bringbackcrouc
Member
- Joined
- 2 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 92
When the new timetable comes, what are your predictions?
Absolute chaos or serene efficient tranquility?
Absolute chaos or serene efficient tranquility?
Doesn't it actually look as if—for some of the up trains at least—extra pathing time for the sake of Thameslink is costing EMT more than the benefit obtained from all the money spent on the upgrade to 125-mph running? And that the benefits obtained from the works being done at Market Harborough, Leicester, and Derby won't wholly make good the decelerations?It depends where you look.
The timetable is a disaster for East Midlands Trains, who require more mainline sets in daily service to deliver a timetable that's actually slightly slower than the current one.
In respect of the Thameslink core which seems to have the highest number of doom and gloom pundits,
I wouldn't like to comment in quite those terms but I will say that a deceleration of 10 minutes or more as applies to some making Nottingham or Sheffield to London journeys is a big deal and will not be good for business, or easy to undo.Doesn't it actually look as if—for some of the up trains at least—extra pathing time for the sake of Thameslink is costing EMT more than the benefit obtained from all the money spent on the upgrade to 125-mph running? And that the benefits obtained from the works being done at Market Harborough, Leicester, and Derby won't wholly make good the decelerations?
I anticipate confusion at Manchester Oxford Road when the train to Leeds is suddenly heading in the opposite direction.
In theory the Thameslink 'Core' should work ok because, even if the ATO and associated systems fail, conventional signalling remains in place as a fallback option. The modest increase in frequency can be supported with traditional four aspect signalling, although not the case when the service ramps up another notch next year.
We could have just lengthened Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton and kept the service running with 365s, perhaps with a few seats taken out round the doors to provide extra standing room...
I'm not looking forward to the new GN timetable - this sums it up to me. Historically GN has been pretty reliable and I fear what will happen when delays from south of the river are introduced.
If so this will be a repeat of when the first stage of HS1 opened for Eurostar, from Swanley down to the Channel Tunnel. After spending the billions, journey times were improved by 15 minutes. Meanwhile, at the same time, check-in times at Waterloo were increased from 15 to 30 minutes due to "security measures" (euphemism for not enough security staff on duty). Result, after all the expenditure - no difference in overall jiourney time.Doesn't it actually look as if—for some of the up trains at least—extra pathing time for the sake of Thameslink is costing EMT more than the benefit obtained from all the money spent on the upgrade to 125-mph running?
Apart from Sundays........Bradford Interchange will be fun when passengers realise there is no longer a through service to Blackpool!
You should know by now members. Of this forum know best.I wonder if any of the commentators here have even the slightest clue how difficult it has been to put this timetable, particularly the northern & TL timetables, together. Perhaps think about that when using your undoubted experience to criticise others.
Apart from Sundays........Bradford Interchange will be fun when passengers realise there is no longer a through service to Blackpool!
Maybe, but saying it’s been down well is equally ridiculous. Knock-on TOCs by GTR are still being told to look at changing things to accommodate despite being locked down for crew diagrams and the like. That’s without going back to the T-12 removal largely driven by GTR Tinetable management in the SouthEast (not that GTR have been bidding to timescales for years)I wonder if any of the commentators here have even the slightest clue how difficult it has been to put this timetable, particularly the northern & TL timetables, together. Perhaps think about that when using your undoubted experience to criticise others.
I might have to have a wander down to Birchwood and see how my old daily train copes under Northern. Currently a full and standing 6 car 185...
Your right.......it isn't difficult. But believe me there are going to be an awful lot of angry people! Firstly, Bradford (my home city) will be losing an hourly direct service which we have enjoyed for over 30 years. Secondly....when the train to Blackpool from Bradford Interchange does arrive it has already picked up passengers in Leeds and York.....so getting a seat is a challenge. Finally......if you are going for a day away to Blackpool which thousands of people from West Yorkshire do each year you will be looking at roughly an hour and a half travel time extention.....with a change of train thrown in.Changing at Preston is hardly difficult.
I wouldn't like to comment in quite those terms but I will say that a deceleration of 10 minutes or more as applies to some making Nottingham or Sheffield to London journeys is a big deal and will not be good for business, or easy to undo.
Of course, the alternative is that billions of pounds worth of taxpayers' and farepayers' money spent on new depots, new trains, ETCS and the enormous London Bridge rebuild will not be generating the benefits that their business cases relied on.