Whistler40145
Established Member
Class 50s from London Euston to Glasgow Central using Mk 1s
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Create your fictional UK train service
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RailUK Forums
- Merseyrail to Preston, Skem, Wigan WW, Warrington Central, Wrexham.
- Hourly express Liverpool - Crewe - Stoke - Nottingham - Loughborough - Corby - Kettering.
- Hourly express Liverpool - Preston - Glasgow/Edinburgh (split).
- Hourly express Liverpool - Chester - Wrexham - Shrewsbury - Newport - Cardiff - Swansea/Bristol - Bath - Southampton - Portsmouth (split).
- Hourly Liverpool - Birmingham - London express, in addition to stopper.
- Restore half hourly Liverpool - Manchester - Leeds - Newcastle.
- Hourly express Liverpool - Crewe - Stoke - Nottingham - Loughborough - Corby - Kettering.
- Hourly express Liverpool - Preston - Glasgow/Edinburgh (split).
- Hourly express Liverpool - Chester - Wrexham - Shrewsbury - Newport - Cardiff - Swansea/Bristol - Bath - Southampton - Portsmouth (split).
- Hourly Liverpool - Birmingham - London express, in addition to stopper.
- Restore half hourly Liverpool - Manchester - Leeds - Newcastle.
Assuming the return of a "British Rail" style operator (public or private), key thing is that TOCs don't enter into the equation anymore:
XC/GWR/Chiltern:
Revise services on the Reading-Oxford-Birmingham axis.
1tph from Bournemouth to Birmingham and beyond via Coventry, as now. Northern destination to vary depending on the hour, on a repeating multi-hour cycle.
1tph from Paddington to Birmingham and beyond via Warwick, forming one of the two Paddington-Oxford trains per hour. Two trains a day to start back from Portsmouth Harbour via Guildford instead, one departing at around 0805 from Portsmouth (sorry, nostalgic personal reasons...) and in those hours a separate Paddington-Oxford will run. Again northern destination varies on a repeating multi-hour cycle.
1tph from Paddington to Worcester, as now
Chiltern route to remain at the current 1tph to Birmingham, to avoid congesting the line (due to the existence of the Paddington-Birmingham hourly service providing an alternative second London service). Divert Chiltern into New Street. All remaining Chiltern services to call at High Wycombe then Banbury, and onwards as now. Runs roughly on the opposite half-hour to the Paddington-Birmingham.
A common pool of InterCity-grade bi-mode stock to be used on all these services, with 6-car trains at quiet times and 12-car at busy times. All services to have a buffet car.
Once HS2 is complete, add an hourly IC-quality service from Brighton up the WCML, like a modern version of the 1986 XC pattern. Calling at Gatwick, East Croydon, Clapham, Kensington, Watford, MKC then alternating Birmingham/Manchester. Stock would be a dual-voltage (third rail/OHLE) version of the stock used for the XC/GWR/Chiltern group, above. (This is a serious suggestion - arguably the classic WCML should be used for something a bit more imaginative than just residual Euston services post-HS2, and such a service would actually serve several classes of intermediate journey).
Additionally, once HS2 is complete, divert alternate Bournemouth services (those heading for Manchester or Scotland) via EWR, MKC and the WCML. Replace the lost via-Banbury services with a two-hourly Portsmouth-Birmingham via Guildford and Reading.
SWR:
Return the Portsmouth Direct to the 15-min pattern that existed before Covid, but use only 444s, or 444/450 combos, on the fasts (this could be achieved by converting some 444s on the xx09 and xx39 mainline services to 450).
Give a better spread of services at places like New Milton and Christchurch by running the Brockenhurst-Poole stopper as a shuttle connecting off the faster Weymouth service at Brockenhurst.
Re-introduce the xx39 semi-fast but terminate at Brockenhurst to accommodate the Poole service being a separate shuttle, interworking with the Brockenhurst-Poole shuttle only where operationally convenient. All services to stop at Beaulieu Road.
xx09 and xx39 Waterloo to both stop at Farnborough and Fleet
Add Swaythling and St Denys stops to the above service, and retime the Salisbury stopper so that these two stations get a reasonably even-interval service.
