Examples of unusual calling patterns amongst regular services

[oliverpckehoe]

1A80 Penzance-Paddington (Saturdays)

Calls at Ivybridge and Totnes, then non-stop Taunton to Reading.

Edit: I don't believe this service currently operates with the blockade on WoE services.

 

[pompeyfan]

Fast from Waterloo to Brookwood (missing Woking) or Waterloo to West Byfleet (missing Clapham and Surbiton) both still occur in the peaks IIRC, and have occurred since at least the 80s.

Back in around 1983 there used to be a late evening peak, something like 1832 out of Waterloo, which terminated at Fratton and between Guildford and Haslemere called at Godalming and Witley only - no Farncombe. (As an aside I remember one Friday in Oct 83 this service was formed of 8EPB, though the normal was CIG/VEP)

Also, for a long time in around 2003-06 there was a 2130-or-so (from Cosham) Southern service from Victoria to Southampton which randomly stopped at Woolston (and possibly Netley too). No idea why a Woolston stop was seen as important at that time in the evening in particular; it wasn't covering for a missing SWT stopper!

EDIT: this last still runs. 2205 out of Woolston. Also calls St Denys, but not Netley. The existence of this one has been a long-standing mystery!

There’s quite a few random southern services along the Netley line. There’s one that’s about 6am that starts at Gatwick and calls all stops along the Netley, even Bursledon, Hamble and Bitterne

 

[Doctor Fegg]

The 1990s "Thames Valley Limited" was a curio - all stations from Cholsey to Tilehurst, then fast to Paddington without stopping at Reading.

There's an unusual semi-fast along the Cotswold Line on weekday afternoons, calling at Evesham, Moreton and Charlbury only. A stopper follows ten minutes after.

 

[Wirewiper]

17.42MF London Paddington - Cheltenham Spa: first stop Didcot Parkway, flies non-stop (usually!) through Reading c.18.05. At the moment it is about the only train that does not stop at Reading although this will become more common when GWR (finally) is able to bring in its enhanced main-line timetable.

 

[nw1]

There’s quite a few random southern services along the Netley line. There’s one that’s about 6am that starts at Gatwick and calls all stops along the Netley, even Bursledon, Hamble and Bitterne

Though that one's easily explained as it's during the peak. It's more of a mystery as to why an extra service at Woolston and St Denys is needed at around 2200!

 

[pompeyfan]

Though that one's easily explained as it's during the peak. It's more of a mystery as to why an extra service at Woolston and St Denys is needed at around 2200!

The return short working to Barnham has an enhanced calling pattern but it’s the last train of the night over the line so probably explains that as well.

 

[Mag_seven]

. At the moment it is about the only train that does not stop at Reading

There are another three that don't call at Reading actually:

05.58 Swansea - Padd (non stop Swindon - Padd)
18.37 Padd-Cheltenham (non stop Padd-Didcot)
19.12 Padd-Bristol (non stop Padd-Swindon)

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Odd station calls sometimes occur because wider timetable pathing requirements would result in a long wait at a junction. Presumably the TOC sees the logic in making the mandatory stop at a platform where some marginal custom might be obtained!

Also with the increased usage of Automatic Route Setting it is increasingly important that timed stops (as opposed to pathing allowances - effectively just padding) are used to create timed ‘holding locations’ in the plan to enable correct junction regulation.

Last year I travelled on a Sunday morning Edinburgh-Kings Cross service which called at Morpeth, Newcastle, Durham and York only. That’s a pretty bizarre pattern in my book.

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

17.42MF London Paddington - Cheltenham Spa: first stop Didcot Parkway, flies non-stop (usually!) through Reading c.18.05. At the moment it is about the only train that does not stop at Reading although this will become more common when GWR (finally) is able to bring in its enhanced main-line timetable.

1L20, 1G60, 1G70 and 1U28 all go through Reading non-stop!
1L20 is the only morning Up service which passes Reading, has a usually clear non-stop run from Swindon to Paddington, but was delayed this morning by 1P15’s crossover from the URL to the DM.
1G60/70 go non-stop to Didcot Parkway, whereas 1U28 goes non-stop to Swindon!

Line speed through Reading is 85/HST95, but that’s only because it’s a major station; line is built for 125mph iirc.

 

[Ken H]

If they live where I do they'll be used to alternating express/stopping buses (same route, same operator) - the 'fast' buses don't stop within the city boundary until they get to the centre.

look at the 72 and X6 between bradford and Leeds
And West Yorkshire road car buses had 1 fare between Vicar Lane Bus Stn in Leeds and the Leeds City boundary. if you wanted to get off earlier, you paid a higher fare.
And Leeds City transport used to have limited buses, where they would not let you get off before a certain point. They had a special indicator with 'limited' that lit up.

 

[Mag_seven]

1L20, 1G60, 1G70 and 1U28 all go through Reading non-stop!
1L20 is the only morning Up service which passes Reading, has a usually clear non-stop run from Swindon to Paddington, but was delayed this morning by 1P15’s crossover from the URL to the DM.
1G60/70 go non-stop to Didcot Parkway, whereas 1U28 goes non-stop to Swindon!

See my post two above yours.

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

See my post two above yours.

Oops! Sorry

 

[Mag_seven]

Oops! Sorry

Not at all - great minds think alike.

I always enjoy travelling on one of these trains particularly the UP one in the morning as its great waving to all those Reading commuters as you sail through non-stop.

 

[Glenn1969]

Why does RTT say a LNER ECS movement went Newcastle to Newcastle via Billingham today. Headcode 0N06. Looks pretty odd to me.

 

[fairliered]

The 0642 Largs - Glasgow Central calls at Hillington West. It’s the only call at Hillington West other than Gourock and Wemyss Bay services.

