WCML today

[A0]

There were some fun & games on the WCML today...

Stuff coming out of London was delayed because of a bridge strike near Harrow - the Pendo which runs London - Manchester via N'hampton was 20 mins late into Northampton because of it.

Then we were held south of Rugby due to a points failure and then delayed and very slow most of the way to Atherstone due to signalling probs.

In all it was almost an hour late into Tamworth.

At MK this evening there was also an unscheduled stop for the Virgin Pendolino at about 19.50 - the service was the 17.23 (I think) from Preston - any ideas why ?

Last one - anybody know what the plans are for the old bay platforms at Rugby ? Notice all the tracks been removed and the diggers are in there.

 

[westcoaster]

one of th fast glasgow's was 2and a half hours late into euston

 

[D306]

and there were two special workings that came through the MK area that I missed

 

[A0]

and there were two special workings that came through the MK area that I missed

Yeah - also between 7.45 and 8 a Cl90 went through with a rake of coaches and DVT - didn't stop though and don't know where that had come from

 

[djw1981]

The job was stopped near Carstairs because of a collision - nice damage to froint on Pendo bodypanel upon termination into GLC.

 

[87015]

and there were two special workings that came through the MK area that I missed

Sod the special workings, 56303 was put on the up fast running an hour down and making a superb noise!!

Just another day on the WCML, another complete shambles....

 

[yorkie]

Last one - anybody know what the plans are for the old bay platforms at Rugby ? Notice all the tracks been removed and the diggers are in there.

the fast lines will occupy the centre of Rugby so it will be a more conventional layout (like places like Doncaster, Crewe, etc) for 125mph running.

 

[class 313]

Yeah - also between 7.45 and 8 a Cl90 went through with a rake of coaches and DVT - didn't stop though and don't know where that had come from

It's a booked set covering for the pendo that had derailed last year. Works 1G21 to Birmingham and back, and other workings sometimes.

1G21 doesn't stop at MK anyway.

 

[paul1609]

I given up on the WCML everytime I try to use it its a bloody shambles. The only TOC I'll touch is First Scot Rail with the sleepers. If I go to Birmingham I go by Chiltern, Manchester by Flybe, Glasgow by GNER/FSR/ Easyjet.

 

[Mintona]

Fatality at Leyland yesterday afternoon. Not getting much luck are they?

 

[me123]

...Manchester by Flybe, Glasgow by...Easyjet.

Evildoer!

Seriously, though, when all the work is complete the line should be completely clear for Virgin to start running their competative High Frequency timetable. IMO, the new TT could mean some serious competition for London-Glasgow flights and if Virgin pull it off with a reliable service, then they will certainly have done well. Considering what obstacles they've been given over the past few years, it can only get better... can't it?

 

[87015]

Evildoer!

Seriously, though, when all the work is complete the line should be completely clear for Virgin to start running their competative High Frequency timetable. IMO, the new TT could mean some serious competition for London-Glasgow flights and if Virgin pull it off with a reliable service, then they will certainly have done well. Considering what obstacles they've been given over the past few years, it can only get better... can't it?

VHF.... Very High Farce ! How exactly is reducing turnarounds to 15-30 mins at Euston likely to mean a reliable timetable? The slightest hickup (you know, the things that go wrong day in day out) leading to a 30-60 minute farce is going to cause far more problems than it currently does now with most of the termini recovery time taken out...

An hour on a 737 is much more bearable than four on a Pendo.

 

[westcoaster]

VHF.... Very High Farce ! How exactly is reducing turnarounds to 15-30 mins at Euston likely to mean a reliable timetable? The slightest hickup (you know, the things that go wrong day in day out) leading to a 30-60 minute farce is going to cause far more problems than it currently does now with most of the termini recovery time taken out...

An hour on a 737 is much more bearable than four on a Pendo.

but point to point the train is going to be faster

london-glasgow by train say 4 hours on a faster one

london- glasgow by plane,
train to airport say luton 35 mins
transfer to airport 15 mins
checkin/boarding 2 hours
flight 1 hour
bagage collection 20-40 mins
getting to glasgow city say an hour (never been so dont know


train 4 hours

plane about 5 and a half hours

in this example the train comes out on top

 

[me123]

Glasgow City Centre is about 30 minutes at the very most, although the bus services are expensive. When the rail link come into play, it will seriously reduce that. For cheap fares as well, some would go to Prestwick which is a good hour away from Glasgow.

TBH I'd travel on a train any day over the farce that is airport security. I know it's a necessary evil nowadays but I'll avoid it whenever I can.

 

[Metroland]

Even with all the work going on the WCML Virgin's timekeeping is better than Easyjets and very much better than BA. Time wise, overall, not that much different and environmentally Uncle Roger in Modern railways reckons after they measured the power draw on the pantograph, it's about 35g Co2 per pass km (16g per seat km), easy jet is 95.7g per pass km, although with radiative forcing, pollution at height makes it 2.7 worse on average. The train is probably cheaper booked in advanced especially with all the other costs baggage and airport transfer entail.

BTW, both Easyjet and Ryanair are poised to make substantial losses this next year, so it's highly likely a lot of these short haul routes will disappear anyway.

Not saying the railways are perfect, especially the WCML recently, but on closer inspection to cite the performance of other modes as better is pure bull****. Personally I don't care what mode people use, but if you are going to make an argument against something, check your facts, carefully.

And we really don't want to know on a rail forum quite honestly, please have a few manners else I shall be crossing to airliners.net and rubbing it in how 24 airlines have gone bust in the last few months (and how many more shortly) how crap the timekeeping, customer service (don't mention bags) and environmental performance is, not to mention the stealth fares, dubious advertising, underhand tactics, price fixing, poor treatment of staff and all the other things you find out about when you look into it.

 

[westcoaster]

pretty sure that luton edi/gla wont be cut as these were the original easyjet roues and they were always 95% full.

 

[Metroland]

No? Domestic flight numbers are falling and have been the last 2 years a lot of which is in the face of rail competition according in the CAA. And damn right, considering the energy and environmental problems we face. It's a complete and total waste of resources and they should be shut down.

 

[paul1609]

As a user of both modes I doubt that the main stream London to Lowlands flights will be threatened anytime soon. I agree some marginal routes will go soon (I think Flybe Exeter to Inverness is due to be axed anytime now).
The next really interesting date to my mind will be next Spring when (failing a drastic fall in the price of oil) NXEC and Virgin WC will face a 30% hike in their electricity bill. Will the government bail them out or will they let both franchises either cut services or go to the wall?

 

[Metroland]

Fuel costs make up around 5% of running costs, and as both the above TOCs are seeing growth (rising cost in other modes), this should offset any increased costs, unlike airlines where fuel is 40-50% with falling numbers. Airlines will look to pull any unprofitable routes, and we'll see a lot of downsizing and a couple of large bankruptcies over the next year or so as I have been warning for sometime.

http://www.moneyweek.com/file/49525/national-express-sees-significant-earnings-growth.html