Trivia: Unusual timetabled services?

[Daz28]

Starting on Monday this service is unusual as it calls at two termini before heading to Orpington.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W47539/2015/01/13/advanced

 

[swt_passenger]

How about the 7.45 Clapham Junction to Guildford that runs via Ascot and Aldershot. Runs Monday to Friday. Use to start from Richmond. There's no equivalent in the opposite direction.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W93181/2015/01/09/advanced

Over the course of a whole day there are dozens of SWT services that only cover a subset of the normal overall route for the particular line, with no opposite direction version. What makes this one so unusual?

 

[bramling]

my nomination is 2P99 0325 Peterborough - Kings Cross via Hertford North using a 4 car 365

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L01079/2015/01/13/advanced

despite what Realtime trains says about it being a 317 its definitely a 365 went on it the other week as i needed hertford north for track coverage and refuse to use a 313

Booked for a 365, and has been for as long as I can remember. MF the train goes on to form the first northbound Kings Lynn, which also has an unusual pattern, being fast FP to Stevenage, then all stations to Kings Lynn - the only northbound through service from Stevenage and Hitchin to Kings Lynn.

There's also a similar service in the evening, 0105 King's Cross to Royston (used to be Letchworth) via Hertford North, calling at some but not all of the stations on the Hertford line. Some time ago this was booked 1x317, but in the last few years has been booked 1x365.

Another slight oddity is that through the day the Kings Lynn trains are generally extensions of the fast Cambridge trains, in both directions. However from around 1800 the up Kings Lynn trains form the semi-fast services from Cambridge onwards. I presume this caters more conveniently for journeys such as Ely-Royston, however for others this is a pain, as it makes these trains busier than they would otherwise be south of Cambridge, they tend to be confined to 4 cars to avoid the need to join at Cambridge, and it provides a much slower journey for those travelling from Kings Lynn, Ely (etc) to London.

On the same line, there is an 0810 King's Cross to Peterborough which calls at Stevenage, St Neots, Huntington and Peterborough, and as 3x365. However this can be explained simply that this was originally an ECS move which recently was decided to be made a passenger service.

And on the subject of ECS moves, the 1422 King's Cross to Peterborough is formed from the 1230 Cambridge to King's Cross (arr 1332), however presumably because there is limited platform availability, the train runs empty to Hornsey reversing sidings and back to King's Cross. Really irritating, as it means the train doesn't arrive at King's Cross until a few minutes before departure time.

Finally, Saturday morning still sees one up service start from Huntingdon bay road. Can only assume this is for some kind of route knowledge or rusty rail prevention, as there doesn't seem to be any other obvious reason, especially now Peterborough has its additional platforms.

 

[The Planner]

I find the 0609 Bath to Glasgow quite cool

Nothing to do with getting a XC senior manager that lives in Bath to work at all that one.Not at all...whether they still do it or not I dont know.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

All trains stopping at Polesworth as they don't stop there on the way back.

All? Thought it was just one a day? Nothing stops the other way as you cant get off the platform.

 

[bunnahabhain]

I nominate the weekdays only 1Y20 0521 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street, as it is the only West Highland Line service to call at Cardross, Singer, Maryhill & Possilpark & Parkhouse.

For the purpose of schoolkids, quite a normal thing, I can think of quite a large number of stations that remain open almost entirely because of schoolkids travelling by train; (Ancaster, Rauceby, Swineshead, Hubberts Bridge, Thorpe Culvert, Havenhouse).

 

[berneyarms]

my nomination is 2P99 0325 Peterborough - Kings Cross via Hertford North using a 4 car 365

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L01079/2015/01/13/advanced

despite what Realtime trains says about it being a 317 its definitely a 365 went on it the other week as i needed hertford north for track coverage and refuse to use a 313

Realtime trains does not tell you what type of train operates what service.

All it does is tell you the timing basis for the service.

There is a distinct difference.

 

[infobleep]

Over the course of a whole day there are dozens of SWT services that only cover a subset of the normal overall route for the particular line, with no opposite direction version. What makes this one so unusual?

