Useful Cross Country diversion Thursday 6 July

[LowLevel]

Over on the other side of the country, one EMT train a week between Norwich and Nottingham avoids Ely by using the Ely West Curve, again for keeping diversionary route knowledge up to date. However because it's the same train every week, I can't help wondering if that means it is always piloted by drivers from either Nottingham or Norwich, but not both?

It's a Nottingham driver and guard. Route refresh is by means of a DVD, same as Sleaford avoider

 

[Ianno87]

Nobody seems to have mentioned (unless I've missed it, sorry) that when men were men and Bulleid pacifics were still the height of super power, this was the normal route for the precursors to XC trains along this route. They would stop at Reading West and save 20 minutes or so by taking the avoiding line to Tilehurst. They would then waste about 10 of those 20 minutes by changing locomotives at Oxford.

IIRC, this continued into the diesel era. I suppose they started reversing at Reading [General] in the early 70s?

Some Virgin XC loco-hauled services (with 47s) continued to do run-rounds at Reading into the 2000s, AFAIAW.

 

[Blindtraveler]

The evening Xc Aberdeen Edinburgh runs via Glenrothes in service and the 21:05 Glasgow Edinburgh opperates via the Edinburgh sub. No sheduled regular turns via Shotts but it does get used as I did it a few weeks ago, actually quite a pleasant ride.

 

[Shrimper]

5 XC services run via Crewe daily; 3 run direct between Stafford and Crewe, 2 route via Alsager to retain the Stoke call. One service runs via Alsager late at night but doesn't call at Crewe (2230 BHM-MAN).

 

[daikilo]

To the person who asked, yes, route knowledge is directional and may also require refreshing of alternative lines such as slows.