It links two major rail hubs
Carlisle may be a "rail hub", but it's not that big a place, in the grand scheme of things
Would it be possible to have a limited stop train between Carlisle and Newcastle (maybe stopping at Hexham only)? This would open up a load of new routes, Glasgow -> Newcastle, Preston etc to Newcastle and diversion routes.
I don't know why you'd want to stop at Hexham but not Metro Centre (which gets roughly as many passengers, and is a destination and public transport hub)?
But, there's been a two-hourly Glasgow - Newcastle service for decades now - via Edinburgh - are you proposing an alternative "fast" service via Lockerbie?
The only savior is the A69 road and bus services are equally as dreadful.
...only west of Hexham (which is where few people live).
The frequency will be half-hourly in the next few years with a premium limited stop hourly service that will extend to Middlesbrough via Durham using refurbished class 158s. In theory, journey times are supposed to be cut by ten minutes which still isn't great but an improvement all the same.
Honest question - is the "Connect" service going to be speeded up west of Hexham (with the current Newcastle - Hexham stopper taking the local stops)?
Fair enough, if that means that the Connect service will omit Haydon Bridge, Bardon Mill, Haltwhistle, Brampton and Wetheral, but I've not seen that anywhere.
It will, however, mean quite a difference in the times for the two services, so that the slow one may have to be pathed just after the Connect service and almost be caught up at the other end by the subsequent Connect service
The bus services are only dreadful outside of Hexham, Prudhoe and Corbrudge. There's a regular express bus with wifi and comfy seating (preferable to the train route)
There's also a less direct but regular service to Newcastle again using modern decker a with wifi .
Service west from Hexham isn't great but demand isn't there
Agreed - the buses in the Tyne Valley are about as good as you're going to get for that kind of territory.
Agreed also re lack of population west of Hexham.
Class 158s are basically glorified Pacers
Top trolling!
Yes, it does annoy me that they couldn't have ordered a few more 195s to give Northern Connect services a uniform fleet. I don't know why the north-east deserves less than anywhere else
I don't know, but it may be because they want to keep with just two types of DMU for the local "Tyne Tees" operations. Its currently 142s and 156s - maybe the plan is some 158s for the longer distance stuff (inc Whitby, Morpeth) and something like 150s for the other stuff (Saltburn - Bishop Auckland)?
195s may mean a third "small" fleet at Heaton, whereas 158s can be part of a larger pool along with what will be put to work on other routes? (am just guessing here though)
The 158s remain one of the finest regional diesel units we have in the UK, in my opinion
Agreed
The Service has got worse since arriva took over last week
You're complaining after a week? Seriously?
Arriva said they were going to improve services. This is what they said on XC and look at the cattle trains they run
And still we travel like cattle in the Tyne Valley. And just about everywhere else
When two coach 158 trains start running they will be still overloaded cattle trains
You really are laying it on a bit thick with the "cattle" stuff
If a 158 is a "cattle train" and a Voyager is a "cattle train" then is there any point trying to have a nuanced conversation?
Usage on the Tyne valley line is increasing quickly
...as it is on most lines.
What makes yours so special?
A responsive TOC would respond with extra stock
Yes, in the week they've already been running it, they should have found some of the Strategic Diesel Reserve (hidden in Box Hill Tunnel) and put it on the Tyne Valley route...
Well The shareholders will be rubbing their hands at the thought of the state handouts they will be getting
But then again I didn't expect any different under a Tory government
Why do you both need to bring politics into it?