Introduce a second Southampton-Portsmouth local semi-fast service giving places like Woolston, Netley etc 2tph.
Transfer West Byfleet stops from the Altons to the Basingstoke stoppers, to give the Alton line the faster service it used to have in the 90s.
Southern/Thameslink:
Focus Thameslink only on the London Bridge-East Croydon-Gatwick-Brighton corridor and Wimbledon circulars. Thin out Thameslink a little (e.g a simple 15-min interval to Gatwick and Brighton) to accommodate the two services below, if necessary. Make Thameslink less complex by focusing only on the MML route at the northern end, as before (I realise this may not be popular...)
Restore the old Victoria-Brighton fast, calling at Clapham Junction and East Croydon
Convert Gatwick Express to be a regular-fare 15-minutely shuttle service, calling at Clapham Junction and to act as a "crowdbuster" keeping the longer-distance services more free of airport passengers
Speed up Southampton-Brighton so it's a genuinely fast service, calling at the same stops that the old '46' Victoria-Southampton CIG used to back in the day.
GWR:
Bring back the through Bedwyn. Add a second Paddington-Newbury on the opposite half hour in the hours the Exeter semi-fast doesn't run, i.e. bring back the original 2019 pattern.
Nah, 87s with Mk-III. 50s belong on the WR and Waterloo-Exeter.
XC/GWR/Chiltern:
Revise services on the Reading-Oxford-Birmingham axis.
1tph from Bournemouth to Birmingham and beyond via Coventry, as now. Northern destination to vary depending on the hour, on a repeating multi-hour cycle.
1tph from Paddington to Birmingham and beyond via Warwick, forming one of the two Paddington-Oxford trains per hour. Two trains a day to start back from Portsmouth Harbour via Guildford instead, one departing at around 0805 from Portsmouth (sorry, nostalgic personal reasons...) and in those hours a separate Paddington-Oxford will run. Again northern destination varies on a repeating multi-hour cycle.
1tph from Paddington to Worcester, as now
Chiltern route to remain at the current 1tph to Birmingham, to avoid congesting the line (due to the existence of the Paddington-Birmingham hourly service providing an alternative second London service). Divert Chiltern into New Street. All remaining Chiltern services to call at High Wycombe then Banbury, and onwards as now. Runs roughly on the opposite half-hour to the Paddington-Birmingham.
A common pool of InterCity-grade bi-mode stock to be used on all these services, with 6-car trains at quiet times and 12-car at busy times. All services to have a buffet car.
Once HS2 is complete, add an hourly IC-quality service from Brighton up the WCML, like a modern version of the 1986 XC pattern. Calling at Gatwick, East Croydon, Clapham, Kensington, Watford, MKC then alternating Birmingham/Manchester. Stock would be a dual-voltage (third rail/OHLE) version of the stock used for the XC/GWR/Chiltern group, above. (This is a serious suggestion - arguably the classic WCML should be used for something a bit more imaginative than just residual Euston services post-HS2, and such a service would actually serve several classes of intermediate journey).
Additionally, once HS2 is complete, divert alternate Bournemouth services (those heading for Manchester or Scotland) via EWR, MKC and the WCML. Replace the lost via-Banbury services with a two-hourly Portsmouth-Birmingham via Guildford and Reading.
SWR:
Return the Portsmouth Direct to the 15-min pattern that existed before Covid, but use only 444s, or 444/450 combos, on the fasts (this could be achieved by converting some 444s on the xx09 and xx39 mainline services to 450).
Give a better spread of services at places like New Milton and Christchurch by running the Brockenhurst-Poole stopper as a shuttle connecting off the faster Weymouth service at Brockenhurst.
Re-introduce the xx39 semi-fast but terminate at Brockenhurst to accommodate the Poole service being a separate shuttle, interworking with the Brockenhurst-Poole shuttle only where operationally convenient. All services to stop at Beaulieu Road.
xx09 and xx39 Waterloo to both stop at Farnborough and Fleet
Add Swaythling and St Denys stops to the above service, and retime the Salisbury stopper so that these two stations get a reasonably even-interval service.
