Northern Services from Derby

[Belperpete]

I may be teaching grannies to suck eggs here, but in all the years (decades) that I have been using Derby station, I hadn't realised that Northern run a "regular" service from Derby, I thought that EMT and XC were the only operators. But arriving at Derby station late-ish last night, I spotted a 2239 Sheffield train on the board advertised as a Northern service. "Some mistake" I thought, but no it was correct.

As far as I can see, it doesn't appear in any of Northern's pocket timetables, so presumably they are not too keen on people knowing about it! Well, the train appears (the 2215SX/2217SO from Nottingham), but no mention of any Derby stop.

According to Wikipedia, there is a return service early morning that does not stop at Derby, but I cannot find anything that matches in the timetable. However, the Northern service 2003 from Leeds does stop at Derby - again this stop does not appear in Northern's pocket timetable. Arriving Nottingham 2202, I presume it then forms the 2215SX/2217SO departure back via Derby.

Why do Northern need to maintain route knowledge via Derby? Surely, if the route Sheffield to Nottingham via Alfreton is blocked, both XC and EMT run plenty of services Sheffield to Derby and then to Nottingham.

 

[Adam0984]

The morning one is no longer scheduled via Derby just the evening ones. I’ve never known Northern to divert Via Derby during engineering work they’d rather terminate at Sheffield or Chesterfield. Only Sheffield sign the diversions Sheffield to Notts so during planned engineering work it would become adhoc as only ones worked by Sheffield crew could go Leeds don’t sign any of the 3 diversions, Beighton (Sheffield to Chesterfield), Toton (Ilkeston to Nottingham) and Derby

 

[geoffk]

Also a handful of Northern services between Newcastle and Darlington and vv

 

[darloscott]

Also a handful of Northern services between Newcastle and Darlington and vv

Would this be an appropriate moment to remind everyone they also reach Dumfries on two random morning services? Albeit technically they are Scotrail services, they are operated with Northern units.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I recall having caught a Northern service once from Derby to Sheffield but it wasn't as late at 22:30 since I had to make a Manchester connection in Sheffield. Possibly around 20:00? Mind you this was early 2018 so timetables have changed considerably in just 18 months.

 

[louis97]

I recall having caught a Northern service once from Derby to Sheffield but it wasn't as late at 22:30 since I had to make a Manchester connection in Sheffield. Possibly around 20:00? Mind you this was early 2018 so timetables have changed considerably in just 18 months.

Used to be just after 9pm from Derby before the timetable change in 2018.

 

[Mugby]

I recall having caught a Northern service once from Derby to Sheffield but it wasn't as late at 22:30 since I had to make a Manchester connection in Sheffield. Possibly around 20:00? Mind you this was early 2018 so timetables have changed considerably in just 18 months.

Used to be just after 9pm from Derby before the timetable change in 2018.

That's correct, it was also routed via Barrow Hill and Beighton but it was very useful for connecting onto the last TPE fast train to Manchester.

The later XC service from Derby to Sheffield can be unreliable.

 

[bunnahabhain]

They've usefully loaded loads of AP ticket availability into the system for their services that do call at Derby, so help to catch unsuspecting punters out as they aren't otherwise available. I'm surprised they didn't go the whole hog and load in Northern Only walk up tickets.

 

[Class 170101]

Also a handful of Northern services between Newcastle and Darlington and vv

Will soon be a few more of these - from December if Northern get their Track Access Application through.