East Coast Cambridge Diversion

[bb21]

Does anyone know whether these trains are booked over the Hitchin flyover?

 

[yorkie]

Yes they are

 

[ainsworth74]

When's this happening?

 

[bb21]

Tonight, 1948 and 2048 ex-King's Cross, plus tomorrow morning's trains before 1200.

Same next weekend.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Tonight, 1948 and 2048 ex-King's Cross, plus tomorrow morning's trains before 1200.

Same next weekend.

 

[jopsuk]

surprised they're taking the flyover northbound given there's little coming southbound through the junction at the time! Wandering through Cambridge this evening I was pleased if not surprised to see a southbound HST. Somewhat surprised that it got stopped in the station (on the line that avoids the platforms) though, thought they'd be timetabled to just pass through

 

[TheBigD]

...Wandering through Cambridge this evening I was pleased if not surprised to see a southbound HST. Somewhat surprised that it got stopped in the station (on the line that avoids the platforms) though, thought they'd be timetabled to just pass through

They're fitted in around the scheduled services...

For instance the 1948 departure from Kings Cross follows the Ipswich-Peterborough service from Ely by just 6 minutes... The Ipswich-Peterborough service stops at Manea, March and Whittlesea which means that the East Coast service has to follow it... As a result it's given 46 minutes to do Ely-Peterborough instead of the 33 1/2 that the 2048 ex London is given...

 

[yorkie]

Somewhat surprised that it got stopped in the station (on the line that avoids the platforms) though, thought they'd be timetabled to just pass through

They are timetabled to pass, but as they're following preceding trains, they will inevitably catch up with them and encounter adverse signals.

The only way to avoid this would be to re-time other trains which would otherwise run as normally booked, to get a better path for the diverted train, but that is avoided if at all possible these days.

 

[causton]

I took one on a Sunday morning, booked for the flyover and really wanted the HST to use it, but it went over the flat junction instead

 

[bb21]

I did suspect that we did not use the flyover today (the 1948) but it was too dark to see and the trolley was in the way so I couldn't get to the windows.

I guess it will be difficult to confirm either way.

 

[43094]

They (1N34/1D34 Saturdays and 1S11/1D09/1S13 Sundays) are all *booked* to use the flyover - but the majority haven't in the first few weeks.

You can tell if 1N34 yesterday did, through TRUST. Give me a shout later today, and I'll have a look!

 

[dk1]

They're fitted in around the scheduled services...

For instance the 1948 departure from Kings Cross follows the Ipswich-Peterborough service from Ely by just 6 minutes... The Ipswich-Peterborough service stops at Manea, March and Whittlesea which means that the East Coast service has to follow it... As a result it's given 46 minutes to do Ely-Peterborough instead of the 33 1/2 that the 2048 ex London is given...

Think it was this train last week that was allowed by mistake to proceed the AGA service then delayed it.

 

[yorkie]

Think it was this train last week that was allowed by mistake to proceed the AGA service then delayed it.

It was behind the Greater Anglia service last week. According to Raildar, the 1958 Ipswich-Peterborough hasn't been delayed recently.

 

[43094]

Both 1N34 and 1D34 used the flyover yesterday.

All three EC services today used the Flat Crossing.

 

[causton]

I did suspect that we did not use the flyover today (the 1948) but it was too dark to see and the trolley was in the way so I couldn't get to the windows.

I guess it will be difficult to confirm either way.

Believe it did not, as RTT shows it using the line designation "DO" (not sure what it stands for), whereas it is booked to use line designation "DCF" for the Down Cambridge Flyover...

 

[dk1]

It was behind the Greater Anglia service last week. According to Raildar, the 1958 Ipswich-Peterborough hasn't been delayed recently.

My mistake. It was this one...

1E74 1052 Ely to Peterborough delayed 3" due to 1S13 0945 King's Cross to Edinbugh Waverley being allowed to precede instead of follow As booked.

 

[43094]

TRUST shows 'O' line for 1N34 (used, I believe, for trains that have traversed the flyover)

The services that used the flat crossing (including 1D09 today which I was on) are all showing as using 'C' line - hence my thought that 1N34 likely used the flyover....

