XC Lichfield City - Burton On Trent

[VideozVideoz]

Just been looking on LDB and I noticed XC services today were doing Lichfield City - Burton On Trent (as part of the Birmingham-Sheffield-Leeds route). This may be a silly question (as I don't know the track layout in this area) but I didn't think it was possible to do Lichfield City-Burton? Normally XC services go Brum-Tamworth-Burton etc...

 

[IanPooleTrains]

You can do Lic-Burton, there is a line that isn't used a lot and it turns off between Tamworth and Burton

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The line continues from Lichfield City to Lichfield Trent Valley, where the WCML passes below. The line, used by XCity services to Trent Valley only, carries on through Trent Valley High level to Burton, freight or diversion only. It is being used ATM because of engineering works at tamworth High Level

 

[VideozVideoz]

Thanks both, didn't know about the freight line. Also forgot about Lichfield TV high level! Its been a while since I visited this station (nearly 20 years i reckon!)

 

[bengolding]

The scheduled journey time from New St to Derby via Lichfield today is about 75 mins. Interesting that XC were calling at Lichfield City as well, since they obviously get no revenue from Birmingham-Lichfield City tickets!

Usually if the mainline to Derby is blocked, XC divert via Leicester to Derby which can be reached in 70-75 mins with a good path. Do they prefer to use XCity route instead?

 

[VideozVideoz]

Indeed and here's a screenshot to show XC's stopping at Lichfield City! The scheduled time from Brum-Derby today is not 75mins though... more like 60mins!

 

[Saltleyman]

The line from Lichfield TV High Level to Burton-on-Trent passes through Alrewas then joins the Tamworth to Burton ML at Wichnor Junction, the section between Alrewas and Wichnor being a single line.,

 

[ChrisCooper]

I think it's just a case that running via Litchfield they can still call at Burton, wheras running via Leicester they can't. I presume when running via Leicester that XC still call at Leicester. I've done a few Leicester to Birminghams and a Leicester to Sheffield with Virgin Cross Country, the latter being particularly good as it was a 47 (IIRC it was the one in the original green livery).

 

[RichmondCommu]

The line from Lichfield TV High Level to Burton-on-Trent passes through Alrewas then joins the Tamworth to Burton ML at Wichnor Junction, the section between Alrewas and Wichnor being a single line.,

Any ideas why the section between Alrewas and Wichnor is single line? Is there a signal box at Wichnor?

 

[jd]

Interesting that XC were calling at Lichfield City as well, since they obviously get no revenue from Birmingham-Lichfield City tickets!

I imagine the stop at Lichfield was in lieu of the stop at Tamworth - they were running buses from Lichfield to Tamworth.

 

[The Planner]

Any ideas why the section between Alrewas and Wichnor is single line? Is there a signal box at Wichnor?

Doesnt need to be anything more, the box is at Alrewas.

 

[button_boxer]

Just been looking on LDB and I noticed XC services today were doing Lichfield City - Burton On Trent (as part of the Birmingham-Sheffield-Leeds route). This may be a silly question (as I don't know the track layout in this area) but I didn't think it was possible to do Lichfield City-Burton? Normally XC services go Brum-Tamworth-Burton etc...

I was on an EMT service through Leicester and saw a train on the board there that was terminating at Coleshill Parkway, which suggests that the line was closed around Water Orton. That would be consistent with xc being sent via Lichfield.

 

[bnsf734]

There are at least 3 overbridges being rebuilt on the Nuneaton - Leicester route at present, for the 9'6" Freightliner box project. This currently closes the line on Sundays.

Calv

 

[dcmbarton]

I travelled yesterday between Lichfield City and Burton just say I'd done the line! The trains seemed to be in absolute chaos. The one we arrived on at Burton left 12 minutes before the scheduled departure time listed, so I'm not sure how that works for those catching it. The trains were overcrowded (dangerously in my opinion) and no one seemed to know what was happening. No monitors working at Burton, and no announcements. Vague announcements at Lichfield City except the announcer kept getting the stations in the wrong order. Just one or two people using the replacement bus to Tamworth.

It's a nice route though (particularly if you can get a seat!). I don't know what happens about the XC services overtaking Cross City trains south of Lichfield City? They must overtake somewhere because the journey time is listed as only about 25 minutes rather than the usual 40 minutes.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Cross City runs half hourly on Sundays, the XCs are hourly. XC are timetabled about 10mins faster to Lichfield City, yet leave Birmingham about half past wheras the Cross City leaves at 06 past. This means the XC will not catch the Cross City, so overtaking is not an issue.

