May 2023 changes

[Cheshire Scot]

Because at some point someone has to lock or unlock those doors manually unless they remain locked for the entire journey

Why would additional time be needed? Any time I have seen it (not on XC) doors are locked out before the train arrives - with appropriate announcements - and unlocked after departure.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

On Voyagers the doors have to be locked from the outside so can only be done at a station and involves the guard locking out each door manually. The same process for unlocking them.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

On Voyagers the doors have to be locked from the outside so can only be done at a station and involves the guard locking out each door manually. The same process for unlocking them.

Thanks for that explanation, it would have been helful from the start, the doors are locked from the inside on the various stock types I have seen it done on, but it does beg the question, if the doors are off the platform how does he reach them to lock them

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Thanks for that explanation, it would have been helful from the start, the doors are locked from the inside on the various stock types I have seen it done on, but it does beg the question, if the doors are off the platform how does he reach them to lock them

They are locked out in advance at a station which can accommodate the full length of the train.

 

[lammergeier]

That's not quite true, Voyager doors can be locked from the inside, and usually are. The problem is we can't run with passengers in a vehicle with a certain amount of locked doors for obvious safety reasons. I don't know the method of working at the place you're discussing, but at other stations if we call with a Voyager which is too long the rear vehicle(s) has to be locked out of use for the entire journey until we are past the last restrictive station, or passengers moved then all the doors locked and the vehicle placed out of use before calling at the station.

Meridians, which have an excellent SDO setup, are far superior in this aspect.

 

[dk1]

That's not quite true, Voyager doors can be locked from the inside, and usually are. The problem is we can't run with passengers in a vehicle with a certain amount of locked doors for obvious safety reasons. I don't know the method of working at the place you're discussing, but at other stations if we call with a Voyager which is too long the rear vehicle(s) has to be locked out of use for the entire journey until we are past the last restrictive station, or passengers moved then all the doors locked and the vehicle placed out of use before calling at the station.

Meridians, which have an excellent SDO setup, are far superior in this aspect.

You beat me to it. If doors at both ends are locked out of use then no passengers are permitted to travel in those vehicles making the whole point of stopping a longer train useless. It will also make Pendolino substitution a continual pain. Best to just run fast Preston to Blackpool & vice versa like the other Avanti services.

 

[wls1]

c2c timetable released. few changes, main point of interest is the return to 4 carriage trains off peak

Timetable changes 21 May | Trains to/from London, Southend & Essex with c2c Rail

For trains to and from London, Southend and elsewhere in Essex, plus timetables, ticket sales, information and events and offers, visit c2c-online.co.uk

www.c2c-online.co.uk

 

[yorksrob]

Well, I was going to get a last hurrah of the Castleford Huddersfield service today, but it was cancelled alas.

 

[InkyScrolls]

Well, I was going to get a last hurrah of the Castleford Huddersfield service today, but it was cancelled alas.

Typical!

 

[yorksrob]

Typical!

Indeed !

 

[Techniquest]

c2c timetable released. few changes, main point of interest is the return to 4 carriage trains off peak

Timetable changes 21 May | Trains to/from London, Southend & Essex with c2c Rail

For trains to and from London, Southend and elsewhere in Essex, plus timetables, ticket sales, information and events and offers, visit c2c-online.co.uk

www.c2c-online.co.uk

Bah, that'll make my 357 hunting more difficult!

 

[Jez]

TFW have their May 2023 timetable on their website. The only significant changes are Swanline (Swansea-Cardiff stopping service) returning as a stand alone service every 2 hours plus some changes to the timing of West Wales-Manchester as a resuilt of this. Also there has been an improvement with connections for passengers travelling from Manchester/Crewe/Hereford to stations West of Cardiff the hour that it isnt a through service from Manchester to West Wales. In the other direction however there isnt a valid connection the majority of the time however its not as bad as we have the GWR service with a half hour wait at Cardiff or passengers could travel on the 2 hourly through service from West Wales to Manchester.

 

[Topological]

TFW have their May 2023 timetable on their website. The only significant changes are Swanline (Swansea-Cardiff stopping service) returning as a stand alone service every 2 hours plus some changes to the timing of West Wales-Manchester as a resuilt of this. Also there has been an improvement with connections for passengers travelling from Manchester/Crewe/Hereford to stations West of Cardiff the hour that it isnt a through service from Manchester to West Wales. In the other direction however there isnt a valid connection the majority of the time however its not as bad as we have the GWR service with a half hour wait at Cardiff or passengers could travel on the 2 hourly through service from West Wales to Manchester.

Why does it feel like this has the chance to go very wrong?

I can see the diagrams will work when the longer distance services are in the hands of the 197s and MK4, but at the moment it does not feel like TfW have spare units to be running additional Swanlines.

I hope that I am wrong

 

[ThameslinkUser]

One assumes that the extra 700/1 nominally comes from the Littlehampton service which is no longer going to be 700 worked

Literally never runs...

Search - Recent Train Times

 

[Jez]

Why does it feel like this has the chance to go very wrong?

I can see the diagrams will work when the longer distance services are in the hands of the 197s and MK4, but at the moment it does not feel like TfW have spare units to be running additional Swanlines.

I hope that I am wrong

It wouldn't surprise me if it went wrong. Swanline only requires 2 diagrams I believe. However it could all depend on how many MK4s, 175s and 197s make it to passenger service to free up enough 153s for Swanline. Keeping the 3 170s a bit longer will help as at least 2 less Sprinters (or 175s if they are booked for Maesteg) will be required for Ebbw Vale/Maesteg.

 

[craigybagel]

Why does it feel like this has the chance to go very wrong?

