Kenilworth Station Closure

[keirlawson]

West Midlands no longer calling at Kenilworth station due to staff shortages. To be replaced by buses!

https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk...worth-be-cancelled-foreseeable-future-3092736

 

[DarloRich]

Same situation as the Marston Vale and Abbey Lines

 

[yorksrob]

Could they not operate it unstaffed for a bit ?

 

[DarloRich]

Could they not operate it unstaffed for a bit ?

Is it train staff or station staff that are the issue?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is it train staff or station staff that are the issue?

Isn't it traincrew for the shuttle service that serves it?

 

[DarloRich]

Isn't it traincrew for the shuttle service that serves it?

thought so - Same as the Vale and the Abbey then.

Clearly LNWR/WMT need to focus on key routes and keep them moving.

 

[yorksrob]

Is it train staff or station staff that are the issue?

Isn't it traincrew for the shuttle service that serves it?

Ah, I see. I didn't realise it had it's own train.

Shame they can't stop the cross country's going through there instead for the timebeing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

thought so - Same as the Vale and the Abbey then.

Clearly LNWR/WMT need to focus on key routes and keep them moving.

I'm actually surprised they haven't gone the same way as the first lockdown for the Vale - provide nothing at all in the timetable, but taxis on request. Hardly anyone will be using the buses.

 

[Ianno87]

I'm actually surprised they haven't gone the same way as the first lockdown for the Vale - provide nothing at all in the timetable, but taxis on request. Hardly anyone will be using the buses.

Or ticket acceptance on the local buses that basically parallel the railway anyway (although don't think they serve the immediate station area in Kenilworth)

 

[The Planner]

Ah, I see. I didn't realise it had it's own train.

Shame they can't stop the cross country's going through there instead for the timebeing.

Unless you can guarentee a 4 car, it won't fit.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Unless you can guarentee a 4 car, it won't fit.

What's the maximum train length that'll fit on the platform of the (reopened in 2018?) Kenilworth station, on the line between Coventry and Leamington Spa? 5 cars?

 

[Energy]

Or ticket acceptance on the local buses that basically parallel the railway anyway (although don't think they serve the immediate station area in Kenilworth)

They don't but its a very short walk, their used to be a bus to the station but it stopped some time ago. The buses are very frequent anyway and anyone going to Nuneaton can change bus at Coventry.

What's the maximum train length that'll fit on the platform of the (reopened in 2018?) Kenilworth station? 5 cars?

Looks longer than a voyager. If not then a single door on the voyager would be fine.

Is it train staff or station staff that are the issue?

Only one person in the cafe who sells tickets. Likely a traincrew issue as it has a guard.

 

[The Planner]

What's the maximum train length that'll fit on the platform of the (reopened in 2018?) Kenilworth station, on the line between Coventry and Leamington Spa? 5 cars?

Kenilworth is 100m, so 4 car Voyager, not that XC will entertain the idea anyway.

 

[221129]

If not then a single door on the voyager would be fine.

No chance, it's not actually possible anyway.

 

[Energy]

No chance, it's not actually possible anyway.

Can't the guard manually open a single door on a voyager? A single door should be fine, Kenilworth isn't too busy with COVID.

 

[221129]

Can't the guard manually open a single door on a voyager? A single door should be fine, Kenilworth isn't too busy with COVID.

No. On a Voyager it is open all or nothing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No. On a Voyager it is open all or nothing.

Another thing to add to the "awful design" list then

Surprised turning the key doesn't enable the local open/close buttons.

 

[221129]

Another thing to add to the "awful design" list then

Surprised turning the key doesn't enable the local open/close buttons.

The point is rather moot anyway as currently policy is that passengers cannot use the same door as the Train Manager so local door ops would not be considered acceptable even if it was possible.

 

[Ianno87]

Another thing to add to the "awful design" list then

Surprised turning the key doesn't enable the local open/close buttons.

Though not a feature usually of any use on a typical cross country service anyway; more akin to request stops on the Cambrian Coast.

 

[Mag_seven]

Even if they did fit in order for Voyagers to stop you would need an agreed stop position which would need to be risk assessed for things such as signal sighting etc. Stop board(s) would then need to be put up.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Though not a feature usually of any use on a typical cross country service anyway; more akin to request stops on the Cambrian Coast.

True, but it's just something that would make sense to have by default on a train, if only for potential future use. It's how 350s work, for example (though admittedly they are designed for guards to be able to work them fully from the passenger compartment, whereas Voyagers are faux-DOO with 10-bell).

 

[The Planner]

Even if they did fit in order for Voyagers to stop you would need an agreed stop position which would need to be risk assessed for things such as signal sighting etc. Stop board(s) would then need to be put up.

Details!

 

[Meglos]

The point is rather moot anyway as currently policy is that passengers cannot use the same door as the Train Manager so local door ops would not be considered acceptable even if it was possible.

A good example of this is TFW. They have stopped stopping at certain stations such as Valley and LlanfairPG. This is because having passengers using the door manned by the Guard is not considered COVID safe.

 

[Kite159]

A good example of this is TFW. They have stopped stopping at certain stations such as Valley and LlanfairPG. This is because having passengers using the door manned by the Guard is not considered COVID safe.

Yet on other operators (GWR) it happens (Dilton Marsh, Avoncliff) with local door only with tiny platforms, and in Scotland with Beauly/Conor Bridge

 

[221129]

Yet on other operators (GWR) it happens (Dilton Marsh, Avoncliff) with local door only with tiny platforms, and in Scotland with Beauly/Conor Bridge

Different TOCs have different policies and risk assesments.

 

[II]

Meanwhile, Kenilworth appears to have 'reopened' with the one unit working a service every two hours.

 

[HLE]

Meanwhile, Kenilworth appears to have 'reopened' with the one unit working a service every two hours.

That's been the case since December. One diagram on the entire route instead of the usual two.

 

[II]

That's been the case since December. One diagram on the entire route instead of the usual two.

Ah, I see. I assumed from the thread headline and first post it had already been 'closed', but upon reading the link see that it is from next week.

 

[davetheguard]

Is it just me, but it always seems that whoever operates the "West Midlands & stoppers on towards Euston" franchise always seems to do at best an underwhelming, and at worst, a spectacularly inept job of it?

For instance, I'm (fortunately) not a user of either the Bedford - Bletchley or Watford - St. Albans Abbey lines, but both seem to be regular candidates for complete withdrawal of service.

And now Kenilworth.

 

[fishquinn]

There's frequently very good numbers getting off the trains from Kenilworth at Leamington, over the last few months more so than on the London trains. Equally this doesn't just affect Kenilworth; it also leaves Coventry Arena, Bedworth and Bermuda Park with no service. All for the sake of two units shuttling back and forth each day, pathetic.