Bedford and LNER

[Hb06_]

Hi everyone. Just wondering if LNER stop at or pass through Bedford without stopping? Getting some mixed results on Google.

Thanks.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Hi everyone. Just wondering if LNER stop at or pass through Bedford without stopping? Getting some mixed results on Google.

Thanks.

Nope just EMR and Thameslink as it is on the MML not the ECML.

 

[Hb06_]

Nope just EMR and Thameslink as it is on the MML not the ECML.

Okay, thanks for the reply. In that case, where would be the nearest LNER station to Bedford then?

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Okay, thanks for the reply. In that case, where would be the nearest LNER station to Bedford then?

Stevenage

 

[Glenn1969]

Nearest ECML station is Sandy which I think is in Bedfordshire but LNER don't stop there

 

[55018ballymoss]

Hi everyone. Just wondering if LNER stop at or pass through Bedford without stopping? Getting some mixed results on Google.

Thanks.

It depends what you are asking for in Google. In a few weekends time there are no services to and from London Kings Cross. LNER services are terminating short (St Neots possibly?) and there is a replacement bus link to Bedford for passengers to continue their journeys to/from London using EMR or Thameslink.
So it might appear that LNER are running via Bedford but it is just alternative arrangements made because of engineering work at Kings Cross.

 

[dan4291]

Have LNER trains ever diverted via the MML like Hull Trains did recently?

 

[PHILIPE]

Hi everyone. Just wondering if LNER stop at or pass through Bedford without stopping? Getting some mixed results on Google.

Thanks.

Real Time Trains will answer your initial question

 

[43095john]

Have LNER trains ever diverted via the MML like Hull Trains did recently?

No, mainly due to lack of Capacity and would also involve either a lengthy diversion or missing out all intermediate stations south of Doncaster.

Far more logisitically viable to terminate at St Neots, bus passengers to Bedford for the existing TL/EMR services south.

Also unsure if IETs are cleared for the MML? Im aware last time Hull Trains diverted that way they used 180s and their HST hire in set instead of the few 802s they had in service by then.

 

[Hb06_]

It depends what you are asking for in Google. In a few weekends time there are no services to and from London Kings Cross. LNER services are terminating short (St Neots possibly?) and there is a replacement bus link to Bedford for passengers to continue their journeys to/from London using EMR or Thameslink.
So it might appear that LNER are running via Bedford but it is just alternative arrangements made because of engineering work at Kings Cross.

When will that be happening? Would they just pass through Bedford, and not stop?

Also unsure if IETs are cleared for the MML? Im aware last time Hull Trains diverted that way they used 180s and their HST hire in set instead of the few 802s they had in service by then.

I think you are right there, I have never seen GWR IETs on the Chiltern Main Line in Banbury either.

 

[Hb06_]

Nearest ECML station is Sandy which I think is in Bedfordshire but LNER don't stop there

Great, thanks for letting me know. I'd like to take a look at one of their IETs which I've yet to find. (even on GWR)

 

[Hb06_]

It seems like Google Maps aren't getting the right idea then...

 

[Darandio]

When will that be happening? Would they just pass through Bedford, and not stop?

I think you've misunderstood here. LNER are not passing through Bedford at all.

 

[pdeaves]

When will that be happening? Would they just pass through Bedford, and not stop?

Not at all. What the post meant was that a computer algorithm may give the appearance of LNER serving Bedford but it won't (not with trains, anyway, just buses from its usual line of route).

 

[DarloRich]

If you are in Bedford get the X5 down to St Neots and you will see many LNER's. Maybe wait till all this CV19 stuff blows over mind!

 

[Hb06_]

I think you've misunderstood here. LNER are not passing through Bedford at all.

Not at all. What the post meant was that a computer algorithm may give the appearance of LNER serving Bedford but it won't (not with trains, anyway, just buses from its usual line of route).

Got it, didn't really understand.

If you are in Bedford get the X5 down to St Neots and you will see many LNER's. Maybe wait till all this CV19 stuff blows over mind!

St Neots sounds like a good spot. Yup, I'll wait till some more restrctions are lifted!

 

[fishquinn]

I think you are right there, I have never seen GWR IETs on the Chiltern Main Line in Banbury either.

Under normal circumstances there's two GWR IETs to Banbury a day, one in the morning and one in the evening

 

[LMS 4F]

Got it, didn't really understand.


St Neots sounds like a good spot. Yup, I'll wait till some more restrctions are lifted!

I would have thought Sandy was closer than St Neots, that where I biked to all those years ago to see A4s and the like.

 

[Tom]

Google Maps will be showing LNER as existing at Bedford because they do have rail replacement buses filed in the system between St Neots and Bedford. See https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N30110/2020-06-20 for example. The systems likely don't discriminate between rail and bus in this way, more it's an operator that serves it.