As far as I'm aware all other services to Guildford via Aldershot start and terminate at Ascot. It's the only one to start further back towards London.

 

[30907]

As far as I'm aware all other services to Guildford via Aldershot start and terminate at Ascot. It's the only one to start further back towards London.

More of a rarity IMO as starting at Clapham Junction in the down direction. I can't think of any booked train that has done that (but stand to be corrected - the West of England milk empties in steam days doesn't count!)

 

[causton]

Booked for a 365, and has been for as long as I can remember. MF the train goes on to form the first northbound Kings Lynn, which also has an unusual pattern, being fast FP to Stevenage, then all stations to Kings Lynn - the only northbound through service from Stevenage and Hitchin to Kings Lynn.

Don't forget the other way there is the last service from Kings Lynn to Kings Cross which calls at all stations from Kings Lynn to Hatfield, then Potters Bar, Finsbury Park and Kings Cross! Only direct train from Kings Lynn to Hatfield which is nice for me

 

[backontrack]

Off topic I know, but could we rename this into a trivia thread?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Berwick-London southbound only to cater for those without the Flying Scotsman. It is the only service to call at Retford but not Doncaster.

 

[infobleep]

More of a rarity IMO as starting at Clapham Junction in the down direction. I can't think of any booked train that has done that (but stand to be corrected - the West of England milk empties in steam days doesn't count!)

Which surely makes it usual.

 

[causton]

I always thought the East Coast services that called at Grantham, then Stevenage, but not Peterborough were a bit odd - as surely Peterborough is a lot larger?

 

[Sharpie]

I always thought the East Coast services that called at Grantham, then Stevenage, but not Peterborough were a bit odd - as surely Peterborough is a lot larger?

over bank holidays when its 1tph only between Kings Cross and Leeds run they favour the Stevenage, Grantham calls over the Peterborough calls there has to be more demand from Peterborough than Grantham

 

[jopsuk]

Skipping Peterborough will be a case of "load management".

I nominate the 2358 from Liverpool Street to Cambridge. Runs in the "slow" pattern- ie Tottenham Hale, Chesunt then all-stations.

Except it doesn't stop at Shelford, the last station before Cambridge. Never understood this. Shelford is only manned in the mornings, so it isn't a staffing issue there. the gates to the platforms don't get locked. So why not stop?

 

[cuccir]

The 15:29 Buxton to Barrow-in-Furnesss. Because why wouldn't there be one...

The 05:55 Newcastle-Chathill is also a very odd one, calling at Cramlington, Morpeth and Alnmouth.

 

[PHILIPE]

Realtime trains does not tell you what type of train operates what service.

All it does is tell you the timing basis for the service.

There is a distinct difference.

The times this has been pointed out on the Forum, countless in fact, and yet some people still don't seem to absorb it.

 

[mm333]

The 0740 Manchester Piccadilly-Hull, which is the one service a day passing through Brough non-stop.

FO 2315 Sheffield-Leeds, which runs non-stop from Moorthorpe to Leeds so it doesn't have to deal with the drunks of Wakefield

And a new one, the 1835 Horsforth-Selby, the only train heading south from Horsforth that doesn't terminate in Leeds (apart from the weekday East Coast service to London)

 

[infobleep]

The 15:29 Buxton to Barrow-in-Furnesss. Because why wouldn't there be one...

The 05:55 Newcastle-Chathill is also a very odd one, calling at Cramlington, Morpeth and Alnmouth.

What type of rolling stock is used on the Buxton service?

 

[PHILIPE]

What type of rolling stock is used on the Buxton service?

150s and 156s only are allowed to run to Buxton, so as the train goes to Barrow would no doubt be a 156 on this one.

 

[berneyarms]

The times this has been pointed out on the Forum, countless in fact, and yet some people still don't seem to absorb it.

To be fair it's someone with only 21 posts!!

There will always be people who don't know that - that's when deep breaths are called for!!

 

[PHILIPE]

To be fair it's someone with only 21 posts!!

There will always be people who don't know that - that's when deep breaths are called for!!