Introduce a second Southampton-Portsmouth local semi-fast service giving places like Woolston, Netley etc 2tph.
Transfer West Byfleet stops from the Altons to the Basingstoke stoppers, to give the Alton line the faster service it used to have in the 90s.
Southern/Thameslink:
Focus Thameslink only on the London Bridge-East Croydon-Gatwick-Brighton corridor and Wimbledon circulars. Thin out Thameslink a little (e.g a simple 15-min interval to Gatwick and Brighton) to accommodate the two services below, if necessary. Make Thameslink less complex by focusing only on the MML route at the northern end, as before (I realise this may not be popular...)
Restore the old Victoria-Brighton fast, calling at Clapham Junction and East Croydon
Convert Gatwick Express to be a regular-fare 15-minutely shuttle service, calling at Clapham Junction and to act as a "crowdbuster" keeping the longer-distance services more free of airport passengers
Speed up Southampton-Brighton so it's a genuinely fast service, calling at the same stops that the old '46' Victoria-Southampton CIG used to back in the day.
GWR:
Bring back the through Bedwyn. Add a second Paddington-Newbury on the opposite half hour in the hours the Exeter semi-fast doesn't run, i.e. bring back the original 2019 pattern.
Nah, 87s with Mk-III. 50s belong on the WR and Waterloo-Exeter.
Last edited:
devon_belle
Member
I would add in many more cross country (XC) paths, force them to be priced competitively for long distances compared to air travel. Instead of First/Standard class, I would have carriages for 'long distance' travelers separate from those for shorter journeys. I would also introduce XC services along the South coast (e.g. Hastings to Plymouth), and other routes that don't necessarily follow the spine of the country.
Sad Sprinter
Established Member
I’d say I’d enact my treasured plan for a Euston to Bradford service, nonstop to Manchester Victoria, but as someone pointed out after working out the timings on a similar thread, it would take too long to reach Bradford.
I’d still do St Pancras to Man Victoria though, calling at St Albans, Luton and Derby.
I’d certainly create a raft of new Overground routes, such as recreating the LCDR’s old City Line from Victoria to Blackfriars, with a stop at Battersea Power Station, and rebuilt Clapham North interchange. Would also create a Clapham Junction to Lewisham and beyond Overground service, replacing the existing East London Line service with a stop added at Brockley for interchange.
I’d create a “Northern Intercity” brand, replacing transpennine and with the following routes:
Nottingham to Bradford via Leeds (fast)
Birmingham to Leeds via Stoke
Blackpool to Hull via Manchester and Sheffield (non stop Preston to Manchester)
In a perfect world, I’d bin the Thameslink services on the East Coast and run the Great Morthern Electric services, as an Overground line, through the core into South London
I’d still do St Pancras to Man Victoria though, calling at St Albans, Luton and Derby.
I’d certainly create a raft of new Overground routes, such as recreating the LCDR’s old City Line from Victoria to Blackfriars, with a stop at Battersea Power Station, and rebuilt Clapham North interchange. Would also create a Clapham Junction to Lewisham and beyond Overground service, replacing the existing East London Line service with a stop added at Brockley for interchange.
I’d create a “Northern Intercity” brand, replacing transpennine and with the following routes:
Nottingham to Bradford via Leeds (fast)
Birmingham to Leeds via Stoke
Blackpool to Hull via Manchester and Sheffield (non stop Preston to Manchester)
In a perfect world, I’d bin the Thameslink services on the East Coast and run the Great Morthern Electric services, as an Overground line, through the core into South London
RobShipway
Established Member
- Joined
- 20 Sep 2009
- Messages
- 3,337
If my memory serves me correct used to run once a week every Saturday during the summer timetables?
Bartsimho
Member
Some reorganisation of TL routes and services as I feel like services through the core would be better as TfL Overground services and those not through the core shouldn't be counted as Thameslink.
