Summer v winter timetables

[railfan99]

With the rise of overseas holidays from the UK within the last 50 years - Canary Islands etc. - the changes between summer and winter National Rail-featured services may not be quite as pronounced as then.

There aren't heaps of extra trains to Minehead (long since become a preserved line).

If you were asked to summarise changes between the English/Scottish and Welsh summer and winter timetables, what would you say?

One aspect that as a non-local I know is how branch lines such as Liskeard to Looe have either lower train frequencies or fewer operating days such as no Sunday trains.

 

[MontyP]

The GWR Saturday service to Penzance is much more frequent in summer than winter.

 

[Route115?]

I think that there are two factors:

In general frequencies have increased, throughout the week and the year.

There are fewer summer Saturday reliefs. For instance in Summer 82 there were 11 dated reliefs (two per hour) down to Portsmouth, but also large numbers down to Bournemouth & beyond, Exeter & beyond & on Cross Country routes. (I remember as a youth standing on the end of New St on a summer Saturday.) Staff could work overtime whilst the Southern was known to operate EPBs to the Kent Coast and the Western could utilise its loco hauled suburban sets down to the West Country.

I think that Sunday services are more consistent throughout the year but it varies by route and parts of the country.

 

[30907]

The GWR Saturday service to Penzance is much more frequent in summer than winter.

and there are Mon-Fri extras too, like the through Newquay services - and others to the Kent Coast from SE London, and between Norwich and Great Yarmouth.

Skegness still gets a couple of summer Saturday trains, while the Kyle has a better Sunday service.

Other factors:
Most people spending their main holiday in the UK travel by car, but may use rail once they are at destination - key holiday areas such as the SW have much improved regional, services - while staycationers still swamp trains to the coast on a fine day.
Much holiday accommodation is now let Friday to (Monday to) Friday, more so out of school holidays.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

The GWR Saturday service to Penzance is much more frequent in summer than winter.

Correct, specifically the 0903/1103 Padd-Plymouth are extended through, with an additional service at 0703 and a Padd-Newquay at 1135.
In the Up direction the 1315 Plymouth-Padd starts from Newquay 1120, the 1515 starts from Penzance 1310 and the 1650 from Penzance 1448. There is also an additional Penzance-Paddington service at 1100.
There are other balancing moves to/from Newquay to make the single train to/from Paddington work, as obviously it can’t be the same set both ways.

GWR also extend the 0835 and 1235 Paddington-Exeter through to Paignton and start the 1145 Exeter-Paddington back from Paignton at 1055. Interestingly the down trains both return via Bristol, with the 1500 Bristol TM-Paddington starting from Paignton at 1310 and an additional 1705 Paignton-Paddington via Bristol (which provides a summer-only 1930 Bristol TM-Paddington.) Presumably for balancing there is also a summer-only 1518 Bristol TM-Paddington which appears to utilise the same path that the 1518 Bristol-Oxford will occupy from 14th September onwards.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

TfW is planning to introduce more seasonal trains on the Cambrian network, with more limited services in the (deep) winter months.
So instead of summer extras it's winter reductions.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So instead of summer extras it's winter reductions.

A few of the very smallest Scottish stations, such as Falls of Cruachan and Dunrobin Castle, tend not to have any service provision whatsoever in between the months from October to March.

 

[The exile]

A few of the very smallest Scottish stations, such as Falls of Cruachan and Dunrobin Castle, tend not to have any service provision whatsoever in between the months from October to March.

Although in these cases I believe “reduction” would not be fair as they were reopened for seasonal service only.