Windermere services in new TPE timetable

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I have seen comments being made that direct services to Windermere were being withdrawn in the new timetable in order to improve the routes to Barrow in Furness and to Glasgow/Edinburgh.

An elderly neighbour and her friend (who lives in Heald Green) wanted to make a day return journey tomorrow, Wednesday, 25th May, from Heald Green to Windermere DIRECT, in order to not have to change en-route, as they are not as sprightly as they used to be.

I can report that DIRECT services do run as follows:-
Heald Green dep. .......0933
Windermere arr. .........1139

Windermere dep..........1706
Heald Green arr...........1910

Can anyone clarify EXACTLY what is the position IN THE NEW TIMETABLE for DIRECT services to Windermere, please.

 

[northwichcat]

When TPE took over the North West routes from First North Western the franchise requirement was to run the same frequency of service. This was an hourly Airport-Blackpool service and an hourly Airport-Lancaster service where the destination alternated between Windermere and Barrow.

In 2007 when the new XC franchise was drawn up there were allocated additional capacity in the form of Voyagers which had been used on Manchester-Scotland services. The 185s used on Windermere services (plus that strengthened some North/South TPE services) were then put on to Scottish services. In 2008 when Virgin enhanced the Chester-London service they then got the extra Voyagers and XC got HSTs to replace their additional Voyagers.

As a result of this Windermere services mainly became a shuttle between Oxenholme and Windermere. I don't know if there is still a requirement for one or two direct Airport-Windermere services or whether the one or two that run now is just down to TPE needing to strengthen services between Manchester and Preston and/or stock movements to their Ardwick depot.

 

[Johnny Lewis]

The pocket timetable on TPE's website shows clearly the number of through trains between Manchester and Windermere. It is pocket timetable no. 10.

The Passenger Service Requirement (PSR) does lay down the minimum requirements for services to and from Windermere, which includes through Manchester trains at certain times of the day. Where a through service from Manchester is not provided, an acceptable alternative is that there is a through service from Preston, which has a connection from Manchester within 20 minutes. This also applies in the opposite direction.

Looking at the timetable, on Mondays to Fridays, Windermere has two through trains from Manchester at 09.29 and 16.00(fx), as well as one further train from Preston and two from Lancaster. Two of these have good connections from Manchester. (The 16.00 doesn't run as a through train on Fridays, because it runs as a 6 car train to Edinburgh, so the Windermere portion starts from Preston).

In the opposite direction, there are four through trains to Manchester, at 10.49, 12.51, 17.06 and 18.15, as well as the 22.45 departure to Preston.

On Saturdays, there are through trains from Manchester at 08.25 and 16.00, as well as the early train from Lancaster and two further trains from Preston, both of which have good connections from Manchester.

Returning, there are through Manchester trains at 10.49, 12.51 and 17.06, as well as further trains to Preston at 09.38 and 21.40, both of which have good connections to Manchester.

On Sundays, the service is more limited, and there is NO PSR requirement to run a direct service in the winter months. For this reason, the through trains operate until mid-September only, and are provided at 09.00 and 16.00 from Manchester and at 16.58 from Windermere.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I don't know if there is still a requirement for one or two direct Airport-Windermere services or whether the one or two that run now is just down to TPE needing to strengthen services between Manchester and Preston and/or stock movements to their Ardwick depot.

My wife thanks you for this information. She took the two ladies in question to Heald Green station in her car and they departed on time. I will have to stop passing unfounded rumours on to her regarding the Windermere service.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The pocket timetable on TPE's website shows clearly the number of through trains between Manchester and Windermere. It is pocket timetable no. 10.

It was as a result of downloading this leaflet that my wife found there were direct services to and from Heald Green to Windermere and she posted the chosen itinerary on the original thread. Heald Green is mentioned in the notes on both journeys as being additional to the standard station stopping schedule. Thank you for your kind attention with full information supplied. My wife will meet both ladies on their return to Heald Green station tonight in her car and take both of them home.

I will say to you what I have just said to jcollins, that I will have to stop passing unfounded rumours on to her regarding the Windermere service, caused by my not reading information correctly that are posted in threads.

I am somewhat in her "bad books" at the present time.