InkyScrolls
Member
What is the rationale behind which routes crew at a given depot sign? As an example, Northern crews based at Carlisle sign Carlisle > Skipton > Leeds and Carlisle > Newcastle, but don't sign anywhere along the Cumbrian Coast - not even as far as Workington. This means that Workington crews have to be taxied to and from Carlisle in the morning/evening for the first and last two services of the (week)day. But Carlisle crews sign 156s, so it's only the route they don't sign, not the traction. Why is this?
In some cases there is an operational reason (e.g. only Machynlleth and Pwllheli depots sign the Cambrian line due to the use of ERTMS which would require complete retraining of additional crews were Shrewsbury drivers to sign the route), but in other cases there doesn't seem to be such a reason. So my question is why do certain depots not sign routes which would appear obvious for them to do so?
In some cases there is an operational reason (e.g. only Machynlleth and Pwllheli depots sign the Cambrian line due to the use of ERTMS which would require complete retraining of additional crews were Shrewsbury drivers to sign the route), but in other cases there doesn't seem to be such a reason. So my question is why do certain depots not sign routes which would appear obvious for them to do so?