Bedford - Brighton (TfL)
London Blackfriars (bay platforms) - Sutton (Loop Service under TfL) (TfL can claim to be supporting Sutton more and they can add their branding and visibility to the services)
Luton - Sevenoaks (TfL)
London Bridge - Horsham (Southern)
Derby-Worksop (EMR) (Better if HS2 ever has it's Eastern Leg and I prefer the Toton site for an interchange which this would serve)
Bedford - Brighton (TfL)
London Blackfriars (bay platforms) - Sutton (Loop Service under TfL) (TfL can claim to be supporting Sutton more and they can add their branding and visibility to the services)
Luton - Sevenoaks (TfL)
London Bridge - Horsham (Southern)
Derby-Worksop (EMR) (Better if HS2 ever has it's Eastern Leg and I prefer the Toton site for an interchange which this would serve)
GatwickDepress
Established Member
In the 1960s, there were direct seasonal Motorail sleeper trains to Glasgow too. Believe they ran three nights a week throughout the summer.
Whistler40145
Established Member
Rather not have Mk.3sAssuming the return of a "British Rail" style operator (public or private), key thing is that TOCs don't enter into the equation anymore:
XC/GWR/Chiltern:
Revise services on the Reading-Oxford-Birmingham axis.
1tph from Bournemouth to Birmingham and beyond via Coventry, as now. Northern destination to vary depending on the hour, on a repeating multi-hour cycle.
1tph from Paddington to Birmingham and beyond via Warwick, forming one of the two Paddington-Oxford trains per hour. Two trains a day to start back from Portsmouth Harbour via Guildford instead, one departing at around 0805 from Portsmouth (sorry, nostalgic personal reasons...) and in those hours a separate Paddington-Oxford will run. Again northern destination varies on a repeating multi-hour cycle.
1tph from Paddington to Worcester, as now
Chiltern route to remain at the current 1tph to Birmingham, to avoid congesting the line (due to the existence of the Paddington-Birmingham hourly service providing an alternative second London service). Divert Chiltern into New Street. All remaining Chiltern services to call at High Wycombe then Banbury, and onwards as now. Runs roughly on the opposite half-hour to the Paddington-Birmingham.
A common pool of InterCity-grade bi-mode stock to be used on all these services, with 6-car trains at quiet times and 12-car at busy times. All services to have a buffet car.
Once HS2 is complete, add an hourly IC-quality service from Brighton up the WCML, like a modern version of the 1986 XC pattern. Calling at Gatwick, East Croydon, Clapham, Kensington, Watford, MKC then alternating Birmingham/Manchester. Stock would be a dual-voltage (third rail/OHLE) version of the stock used for the XC/GWR/Chiltern group, above. (This is a serious suggestion - arguably the classic WCML should be used for something a bit more imaginative than just residual Euston services post-HS2, and such a service would actually serve several classes of intermediate journey).
Additionally, once HS2 is complete, divert alternate Bournemouth services (those heading for Manchester or Scotland) via EWR, MKC and the WCML. Replace the lost via-Banbury services with a two-hourly Portsmouth-Birmingham via Guildford and Reading.
SWR:
Return the Portsmouth Direct to the 15-min pattern that existed before Covid, but use only 444s, or 444/450 combos, on the fasts (this could be achieved by converting some 444s on the xx09 and xx39 mainline services to 450).
Give a better spread of services at places like New Milton and Christchurch by running the Brockenhurst-Poole stopper as a shuttle connecting off the faster Weymouth service at Brockenhurst.
Re-introduce the xx39 semi-fast but terminate at Brockenhurst to accommodate the Poole service being a separate shuttle, interworking with the Brockenhurst-Poole shuttle only where operationally convenient. All services to stop at Beaulieu Road.
xx09 and xx39 Waterloo to both stop at Farnborough and Fleet
Add Swaythling and St Denys stops to the above service, and retime the Salisbury stopper so that these two stations get a reasonably even-interval service.
Introduce a second Southampton-Portsmouth local semi-fast service giving places like Woolston, Netley etc 2tph.
Transfer West Byfleet stops from the Altons to the Basingstoke stoppers, to give the Alton line the faster service it used to have in the 90s.