 

[button_boxer]

Is there any particular reason why the XCs call at city and then have to do a rail replacement bus to Tamworth, rather than calling at Trent Valley instead and then sending people down to Tamworth on LM?

 

[ChrisCooper]

The XCs get into Lichfield City around the hour and would probably get to TV just after the hour. The LM to Tamworth doesn't depart until 41, so there would be a good half an hours wait at TV for the connection. On the other hand the Bus takes half an hour from City to Tamworth.

 

[dcmbarton]

The replacement bus also seems to serve Wilnecote.

 

[Statto]

Is there any particular reason why the XCs call at city and then have to do a rail replacement bus to Tamworth, rather than calling at Trent Valley instead and then sending people down to Tamworth on LM?

Probably because LTV high level has 1 platform[northbound, but passenger trains normally terminate at LTV high level], but is double tracked, meaning Southbound services can't stop at LTV without going to the Northbound line, so it's easier to stop at City.

 

[Smethwickian]

Regarding the stop at Lichfield City rather than LTV: Lichfield City, with a lift from the booking hall to platform level, is more accessible than LTV - which only has stairs to and from the high-level platform. Better, therefore, for interchanging passengers being sent on by bus or taxi to Tamworth.

The timetable for these diverted services doesn't seem to show up fully in any printed publicity (either the NRT or XC's own leaflets) but the trains are shown on departure sheets at Birmingham New Street under the Lichfield City heading, implying it's perfectly OK for local passengers between BHM and Lichfield.

 

[ChrisCooper]

I got the timings from National Rail Enquiries, which shows both the Cross City and Cross Country on Birmingham to Lichfield City searches.

 

[Zoe]

When the line via Nuneaton and Leicester is blocked, for some reason they don't usually stop at Tamworth to allow people to change to a London Miland service to Nuneaton and instead run non stop from Birmingham to Derby.

 

[Saltleyman]

Any ideas why the section between Alrewas and Wichnor is single line? Is there a signal box at Wichnor?

There is no signal box at Wichnor Junction, the route from Derby as far as Alrewas is controlled by Derby PSB (and soon to be by East Midlands IECC).The section between Wichnor to Alrewas was singled when Derby PSB was opened (round about 1968/69) There is a signalbox at Alrewas and also a S/box at Lichfield TV High Level.The line from Lichfield TV HL to Aston is worked by Aston S/box(situated at Duddeston !).

 

[night_cat]

i was on the plymouth train from chesterfield, sunday morning, surprised the train went via lichfield, had to stand at the end as the train was choca.

 

[VideozVideoz]

Wow, didn't know my little question about Lichfield City-Burton would open up such a big conversation! Well played guys

FAO DCMBarton - How much did the ticket cost from Lichfield City to Burton??

 

[dcmbarton]

FAO DCMBarton - How much did the ticket cost from Lichfield City to Burton??

An extortionate £10 return!

David

 

[VideozVideoz]

Thats very dear! I guess the price is calculated using the 'normal' routing guide... as Lichfield City-Burton (via Alrewas) isn't valid routing.

 

[SSR]

Hi Guys,
The Cross County services will again be running from Wychnor Junction and onto the Cross City Line this Sunday Feb 27th.

My friend who would normally catch a London Midland on a Sunday with about 8 stops to get to Birmingham New Street was pleasantly surprised, as he got on at Lichfield City and went straight through to Birmingham (cutting hes journey by half).

He came back on a HST Cross Country, but the platform at Lichfield City was to short for it, so everyone getting off had to walk through the coaches to the front.

I filmed a few of these diverted trains at Lichfield City last Sunday (Feb 20th), here is the link: Cross Country at Lichfield City

 

[Crossover]

Very interesting thread - bet that was an interesting day (or set of days) for driver route knowledge, unusual sightings on the line (it must have been hammered with traffic that day!) and spotters looking for something different alike!

I was looking the other week at the line between Lichfield TV and what I found out to be Burton and was going to post a thread about it, but this seems like the best place to ask a few questions now the opportunity has arisen...

Is there much freight traffic uses the line each day (i.e the freight only bit) and does it get used often for passenger services?
I noticed there was what looked like a TMD toward the Burton end (with the likes of VT's sat outside) - which one is it and what is maintained there?

Also, does the chord between the WCML and the X-City line get used much/at all and what for? To me, it seems like a slightly missed opportunity terminating the OHLE at the end of the platform as surely it would be of more use to electrify the chord as then likes of 323's could be transferred between the two lines easily if required (with reversal of course)

 

[MCR247]

Central Rivers, home of the voyageur, both VT & XC.

Why would 323s need to be transferred onto the WCML?

I saw a test train using it the other day