When will something be done about the Whitby branch ?

[yorksrob]

Well, it's certainly a step in the right direction.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Saturday 13 July: 1020 ex Middlesbrough full and standing from Middlesbrough, not even a particularly hot/sunny day. No-one left behind though at intermediate stops (at least until I got off at Lealholm). 1559 return not very busy at all, I was anticipating problems boarding!

The 'spare' train which sits in Middlesbrough Sidings was present all day on Thursday but didn't make it out of Heaton Depot on Friday or Saturday.

The short mid-day working seemed to be carrying fresh air when I saw it and the 1700 to Battersby carried 2 or 3 beyond Nunthorpe. Nice knitting at Nunthorpe.

My morning trips were always 156 and my afternoon trips a 158. The mid-day trip to Danby on Saturday was a Pacer - but I only saw it passing rather than having to ride on it over all that jointed track!

The pleasant surprise was that all of the CDR fares down the valley, including to Whitby have been REDUCED, yes really! I looked them up after the January fares increase, where they had been increased from last year and at some point they have been reduced to/below the cost of the competing bus service (X93).

I suspect there is a lot of unpaid, therefore unrecorded travel on the line, especially between intermediate stations.

 

[yorksrob]

Saturday 13 July: 1020 ex Middlesbrough full and standing from Middlesbrough, not even a particularly hot/sunny day. No-one left behind though at intermediate stops (at least until I got off at Lealholm). 1559 return not very busy at all, I was anticipating problems boarding!

The 'spare' train which sits in Middlesbrough Sidings was present all day on Thursday but didn't make it out of Heaton Depot on Friday or Saturday.

The short mid-day working seemed to be carrying fresh air when I saw it and the 1700 to Battersby carried 2 or 3 beyond Nunthorpe. Nice knitting at Nunthorpe.

My morning trips were always 156 and my afternoon trips a 158. The mid-day trip to Danby on Saturday was a Pacer - but I only saw it passing rather than having to ride on it over all that jointed track!

The pleasant surprise was that all of the CDR fares down the valley, including to Whitby have been REDUCED, yes really! I looked them up after the January fares increase, where they had been increased from last year and at some point they have been reduced to/below the cost of the competing bus service (X93).

I suspect there is a lot of unpaid, therefore unrecorded travel on the line, especially between intermediate stations.

Thanks for the update - glad to hear that everyone got on at least !

I guess there's not much that could have been done with the spare pacer absent.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Thanks for the update - glad to hear that everyone got on at least !

I guess there's not much that could have been done with the spare pacer absent.

Indeed, Realtime Trains just gives 'problems at the depot' as the reason for cancellation. I'm guessing that means 'desperate for serviceable units'!

My thought in many of these capacity discussions is why not '3-car'. I appreciate an extra carriage costs money to lease and operate but a permanent 3-car on the Whitby branch, especially in the coming months once new stock has arrived, seems an easy win if 4-car is regarded as overkill.

 

[yorksrob]

Indeed, Realtime Trains just gives 'problems at the depot' as the reason for cancellation. I'm guessing that means 'desperate for serviceable units'!

My thought in many of these capacity discussions is why not '3-car'. I appreciate an extra carriage costs money to lease and operate but a permanent 3-car on the Whitby branch, especially in the coming months once new stock has arrived, seems an easy win if 4-car is regarded as overkill.

Absolutely. Sandwich a 153 in a 156, and that should do it.

 

[Killingworth]

Absolutely. Sandwich a 153 in a 156, and that should do it.

I know the 153s are supposed to go at the end of the year, and they're not top quality, but they're such useful units for strengthening trains it seems madness to take them out of service. That goes for all the lines they currently cover, and probably quite a few they could but currently don't.

 

[yorksrob]

I know the 153s are supposed to go at the end of the year, and they're not top quality, but they're such useful units for strengthening trains it seems madness to take them out of service. That goes for all the lines they currently cover, and probably quite a few they could but currently don't.

Indeed. I think it's certainly worth hanging on to them to see how things pan out.

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm guessing that means 'desperate for serviceable units'!