Southern/Thameslink:
Focus Thameslink only on the London Bridge-East Croydon-Gatwick-Brighton corridor and Wimbledon circulars. Thin out Thameslink a little (e.g a simple 15-min interval to Gatwick and Brighton) to accommodate the two services below, if necessary. Make Thameslink less complex by focusing only on the MML route at the northern end, as before (I realise this may not be popular...)
Restore the old Victoria-Brighton fast, calling at Clapham Junction and East Croydon
Convert Gatwick Express to be a regular-fare 15-minutely shuttle service, calling at Clapham Junction and to act as a "crowdbuster" keeping the longer-distance services more free of airport passengers
Speed up Southampton-Brighton so it's a genuinely fast service, calling at the same stops that the old '46' Victoria-Southampton CIG used to back in the day.
GWR:
Bring back the through Bedwyn. Add a second Paddington-Newbury on the opposite half hour in the hours the Exeter semi-fast doesn't run, i.e. bring back the original 2019 pattern.
Nah, 87s with Mk-III. 50s belong on the WR and Waterloo-Exeter.
GrimsbyPacer
Established Member
Lincolnshire Railways:
Hourly all stopping services using Perry People Mover type trains.
Cleethorpes to Barton (Barton Line), Sheffield via Doncaster (Scunny Line), Sheffield via Retford (Brigg Line), Nottingham via Newark (Castle Line).
Sheffield via Lincoln to Skegness (Jolly Fisherman Line), Peterborough (Deeping Line).
Skegness to Nottingham via Grantham (Poacher Line).
Keep it simple, get rid of the Transpennine and LNER stuff.
Hourly all stopping services using Perry People Mover type trains.
Cleethorpes to Barton (Barton Line), Sheffield via Doncaster (Scunny Line), Sheffield via Retford (Brigg Line), Nottingham via Newark (Castle Line).
Sheffield via Lincoln to Skegness (Jolly Fisherman Line), Peterborough (Deeping Line).
Skegness to Nottingham via Grantham (Poacher Line).
Keep it simple, get rid of the Transpennine and LNER stuff.
Mzzzs
Member
Expand Emr intercity presence to take on more of the secondary intercity routes.
London to Huddersfield via Sheffield
London to Bradford via Sheffield
London to Cleethorpes via Lincoln/Nottingham
London to Huddersfield via Sheffield
London to Bradford via Sheffield
London to Cleethorpes via Lincoln/Nottingham
What’s wrong with the current fasts?
An open access operation in Lumo style between London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street, running non stop, 2/3 return journeys daily. The company will be called "Merseyside Express" (an homage to the named express between 1949 and 1966) and be run with Class 90s and a rake of PSVAR-compliant Mark 3 coaches. Sell the tickets cheaply (pre booking only) with room to modify stops to cater special events (eg Wembley).
mister-sparky
Member
This was actually an official plan by SE before Covid. The Hastings services would have run fast from tonbridge to London Bridge from December 2023! But was canned.
PacerTrain142
On Moderation
A few more services I’d like to see.
Exeter to Bristol via Weston Super Mare - GWR class 143 + 150
Bristol to Cardiff - Tfw Class 143 Pacer
Exmouth to Barnstaple - GWR class 143 pacer
London Paddington to Penzance - 8 coach HST
Penzance to Aberdeen sleeper calling at Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and Birmingham. Leaves late evening, arrives around mid morning.
Porishead to Bristol - GWR Class 153
Exeter to Bristol via Weston Super Mare - GWR class 143 + 150
Bristol to Cardiff - Tfw Class 143 Pacer
Exmouth to Barnstaple - GWR class 143 pacer
London Paddington to Penzance - 8 coach HST
Penzance to Aberdeen sleeper calling at Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and Birmingham. Leaves late evening, arrives around mid morning.
Porishead to Bristol - GWR Class 153
Purple Train
Established Member
I'd like to see (starting in the south-west):
Bere Alston-Tavistock reopened with double track north of the Tavy as far as Bere Alston. Plymouth-Tavistock 1tph, Tavistock-Gunnislake 1tph.
