Cardiff to Bristol (which is the return of the evening Cardiff Voyager), only calls at Newport in between! However, in fairness, a 2130 service operated by FGW is all stations.

Still bizarre, nonetheless.

 

[BestWestern]

1F06 probably calls at Dilton Marsh and Freshford because it gets into Bristol for 0841, which is perfect for commuters.

The same can be said for 1F03, the 0628 from Cardiff to Portsmouth, which calls at Patchway also. It's usually just the Taunton locals that call at Patchway. The last train from Temple Meads to Cardiff (2254 off BRI) calls at Patchway too.

Indeed, it is certainly ideal and a good handful do board at both Dilton and Freshford. What I find strange though is that it rattles straight through Avoncliff, when usually it and Freshford come as a pair! The stopping patterns of the early Portsmouth - Cardiff runs has been messed with a fair bit over the years. Either F06 or F08 also used to call at a few of the local shacks between Pompey and Southampton (Portchester, Swanwick, Woolston and St Denys I think, possibly Netley too?!), but ceased to do so a few years back. It used to load well there too, so slightly strange that it stopped happening. Then you have 1F99, the 19.30 CDF - PMH which does the 'ghost' call at Eastleigh, pulling in for route knowledge purposes but unadvertised to allow it to be sent normal route if needed.

 

[Eagle]

Either F06 or F08 also used to call at a few of the local shacks between Pompey and Southampton (Portchester, Swanwick, Woolston and St Denys I think, possibly Netley too?!), but ceased to do so a few years back. It used to load well there too, so slightly strange that it stopped happening.

Southern now pick up those calls, on 1N55 and 1N57.

 

[causton]

likely to be the only case where a Parliamentary omits rather than runs via a station!

The London Overground PIXC-buster omits Gospel Oak (although that's not a parliamentary on second thoughts, is it, damn...)

...with the new London Overground SLL and WLL services, the Kensington Olympia - Wandsworth Road train technically avoided Clapham Junction and a change?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The London Overground PIXC-buster omits Gospel Oak (although that's not a parliamentary on second thoughts, is it, damn...)

I've not heard of that one. What time is it? I'm assuming that "avoids Gospel Oak" means it runs on the freight roads just behind where the 172s usually terminate? I need that curve...

 

[TheJRB]

I've not heard of that one. What time is it? I'm assuming that "avoids Gospel Oak" means it runs on the freight roads just behind where the 172s usually terminate? I need that curve...

That would be the 07:59 Woodgrange Park to Willesden Junction (it only used to run as far as Hampstead Heath until the December timetable change I believe).

 

[Eagle]

That would be the 07:59 Woodgrange Park to Willesden Junction (it only used to run as far as Hampstead Heath until the December timetable change I believe).

That will also use the curve between the NLL and the DC lines (it terminates in the DC bay platform).

 

[Starmill]

Infuriatingly, this doesn't call at Manchester Oxford Road: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y01776/2013/07/06/advanced

It count? It seems the station closes after the 23:33 actually...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Hmmm..... interesting...... I'd have to start very early ( I'm in Epsom ) and use a peak Travelcard, though, but it's certainly an attractive looking working...

 

[RolandR]

The last daily Kings Cross to Leeds @ 2330 stops at Doncaster then diverts via Pontefract to Leeds. It must be the only EC train between Leeds and KGX that does not call at Wakefield Westgate.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y50095/2013/06/28/advanced

 

[causton]

Hmmm..... interesting...... I'd have to start very early ( I'm in Epsom ) and use a peak Travelcard, though, but it's certainly an attractive looking working...

Indeed it is, even more so now it uses the bay at Willesden Junction! If you time a trip off the Fort Bill sleeper correctly you can make it from Blackhorse Road tube if you're quick, as I found out!

 

[Welshman]

The last daily Kings Cross to Leeds @ 2330 stops at Doncaster then diverts via Pontefract to Leeds. It must be the only EC train between Leeds and KGX that does not call at Wakefield Westgate.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y50095/2013/06/28/advanced

Except the 0655 ex Skipton, 0735 ex Leeds on Saturdays, which goes via Hambleton.

 

[mb]

Yet is this any more bizarre than Virgin not serving MKC during the peaks?

I think this is some competition agreement with London Midland, from what I remember having had a conversation with a Virgin driver a few years back.

 

[Eagle]

I think this is some competition agreement with London Midland, from what I remember having had a conversation with a Virgin driver a few years back.