 

[causton]

TRUST shows 'O' line for 1N34 (used, I believe, for trains that have traversed the flyover)

The services that used the flat crossing (including 1D09 today which I was on) are all showing as using 'C' line - hence my thought that 1N34 likely used the flyover....

And RTT shows 1D09 as using the flyover, I assume it has little relevance to what actually happened or it's just the wrong way round. So I will assume you are correct, haha

 

[louis97]

1N34 did use the flyover - 'DO' does mean the train used the flyover. However I wouldn't rely on it, its a Trust report and line info. Still awaiting the new data for the flyover to be finalised for it to be TD.

 

[arb]

I'm wondering if I'm interpreting the information on RealTimeTrains at http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...1/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=GR correctly.

Is it telling me that at 2159 this Saturday, the 1940 East Coast service from Leeds (1A51) will actually call at Cambridge, unlike all of the other East Coast trains which just pass through Cambridge without stopping?

If so, why do both National Rail Enquiries and East Coast say that a journey from Leeds to Cambridge, departing at 1940, requires a change at Peterborough onto a train that doesn't arrive in Cambridge until 2208?

 

[berneyarms]

I'm wondering if I'm interpreting the information on RealTimeTrains at http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...1/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=GR correctly.

Is it telling me that at 2159 this Saturday, the 1940 East Coast service from Leeds (1A51) will actually call at Cambridge, unlike all of the other East Coast trains which just pass through Cambridge without stopping?

If so, why do both National Rail Enquiries and East Coast say that a journey from Leeds to Cambridge, departing at 1940, requires a change at Peterborough onto a train that doesn't arrive in Cambridge until 2208?

It's a non-passenger stop for operational purposes - the station name and WTT timings are not in bold.

 

[mm333]

It's a non-passenger stop for operational purposes - the station name and WTT timings are not in bold.

It needs to stop there, otherwise it'll catch up with the 2155 GN Cambridge-Kings Cross. That calls at Letchworth at 2229, the Leeds train is four minutes behind it.

 

[yorkie]

It needs to stop there, otherwise it'll catch up with the 2155 GN Cambridge-Kings Cross. That calls at Letchworth at 2229, the Leeds train is four minutes behind it.

The signalling system will take care of any 'catching up'; that's not a reason for an operational stop.

 

[Matt-the-mutt]

I don't suppose we know what trains east coast trains will be using the diversion this week yet?

 

[CockneySparrow]

I don't suppose we know what trains east coast trains will be using the diversion this week yet?

Think they will mainly be HSTs due to Peterborough to Ely having no wires

 

[bb21]

They are all HSTs.

The Joint Line diversions on 28th Feb will see some 67 drags.

 

[jopsuk]

if you want clues as to whether an HST or a dragged electric set is being used, look at the stations at the start and end of the diversion. If there's 20 minute stops timetabled in, that's almost certainly for coupling and uncoupling!

If there were drags south of Peterborough, could the 91s run to/from Cambridge under their own power along the line from Hitchin?

 

[philjo]

If there were drags south of Peterborough, could the 91s run to/from Cambridge under their own power along the line from Hitchin?

No - unless this has changed I believe the only electric loco allowed on the Hitchin to Cambridge secton is a class 86 if running as light engine. Though the power was upgraded to allow the 12 car 365s so this may not be the case any more.
The section Cambridge to Ely is still restricted in power.

 

[Passenger John]

A few photographs taken at Shepreth (on the Cambridge branch) taken this morning of the diversions.

 

[Bungle965]

As regards for the flyover defiantly know that the 9:20 to Leeds did not do it as i was on it! lol

 

[CockneySparrow]

No - unless this has changed I believe the only electric loco allowed on the Hitchin to Cambridge secton is a class 86 if running as light engine. Though the power was upgraded to allow the 12 car 365s so this may not be the case any more.
The section Cambridge to Ely is still restricted in power.

I thought the section between Ely to Cambridge was or due to be upgraded in power, its just the section between Ely and Lynn on reduced