Reworking of the timetable in the Exeter area, with Plymouth-Okehampton, Paignton-Barnstaple, and Exmouth-Weston-super-Mare.
Thanet area services running as loops, with the following service patterns: Faversham, Whitstable, Chestfield & Swalecliffe, Herne Bay, Birchington-on-Sea, Westgate-on-Sea, Margate, Broadstairs, Dumpton Park, Ramsgate, Thanet Parkway, Minster, Sturry, Canterbury West, Chartham, Chilham, Wye, Ashford International, back to Ebbsfleet via HS1; Faversham, Selling, Canterbury East, Bekesbourne, Adisham, Aylesham, Snowdown, Shepherd's Well, Kearsney, Dover Priory, then all-shacks via Maidstone East; Faversham, Herne Bay, Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Deal, Walmer, Martin Mill, Dover Priory, Folkestone Central, then via HS1; and Ashford International, Canterbury West, Minster, Sandwich, Deal, Dover Priory, Folkestone Central, Folkestone West, HS1.
Heysham Port services going via Carnforth and Bentham to Leeds, Morecambe services interworking with the Manchester Airport-Barrow/Windermere services, Blackpool South-Colne-Ormskirk being properly integrated.
Extend the Kings Cross-Middlesbrough to Whitby - and introduce a similar level of service on Kings Cross-Scarborough, either via Hull or York.
Bere Alston-Tavistock reopened with double track north of the Tavy as far as Bere Alston. Plymouth-Tavistock 1tph, Tavistock-Gunnislake 1tph.
Reworking of the timetable in the Exeter area, with Plymouth-Okehampton, Paignton-Barnstaple, and Exmouth-Weston-super-Mare.
Thanet area services running as loops, with the following service patterns: Faversham, Whitstable, Chestfield & Swalecliffe, Herne Bay, Birchington-on-Sea, Westgate-on-Sea, Margate, Broadstairs, Dumpton Park, Ramsgate, Thanet Parkway, Minster, Sturry, Canterbury West, Chartham, Chilham, Wye, Ashford International, back to Ebbsfleet via HS1; Faversham, Selling, Canterbury East, Bekesbourne, Adisham, Aylesham, Snowdown, Shepherd's Well, Kearsney, Dover Priory, then all-shacks via Maidstone East; Faversham, Herne Bay, Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Deal, Walmer, Martin Mill, Dover Priory, Folkestone Central, then via HS1; and Ashford International, Canterbury West, Minster, Sandwich, Deal, Dover Priory, Folkestone Central, Folkestone West, HS1.
Heysham Port services going via Carnforth and Bentham to Leeds, Morecambe services interworking with the Manchester Airport-Barrow/Windermere services, Blackpool South-Colne-Ormskirk being properly integrated.
Extend the Kings Cross-Middlesbrough to Whitby - and introduce a similar level of service on Kings Cross-Scarborough, either via Hull or York.
miklcct
On Moderation
I'd like to see all stations services and all fast services on all the main lines, with no services running a mixture of stopping patterns:
i.e. on the South West Main Line:
Fast train: Waterloo - Woking - Basingstoke - Winchester - Southampton Airport - Southampton - Brockenhurst - Bournemouth - Poole - Wareham - Dorchester - Weymouth, using 2 x 444 (detach at Bournemouth)
Slow train: all stations from Waterloo - Weymouth without a single omission (except Holton Heath which is closed on Sundays), using 3 x 450 with a portion going to Portsmouth detaching at Eastleigh
On the Brighton main line:
Fast train: Victoria - Clapham Junction - East Croydon - Gatwick Airport - Haywards Heath - Brighton using 3 x 387
Slow train: all stations along the slow and Redhill lines (i.e. stopping all the way from Battersea Park at all South London suburban stations) without a single exception, using 3 x 377 with one unit detaching at Redhill for Reigate
On the Midland Main Line:
Fast train: St Pancras - Luton Airport Parkway - Luton - Bedford - stations northwards (EMR intercity)
Semi-fast train: St Pancras - West Hampstead - St Albans - Luton Airport Parkway - Luton - Bedford - Corby (EMR 360)