I can see the diagrams will work when the longer distance services are in the hands of the 197s and MK4, but at the moment it does not feel like TfW have spare units to be running additional Swanlines.

I hope that I am wrong

It wouldn't surprise me if it went wrong. Swanline only requires 2 diagrams I believe. However it could all depend on how many MK4s, 175s and 197s make it to passenger service to free up enough 153s for Swanline. Keeping the 3 170s a bit longer will help as at least 2 less Sprinters (or 175s if they are booked for Maesteg) will be required for Ebbw Vale/Maesteg.

There should be a few extra 150s on hand with the Treherbert line blockade. There should be 1 extra MKIV diagram from the timetable change, with more to follow in June along with extra 197 diagrams on additional routes at that point as well (see the relevant threads for more details).

 

[HamworthyGoods]

There should be 1 extra MKIV diagram from the timetable change, with more to follow in June along with extra 197 diagrams on additional routes at that point as well (see the relevant threads for more details).

Bearing in mind we are halfway through May and we can’t achieve the current number of mk4 diagrams due to poor availability to expect in a few weeks time to increase that seems ambitious! Look at today at least 2 of the diagrams are operated by 175 vice!

 

[craigybagel]

Bearing in mind we are halfway through May and we can’t achieve the current number of mk4 diagrams due to poor availability to expect in a few weeks time to increase that seems ambitious! Look at today at least 2 of the diagrams are operated by 175 vice!

Today's problems were mostly down to the serious issues between Cardiff and Newport rather than problems with the stock. Mostly they've been working pretty well the last couple of weeks, and there should be another set available by the time the diagrams increase. This is probably better discussed on the MKIV thread though. Suffice to say there shouldn't be any issues resourcing the Swanline.

 

[Llandudno]

Today's problems were mostly down to the serious issues between Cardiff and Newport rather than problems with the stock. Mostly they've been working pretty well the last couple of weeks, and there should be another set available by the time the diagrams increase. This is probably better discussed on the MKIV thread though. Suffice to say there shouldn't be any issues resourcing the Swanline.

Pleased to hear that TfW shouldn’t have any problems resourcing Swanline shame they can’t resource hourly services on Chester-Liverpool or Wrexham-Bidston…

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

What will be on Swanline from next week? Surely not 197s?

 

[Jez]

What will be on Swanline from next week? Surely not 197s?

Apparently booked 197 but won't actually be 197s for a while. Similar to what's happened with the MK4 on Cardiff to Manchester since December with a lot of them booked but actually a 175 or a Sprinter.

Pleased to hear that TfW shouldn’t have any problems resourcing Swanline shame they can’t resource hourly services on Chester-Liverpool or Wrexham-Bidston…

I'm.really surprised Liverpool to Chester hasn't returned to hourly.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Apparently booked 197 but won't actually be 197s for a while. Similar to what's happened with the MK4 on Cardiff to Manchester since December with a lot of them booked but actually a 175 or a Sprinter.


I'm.really surprised Liverpool to Chester hasn't returned to hourly.

1 Or 2 booked 197, but the majority is 153 pairs. Like said though, unlikely to be 197 from the off.

 

[anthony263]

TFW have their May 2023 timetable on their website. The only significant changes are Swanline (Swansea-Cardiff stopping service) returning as a stand alone service every 2 hours plus some changes to the timing of West Wales-Manchester as a resuilt of this. Also there has been an improvement with connections for passengers travelling from Manchester/Crewe/Hereford to stations West of Cardiff the hour that it isnt a through service from Manchester to West Wales. In the other direction however there isnt a valid connection the majority of the time however its not as bad as we have the GWR service with a half hour wait at Cardiff or passengers could travel on the 2 hourly through service from West Wales to Manchalready found z issester.

Already found a issue with their timetables.

In the Cardiff to West Wales timetable the westbound Sunday service is not shown

 

[Jez]

Already found a issue with their timetables.

In the Cardiff to West Wales timetable the westbound Sunday service is not shown

Also Swanline still doesnt get a Sunday service I dont think.

 

[anthony263]

Also Swanline still doesnt get a Sunday service I dont think.

Only Pyle gets a Sunday service

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Today's problems were mostly down to the serious issues between Cardiff and Newport rather than problems with the stock. Mostly they've been working pretty well the last couple of weeks, and there should be another set available by the time the diagrams increase. This is probably better discussed on the MKIV thread though. Suffice to say there shouldn't be any issues resourcing the Swanline.

I notice today there are still only 3 mk4 sets in traffic. Doesn’t bode well for the timetable change.

 

[craigybagel]

I notice today there are still only 3 mk4 sets in traffic. Doesn’t bode well for the timetable change.

At the moment there are only diagrammed to be 3 mk4 sets in traffic.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Apparently booked 197

I always wonder where you get your information from. The publications did say they'd be booked for double 153s in the interim, and booked 2-197 from May 24.
Either way, my comment was me wondering whether they'd actually stick to that. I'm willing to bet it produces 150s more often than not.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

At the moment there are only diagrammed to be 3 mk4 sets in traffic.

Why has it dropped back down from 5 diagrams to 3?

 

[craigybagel]

Why has it dropped back down from 5 diagrams to 3?

It never was on 5 diagrams. It's timetabled for 5, and it was hoped that during the current timetable period it would be possible to increase the diagrams up to 5, but that didn't prove possible for various reasons. Getting an the sets ready for service took a while, and there was still a level of training required to get enough crews in place to support the extra services.
It's diagrammed for 3, and sometimes there have been adhoc additional services worked to get the sets in the right place. It goes up to 4 on Monday, and hopefully 5 in June.