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Have TPE finally given up on the Scarborough service
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Bertie the bus
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It was an absolute disgrace at York today. After cancelling the 12:47 and 13:47 services the 14:47 was showing as platform TBC. At 14:50 they announced it would depart from platform 2. 200 - 300 people made their way to platform 2 to watch a 185 rev up in the siding for 10 minutes and... they cancelled it.
It looked like most were left to make their own way to Scarborough on the service bus.
It looked like most were left to make their own way to Scarborough on the service bus.
sjpowermac
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TPE had ticket acceptance in place: with Yorkshire Coastliner!
I wonder what the reason was for not running a York-Scarborough shuttle today? Not a criticism, just curious.
EE Andy b1
Established Member
I know the signalling problems around Stalybridge today was not TPEs fault but they don't half pull the plug quickly on services and cancel them.
Would be better off with just a York - Scarborough service for one, with connections. Now there's a laugh.
Would be better off with just a York - Scarborough service for one, with connections. Now there's a laugh.
Bevan Price
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If you think Scarborough was bad - the Liverpool end of the route was even worse. No TPE departures from Liverpool Lime Street between 09:25 and 14:25 -- and several cancellations before and after those times. With a depot in the Manchester area, you would think they ought to be able to at least manage some kind of Liverpool / Manchester shuttle service. In my opinion, the TPE TOC has become totally "unfit for purpose".
Killingworth
Established Member
A friend who lives to the south of York used to travel fairly frequently to Scarborough. Despite driving across the A64 to reach the station he preferred to travel by train as he could read papers before meetings. Now retired he still makes that journey quite often.
He's giving up on trains after so many have been cancelled or arrived very late. Once he's in the car he'll be driving all the way until reliability is restored. Rail is not the only way for the majority to travel.
Some of this isn't TPEs fault. There's talk of longer trains and the need for longer platforms. We may also need more platforms. Look at the number of long trains that used to flock to Scarborough, Bridlington and Filey in the 1950s - remember Saturday specials to Butlins anyone?
Among the legacies of the Beeching and Serpell era have been sold off trackbed, demolished platforms, singled sections and simplified junctions. To take one station I know well as an example, Dore had 4 platforms that would take 6 coach trains on 4 tracks. In 1985 it was reduced to one platform for 4 coaches and the other 3 were totally removed. 2/3 of a mile track singled has caused a major bottleneck on the South Pennine route. TPE are running 6 coach trains. Redoubling that section and lengthening the platform has been in planning for over 15 years. The TWAO has been approved. Lengthening the platform can't happen earlier because it would complicate the bigger project. It may happen by 2023. So many hurdles to clear!
That's an extract from another thread, but may typify how the TOCs are confronted by many historic issues incapable of resolution in the short term, maybe in the life of their franchise. If you look at all the routes there are so many little details that need many millions to resolve - platforms 15 and 16 are only the biggest.
However, I have concerns with the way TPE are saddling themselves with so many train types requiring more type and route training and servicing demands.
There are so many details. Improved performance can't come easily or quickly. It needs lots of attention to every one of them. In the meantime my friend says that when they run the new Scarborough trains are an improvement.
(Those of us getting cascaded 185s will be glad when they finally arrive.)
He's giving up on trains after so many have been cancelled or arrived very late. Once he's in the car he'll be driving all the way until reliability is restored. Rail is not the only way for the majority to travel.
Some of this isn't TPEs fault. There's talk of longer trains and the need for longer platforms. We may also need more platforms. Look at the number of long trains that used to flock to Scarborough, Bridlington and Filey in the 1950s - remember Saturday specials to Butlins anyone?
Among the legacies of the Beeching and Serpell era have been sold off trackbed, demolished platforms, singled sections and simplified junctions. To take one station I know well as an example, Dore had 4 platforms that would take 6 coach trains on 4 tracks. In 1985 it was reduced to one platform for 4 coaches and the other 3 were totally removed. 2/3 of a mile track singled has caused a major bottleneck on the South Pennine route. TPE are running 6 coach trains. Redoubling that section and lengthening the platform has been in planning for over 15 years. The TWAO has been approved. Lengthening the platform can't happen earlier because it would complicate the bigger project. It may happen by 2023. So many hurdles to clear!
That's an extract from another thread, but may typify how the TOCs are confronted by many historic issues incapable of resolution in the short term, maybe in the life of their franchise. If you look at all the routes there are so many little details that need many millions to resolve - platforms 15 and 16 are only the biggest.
However, I have concerns with the way TPE are saddling themselves with so many train types requiring more type and route training and servicing demands.