Heaton have been having a bit of a struggle with their 142s lately. Then again it worked to our benefit a few weeks ago as they ended up deploying two or three 158s to cover Saltburn to Darlington/Bishop for a few days which was excellent

 

[Skipness]

Heaton have been having a bit of a struggle with their 142s lately. Then again it worked to our benefit a few weeks ago as they ended up deploying two or three 158s to cover Saltburn to Darlington/Bishop for a few days which was excellent

Whitby had the pleasure of a 142 on Sunday, and we are regularly seeing 158s as well.

 

[Skipness]

Front page headlines on this week's Whitby Gazette mentions extra trains on the branch "from mid December" including an early train to Middlesbrough arriving 8.30.

 

[yorksrob]

Front page headlines on this week's Whitby Gazette mentions extra trains on the branch "from mid December" including an early train to Middlesbrough arriving 8.30.

That's good news. Whitby residents will be able to make a trip to London. I look forward to a time when the timetable is fully normalised !

 

[30907]

That's good news. Whitby residents will be able to make a trip to London. I look forward to a time when the timetable is fully normalised !

If it arrives in Middlesborough at 8.30 either it or the school train has a very long wait at Glaisdale - or the school day has been retimed! Be interesting to see which it is.

 

[yorksrob]

If it arrives in Middlesborough at 8.30 either it or the school train has a very long wait at Glaisdale - or the school day has been retimed! Be interesting to see which it is.

Indeed. That's why the line needs a proper "interval" timetable.

 

[Skutter]

If it arrives in Middlesborough at 8.30 either it or the school train has a very long wait at Glaisdale - or the school day has been retimed! Be interesting to see which it is.

The arrival is "before 08:30": it's expected to be an 06:30 departure from Whitby, crossing the school train at Battersby and getting to Middlesbrough just after 08:00.
Edit: Link to Esk Valley Development Co Newsletter

 

[Marton]

The arrival is "before 08:30": it's expected to be an 06:30 departure from Whitby, crossing the school train at Battersby and getting to Middlesbrough just after 08:00.
Edit: Link to Esk Valley Development Co Newsletter

This fits with the timing back in the 80s when the first arrival in Middlesbrough was before 830.

Nunthorpe Middlesbrough was still double then. I think so was Grosmont Whitby.

 

[Skipness]

8.45 Wednesday was a Pacer. Midday arrival today (Thurs) was thankfully a four carriagetrain.

 

[yorksrob]

8.45 Wednesday was a Pacer. Midday arrival today (Thurs) was thankfully a four carriagetrain.

Thanks for the info. I don't often travel the line on weekdays, so I'm not sure how busy it gets.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Well, Whitby will have its early morning departure from December, 06.27 to Darlington. Pity it isn't Newcastle via Skillington, but you can't have everything.
It will be interesting to see how traffic builds up - or otherwise - based on this offering.

 

[Skipness]

Well, Whitby will have its early morning departure from December, 06.27 to Darlington. Pity it isn't Newcastle via Skillington, but you can't have everything.
It will be interesting to see how traffic builds up - or otherwise - based on this offering.

Will this involve an early e.c.s. move or a limited stop service move I wonder.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Will this involve an early e.c.s. move or a limited stop service move I wonder.

No. Well, not officially, it seems - though how many passengers actually board the 04.53 ex Middlesbrough is another matter, especially on a winter's morning
It is limited stop, however, rather than all shacks.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y57919/2019/12/16/advanced

 

[AndyHudds]

I was in Whitby last Saturday and called in to the station with my grandson to see the steam service there were quite a few people with suitcases waiting for the Northern service. The town in general was heaving, day trippers, holiday makers, it was good to see it thriving.

