XC Guildford services

[coastwallker]

I didn't hear it this morning as I normally do. I wondered if I had started at Reading.

 

[swt_passenger]

Intrestingly and timely, given this thread, the, Guildford to Newcastle service started short at Reading today. Don't know why as National Rail Enquiries App doesn't say.

No immediate help from RTT either, it just shows the normal path as not reported, and there's little or no evidence it even ran from Reading. RTT shows the path as activated at 0746, and normal calls only become visible from Derby onwards.

Which is all a bit weird. Might have to see if there was a service that didn't get to Eastleigh as planned last night. Alternatively, the unit for the ECS might have run in multiple with another service to somewhere different, and that can be quite difficult to pin down...

Running as a pair isn't that unlikely, because the Guildford ECS comes off the depot paired with the unit that forms the 0515 from Southampton to Man Picc, and usually splits in the platform at Eastleigh. (This is why you don't find an Eastleigh TRSMD to Guildford service when you look for it...)

 

[infobleep]

No immediate help from RTT either, it just shows the normal path as not reported, and there's little or no evidence it even ran from Reading. RTT shows the path as activated at 0746, and normal calls only become visible from Derby onwards.

Which is all a bit weird. Might have to see if there was a service that didn't get to Eastleigh as planned last night. Alternatively, the unit for the ECS might have run in multiple with another service to somewhere different, and that can be quite difficult to pin down...

Running as a pair isn't that unlikely, because the Guildford ECS comes off the depot paired with the unit that forms the 0515 from Southampton to Man Picc, and usually splits in the platform at Eastleigh. (This is why you don't find an Eastleigh TRSMD to Guildford service when you look for it...)

Fascinating.

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[louis97]

No immediate help from RTT either, it just shows the normal path as not reported, and there's little or no evidence it even ran from Reading. RTT shows the path as activated at 0746, and normal calls only become visible from Derby onwards.

Which is all a bit weird. Might have to see if there was a service that didn't get to Eastleigh as planned last night. Alternatively, the unit for the ECS might have run in multiple with another service to somewhere different, and that can be quite difficult to pin down...

Running as a pair isn't that unlikely, because the Guildford ECS comes off the depot paired with the unit that forms the 0515 from Southampton to Man Picc, and usually splits in the platform at Eastleigh. (This is why you don't find an Eastleigh TRSMD to Guildford service when you look for it...)

Nothing weird about it, data feeds were down this morning.

 

[infobleep]

Again today the 6.02 was cancelled from. Guildford and no reason showing on the National Rail Enquiries App like yesterday.

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[godfreycomplex]

The empties certainly ran normally. Possibly no guard at Guildford; so start from Reading?

 

[A Challenge]

What are the times of these trains exactly?

 

[PHILIPE]

What are the times of these trains exactly?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea.../0000-2359?stp=WVSC&show=all&order=wtt&toc=XC

 

[ASharpe]

I seem to recall a couple of years ago that XC ran a more regular service between Guildford and Reading, possibly weekends only though. Am I remembering correctly and why would they do that, would a few extra services make a difference for ORCATS?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I seem to recall a couple of years ago that XC ran a more regular service between Guildford and Reading, possibly weekends only though. Am I remembering correctly and why would they do that, would a few extra services make a difference for ORCATS?

Wouldn't have been diversions via Haslemere would it? It's happening this weekend too: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=XC

 

[ASharpe]

Wouldn't have been diversions via Haslemere would it? It's happening this weekend too: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=XC

I'm not sure, I seem to recall there being advertising for them, perhaps a seasonal thing. I'll do some digging.

[I am remembering correctly: https://web.archive.org/web/20140826125734/http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/media/255841/manchester_to_the_south_west_and_south_coast_may_2014.pdf

On a Sunday there were around 8 trains a day from October 26th 2014 to the December timetable change, it's not obvious from the timetable why. Any ideas?

 

[TEW]

That was just due to engineering work too, it was taking place most or all weekends in that period so the diversions were written in to the timetable.

 

[infobleep]

Wouldn't have been diversions via Haslemere would it? It's happening this weekend too: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=XC

Those engineering works are great for people traveling from Guildford to places like Oxford as they can get advanced purchase tickets. Usually such things are hard to come by.

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[swt class 450]

Are the Cross Country services to and from Guildford very busy (on the section to and from Reading)? On average how many passengers use the Guildford services?

I also remember quite a few years ago Cross Country used to operate some services from Brighton which operated via Redhill and Guildford (but very strangely did not call at Dorking Deepdene).

 

[pompeyfan]

Are the Cross Country services to and from Guildford very busy (on the section to and from Reading)? On average how many passengers use the Guildford services?

I also remember quite a few years ago Cross Country used to operate some services from Brighton which operated via Redhill and Guildford (but very strangely did not call at Dorking Deepdene).

Giving the timings of them I'd imagine not. I've not seen them though.

They also used to continue south past guildford to Portsmouth.

Out of interest when the XC services to Portsmouth were run by 158s, did they run via guildford or did they go Eastleigh and Basingstoke?

 

[godfreycomplex]

158s did operate Portsmouth services, they were the only Virgin stock pre-Voyager that was booked to the Harbour; the LHCS operated services terminated at Southsea (although they were covered by HSTs more than occasionally; and I think the HSTs are still cleared to the Harbour (or they were pre-resignalling anyway). All booked via Guildford and the Direct. Not sure where the crews came from, Old Oak maybe? (had a Virgin train crew depot in those days I believe)

 

[pompeyfan]

Very interesting. Some FGW HSTs have made it down to Portsmouth in the last 5 years or so, I can't recall if they saw the harbour though.

 

[swt_passenger]

Very interesting. Some FGW HSTs have made it down to Portsmouth in the last 5 years or so, I can't recall if they saw the harbour though.

An HST charter for Cotswold Line promotion group (CLPG) did run all the way through to the Harbour about 4 or 5 years ago, but a couple of others ran as football specials back to Cardiff (or Swansea?) from Fratton, so would not have needed to go any further. I seem to remember these only ran in the return direction, arriving supporters used normal service trains as they were spread out over a number of early services, I saw the ECS for one of them heading through Eastleigh towards the Fareham line while the match was in progress.

 

[pompeyfan]

I think the football services were Swansea and Plymouth? I thought they ran in service in both directions but I'll bow to your better memory. I don't recall them sitting at Fratton though.

 

[LowLevel]

158s did operate Portsmouth services, they were the only Virgin stock pre-Voyager that was booked to the Harbour; the LHCS operated services terminated at Southsea (although they were covered by HSTs more than occasionally; and I think the HSTs are still cleared to the Harbour (or they were pre-resignalling anyway). All booked via Guildford and the Direct. Not sure where the crews came from, Old Oak maybe? (had a Virgin train crew depot in those days I believe)

There was for a while I believe (probably not long) a top and tail 47 diagram to the Harbour as well. Might even only have been for one year.

 

[infobleep]

No the trains are not busy. I don't think so many people wish to travel at 6.02am. I'm surprised the evening service isn't more used but maybe most commuters have already left for home from Reading. It gets into Guildford at 18.59. Of course between Reading and Guildford it doesn't stop anywhere. Maybe most commuters want the in between stations.

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[swt_passenger]

No the trains are not busy. I don't think so many people wish to travel at 6.02am.

Just to wrap this point up the Dec 2017 proposed XC timetable consultation gives some actual numbers; 29 per morning train, and 53 per evening train, on average. So they now propose to remove it from the timetable in both directions. This should coincide with the additional GWR services starting as well.