py_megapixel
Established Member
I had a journey on Northern's stopping service between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester today. On a Sunday this route has a 2-hourly all-stations service. With a full circuit (MAN-SOT-MAN) taking slightly under 4 hours, one would assume that this route is worked by 2 units at any one time on a Sunday.
One would therefore also assume that, on weekdays, where the frequency is doubled to hourly, so is the number of trains. So 4 units would be used at any one time.
Of course, those assumptions could well be completely wrong! But, assuming they are correct:
Usually, on a weekday, the same units seem to stay on the route from the morning to at least early afternoon. But, on a Sunday, this seems not to be the case. On my journey today, I had 323229 out and 331006 back. But, on my return journey, I saw 323229 parked in the sidings at Stockport. So is the diagram different on Sundays?
Additional information: I tweeted @northernassist that the toilet on 323229 was out of order, as I was unable to find a conductor to report this to, but I assume they wouldn't simply take a unit out of service at short notice like that based upon a singular customer complaint?
Or, are all my assumptions completely wrong?
One would therefore also assume that, on weekdays, where the frequency is doubled to hourly, so is the number of trains. So 4 units would be used at any one time.
Of course, those assumptions could well be completely wrong! But, assuming they are correct:
Usually, on a weekday, the same units seem to stay on the route from the morning to at least early afternoon. But, on a Sunday, this seems not to be the case. On my journey today, I had 323229 out and 331006 back. But, on my return journey, I saw 323229 parked in the sidings at Stockport. So is the diagram different on Sundays?
Additional information: I tweeted @northernassist that the toilet on 323229 was out of order, as I was unable to find a conductor to report this to, but I assume they wouldn't simply take a unit out of service at short notice like that based upon a singular customer complaint?
Or, are all my assumptions completely wrong?