No Bedford trains to Milton Keynes during current LM franchise

[MK Tom]

Until last year LM's line had always been "we'll operate up to MK Central as soon as NR provide the track as part of Bletchley remodelling". That held for about 10 years. Last year NR completed Bletchley remodelling and MV trains could now reverse in P5 and go on to MKC. LM then changed their position to "we're not going to do it in this franchise". So it might be something that any of the bidders could offer in the next franchise bidding round.

The MV trains don't use P5 as a matter of course because they currently sit in the station for about 30 mins in each hour and they block the Relief line no 2 and the CS which can only be accessed at the south end via P5 .

Using P6 is a bit of a nuisance, I've had to carry a bike up the steps a few times for example, but unless you are in a wheelchair it is functional if a bit inconvenient.

Any reason they couldn't sit at Bedford instead?

 

[andyfrommk]

Any reason they couldn't sit at Bedford instead?

My guess would be Bedford is a FCC managed station which is unlikey to share its facilites with employees of a rival company so the only place LM employees can take breaks etc is at Bletchley.

 

[Class 170101]

My guess would be Bedford is a FCC managed station which is unlikey to share its facilites with employees of a rival company so the only place LM employees can take breaks etc is at Bletchley.

This may well change once East West Rail is up and running as Bletchley wouldn't become a terminating station but a through station for trains.

I guess the crew depots for East West Rail services would be at Bedford, Bletchley, Aylesbury and Oxford / Reading each with PNB facilities as not to have one at Bedford could leave the timetable very lopsided.

As for not sharing PNB facilities with rival operators I would be surprised if that was an obstacle. Don't operators using New Street share their facilities?

 

[LowLevel]

My guess would be Bedford is a FCC managed station which is unlikey to share its facilites with employees of a rival company so the only place LM employees can take breaks etc is at Bletchley.

You what? Messing facilities are shared by TOCs all over the place.

 

[the sniper]

Don't operators using New Street share their facilities?

Not really anymore. There is a newish small general messroom just off Platform 1, but I don't think many/any people use it. LM and XC have separate ones now.

 

[andyfrommk]

You what? Messing facilities are shared by TOCs all over the place.

Which is why I prefixed the sentence with "My guess would be"

 

[cle]

Isn't there planned to be another MK-Bedford service as part of E/W?

So:
1tph Bletchley (or MK) - Bedford, local as today.
1tph Reading/Oxford to Bedford
1tph MK to Bedford - new

 

[plastictaffy]

I'd wager that after the franchise finishes, and it gets electrified and the line speed increased (hahaha) that Chiltern will get the franchise anyway, so then it'll be their problem.

 

[The Planner]

Line speed increased to what? E-W was always going to be 100mph anyway.

 

[MK Tom]

My guess would be Bedford is a FCC managed station which is unlikey to share its facilites with employees of a rival company so the only place LM employees can take breaks etc is at Bletchley.

Rival company? Do they compete on any routes? I'm pretty sure if the authorities said the service is to wait at Bedford instead, FCC would just have to take it. They do after all sit their trains at the Southern-managed Brighton all the time.

Line speed increased to what? E-W was always going to be 100mph anyway.

I always understood that Oxford-Bletchley would be 100mph, Claydon-Aylesbury 90mph and Bletchley-Bedford would remain at 60mph. Could be wrong though.

Isn't there planned to be another MK-Bedford service as part of E/W?

So:
1tph Bletchley (or MK) - Bedford, local as today.
1tph Reading/Oxford to Bedford
1tph MK to Bedford - new

Never heard that before. What I've read everywhere is 1tph Oxford/Reading-Bedford, 1tph MK-Bedford and the Marylebone/Oxford-MK services.

 

[Class377/5]

Rival company? Do they compete on any routes? I'm pretty sure if the authorities said the service is to wait at Bedford instead, FCC would just have to take it. They do after all sit their trains at the Southern-managed Brighton all the time.

FCC/LM work together and there is no reason why mess facilities couldn't be shared. However as part of the East-West rail, the rebuilt of Bedford is back on the cards as the current Bedford can't handle the additional Thameslink, EMT and EWR all together.

 

[plastictaffy]

FCC/LM work together and there is no reason why mess facilities couldn't be shared.

They do?? I know they have cross ticket acceptance in times of disruption, but that's about it. If that's the case, you could also say that LM work together with Virgin, XC, and Chiltern too, then.

 

[Class377/5]

They do?? I know they have cross ticket acceptance in times of disruption, but that's about it. If that's the case, you could also say that LM work together with Virgin, XC, and Chiltern too, then.

Not quite why you feel the need to attack so much? But its more than you suggest.

 

[DarloRich]

Not quite why you feel the need to attack so much? But its more than you suggest.

Please provide further and better particulars

 

[Class377/5]

Please provide further and better particulars

Not everything on the railways is fighting (unlike this forum). There is co-operation across quite a few issues, ticket acceptance is but one public measure but there is far more being done.