Winter West Highland Statesman

[wbbminerals]

Here are the timings of their website:
DERBY (dep) 06:00 (arr) 21:45
BELPER (dep) 06.09 (arr) 21:30
CHESTERFIELD (dep) 06.25 (arr) 21:05
SHEFFIELD (dep) 06.40 (arr) 20:30
SWINTON (dep) 06.55 (arr) 20:15
SHIPLEY (dep) 08:00 (arr) 19:20
KEIGHLEY (dep) 08:15 (arr) 19:10
SKIPTON (dep) 08:30 (arr) 18:55
SETTLE (dep) 08.50 (arr) 18:35

Does anyone know the route this will take through Wakefield - ie through Westgate or Oakenshaw?

 

[Welshman]

I don't know the answer here - just speculating!
But if it goes via Wakefield Westgate, wouldn't it have to reverse just outside Leeds to gain the Shipley line?

 

[wbbminerals]

It goes via Calder Bridge jn rather than Westgate.

 

[laird]

I wouldn't have thought so, turn right at Hare Park Junction then Normanton to join the Leeds avoiding curve at the Western end of the station. I've certainly done that move on a charter previously when bound for Keighley. It has the advantage of getting the train off the Doncaster-Westgate-Leeds line where it travels along with the Northernrail stopping services. Then its just the awkward crossing that effectively closes the Western end of Leeds but for a relatively short time period.

 

[sidmouth]

I wouldn't have thought so, turn right at Hare Park Junction then Normanton to join the Leeds avoiding curve at the Western end of the station. I've certainly done that move on a charter previously when bound for Keighley. It has the advantage of getting the train off the Doncaster-Westgate-Leeds line where it travels along with the Northernrail stopping services. Then its just the awkward crossing that effectively closes the Western end of Leeds but for a relatively short time period.

Ditto. I have taken that route twice now on charters and get the impression it is the 'standard' route towards the S&C line.