Many years ago a staff train to King's Cross was put into passenger service. Later this was split into a couple of services, with a new train running from WGC at 0400 today (and another via Hertford).
However, for ages there has been a train north in the morning running as a staff train. 2R00. This is not in public service and never features on any displays. It's not even routinely dispatched by platform staff. It's like a ghost train!
It leaves King's Cross at 0412 and arrives at Letchworth at 0507. It makes many stops along the way, although sometimes it will just roll through without stopping when there's nobody having requested a pick up or drop off. It has to keep to a timetable though, so running in service would have minimal impact given it would never have long dwell times at that time of the day.
The obvious question is why hasn't it ever been considered for running in public service? It would be a blessing for shift workers who currently have to wait some time for the first northbound service from KGX (and suffer badly if and when this is delayed or cancelled).
Is it simply that it would need someone to shut it down at Letchworth for it to run empty to Stevenage? If that's the case, it's not that difficult to arrange is it?
However, for ages there has been a train north in the morning running as a staff train. 2R00. This is not in public service and never features on any displays. It's not even routinely dispatched by platform staff. It's like a ghost train!
It leaves King's Cross at 0412 and arrives at Letchworth at 0507. It makes many stops along the way, although sometimes it will just roll through without stopping when there's nobody having requested a pick up or drop off. It has to keep to a timetable though, so running in service would have minimal impact given it would never have long dwell times at that time of the day.
The obvious question is why hasn't it ever been considered for running in public service? It would be a blessing for shift workers who currently have to wait some time for the first northbound service from KGX (and suffer badly if and when this is delayed or cancelled).
Is it simply that it would need someone to shut it down at Letchworth for it to run empty to Stevenage? If that's the case, it's not that difficult to arrange is it?