London to Norwich - 90 min timings

[Bikeman78]

It is interesting to read the first few pages again now. Would it have been better to wait for enough Flirts in service instead of trying to do it with 90s?

What difference would that make? They would just catch up with other trains sooner.

 

[86246]

How often is the delay to the 1900 primarily due to delays south of Colchester and how often by the 1830 from Liverpool Street running late into Norwich?

One of the problems has also been congestion at Ipswich. 1Y61 which occupies platform 3 and departs at 19:50 closely follows 4M92 which is also behind 1P63 that departs at 19:43. A timetable tweak meaning that the 317s from London will terminate and start from Colchester instead should help that.

 

[Bikeman78]

One of the problems has also been congestion at Ipswich. 1Y61 which occupies platform 3 and departs at 19:50 closely follows 4M92 which is also behind 1P63 that departs at 19:43. A timetable tweak meaning that the 317s from London will terminate and start from Colchester instead should help that.

I did wonder why the 1812 had been altered to terminate at Colchester from December. Is that the reason?

 

[Railperf]

The long signal blocks north of Haughley means the down run is running on caution signals even though the preceding service is quite a long distance away. Add to that the fact that the preceding service usually gets slowed down between Ipswich and Stowmarket and struggles to make up time.

 

[Railperf]

It is interesting to read the first few pages again now. Would it have been better to wait for enough Flirts in service instead of trying to do it with 90s?

Stadlers will be better used on the standard Norwich service - their superior acceleration to a Class 90 would allow them to save up to a minute accelerating away from each station stop and stay ahead of the fast service.

 

[86246]

Stadlers will be better used on the standard Norwich service - their superior acceleration to a Class 90 would allow them to save up to a minute accelerating away from each station stop and stay ahead of the fast service.

Additional time will also be gained by not having cyclists storing bikes in the DVT plus the door to coach E not being slammed shut.

 

[dk1]

Additional time will also be gained by not having cyclists storing bikes in the DVT plus the door to coach E not being slammed shut.

To be fair the reservation only policy on IC has choked so many cyclists off that a large percentage of journeys now see no bikes at all. This has saved so many minutes of delay already.

 

[ashkeba]

To be fair the reservation only policy on IC has choked so many cyclists off that a large percentage of journeys now see no bikes at all. This has saved so many minutes of delay already.

And cost so many passengers who drove and/or flew instead.

 

[Bald Rick]

And cost so many passengers who drove and/or flew instead.

Flew?

 

[ashkeba]

Flew?

Yes, some fly as an alternative if they were hoping to use the intercity to help reach Harwich, Eurostar or trains to the channel ports. Norwich also has flights to Exeter, Edinburgh, Aberdeen among others but I think those involve using other bike- discouraging trains too. You have to pay for the bike but flights are currently crazily cheap so flight + paid bike is often cheaper than train +free bike. Plus you can drive to other airports for more destinations.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes, some fly as an alternative if they were hoping to use the intercity to help reach Harwich, Eurostar or trains to the channel ports. Norwich also has flights to Exeter, Edinburgh, Aberdeen among others but I think those involve using other bike- discouraging trains too. You have to pay for the bike but flights are currently crazily cheap so flight + paid bike is often cheaper than train +free bike. Plus you can drive to other airports for more destinations.

I’d suggest that for travel to Norwich with a cycle, where the GEML is a realistic alternative, more people are choosing not to take their bike than fly. You have to pay for the bikes, and on loganair flights it is strictly if space is available on the day.

 

[dk1]

I don't think many who have resorted to flying out of Norwich would have ever been lost to rail due to cycle restrictions. Flights from Norwich are very limited on the domestic front. Those that no longer bring them are mainly the spontaneous intermediate often local passengers. Where station staff where unavailable and the guard had to walk to the opposite end of the train often cost in excess of three delay minutes probably ten or more times what they paid for their ticket.

 

[ashkeba]

Yes, the old train were bad design in that way with the large luggage space placed to use unused space in DVT. Some Belgian trains require the guard to unlock a door for bikes but it is near the centre of the rake.

We can each offer opinion on how many switch from train to road or air because of the reservations and very confusing information on GA cycle restrictions on nationalrail.co.uk journey planner, but we will not know until there is a good cycle-rail survey asking it.

 

[Class 170101]

To be fair the reservation only policy on IC has choked so many cyclists off that a large percentage of journeys now see no bikes at all. This has saved so many minutes of delay already.

Been a lot of complaints and by all accounts doesn't seem 100% enforced either. Some guards will enforce strictly with even threats of BTP attendance if the bike isn't removed. Yet others still allow bikes on if there is space, reservation or not.

 

[dk1]

Been a lot of complaints and by all accounts doesn't seem 100% enforced either. Some guards will enforce strictly with even threats of BTP attendance if the bike isn't removed. Yet others still allow bikes on if there is space, reservation or not.

Some are more keen than others. If I help out (drivers are instructed no to do so) I couldn't care less. Door open so in/out you go guys.