 

[cactustwirly]

No, mainly due to lack of Capacity and would also involve either a lengthy diversion or missing out all intermediate stations south of Doncaster.

Far more logisitically viable to terminate at St Neots, bus passengers to Bedford for the existing TL/EMR services south.

Also unsure if IETs are cleared for the MML? Im aware last time Hull Trains diverted that way they used 180s and their HST hire in set instead of the few 802s they had in service by then.

Platform lengths at St Pancras would stop them using IETs as they wouldn't be able to share platforms with 222s

 

[brompton rail]

No, mainly due to lack of Capacity and would also involve either a lengthy diversion or missing out all intermediate stations south of Doncaster.

Far more logisitically viable to terminate at St Neots, bus passengers to Bedford for the existing TL/EMR services south.

Also unsure if IETs are cleared for the MML? Im aware last time Hull Trains diverted that way they used 180s and their HST hire in set instead of the few 802s they had in service by then.

LNER,no, but BR did! When ECML was being electrified some East Coast services were diverted from Doncaster to St Pancras. Routed via Rotherham Masborough, the Old Road (Barrow Hill) to Chesterfield, then via the Erewash Valley direct to Trent Junction, and down MML via Leicester. East Coast HSTs were used, with crews from MML. Remember this was BR and MML used HSTs anyway, so no problems. It was intended to operate for several weekends but cancelled after only one weekend. Don’t know why as on the Saturday in question it worked well and on time. Non stop from Doncaster but crew Change stops were made, though I can’t remember where. And, sorry I cannot remember the date!

 

[Ianno87]

LNER,no, but BR did! When ECML was being electrified some East Coast services were diverted from Doncaster to St Pancras. Routed via Rotherham Masborough, the Old Road (Barrow Hill) to Chesterfield, then via the Erewash Valley direct to Trent Junction, and down MML via Leicester. East Coast HSTs were used, with crews from MML. Remember this was BR and MML used HSTs anyway, so no problems. It was intended to operate for several weekends but cancelled after only one weekend. Don’t know why as on the Saturday in question it worked well and on time. Non stop from Doncaster but crew Change stops were made, though I can’t remember where. And, sorry I cannot remember the date!

Pre-privatisation the basic MML long distance service was only about 3 or 4 train s every two hours

Now it's 5 trains an hour all day.

 

[brompton rail]

Pre-privatisation the basic MML long distance service was only about 3 or 4 train s every two hours

Now it's 5 trains an hour all day.

Clearly East Coast diversions via MML are not now feasible. Capacity all along the route and St Pancras would make it impossible. Previously there have been a few EC diversions via March and Cambridge to Kings Cross.

 

[ainsworth74]

Previously there have been a few EC diversions via March and Cambridge to Kings Cross.

They of course still do use that route. I was on one just after Christmas.

The problem here is that St Pancras terminal capacity is constrained and that the works themselves are occurring at Kings Cross so that is also closed (and elsewhere as well but Kings Cross being shut is the biggy). Going via Cambridge doesn't really help you when you've got nowhere to go to terminate in London...

 

[Class 170101]

The only way you could do it would be to extend the St Pancras to Sheffield services onto Doncaster and the St Pancras to Nottingham services onto Grantham and change at the respective stations.

Clearly if the private companies thought like BR it might be possible to have St Pancras to Edinburgh with a change of crew atr Doncaster but as yet IETs don't serve St Pancras but thats will probably change shortly with Hull Trains if they are back running by August time.

 

[London Trains]

Also unsure if IETs are cleared for the MML? Im aware last time Hull Trains diverted that way they used 180s and their HST hire in set instead of the few 802s they had in service by then.

They most likely arent currently cleared, but will be when EMRs 804s are delivered. It remains to see if any diversions happen in the future.

 

[Nippy]

The 804s (thought they were 810s) are entirely different to the 800/801/802s. So don't assume that because the 24m EMR units are cleared the 26m ones are automatically cleared...

 

[Haywain]

Clearly if the private companies thought like BR it might be possible to have St Pancras to Edinburgh with a change of crew atr Doncaster

That rather overlooks the availability of drivers with suitable traction or route knowledge. Under BR all drivers, freight and passenger, worked for the same company so it was much less of a problem.

 

[43096]

The only way you could do it would be to extend the St Pancras to Sheffield services onto Doncaster and the St Pancras to Nottingham services onto Grantham and change at the respective stations.

Back when Stagecoach ran both franchises they did extend the St. Pancras - Nottingham service to Grantham on weekends when engineering work blocked the King’s Cross route.

 

[ainsworth74]

Back when Stagecoach ran both franchises they did extend the St. Pancras - Nottingham service to Grantham on weekends when engineering work blocked the King’s Cross route.

Yes I used one of them. It was totally dead. A sample size of one doesn't mean much of course but it wasn't that encouraging! Nice idea though.