I always look at their history but has been a member since 2009

 

[johnpeter3]

I'd nominate the 1B59 0325 MSSuX Sheffield to Manchester Airport (via Moorthorpe, Wakefield Kirkgate, non-stop Huddersfield (the only westbound passenger not to stop AFAIK). Rather a circular tour of Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire for late-arriving airport passengers!

The return is 1B52 2330 Manchester Airport to Sheffield via the same route in reverse, at Huddersfield, Realtime Trains suggests this is platform 4 there, not the usual eastbound through platform number 8.

JP

 

[dvalts]

A few of my favourites are the 1713 Kyle of Lochalsh to Elgin 2H86, calling all stops.

the 0708 Glasgow Central to Newcastle 1E95, jointly operated by Northern and Scotrail.

And the 1520 Carlisle to Nottingham 1M01 , which actually runs as a 'fast' service on the Carlisle-Meadowhall portion, before deciding to call at all stops into Nottingham thereafter.

I'm a fan of the long distance stoppers

 

[Hyphen]

I suppose it's not that unusual, but my nomination would be the daily Cardiff Central - Manchester and return. It does a double-back between Filton Junction and Bristol Temple Meads in both directions, only calling at Filton Abbey Wood in one direction (admittedly the correct direction for the morning/evening peak flows).

It's unusual in that anybody wanting to do that journey end to end would be much quicker changing at Bristol Parkway to/from one of the FGW trains towards Cardiff/Swansea.

With the double-back in mind, I know holders of tickets between Cardiff and points north of Cheltenham are able to use this service to/from Cardiff (direct train rule) but can anyone speculate on validity for holders of tickets to other locations?

Edit - these are the runs made by this one:
5M25 Barton Hill - Cardiff (ECS - runs through the station, reversing to the west, returning to the eastbound platforms - this is usual for the Turbostar services too)
1M25 Cardiff - Manchester
1V65 Manchester - Cardiff
1C00 Cardiff - Bristol TM

 

[David Goddard]

The FSO 2O55 (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C22701/2015/01/10/advanced)
The only Reading to Gatwick service which does not call at Wokingham.
This stop call withdrawn on Fridays and Saturdays a few years ago to stop it getting overrun with drunk individuals as it was the last train back from Reading.

 

[Liam]

Berwick-London southbound only to cater for those without the Flying Scotsman. It is the only service to call at Retford but not Doncaster.

Also the only service to start at Berwick.

O453 Inverness to Edinburgh and the 0929 Edinburgh to Aberdeen are the only trains which pass through Leuchars without stopping.

There used to be an early morning XC service from Edinburgh-Dundee (went onto form the Dundee-Penzance) which did not stop at Kirkcaldy as it was sometimes routed via Dunfermline for route training. It now runs ECS, normally via the coast.

The Southbound Highland Chieftain on Sundays makes additional calls at Carrbridge, Newtonmore, Blair Atholl, Dunkeld and Birnam and Dunblane but not on any other day.

 

[VisualAcid]

Sometimes the last train from Swindon to Gloucester via Bath, Bristol, Severn Tunnel Junction before reversing up to Gloucester via Lydney. All non-stop. Never seen anyone on it though!

 

[Starmill]

Hows about Thursday & Friday Only 1857 London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly... Calling at Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly... and conveying only Standard Class accommodation.

 

[najaB]

There used to be an early morning XC service from Edinburgh-Dundee (went onto form the Dundee-Penzance) which did not stop at Kirkcaldy as it was sometimes routed via Dunfermline for route training. It now runs ECS, normally via the coast.

The 1125 Plymouth to Dundee still goes round the Circle. Counts as an unusual route as the only passenger service that calls at Edinburgh and Dundee, but which doesn't pass or call at Kirkaldy.

Edit: Looking at RealtimeTrains it looks like it's routed around the Circle to stop it catching up to the all-stations stopper in front of it. Both are timed to take 31 minutes between Inverkeithing and Markinch.

 

[FenMan]

1T11 Downham Market - London Kings Cross, departing 1710 M-F only.

The only direct Downham to London train that doesn't start back at King's Lynn.