Changes to LNR metro services to Euston

[wildcard]

Does anyone know why the Tring stopping service to Euston is now semi fast and its now the Milton Keynes service which stops at Apsley , Kings Langley and Bushey ?
Is this due to the disruption default was to suspend the Tring service - meaning unscheduled MK & Northants service stops - so now cancelling Tring doesn't require that anymore ?
It doesn't inconvenience me personally - in fact its a benefit - as I can always be sure of a seat on the Tring service into town. The occasional short formed 4 coach weekend service from Bletchley and beyond to Euston is/was totally unacceptable.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Does anyone know why the Tring stopping service to Euston is now semi fast and its now the Milton Keynes service which stops at Apsley , Kings Langley and Bushey ?
Is this due to the disruption default was to suspend the Tring service - meaning unscheduled MK & Northants service stops - so now cancelling Tring doesn't require that anymore ?

Yes, that's exactly why it was. It's pretty clever. Some people don't like it slowing down the MKC local by about 5 minutes is the downside, and they do need a few 12 car services (though they have added peak extras, while far more people are using them to Birmingham while Avanti aren't running a full service). I suspect the "12 car" issue will be resolved by the 730s running in 10-car formations on some very busy peak services.

It's a nicely designed timetable. It even has a Swiss style connection with the Marston Vale, or would have had if the 230s hadn't been withdrawn - the MV is scheduled to arrive, then you have a full cycle of arrivals/departures in both directions, then it departs again.

 

[87015]

No, Trings form MKs, so they can’t just “cancel the Trings” as their own agreements ban the step ups required. See today.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, Trings form MKs, so they can’t just “cancel the Trings” as their own agreements ban the step ups required. See today.

They need to sort those agreements, then, because it used to be the case that they pulled the Trings and added stops to the MKCs. I was aware they were interworked normally. Not agreeing this sort of step up for emergency situations is just pettiness.

 

[miklcct]

Aren't all metro services out of Euston operated by London Overground now? Where do LNR metro services go?

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Aren't all metro services out of Euston operated by London Overground now? Where do LNR metro services go?

Tring and Milton Keynes

 

[Bletchleyite]

Aren't all metro services out of Euston operated by London Overground now? Where do LNR metro services go?

They aren't really metro services, they're outersuburbans and regional services. MK is 50 miles from London!

 

[Mikey C]

Does anyone know why the Tring stopping service to Euston is now semi fast and its now the Milton Keynes service which stops at Apsley , Kings Langley and Bushey ?
Is this due to the disruption default was to suspend the Tring service - meaning unscheduled MK & Northants service stops - so now cancelling Tring doesn't require that anymore ?
It doesn't inconvenience me personally - in fact its a benefit - as I can always be sure of a seat on the Tring service into town. The occasional short formed 4 coach weekend service from Bletchley and beyond to Euston is/was totally unacceptable.

I had wondered the same yesterday, as I went up that way for the first time in a while. It might be operationally convenient, but it does seem odd from a passenger pov that the longer distance services are the stoppers, especially as Tring, the end of the semi-fast service is hardly the most important station on the line!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I had wondered the same yesterday, as I went up that way for the first time in a while. It might be operationally convenient, but it does seem odd from a passenger pov that the longer distance services are the stoppers, especially as Tring, the end of the semi-fast service is hardly the most important station on the line!

The answer is upthread. It makes a lot of operational sense, and the only station that really loses out is Cheddington, which is used by one man, his dog and bicycle once a week (pretty much), as Apsley and Kings Langley still have what they had (it just originates from MKC instead of Tring) and every other station has a faster service if they want it.

Have you used Tring much? It might be better named as "South East Buckinghamshire Parkway" and is a very busy station.

 

[sk688]

Have noticed a fair bit more revenue enforcement , i.e guards actually checking tickets rather than staying in the back cab , since the timetable change.

Had a poor guy handed to platform staff at Watford Junction for a ticket with the wrong railcard having boarded with me at Kings Langley. Probably the first time in years that I've had a check between Kings Langley and Watford

 

[87015]

Peak loadings are still terribly mismatched with a combination of near empty Trings beyond Watford and people left behind elsewhere

 

[Bletchleyite]

All show as standard class only from May, presumably latest attempt to manage loadings which are still terribly mismatched with a combination of near empty Trings and people left behind elsewhere

1st is only a short section of about half a vehicle, doubt it would make much difference. I'm all for LNR abolishing 1st anyway though, it's a sham.

 

[87015]

1st is only a short section of about half a vehicle, doubt it would make much difference. I'm all for LNR abolishing 1st anyway though, it's a sham.

Actually, the Birminghams still have it, but only part-route. Odd.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Actually, the Birminghams still have it, but only part-route. Odd.

So does the Crewe, only south of Rugby. How bizarre. Perhaps they've just made a muck of uploading the timetables.

 

[JonathanH]

1st is only a short section of about half a vehicle, doubt it would make much difference. I'm all for LNR abolishing 1st anyway though, it's a sham.

Removing first class in the South East may also be a useful step with Project Oval in mind.

 

[Kite159]

1st is only a short section of about half a vehicle, doubt it would make much difference. I'm all for LNR abolishing 1st anyway though, it's a sham.

Agreed there, maybe they have looked at the figures of first class season tickets & other first class tickets being sold and have decided to be similar to South Eastern and scrapping first class as a way to say "an extra 24(?) seats now available for passengers".

Any passengers wanting first class can travel on Avanti.

 

[Merle Haggard]

On the Euston - Birminghams it seems to show 'standard only Birmingham - Coventry, First and Standard southwards'.
In practice, that's what happens now. It seems to be because of the very cheap (used to be £3.50) West Midlands ticket valid between Coventry -& Wolverhampton. Virgin now Avant, L.M./LNW and Cross Country didn't/don't ever seem to check tickets between those points. Just too many short distance passengers; a Cross Country T.M. told me about this, and also said ' it's the same between Piccadilly and Stoke' (for different reasons).
Travelling from Northampton the First loads well, and when checked bilkers are rare (though sometimes someone is making a lot of hasty inputs to their smart phone when the T.M. appears ). Of course, we don't have the benefit of an Avanti alternative - although sometimes a passenger asks the T.M. when the coffee will be coming

 

[Bletchleyite]

On the Euston - Birminghams it seems to show 'standard only Birmingham - Coventry, First and Standard southwards'.
In practice, that's what happens now. It seems to be because of the very cheap (used to be £3.50) West Midlands ticket valid between Coventry -& Wolverhampton. Virgin now Avant, L.M./LNW and Cross Country didn't/don't ever seem to check tickets between those points. Just too many short distance passengers; a Cross Country T.M. told me about this, and also said ' it's the same between Piccadilly and Stoke' (for different reasons).
Travelling from Northampton the First loads well, and when checked bilkers are rare (though sometimes someone is making a lot of hasty inputs to their smart phone when the T.M. appears ). Of course, we don't have the benefit of an Avanti alternative - although sometimes a passenger asks the T.M. when the coffee will be coming

I suppose it can be busy, but I've never seen the point in paying extra for a lower quality of accommodation, unless you're a massive fan of curtains or something. The only reason that used to exist was sockets, but other than the /2s they are now fitted at every seat.