December 2024 timetable change

[dk1]

This month's MR has a feature on the increase in industry revenue in the last quarter - revenue from business travellers is up 25% and is now worth about £1billion!

Yes good news and not a surprise to many on the ground. Haven’t opened my November edition yet but will get a chance not peruse it tomorrow all being well.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

This month's MR has a feature on the increase in industry revenue in the last quarter - revenue from business travellers is up 25% and is now worth about £1billion!

Revenue keeps growing but it's being kept quiet, I've always said as long as it's growing as an industry there will be pressures to increase capacity again rather than shrink it

 

[InkyScrolls]

To clarify the Triangle services, the plan is for three 333s to work Leeds - Doncaster, the remainder (excepting repairs of course) to be on Bradford - Leeds/Ilkley/Skipton. Leeds - Ilkley/Skipton will be 331+331. However this will likely not take affect until May next year now, aside from occasional 333 runs to Doncaster for training/contingency purposes, as happens at present. The 333s are to lose their unique PA system later this year.

 

[Class 170101]

Revenue keeps growing but it's being kept quiet, I've always said as long as it's growing as an industry there will be pressures to increase capacity again rather than shrink it

Why keep it quiet?

 

[Goldfish62]

Why keep it quiet?

Except it's not being kept quiet. It's clearly there in the published stats.

 

[GoneSouth]

K

The 333s are to lose their unique PA system later this year.

That’s a shame, they should roll that out everywhere instead of the one northern have on all the other trains.

Welcome to the Sheffield train
Welcome to the Blackpool train
Welcome to the Poppleton train etc

Very welcoming.

How many 333s are there btw? I loved them when they arrived, such a relief from flippin’ pacers, even if most of WY’s pacers were slightly better 144s versions

 

[D6130]

How many 333s are there btw?

16. There's even an amusing song about them, written and performed by Otley-based folk singer/songwriter/rail enthusiast Dave Vermond. I think there may be a video of him singing it somewhere on YouTube. Will have to see if I can find it.

 

[GoneSouth]

16. There's even an amusing song about them, written and performed by Otley-based folk singer/songwriter/rail enthusiast Dave Vermond. I think there may be a video of him singing it somewhere on YouTube. Will have to see if I can find it.

Thanks for the tip off, I found it. Brilliant stuff!

Its a class 333,
Got a face like a bumble bee,
There are 16 unit numbers to collect
(Takes about a week!)

Link is to YouTube video of Dave Vermond performing The Old 333 in Otley

Looking very smart in their newish blue and white last time I passed through Leeds, but not quite as smart as the Metro red!

 

[InkyScrolls]

That’s a shame, they should roll that out everywhere instead of the one northern have on all the other trains.

Welcome to the Sheffield train
Welcome to the Blackpool train
Welcome to the Poppleton train etc

Very welcoming.

I agree! Unfortunately the voice actor died several years ago.

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

That at least explains the glorious absence of "See It, Say It, Sorted" on the Triangle services.

I mean "Welcome to the Leeds train" conveys the same information as "welcome aboard the 1426 Northern service to Leeds" but in a much more friendly tone. It'll be a shame when it goes!

 

[skyhigh]

I agree! Unfortunately the voice actor died several years ago.

That'll be news to him. As far as I'm aware he's still working and producing voice overs!

 

[InkyScrolls]

That'll be news to him. As far as I'm aware he's still working and producing voice overs!

Perhaps I should let him know?

Interesting - I've fallen for 'fake news' in that case! Or perhaps the Mandela Effect.

 

[The exile]

Except it's not being kept quiet. It's clearly there in the published stats.

There’s a big difference between publishing a report (ie not concealing) and making it the subject of press conferences / releases etc. It needs mainstream journalists to keep plugging away with the story, but there are much more “sexy” stories.

 

[Goldfish62]

There’s a big difference between publishing a report (ie not concealing) and making it the subject of press conferences / releases etc. It needs mainstream journalists to keep plugging away with the story, but there are much more “sexy” stories.

Given everything that's happening in this country and elsewhere in the world I really don't think that "railway revenue is continuing to increase" is at all newsworthy. It will of course be covered in great detail in Modern Railways and I'll be reading that article with interest.

 

[The exile]

Given everything that's happening in this country and elsewhere in the world I really don't think that "railway revenue is continuing to increase" is at all newsworthy. It will of course be covered in great detail in Modern Railways and I'll be reading that article with interest.

Exactly. It would take a particularly determined journalist to give the momentum needed to cut through what are tbh more important issues.

