Virgin Trains proposed Shrophire - Euston services

[The Planner]

You sure ? As the people I have spoke to who did the LM 110 test runs said there were flashers to 2. Will look at some signalling diagrams to see what's what.

 

[IrishDave]

What uses it coming out of Oxley? There's no OHL on the chord. As far as I know it was/is just there for the merry go round coal traffic to Ironbridge.

It may be, but to my eye it doesn't look like it's up to taking passenger trains.

Very little uses it but it does see passenger trains occasionally, principally when Shrewsbury-Crewe is shut and ATW divert; that last happened on Saturday 8th December last year, and the Oxley chord was traversed at all of about 15mph. I can't fathom how going that way and reversing at Stafford would be better than extending a Wolverhampton service through to Shrewsbury...

 

[The Planner]

Because it will unbalance the units, you cannot get to Shrewsbury and back by the time the Wolves train makes the return journey, you need to find another unit to cover that. Virgin are probably going to bank on saying they are providing a new extra service, not an extension.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Because it will unbalance the units, you cannot get to Shrewsbury and back by the time the Wolves train makes the return journey, you need to find another unit to cover that. Virgin are probably going to bank on saying they are providing a new extra service, not an extension.

the various "pressure groups" who got all the Tory MP's in Shropshire lobbying were predominantly of the not via New St persuasion.

 

[barrykas]

Could always do what Wrexham and Shropshire did on various occasions and branch off at Stechford and run via Tame Bridge Parkway, thus avoiding both New Street and the need for reversal.

 

[The Planner]

Probably just as quick to fly up the Trent Valley and reverse !

 

[Bald Rick]

Probably just as quick to fly up the Trent Valley and reverse !

My London - Wolves record with a sharp un-advertised connection at Stafford is 1h33...

 

[SprinterMan]

My London - Wolves record with a sharp un-advertised connection at Stafford is 1h33...

Damn, that's speedy, most EUS-WVH trains are timetabled for 1h48.
EDIT: Just realised how impressive your time was, as the WVH-EUS train that is non-stop from New Street still takes 1h38. I guess via Stafford is quicker after all.

Adam

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Probably just as quick to fly up the Trent Valley and reverse !

Some rail planner options already give you the SHR-WVH-STA-EUS shuffle with today's timetable (I assume at the higher fare, same as via Crewe).

It also allows a single 221 to be used for "Shropshire only".
Anything else would have needed 2 units and messing up the EBW diagrams.

I wonder where they will find the spare peak-time unit?
Steal from Chester or from using more 390s on BHM-Scotland?

 

[JonathanH]

Some rail planner options already give you the SHR-WVH-STA-EUS shuffle with today's timetable (I assume at the higher fare, same as via Crewe).

It also allows a single 221 to be used for "Shropshire only".
Anything else would have needed 2 units and messing up the EBW diagrams.

I wonder where they will find the spare peak-time unit?
Steal from Chester or from using more 390s on BHM-Scotland?

There is a 221 which spends the day spare at Wolverhampton. On a Friday it runs ECS to Euston to form.the 1846 to Preston.

There is also a 221 formed EBW diagram which sits spare at Euston from a morning service from North Wales then does 1523 Euston to Wolverhampton, 1645 return and 2003 from Euston returning to Central Rivers. On a Friday an extra unit is attached to a mid morning service from Chester to enable the normal unit to work the 1333 relief to Lancaster.

So there appears to be capacity in the Voyager fleet.

 

[Proud Salopian]

So I did hear correctly that it was via Stafford (despite forumers here thinking I was barking mad or something) - this is great news.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/...-half-an-hour-from-shrewsbury-to-london-trip/

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

So I did hear correctly that it was via Stafford (despite forumers here thinking I was barking mad or something) - this is great news.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/...-half-an-hour-from-shrewsbury-to-london-trip/

If the 0706 ex Salop makes commercial calls at Stafford and Rugby it will be good news for them (and de-risk the likelihood of an empty train).
Euston arrival at 0919 must mean about 0750 from Stafford and 0825-ish from Rugby.
Ideal gap-filler.
Snooty Salopians who don't like the long way round via Oxley-Bushbury can drive to Stafford and still pick up up "their" train...

 

[SprinterMan]

If the 0706 ex Salop makes commercial calls at Stafford and Rugby it will be good news for them (and de-risk the likelihood of an empty train).
Euston arrival at 0919 must mean about 0750 from Stafford and 0825-ish from Rugby.
Ideal gap-filler.
Snooty Salopians who don't like the long way round via Oxley-Bushbury can drive to Stafford and still pick up up "their" train...

It is actually quicker via Stafford, due to less congestion and higher linespeeds.

Adam

 

[Mr Spock]

If the 0706 ex Salop makes commercial calls at Stafford and Rugby it will be good news for them (and de-risk the likelihood of an empty train).
Euston arrival at 0919 must mean about 0750 from Stafford and 0825-ish from Rugby.
Ideal gap-filler.
Snooty Salopians who don't like the long way round via Oxley-Bushbury can drive to Stafford and still pick up up "their" train...

Would seem a bit pointless stopping it at Rugby about 8.25ish as there is already a Virgin train at 8.23.

 

[Nym]

Would seem a bit pointless stopping it at Rugby about 8.25ish as there is already a Virgin train at 8.23.

Could be for pathing, since it may well have caught up anyway, might as well stop there and get everything in the right order to arrive at Euston, could also be that the 8:23 off Rugby may end up being a voyager, so one could join them together...?

 

[Gareth Marston]

Could be for pathing, since it may well have caught up anyway, might as well stop there and get everything in the right order to arrive at Euston, could also be that the 8:23 off Rugby may end up being a voyager, so one could join them together...?

0823 comes from new st so unlikely voyager candidate

 

[Nym]

Not as unlikely as people would hope to be honest, seen plenty a voyager on the Euston - New Street route.

 

[The Planner]

Can't see the 0750 off New St ever being a Voyager.

 

[Mr Spock]

There are not many, if any, Voyagers on Birmingham runs since the latest timetable came into effect.

 

[Pumbaa]

1523 ex Euston always used to be a 221. Think it still is now, last time I used it was mid January.

 

[Mr Spock]

The 15.23 used to be part of the service that started with the early Rugby (via Northampton) to Euston, 08.03 t0 Birmingham, 09.50 to Euston, etc.

I often caught this train from Rugby (10.24) but since the new timetable started it has always been a pendolino.

There has been an occasionin January when I have travelled from Euston on a 221 but this was a result of a last minute stock change.

 

[JonathanH]

1523 from Euston is still a Voyager as is the 2003. The earlier trains mentioned are Pendolinos.

On Monday to Thursday it is formed by this
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P51541/2013/02/18/advanced

On Friday it is the front unit of the 1135 from Chester

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P51032/2013/02/15/advanced

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Has anyone actually seen the Track Access Application for this yet?

 

[Gareth Marston]

Has anyone actually seen the Track Access Application for this yet?

I understand that its not in yet it was announced due to "pressure from within Government" as my source put it.