slow Thameslink train: core - St Pancras - all stations to Bedford (12 car 700)
i.e. on the South West Main Line:
Fast train: Waterloo - Woking - Basingstoke - Winchester - Southampton Airport - Southampton - Brockenhurst - Bournemouth - Poole - Wareham - Dorchester - Weymouth, using 2 x 444 (detach at Bournemouth)
Slow train: all stations from Waterloo - Weymouth without a single omission (except Holton Heath which is closed on Sundays), using 3 x 450 with a portion going to Portsmouth detaching at Eastleigh
On the Brighton main line:
Fast train: Victoria - Clapham Junction - East Croydon - Gatwick Airport - Haywards Heath - Brighton using 3 x 387
Slow train: all stations along the slow and Redhill lines (i.e. stopping all the way from Battersea Park at all South London suburban stations) without a single exception, using 3 x 377 with one unit detaching at Redhill for Reigate
On the Midland Main Line:
Fast train: St Pancras - Luton Airport Parkway - Luton - Bedford - stations northwards (EMR intercity)
Semi-fast train: St Pancras - West Hampstead - St Albans - Luton Airport Parkway - Luton - Bedford - Corby (EMR 360)
slow Thameslink train: core - St Pancras - all stations to Bedford (12 car 700)
Rail Quest
Member
Crewe to Preston via WCML operated by Northern calling at all stops. Northern class 331s for traction.
- Crewe
- Winsford
- Hartford
- Acton Bridge
- Warrington Bank Quay
- Wigan North Western
- Euxton Balshaw Lane
- Leyland
- Preston
Would perhaps create some decent links for people at the intermediate smaller stops. Such as how Winsford/Hartford/ACB and Euxton/Leyland don't currently have a service to Warrington/Wigan.
- Crewe
- Winsford
- Hartford
- Acton Bridge
- Warrington Bank Quay
- Wigan North Western
- Euxton Balshaw Lane
- Leyland
- Preston
Would perhaps create some decent links for people at the intermediate smaller stops. Such as how Winsford/Hartford/ACB and Euxton/Leyland don't currently have a service to Warrington/Wigan.
AlastairFraser
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 2,883
Widespread Motorail service reintroduction, but avoiding London this time and nights only (carriages built to updated UK loading gauge Eurotunnel spec, with one refreshment car and one toilet car).
5 carriage sets initially able to carry 15 cars, plus the refreshment and toilet cars. 10 Bi mode BR Class 88s (one at each end in service).
Use primarily freight terminals near to major roads, except for smaller towns and cities served e.g. Penzance
Initial service plan :
1a - Penzance - Plymouth - Exeter - Bristol - Birmingham - Derby - Sheffield - Doncaster - Hull.
1b - Penzance - Plymouth - Exeter - Bristol - Birmingham - Stoke - Manchester - Leeds.
2: Fishguard - Carmarthen - Swansea - Cardiff - Newport - Gloucester - Birmingham - Leicester - Peterborough - Ipswich - Harwich.
3. Holyhead - Chester - Warrington - Manchester- Leeds - York - Darlington - Newcastle - Edinburgh.
(Indicative of route, not final).
5 carriage sets initially able to carry 15 cars, plus the refreshment and toilet cars. 10 Bi mode BR Class 88s (one at each end in service).
Use primarily freight terminals near to major roads, except for smaller towns and cities served e.g. Penzance
Initial service plan :
1a - Penzance - Plymouth - Exeter - Bristol - Birmingham - Derby - Sheffield - Doncaster - Hull.
1b - Penzance - Plymouth - Exeter - Bristol - Birmingham - Stoke - Manchester - Leeds.
2: Fishguard - Carmarthen - Swansea - Cardiff - Newport - Gloucester - Birmingham - Leicester - Peterborough - Ipswich - Harwich.
3. Holyhead - Chester - Warrington - Manchester- Leeds - York - Darlington - Newcastle - Edinburgh.
(Indicative of route, not final).
Operated by Northern, fine, but why not use their class 319s once the 323s have arrived to provide a low cost option for implementing the service.