I thought it was just to reduce overcrowding by removing MK passengers.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Indeed it is, even more so now it uses the bay at Willesden Junction! If you time a trip off the Fort Bill sleeper correctly you can make it from Blackhorse Road tube if you're quick, as I found out!

I'm not going all the way up to Fort Bill to get two curves in London!

Methinks the 05.34 from Epsom on a one day peak travelcard will suffice...

 

[ushawk]

I thought it was just to reduce overcrowding by removing MK passengers.

It is, they pick up/set down only at MKC in the peaks.

 

[tractakid]

It is, they pick up/set down only at MKC in the peaks.

Grrrrrr! This basically means, due to cost and speed, it's 0714 or off peak!

What about the 0011? Why is that set down only heading towards Euston?

 

[transmanche]

What about the 0011? Why is that set down only heading towards Euston?

So that it can depart early?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Not an unusual stopping pattern, but the last XC of the day from Reading to New Street does a tour de Birmingham before arriving at New Street via Monument lane. I presume it's for route knowledge purposes.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P30151/2013/06/28/advanced

 

[TOCDriver]

Not an unusual stopping pattern, but the last XC of the day from Reading to New Street does a tour de Birmingham before arriving at New Street via Monument lane. I presume it's for route knowledge purposes.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P30151/2013/06/28/advanced

Wouldn't surprise me. A couple of late trains that operate in my areas are from TOC's that don't usually run a service around there but use them as a diversion from time-to-time.

 

[Eagle]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P30151/2013/06/28/advanced

You'll also notice that that train takes the west curve at Didcot. Which requires the driver to stop and change ends at Foxhall. It's a 7½-minute stop according to the WTT, and it sometimes causes the displays to do this:

 

[A-driver]

So that it can depart early?

Set down only on late trains is usually so that they don't need to worry about busses/taxis if they cancel it for engineering works. They only have to worry about getting those home who board at the first stop and so if no one wants 6 of the stations they won't run busses to them to speed things up and save money.

 

[David Goddard]

You'll also notice that that train takes the west curve at Didcot. Which requires the driver to stop and change ends at Foxhall. It's a 7½-minute stop according to the WTT, and it sometimes causes the displays to do this:

Really want to do this service, sadly runs in the wrong direction as I live in Reading so would have to overnight in Birmingham!

 

[transmanche]

So that it can depart early?

Set down only on late trains is usually so that they don't need to worry about busses/taxis if they cancel it for engineering works. They only have to worry about getting those home who board at the first stop and so if no one wants 6 of the stations they won't run busses to them to speed things up and save money.

True, but it also means trains can depart early when the schedules are padded to allow for diversions/engineering work. For example; the 01:43 EC arrival at Durham is set-down only, but the train will typically arrive and depart before then because of the engineering allowance built-in to the schedule.

 

[A-driver]

True, but it also means trains can depart early when the schedules are padded to allow for diversions/engineering work. For example; the 01:43 EC arrival at Durham is set-down only, but the train will typically arrive and depart before then because of the engineering allowance built-in to the schedule.

That depends on the timetable though. A lot of our late trains out of kings cross are set down only at certain stops but 'proper' stops at certain stations like Stevenage, Huntingdon, Royston, letchworh or Cambridge so you can leave other stations a few mins early but there is little benefit as you will still get held at some places and won't get home any earlier!

 

[transmanche]

That depends on the timetable though.

Indeed. In the example I gave, the train is set-down only at every station after York.

 

[Eagle]

Really want to do this service, sadly runs in the wrong direction as I live in Reading so would have to overnight in Birmingham!

If you just want to do the Foxhall–Didcot North curve then you could just get a return to Oxford, of course. Plenty of time for that in the evening.

 

[cmjcf]

This MAN-CMN does most of the usual journey on that route, additionally makes the shacks between Cardiff and Bridgend, then skips Pyle and heads off on the District by-passing Neath and Swansea. Interestingly, this creates a gap of an hour in the CDF-SWA service that is otherwise 2-3tph all the way through to midnight.

 

[Darren R]

You'll also notice that that train takes the west curve at Didcot. Which requires the driver to stop and change ends at Foxhall. It's a 7½-minute stop according to the WTT, and it sometimes causes the displays to do this:

Blackpool South to Colne trains have a one-minute booked stop at Chaffer's LC to operate the crossing barriers there. Accordingly the passenger information screens display "Calling at.......Nelson, Chaffers, & Colne." Does this count as an unusual stopping pattern? Must confuse a lot of people!