Scotrail Class 314s oddity

[route101]

On sunday i noticed Class 314s were used to Larkhall and Motherwell via the Cathcart circle !!
Aslo Virgin trains going via Queens Park!
TPE were not running so i dont suppose they are cleared for the Cathcart circle ! Class 320i was on ran from Newton to Glasgow Central via Maxwell Park no stop .
Never seen this happen , are class 390s cleared for the maxwell park side of circle?

 

[adrock1976]

I believe 390s are cleared for Maxwell Park side, as I travelled on the 04:26 Saturday departure from Glasgow Central to London in December 2012 when it went that way for the Newton East PSUL track.

 

[380gk]

Cambuslang was blocked everything diverted via Burnside.
320s weren't on any of the stopping service via Cathcart, only 314s

 

[bb21]

350s are not cleared but 185s are. Indeed TPE were timetabled to go that way too until presumably someone realised that 350s aren't allowed that way and/or that they could not find enough 185s and/or enough people to work them. Buses were then put on instead.

 

[380gk]

Think it was a mixture of route clearance and route knowledge with TPE on these days.

 

[route101]

Don't think cross country were running too . also the Edinburgh via shotts services were not running to Glasgow central so I believe only the via bathgate services only option from Glasgow.
Must be a while since 314s were out past newton !

 

[Tetchytyke]

350s are not cleared but 185s are. Indeed TPE were timetabled to go that way too until presumably someone realised that 350s aren't allowed that way

I'm assuming that's just an admin error, i.e. nobody bothered to get clearance. I can't understand why a 20m 350 would cause an issue where a 23m 185 wouldn't.

 

[prod_pep]

This could well be the first time ever the Class 314s have reached Larkhall, as the branch re-opened long after they had transferred away from the Argyle Line.

I assume they haven't been used to Motherwell in passenger service since 1999, although they do visit Motherwell Weighs sidings for stabling.

 

[route101]

Weird seeing class 314s with larkhall on the front ! Not much comfort for them !
I suppose it's been a while since a class 318 was on the c circle and first time I've seen 320 on it !

 

[380gk]

Yes first time a 314 was in passenger service to larkhall I believe.
Shorts services were terminating at Carfin
Cross Country services were turning at Motherwell.
Was travelling that day and I have to say, the plan was pretty well thought out and looks like a very clever use of resources.
I notice at least one journey ran all stations via Burnside, the circle and holytown to lanark. Would have been a long journey!

 

[Eng274]

As a former Lanark commuter, the idea of calling at all Cathcart circle stops to Newton, messing around on the Hamilton circle, and taking the mountain pass via Holytown, would have forced me to just drive instead (60 minutes v an easy 100 on that stopping pattern). I hear the Lanark expresses have been ruined by stopping at the likes of Bellshill, which has 3 or 4 tph as it is.

I think FSR threatened to send 314s to Larkhall during the commonwealth games but that never materialised. Would be good to see them stretch their legs a bit on a fast route.

 

[380gk]

Well they already go to inverclyde which streetches them a bit.
To be fair, only one of the lanarks on this day seemed togo that way. The rest went direct via shieldmuir. Probably went that way for a reason. Isn't there a Newton around that time? Probably two birds one stone.

 

[Thewanderer]

It would appear I stumbled upon something unusual last Sunday so.

A few pictures from that day in the Glasgow area.
http://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2015/UK-Trip-Sunday-12th-July-2015/i-r4zSSgW