Rail Quest
Member
Talking more in an ideal world, especially considering the 319s acceleration leaves a lot to be desired considering the full-ness of that section of the WCML (particularly Winsford-Weaver Jnc.). If this service were to actually become a thing, I could see it having to utilize the slow lines wherever they exist (so Crewe-Winsford, Warrington, Wigan, and ofc Euxton-Preston) in order to allow for pathing so running with a fast accelerating unit like the 331 could possibly be the only way it could work.
Mind you, if this service were ever to become a thing, it would have to be quick for 319s to be used anyways considering how soon till they get withdrawn
Austriantrain
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 1,387
While I know that it is not physically possible on the existing infrastructure, in an ideal world I would heavily invest in the XC-network. Compared to other parts of the UK network it seems underserved.
That would consist in separating slower and faster services and running all on a 30-minute-Takt.
So for instance there would be slower services between Birmingham and Sheffield, and faster ones only stopping at Derby, both every half hour. Same between Birmingham and Bristol, Birmingham and the South Coast etc.
That would also enable much more direct connections because of the increased number of trains, for instance from Cardiff - and of course Liverpool would finally regain its XC services.
As I said, not feasible on the existing infrastructure and a shift change from a demand based to a supply-based timetable, but there you go.
That would consist in separating slower and faster services and running all on a 30-minute-Takt.
So for instance there would be slower services between Birmingham and Sheffield, and faster ones only stopping at Derby, both every half hour. Same between Birmingham and Bristol, Birmingham and the South Coast etc.
That would also enable much more direct connections because of the increased number of trains, for instance from Cardiff - and of course Liverpool would finally regain its XC services
. As I said, not feasible on the existing infrastructure and a shift change from a demand based to a supply-based timetable, but there you go.
heathrowrail
Member
Paddington to Birmingham Snow Hill via High Wycombe, Banbury, Leamington Spa & Birmingham Moor Street. Using GWR 800/802s.
Paignton to Birmingham Snow Hill using GWR 158/166s
Paignton to Birmingham Snow Hill using GWR 158/166s
A systematic pattern of non-stop services at least hourly every day between neighbouring city pairs.
eg Liverpool-Manchester-Leeds-York-Durham-Newcastle
Portsmouth-Southampton-Salisbury-Bath-Bristol-Cardiff
Norwich-Ely-Peterborough-Nottingham-Sheffield-Manchester-Liverpool
eg Liverpool-Manchester-Leeds-York-Durham-Newcastle
Portsmouth-Southampton-Salisbury-Bath-Bristol-Cardiff
Norwich-Ely-Peterborough-Nottingham-Sheffield-Manchester-Liverpool
AlastairFraser
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 2,883
Well, delving back into Crayonista territory, you could use the 319s on the Leeds/Donny stopper and swap them for the 331s lol.Talking more in an ideal world, especially considering the 319s acceleration leaves a lot to be desired considering the full-ness of that section of the WCML (particularly Winsford-Weaver Jnc.). If this service were to actually become a thing, I could see it having to utilize the slow lines wherever they exist (so Crewe-Winsford, Warrington, Wigan, and ofc Euxton-Preston) in order to allow for pathing so running with a fast accelerating unit like the 331 could possibly be the only way it could work.
Mind you, if this service were ever to become a thing, it would have to be quick for 319s to be used anyways considering how soon till they get withdrawn
PacerTrain142
On Moderation
I agree the pacers are not suited for long distance travel, but they are perfect for routes like:
Blackpool South to Preston
Bristol Temple Meads to Weston Super Mare
Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach
Exeter to Exmouth/Barnstaple/Paignton
Plymouth to Penzance
Cardiff Central to Barry Island
York to Scarborough
Portsmouth Harbour to London
Southampton to Bournemouth
I really like pacers on coastal routes, for some reason.
Would love to do something like Penzance to Paddington or Kings Cross to Edinburgh on a pacer.
Can you imagine a Penzance to Wick service, on a pacer, calling at every single station along the way? I wonder how long that would take?
Rail Quest
Member
D'you know what if MI5 used this as a torture method it would be the most successful in history
class 08 with a mark 3 rake on that route