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TPE for Edinburgh Fringe 2015

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Class 170101

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Around this time last year (2014) I recall TPE borrowing extra 350/3s to strengthen some Manchester to Edinburgh services for the Fringe festival.

Does anyone know what if anything TPE will be doing this year in connection this event?
 
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Tom Quayle

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Has been the odd 4 car strengthened so far when a spare unit is available in the fleet but not seen any hire ins as yet.

The deal last year was also so that London midland got 110mph testing in on /3s without having to do test runs and spend on extra paths so it benefited both companies
 

pemma

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Has been the odd 4 car strengthened so far when a spare unit is available in the fleet but not seen any hire ins as yet.

There is one booked 8 car diagram Mon-Thurs and 2 booked 8 car diagrams Fri and Sat when 185s are also used on Scottish services.

As 9 out of 10 of the 350/4s are in service Mon-Sat and Manchester-Leeds services are generally overcrowded even at off-peak times, there isn't much TPE can do if they can't secure additional units to hire in.
 

Tom Quayle

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It's probably the Fridays I've seen the extras, don't pay much attention to them as they rattle past the window. But definitely no hire ins this year. Well none have reached edinburgh yet if there is
 
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Ianigsy

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There was also the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year which will have increased demand at roughly the same time.
 

Class 170101

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There is one booked 8 car diagram Mon-Thurs and 2 booked 8 car diagrams Fri and Sat when 185s are also used on Scottish services.

As 9 out of 10 of the 350/4s are in service Mon-Sat and Manchester-Leeds services are generally overcrowded even at off-peak times, there isn't much TPE can do if they can't secure additional units to hire in.

I thought it was 8 from 10 Class 350s on Tuesdays to Thursdays and 9 Friday to Monday?
 

Class 170101

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I seem to recall reading they were for Glasgow games first then they were moved over for loadings to the Fringe.
 

scotsman

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Yeah, it was the small matter of the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow. Nothing to do with the Fringe.
 

WatcherZero

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Was on a couple today, full and standing 4 cars leaving Man Pic at midday, the more shocking thing was the seat reservations though, every single seat that could be reserved was. Also noticed slightly more than usual people waiting on the platforms for Virgin services at Wigan NW.
 

hibtastic

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Edinburgh is underserved via the WCML anyway and is hopefully something which will be rectified in the new TPE franchise.

Stood waiting at Carlisle for a train north to Edinburgh last Friday and 3 Glasgow Central trains passed before th Edinburgh service. 2 x 11 car VTWC Pendolinos and 1 x 3 car TPE 185. Thankfully the Edinburgh service was an 8 car 350 but was still rammed.
 

47271

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Yes, I travelled Edinburgh to Wigan the other day and was surprised just HOW busy the TPE train was - I hadn't been on the route for a while. Granted it's holiday season and there's the Edinburgh festivals, but there were hordes of people getting on at every intermediate stop, and most had large luggage. I checked and there were no cancellations or disruptions around the service to explain it and it ran to time throughout.

The diesels were always busy but I don't remember it ever being this bad, it's almost like the electrics themselves have stimulated business.
 

Ash Bridge

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Was on a couple today, full and standing 4 cars leaving Man Pic at midday, the more shocking thing was the seat reservations though, every single seat that could be reserved was. Also noticed slightly more than usual people waiting on the platforms for Virgin services at Wigan NW.

Travelled to Lancaster on the 09:16 Man Pic - Glasgow Cen. (1x350) yesterday with my daughter, it too was busy and like you say virtually every single seat appeared reserved so lots of congestion caused by those passengers who hadn't made reservations searching for available spaces, eventually everyone seemed to find somewhere (just)
 

ainsworth74

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Edinburgh is underserved via the WCML anyway and is hopefully something which will be rectified in the new TPE franchise.

Stood waiting at Carlisle for a train north to Edinburgh last Friday and 3 Glasgow Central trains passed before th Edinburgh service. 2 x 11 car VTWC Pendolinos and 1 x 3 car TPE 185. Thankfully the Edinburgh service was an 8 car 350 but was still rammed.

Well to be fair historically the WCML was all about Glasgow and the ECML Edinburgh with only relatively limited services onto the others 'patch' as it were.

