tbtc
Veteran Member
There's been discussion on another thread (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/may-2020-timetable-changes.197667/page-5) about whether a section of line without a scheduled passengers service has to go through the procedures for "closure".
Rather than drag that thread off-topic, I thought I'd ask the question here.
As far as I was aware, the minimum requirement was for one train per week (hence some "parliamentary" services to keep a line/station open - e.g. the days when Stockport - Stalybridge was a single northbound service on a Friday morning (no return journey).
(obviously some people use "Parliamentary" to define anything lightly used - e.g. stations with one train a day or lines like Knottingley - Goole that have much more than one per week - I think some people treat it interchangeable with "minimum service provision required in the franchise definition - it can get quite stretched!)
But what is a "line"? e.g. in the case of Stockport - Stalybridge, it must have been fine for no scheduled passenger trains to run southbound, so it's not as if every inch of track has to have a service - where is the line drawn?
We don't expect have to go through the closure paperwork every time a platform is taken out of use, or a passing loop goes unused - we don't run services over every set of points in every direction - there must be a definition somewhere.
Is it okay if a double track line only sees a service passing through in one direction each week? No requirements for passing loops, or sidings to be served? We don't send passenger trains into every headshunt just to tick a box! But maybe each chord at a "triangle" needs serving?
Is there a minimum length of line (before a bit of track requires serving)? Would it be allowed to remove a passenger service from a line on the understanding that there's a regular freight service?
I'm asking as, whilst people use the term "parliamentary" a lot, I've never seen a definition for exactly how long a section of line needs to be before it qualifies for this once-a-week token service.
According to the PSUL website, the 1N80 0712 Kirkcaldy - Glasgow Queen Street and the 1N79 1733 Glasgow Queen Street - Markinch that run on Mondays to Fridays will be withdrawn from 18 May.
Being as these are the only trains that are scheduled in passenger service to use the section of track between Winchburgh Junction and Dalmeny Junction, I am unsure if this is legal to withdraw these services or not.
Rather than drag that thread off-topic, I thought I'd ask the question here.
As far as I was aware, the minimum requirement was for one train per week (hence some "parliamentary" services to keep a line/station open - e.g. the days when Stockport - Stalybridge was a single northbound service on a Friday morning (no return journey).
(obviously some people use "Parliamentary" to define anything lightly used - e.g. stations with one train a day or lines like Knottingley - Goole that have much more than one per week - I think some people treat it interchangeable with "minimum service provision required in the franchise definition - it can get quite stretched!)
But what is a "line"? e.g. in the case of Stockport - Stalybridge, it must have been fine for no scheduled passenger trains to run southbound, so it's not as if every inch of track has to have a service - where is the line drawn?
We don't expect have to go through the closure paperwork every time a platform is taken out of use, or a passing loop goes unused - we don't run services over every set of points in every direction - there must be a definition somewhere.
Is it okay if a double track line only sees a service passing through in one direction each week? No requirements for passing loops, or sidings to be served? We don't send passenger trains into every headshunt just to tick a box! But maybe each chord at a "triangle" needs serving?
Is there a minimum length of line (before a bit of track requires serving)? Would it be allowed to remove a passenger service from a line on the understanding that there's a regular freight service?
I'm asking as, whilst people use the term "parliamentary" a lot, I've never seen a definition for exactly how long a section of line needs to be before it qualifies for this once-a-week token service.