 

[Kite159]

Why does RTT say a LNER ECS movement went Newcastle to Newcastle via Billingham today. Headcode 0N06. Looks pretty odd to me.

My guess driver route learning for when LNER services get diverted via the coast for engineering works?

 

[nicolaboo]

…this is the loco-hauled train (propelled) and I assume that, because of the slam door stock, extra time is allowed at stations so no time to stop at Newton or Oxford Road.

It does stop at Oxford Road, but for set down only.

 

[joke2711]

It does stop at Oxford Road, but for set down only.

Going back to my original post this service did not stop at Manchester Oxford Road to set down only. There was another passenger next to me who had assumed it would and was getting in a flap over having to go to Manchester Piccadilly.

What I found also interesting is that this service stopped at Earlestown, on a curve with a considerable number of warnings for passengers about "being extremely careful" due to the large gaps between train and platform edge. In addition to this, the Northern service to Liverpool from Warrington Bank Quay departed 4 minutes before this service which also calls at Earlestown.

Also, as Newton-Le-Willows is now an "Interchange Station" it would seem a bit naive to miss a stop out there for 1 service a day Monday to Friday!

 

[Jeni]

The 07.51 Hazel Grove to Manchester Piccadilly, new in December, calls at Woodsmoor, Davenport and Heaton Chapel but not Stockport.

Before the May timetable change, there was a morning Buxton - Manchester service which ran fast from Hazel Grove to Manchester, even skipping Stockport. I used to call it the witchcraft service, getting into Manchester in 16 minutes from Hazel Grove by any means of transport blew my mind!

 

[mlambeuk]

LNER 0540 Edinburgh to kings Cross doesn't stop at York

 

[eastwestdivide]

The 1205 Sheffield to Adwick calls at Rotherham and Mexborough but misses out Swinton as it's booked to go via Kilnhurst.
There's a couple of other stopping trains between Sheffield and Doncaster that do this, listed on the PSUL site.

 

[sjb-2812]

c2c peak time can crop up some unusual calling pattens, notable ones are these
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L48021/2019/02/25/advanced
A fast service that calls at West Horndon whilst the Stopper skips it,

This, from memory is because most of the stoppers are really busy, and there is still significant demand from West Horndon in the morning peak.

 

[VT 390]

The 21:51 GWR Hereford to London Paddington (Mondays-Fridays) and the 09:43 WMR Worcester Shrub Hill to Great Malvern (Sundays) are the only services in passenger service to pass through but not stop at Malvern Link.

 

[Romilly]

LNER 0540 Edinburgh to kings Cross doesn't stop at York

In fact, it stops only at Newcastle and, at exactly 4 hours, is the fastest Edinburgh-London train of the day. That, and the fare-pricing, makes it a premium service

 

[cosmo]

LNER 0540 Edinburgh to kings Cross doesn't stop at York

Yep - the Flying Scotsman is, AFAIK, the only train that runs non-stop through York! Only stop is Newcastle.

 

[VT 390]

LNER 0540 Edinburgh to kings Cross doesn't stop at York

Does this service run non stop through York station or use the avoiding lines?

 

[Esker-pades]

Does this service run non stop through York station or use the avoiding lines?

Through York station.

 

[infobleep]

It’s really unusual for trains not to call at Fareham. Possibly the only in service trains of the day not to call.

The Sunday’s only 00:50 Waterloo - Portsmouth harbour 1P01 is Waterloo, Clapham, Woking, Guildford, Havant, Fratton etc. When there’s a block on at Haslemere the train will run as far as Guildford, back up to Woking then next stop Fratton via Eastleigh.

Another odd one is the 1845 from Waterloo, first stop West Byfleet but slips Worplesdon.

As a result the 18:39 to Poole and Fareham stops at both Clapham Junction [18:46] and Woking [19:06]. Whist its not unusual for trains to stop at Woking and Clapham Junction, the xx46s are usually fast to Farnborough (Main) , skipping Woking.

Then there is the 16:55, 18:55 and 19:25 Waterloo to Alton services. These stop at Clapham Junction but skip Surbtion.

There is the additional 17:53 to Basingstoke that after Surbtion only stop before Woking is West Byfleet. Usually its the Alton trains that are the ones which only stop at West Byfleet between Surbtion and Woking.

Then there is the 8:02 Woking to Waterloo. Between Woking and Surbtion it stops at every station except Byfleet and New Haw. Not aware of any others that only skip this station.

There are one or two trains that run fast from Waterloo to Brockwood before continuing as stopping service.

The 7:10 Haslemere to Waterloo stops at all stations to Worpolesdon but then skips Woking, running fast to Waterloo. I know someone who was on that train and wanted to alight at Woking.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Why does RTT say a LNER ECS movement went Newcastle to Newcastle via Billingham today. Headcode 0N06. Looks pretty odd to me.

0N06 isn’t an ECS, class 0 is light loco

 

[infobleep]

Before the May timetable change, there was a morning Buxton - Manchester service which ran fast from Hazel Grove to Manchester, even skipping Stockport. I used to call it the witchcraft service, getting into Manchester in 16 minutes from Hazel Grove by any means of transport blew my mind!

I love the nickname.

Farncombe has 2 trains an hour from Waterloo but between 20:00 and 23:00, it gets 3 trains an hour.

You might expect extra calls in the evening peak but not after it!

In the morning there are 4 trains between 7 and 8 from Farncombe to Waterloo. If the 7am could be described as just being a train that runs later and you lumped it with those between 6 and 7, then you'd get 3 in that hour. All other hours it's just 2 an hour until between 19 and 20 when it's three again. After which if drops to 2 again.