Derby-Crewe Meridian

[sd0733]

Due to the Watford blockade EMT have strengthened Derby-Crewe workings and one diagram is being operated by 222102.
Currently on 09:07 from Crewe so should next work 10:42 Derby-Crewe.
After that it should work 12:07 and 15:07 Crewe-derby and 13:42 and 16:42 Derby-Crewe.
Hope of interest/use to somebody.

 

[alex17595]

Also double 158s runng (799+810)

There is only 2 other people sat in my coach though.

This is what stoke had last weekend waiting for the 153!

 

[sd0733]

The other is a treble 153 (357+383+319). Of the ones iv seen going past none seem busy at all.

 

[alex17595]

The other is a treble 153 (357+383+319). Of the ones iv seen going past none seem busy at all.

I spent 2 hours at carlisle and 25 mins at crewe and I haven't heard any announcements about alternate routes into london. I assume its just busses from Rugby/MKC. People don't seem to know about the route really and it probably is faster to go via MKC. 1:30 Crewe to Derby (incl. A reasonable connection time) and 1:30 derby to London.

 

[Qwerty133]

Sounds about right for EMTs diagrammers! If a service is empty 74* coaches can be found, however any busy service can only be 1 coach.
These units will have come from London and Skegness/Matlock? services, all of which will be much busier than this. However when Derby to Crewe actually needs longer trains only 153s are provided!
*maybe a slight exaggeration

 

[D240]

Just picking up on the above, the 10.52 Derby - Matlock was formed of a single 153 and was totally wedged - even punters standing through the driver / guard doorways. Around 30 - 40 people were left on the platform to wait a full hour for the next service. So EMT might have anticipated increased passenger numbers on the Derby - Crewe (although they sound to have over reacted)... but they did not realise that there was a DMU gala at the EVR that took hundreds of additional passengers to Duffield!

 

[Qwerty133]

Just picking up on the above, the 10.52 Derby - Matlock was formed of a single 153 and was totally wedged - even punters standing through the driver / guard doorways. Around 30 - 40 people were left on the platform to wait a full hour for the next service. So EMT might have anticipated increased passenger numbers on the Derby - Crewe (although they sound to have over reacted)... but they did not realise that there was a DMU gala at the EVR that took hundreds of additional passengers to Duffiled!

As well as the usual crowds for Matlock Bath of course.
I don't know where the additional numbers were expected from as Crewe- St Pancras is quicker via Nuneaton and Leicester.

 

[Class 170101]

Sounds about right for EMTs diagrammers! If a service is empty 74* coaches can be found, however any busy service can only be 1 coach.
These units will have come from London and Skegness/Matlock? services, all of which will be much busier than this. However when Derby to Crewe actually needs longer trains only 153s are provided!
*maybe a slight exaggeration

London services may have been changed to HST from Meridian. I understand EMT don't work their HSTs particularly hard at the weekend.

 

[Qwerty133]

London services may have been changed to HST from Meridian. I understand EMT don't work their HSTs particularly hard at the weekend.

There's always a 4/5 coach service that could do with being doubled, but said meridian is *never* available when it is actually needed.

 

[bb21]

Never?

 

[Qwerty133]

Never?

Very rarely then, could be helpful every raceday at Uttoxeter and either directly or indirectly on the Matlock branch every Saturday instead of the inappropriate single 153s.

 

[alex17595]

Does anybody know what the platforms lengths are on the line. We had a local door only open and Bllythe bridge and Longton. Also I think we were on the LC during the Blythe Bridge stop.

 

[Qwerty133]

I spent 2 hours at carlisle and 25 mins at crewe and I haven't heard any announcements about alternate routes into london. I assume its just busses from Rugby/MKC. People don't seem to know about the route really and it probably is faster to go via MKC. 1:30 Crewe to Derby (incl. A reasonable connection time) and 1:30 derby to London.

Quicker to go Crewe-Nuneaton-Leicester-St Pancras according to NRE, whether Nuneaton to Leicester services are fitting everyone on is anyone's guess.

 

[bb21]

Does anybody know what the platforms lengths are on the line. We had a local door only open and Bllythe bridge and Longton. Also I think we were on the LC during the Blythe Bridge stop.

Double 158s will not all fit, but a triple 153 should just about, with the exception of Peartree.

Stations between Crewe and Stoke (up / down, in metres):

Alsager 91 / 91
Kidsgrove 119 / 97
Longport 160 / 116

Stations between Stoke and Derby:

Longton 85 / 88
Blythe Bridge 91 / 91
Uttoxeter 77 / 69
Tutbury 93 / 93
Peartree 61 / 64

Quicker to go Crewe-Nuneaton-Leicester-St Pancras according to NRE, whether Nuneaton to Leicester services are fitting everyone on is anyone's guess.

Only just.

From Crewe, you can catch the xx19 changing at Stafford, Nuneaton and Leicester to get to St Pancras, or get the xx07 changing at Derby, just once, or get the earlier xx02 changing at Nuneaton and Leicester, all arriving at St Pancras at the same time. Derby is the one involving the least number of changes and allows one to get on a potentially busy London service earlier than the other two options. I don't see why that is not a better option of the three.

The fact that it was poorly advertised at Crewe is not EMT's fault, nor the shortfall in passenger number.

 

[Class 170101]

Isn't Longport just long enough for a single Class 350?

I thought LM stopped there in the past when EMT are affected by engineering works between Derby and Stoke?

 

[alex17595]

Double 158s will not all fit, but a triple 153 should just about, with the exception of Peartree.


Stations between Stoke and Derby:

Longton 85 / 88
Blythe Bridge 91 / 91
Uttoxeter 77 / 69
Tutbury 93 / 93
Peartree 61 / 64

It seems strange that Uttoxeter is the shortest in the list (Where it stops) but as far as I am aware we had all the doors open. or there wasn't an announcement on it like the 2 before it.

 

[sd0733]

Uttoxeter fits a four car in with room to spare. I got on there in the back coach and was quite a bit of room left.

Longport fits a 350, yes I've stopped there with one a few times and it fits fairly comfortably.

 

[LowLevel]

Off the top of my head Blythe Bridge and Longton are 3 cars, everywhere else is 4 minimum bar Peartree which is 2.

 

[bunnahabhain]

Double 158s will not all fit, but a triple 153 should just about, with the exception of Peartree.

Stations between Crewe and Stoke (up / down, in metres):

Alsager 91 / 91
Kidsgrove 119 / 97
Longport 160 / 116

Stations between Stoke and Derby:

Longton 85 / 88
Blythe Bridge 91 / 91
Uttoxeter 77 / 69
Tutbury 93 / 93
Peartree 61 / 64



Only just.

The only issue is Blythe Bridge heading towards Crewe, all other platforms you can fit a 4 car 15x. Peartree excepted.

 

[sd0733]

2 meridians out again today on Derby-Crewe

222103 on 06:42/09:42/12:42/15:42/18:42 derby-crewe and 08:07/11:07/14:07/17:07/20:45 Crewe-Derby

222101 on 07:40/10:42/13:42/16:42 derby-crewe and 09:07/12:07/15:07/18:07 Crewe-Derby