There are so many details. Improved performance can't come easily or quickly. It needs lots of attention to every one of them. In the meantime my friend says that when they run the new Scarborough trains are an improvement.
(Those of us getting cascaded 185s will be glad when they finally arrive.)
EE Andy b1
Established Member
One would hope things can only get better but it looks like were a long way off, TOCs and Infrastructure wise.
This is still too often a recurring thing with both TPE and Northern, cancellations or turnbacks at the drop of a hat.
This is still too often a recurring thing with both TPE and Northern, cancellations or turnbacks at the drop of a hat.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
We had decided to go to the Manchester Christmas Markets about mid-day on Friday and were at Manchester Piccadilly station when it was announced that both the Middlesbrough and Newcastle TPE services were starting from Manchester Victoria and telling intending travellers there to make their way by Metrolink to go there. There was an elderly lady with a medium sized suitcase who had booked to go to Thirsk on one of these trains to whom the Metrolink was something she had never heard of, not having been in Manchester for very many years, so we took pity on her and showed her the lifts she could use to both the mezzanine and the undercroft with her suitcase and spoke to one of the numerous other passengers who too was going to Manchester Victoria to catch the same train as the lady and he kindly said that he would escort her onwards from there.
Skipness
Member
Today (Saturday) both the 8.45 and 9.41 departures cancelled because of “a lack of train crew” and the A64 has a (planned) closure.
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swissrailpassion
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- 285
0600 cancelled
0642 11 late
0738 ok
0845 cancelled
0941 cancelled
?
0642 11 late
0738 ok
0845 cancelled
0941 cancelled
?
Whoosh.....
EE Andy b1
Established Member
Don't know about just Scarborough, but plenty TPE cancellation this morning at Manchester End for Huddersfield, Middlesborough, Newcastle, mostly blamed on Traincrew issues (no staff) one was a traction problem. The first 2 Man Airport to Scotland were cancelled. What a farce this outfit is.
Have TPE finally given up on having staff post updates on Twitter? Or have the staff become too stressed trying to keep up with all the cancellations?
Just noticed this on their twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/tpeassist?lang=en
The trouble is some of the auto tweets take a bit of de-cyphering. Plus there are so many of them this morning that I think it would be easier if the posted the trains that are actually running as opposed to the ones that aren't!
Just noticed this on their twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/tpeassist?lang=en
The trouble is some of the auto tweets take a bit of de-cyphering. Plus there are so many of them this morning that I think it would be easier if the posted the trains that are actually running as opposed to the ones that aren't!
The 08.56 Liverpool - Scarborough will terminate at York, JourneyCheck advises:
"We are advising customers to travel on the next available TransPennine Express service towards your destination.".....
The next service, the 09.56 ex Lime Street? - also terminating at York...
"We are advising customers to travel on the next available TransPennine Express service towards your destination.".....
The next service, the 09.56 ex Lime Street? - also terminating at York...
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Between TPE, LNR and Northern I've pretty much given up on the trains at the weekend. Absolute shambles.
blackfive460
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- 23 Jun 2010
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- 827
12:44 cancelled
12:42 and 14:40 arrivals cancelled...
Maybe they going for the record?
ohgoditsjames
Member
Is this a new record?
londonmidland
Established Member
TPE are trialing out an automated messages on Twitter for service alterations, as mentioned earlier.
Just shows how many cancellations and alterations there are across the network today.
Introduced because a ‘human’ couldn’t tweet all the individual service alterations. Says it all really of how much of a mess things are.
Just shows how many cancellations and alterations there are across the network today.
Introduced because a ‘human’ couldn’t tweet all the individual service alterations. Says it all really of how much of a mess things are.
I had a bit of a nightmare getting back from Huddefield to Liverpool last night. Got the 19.24 which for some reason was terminated at Manchester Victoria "due to a fault with the train"!
I looked on National Rail journey planner and it hadn't even reached York and it was already showing as terminating at Victoria due to this mystery "fault". The "fault" couldn't have been that serious if the train, which was a 185, was still running, could it!?
I had no choice but to get this train because my back up plan, the 19.52 to Liverpool, was already cancelled!
Got to Victoria 8 minutes late then decided to go for a couple of pints before getting the 22.08 Northern service from Piccadilly. This was a service from the airport and guess what turned up, 2 carriage 195 002 which I had actually got from S Parkway to Piccadilly in the morning. 2 carriages on a Friday evening, going to Liverpool; yes, you guessed it, rammed in like a tin of sardines!
Between the two of them, TPE and Northern couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery!