 

[Johnhayworth21]

Any considerably big changes for WMT and the west midlands area?

 

[xotGD]

To clarify the Triangle services, the plan is for three 333s to work Leeds - Doncaster, the remainder (excepting repairs of course) to be on Bradford - Leeds/Ilkley/Skipton. Leeds - Ilkley/Skipton will be 331+331. However this will likely not take affect until May next year now, aside from occasional 333 runs to Doncaster for training/contingency purposes, as happens at present. The 333s are to lose their unique PA system later this year.

Thanks for the update. A pity about the delay.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

Given everything that's happening in this country and elsewhere in the world I really don't think that "railway revenue is continuing to increase" is at all newsworthy. It will of course be covered in great detail in Modern Railways and I'll be reading that article with interest.

While very true, it's a problem - I don't see the transport ministers going round and saying it either

 

[amarshe]

My guessing is the additional norwood junction to London Bridge service will probably run with 6 coaches as arrive at London Bridge, they then get used for the Beckenham Junction service

So those in the know will still catch the current services (say, xx28 and xx58 from Forest Hill to London Bridge which are usually 10 coaches with available seats) those extra four peak morning services will hopefully take some of the strain off the overground services which are rammed at that time.

There's some padding on those extra services though 14 mins from New Cross Gate to London Bridge! I've been travelling on that line frequently but intermittently since the 1990s; is it the rebuild of London Bridge which has led to less throughput for trains from Sydenham/Peckham in favour of Thameslink and Kent trains?

 

[Bald Rick]

is it the rebuild of London Bridge which has led to less throughput for trains from Sydenham/Peckham in favour of Thameslink and Kent trains?

No, its the changed travel patterns, and overall capacity on the line.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

No, its the changed travel patterns, and overall capacity on the line.

London Overground service to Canada Water is a far better interchange than going into London Bdge and battling your way to the Jubilee line

 

[70014IronDuke]

Given everything that's happening in this country and elsewhere in the world I really don't think that "railway revenue is continuing to increase" is at all newsworthy. It will of course be covered in great detail in Modern Railways and I'll be reading that article with interest.

It rather depends on 'how much' revenue is continuing to increase - but if business travel revenue is really increasing by 25% yoy that is massive, and most certainly is a newsworthy story for the FT, Economist and any half serious national newspaper transport-business correspondent/editor.

Obviously it is not in the same league as "Trump set to win White House" nor even "Celebrity couple XY set to split after Eight Weeks of Marriage", but it has implications for both immediate capacity issues and future transport, infrastructure and rolling stock needs - and any businesses involved with those sectors needs to know about such trends.

 

[GhostManDN91]

Not sure if anyone can confirm or discuss further? I overheard a Northern driver at Wigan mentioning that it's going to be mainly Class 158s and 323s at some point out of Wallgate/North Western on the Manchester routes. I'm not sure if this is the right place to comment that but caught my attention when I heard it.

 

[175001]

Not a chance. You'll still be seeing 150/156/769s for the foreseeable.

769s are going for exams, which means their lives will be prolonged.

 

[AMD]

The 769s are now on lease to Northern until 2027.
If going slightly off topic.

 

[amarshe]

No, its the changed travel patterns, and overall capacity on the line.

Ah I was just wondering if trains to London Bridge from Sydenham/Forest Hill etc. always faced a long trek from New Cross Gate, or is it just what it always was (and my memory of reliable 12 mins from Forest Hill to London Bridge is faulty)

 

[viscountviktor]

Any chance the 22:22 from Birmingham New Street to Leicester can be made any later? This is the last train.

 

[Timmyd]

Ah I was just wondering if trains to London Bridge from Sydenham/Forest Hill etc. always faced a long trek from New Cross Gate, or is it just what it always was (and my memory of reliable 12 mins from Forest Hill to London Bridge is faulty)

They have very long timetabled waits outside London Bridge. I imagine it’s a factor in the Southern trains being quite quiet while the Overground trains are very busy

 

[lookingatstell]

They have very long timetabled waits outside London Bridge. I imagine it’s a factor in the Southern trains being quite quiet while the Overground trains are very busy

Any idea if the recent signalling upgrades will be helping this? Quite frustrating outer London services are prioritised, 30 mins Crystal Palace to London Bridge is a bit silly.

 

[scrapy]

Not a chance. You'll still be seeing 150/156/769s for the foreseeable.

769s are going for exams, which means their lives will be prolonged