I think the growth on the Manchester - Glasgow/Edinburgh services has come somewhat by surprise (though I guess you could say the same about growth on the railway generally! :lol:). But as you say it's something that hopefully will be tackled by a new franchise. Hopefully, in part, by transferring it back to ICWC!
 

Blindtraveler

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Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
Its maybe also time TPE stopped flogging so many cheep APs and left 1 caradge unreserved? Fine flog a tone of bargain bucket seats if youve the room for it, the trent valley stoppers are an excillent example here but on an Intercity route like this, with IC pax making lengthy journeys there needs to be moderation of such things and space left for the large number of walkups who will and do use this route, esp those using the more frequently stopping TPE workings as a way of getting around between key points in relatively remote, poorly connected Cumbria and Southwest Scotland.

To the creddit though the 350 experience has transformed travel on the WCML with that bit more room and quieter environment, now lets tweek the management of it somewhat.
 

thealexweb

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Yes, I travelled Edinburgh to Wigan the other day and was surprised just HOW busy the TPE train was - I hadn't been on the route for a while. Granted it's holiday season and there's the Edinburgh festivals, but there were hordes of people getting on at every intermediate stop, and most had large luggage. I checked and there were no cancellations or disruptions around the service to explain it and it ran to time throughout.

The diesels were always busy but I don't remember it ever being this bad, it's almost like the electrics themselves have stimulated business.

There trend of rising demand is clearly continuing. However, something that is frequently overlooked by most is just how many other Transpennine North West services have been scrapped of capped as a shuttle service. Anyone remember the bi-hourly Windermere through working (now down to just two a day) or the eight a day Barrow-in-Furness services (now down to five a day). Some passengers that would have travelled on these through workings to Manchester have instead been pushed on to the Scottish services.
 

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I doubt TPE will reduce Advance availability. Even on a Preston - Edinburgh CDR (don't forget it's valid via Glasgow) I suspect West Coast will take the lions share of revenue.

First Group have good yield management in this respect, they won't let a train run consistently empty. Growth in these services has been pronounced, they are busy at all times of day particularly the Edinburghs and Manchester Airport / Piccadilly are major boarding points for Scotland passengers. The vast service improvement that the new trains heralded has grown the market - a fleet of 10 simply isn't enough.
 

pemma

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Edinburgh is underserved via the WCML anyway and is hopefully something which will be rectified in the new TPE franchise.

Idea for next TPE franchise is in a 3 hour period they'll be two Edinburgh and one Glasgow services. Then if portion workings to Liverpool/Blackpool are added on to alternate services Liverpool/Blackpool will get services to both.
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Yes, I travelled Edinburgh to Wigan the other day and was surprised just HOW busy the TPE train was - I hadn't been on the route for a while. Granted it's holiday season and there's the Edinburgh festivals, but there were hordes of people getting on at every intermediate stop, and most had large luggage. I checked and there were no cancellations or disruptions around the service to explain it and it ran to time throughout.

You can find it's like that on weekends in October as well.
 

RichardKing

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I know this is not related to the railway, but are there any comedians that can be recommended? I am planning to go up there next year. I have heard that there has been an increase in women comedians this year.
 

pemma

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I know this is not related to the railway, but are there any comedians that can be recommended? I am planning to go up there next year. I have heard that there has been an increase in women comedians this year.

You'll have to wait a while for next year's list of acts! I went to a comedy night recently hosted by Harriet Dyer who was quite good. I noticed on her Twitter feed someone asked if she was doing Edinburgh this year and she responded saying she's giving it a miss this year but will be returning next year.
 

Class 170101

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I doubt TPE will reduce Advance availability. Even on a Preston - Edinburgh CDR (don't forget it's valid via Glasgow) I suspect West Coast will take the lions share of revenue.

First Group have good yield management in this respect, they won't let a train run consistently empty. Growth in these services has been pronounced, they are busy at all times of day particularly the Edinburghs and Manchester Airport / Piccadilly are major boarding points for Scotland passengers. The vast service improvement that the new trains heralded has grown the market - a fleet of 10 simply isn't enough.

TPE could sell dedicated open and cheap day return fares between Manchester and Scotland (valid on its trains only) if they wished. FCC did this to undercut open fares between Peterborough and London where East Coast got most of the fare box revenue.
 

Starmill

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I rather doubt that they could, because they already price the route "Via Carlisle" tickets on this route. They could from places where these are priced by West Coast though, like London Midland do.
 
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