 

[Skipness]

No. Well, not officially, it seems - though how many passengers actually board the 04.53 ex Middlesbrough is another matter, especially on a winter's morning
It is limited stop, however, rather than all shacks.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y57919/2019/12/16/advanced

Thank you Iron Duke for the heads up. I note that the new early departure from Whitby will cross the school train at Battersby. Also that the new "late" train will depart Whitby at 22.16 with an arrival into Middlesbrough at 23.45.
All well and good, but doesn't really solve the problem of overcrowding currently occurring on the mid-day service (and the 16.00 departure from Whitby) when only a two car unit is supplied

 

[Ken H]

Whats the story behind the short working to Castleton Moor? (Looking at RTT for 16/12)
2N20 and 2W39

 

[ainsworth74]

Whats the story behind the short working to Castleton Moor? (Looking at RTT for 16/12)
2N20 and 2W39

It replaces the current service to Danby by request, I believe, of the user group who believe that Castleton will actually be of some use compared to Danby.

The Danby/Castleton (and Battersby service) exist as otherwise the units (and crews) that form the services would sit at Nunthorpe potentially getting in the way. Danby/Castleton and Battersby are therefore as far as the trains can get in the time available.

 

[Ken H]

It replaces the current service to Danby by request, I believe, of the user group who believe that Castleton will actually be of some use compared to Danby.

The Danby/Castleton (and Battersby service) exist as otherwise the units (and crews) that form the services would sit at Nunthorpe potentially getting in the way. Danby/Castleton and Battersby are therefore as far as the trains can get in the time available.

thanks

 

[30907]

Thank you Iron Duke for the heads up. I note that the new early departure from Whitby will cross the school train at Battersby. Also that the new "late" train will depart Whitby at 22.16 with an arrival into Middlesbrough at 23.45.
All well and good, but doesn't really solve the problem of overcrowding currently occurring on the mid-day service (and the 16.00 departure from Whitby) when only a two car unit is supplied

The new trains are provided from existing resources (of units) - stock for the mid day trains would have to be sourced (or at least used - upthread there is a discussion of the unit that is apparently spare at MBO after the morning peak...)

 

[70014IronDuke]

Thank you Iron Duke for the heads up. I note that the new early departure from Whitby will cross the school train at Battersby. Also that the new "late" train will depart Whitby at 22.16 with an arrival into Middlesbrough at 23.45.
All well and good, but doesn't really solve the problem of overcrowding currently occurring on the mid-day service (and the 16.00 departure from Whitby) when only a two car unit is supplied

Thank YOU! In my enthusiasm for the new early morning working - something long needed to boost the line's services IMO - I'd missed that new evening turn, which leaves Boro at 20.31. This will allow far greater connectivity from across the entire north, and, one assumes, be greatly appreciated by the hospitality industry in Whitby, and along the line. At least in summer.

One oddity of the 04.53 morning train is that it skips Leaholm, which I think is the busiest intermediate station on the line - but calls at the little used Sleights and Ruswarp at around 06.00. Perhaps they see some early morning commuters from those stations and think they are worth the dwell times.

However, if anything, these new trains are likely to excacerbate the overcrowding on the trains you mention!

 

[Ploughman]

Thank YOU! In my enthusiasm for the new early morning working - something long needed to boost the line's services IMO - I'd missed that new evening turn, which leaves Boro at 20.31. This will allow far greater connectivity from across the entire north, and, one assumes, be greatly appreciated by the hospitality industry in Whitby, and along the line. At least in summer.

One oddity of the 04.53 morning train is that it skips Leaholm, which I think is the busiest intermediate station on the line - but calls at the little used Sleights and Ruswarp at around 06.00. Perhaps they see some early morning commuters from those stations and think they are worth the dwell times.

However, if anything, these new trains are likely to excacerbate the overcrowding on the trains you mention!

Probably stopping at Ruswarp and Sleights to operate the crossing button.
No crossings near Lealholm.

 

[Skipness]

The new trains are provided from existing resources (of units) - stock for the mid day trains would have to be sourced (or at least used - upthread there is a discussion of the unit that is apparently spare at MBO after the morning peak...)

The best suggestion "up thread" was to use the soon to be available class 153s. I believe that as long as there is an accessible toilet somewhere on the train then this is permissible.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Probably stopping at Ruswarp and Sleights to operate the crossing button.
No crossings near Lealholm.

That would explain Ruswarp and Sleights, thank you.
Are they only stopping where there are crossings then? In other words, they would make it ECS if there were no crossings to operate?