I looked on National Rail journey planner and it hadn't even reached York and it was already showing as terminating at Victoria due to this mystery "fault". The "fault" couldn't have been that serious if the train, which was a 185, was still running, could it!?
I had no choice but to get this train because my back up plan, the 19.52 to Liverpool, was already cancelled!
Got to Victoria 8 minutes late then decided to go for a couple of pints before getting the 22.08 Northern service from Piccadilly. This was a service from the airport and guess what turned up, 2 carriage 195 002 which I had actually got from S Parkway to Piccadilly in the morning. 2 carriages on a Friday evening, going to Liverpool; yes, you guessed it, rammed in like a tin of sardines!
Between the two of them, TPE and Northern couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery!
Glenn1969
Established Member
The 1440 and 1540 arrivals at SCA are cancelled as per RTT. None of the departures are. How does that work?
blackfive460
Member
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- 23 Jun 2010
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It doesn't.
The 15:44 and 16:44 are also cancelled. The 16:44 is cancelled throughout and the 15:44 is starting from Manchester Vic.
6 cancelled and counting...
Edit:
From Journey check...
Whatever next?
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Regarding the function in the brewery challenge, many years ago a Leeds duty supervisor (known for his regular after the shift 'night-cap') responded with 'Believe me sir, we could.'
Parham Wood
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- 13 Jun 2011
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What is the regulator or whoever has the contract with TPE doing about this? I do not want to hear excuses about lack of staff, fault of others etc. there is a timetabled service that should run. People need to get their finger out and sort it or find a way of providing a reliable service jointly provided between TPE and Northern even if it means joint ticket acceptance or whatever. OK I guessed it, no provision in the contract for this sort of thing...…………………. Are people affected complaining to the powers that be and what are they being told in response?
mike57
Established Member
Service is now unusable, back to back trains cancelled daily, late running, no alternative transport provided for most the cancelled trains. No point in complaining to TPE, you just get a standard response. The only way that anything will change is if the shareholders and/or senior executives are hit in their pockets.
Marsden problems on Friday were just an excuse, a shuttle service York - Scarborough, York - Middlesborough and Leeds - Hull and Manchester - Liverpool could have been set up to keep a lot of passengers on the move, and lines through Marsden were reopened during the morning, but York Scarborough services were still being cancelled mid afternoon.
Apart from Wednesday next week I have been able to make alternative arrangements, may less convenient, but at least I will probably get where I want to be at about the expected time.
In any other (non rail) service industry TPE would quickly be out of business.
Ultimately the politicians are to blame for creating an unaccountable shambles. What is sad about the whole TPE fiasco is that up until May 2018 the service was acceptable, not perfect, but good enough that you could plan journeys with the assumption that in general you would arrive close to the timetabled time. Investment is needed and it looks like some improvements in the Leeds - Manchester corridor may be getting closer, but these will take some years to deliver benefits, and if the current situation continues they will be a waste of money as the passengers will have deserted the railway. As a regular traveler I would say the rush hour trains between Leeds and Manchester are less busy than they were 2 years ago.
Marsden problems on Friday were just an excuse, a shuttle service York - Scarborough, York - Middlesborough and Leeds - Hull and Manchester - Liverpool could have been set up to keep a lot of passengers on the move, and lines through Marsden were reopened during the morning, but York Scarborough services were still being cancelled mid afternoon.
Apart from Wednesday next week I have been able to make alternative arrangements, may less convenient, but at least I will probably get where I want to be at about the expected time.
In any other (non rail) service industry TPE would quickly be out of business.
Ultimately the politicians are to blame for creating an unaccountable shambles. What is sad about the whole TPE fiasco is that up until May 2018 the service was acceptable, not perfect, but good enough that you could plan journeys with the assumption that in general you would arrive close to the timetabled time. Investment is needed and it looks like some improvements in the Leeds - Manchester corridor may be getting closer, but these will take some years to deliver benefits, and if the current situation continues they will be a waste of money as the passengers will have deserted the railway. As a regular traveler I would say the rush hour trains between Leeds and Manchester are less busy than they were 2 years ago.
This is from JourneyCheck - the 22.24 is the last TPE departure of the day from Lime Street:
"22:24 Liverpool Lime Street to York due 00:24 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Additional Information
Please board the next available TransPennine Express service to your destination. If you require any connecting services, Please check information screens or speak to a member of staff."
Utterly unacceptable.
"22:24 Liverpool Lime Street to York due 00:24 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Additional Information
Please board the next available TransPennine Express service to your destination. If you require any connecting services, Please check information screens or speak to a member of staff."
Utterly unacceptable.
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