VTEC HST at Carlisle
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Kite159
Veteran Member
At a random guess, I would say route learning/refreshing for the autumn diversions
There was disruption due to OLE problems between Berwick and Newcastle today - could this have been a diverted HST?
Yeah there was at least one divert going by what someone posted on either Facebook or Twitter to VTEC.
There was overhead issues around Morpeth or Alnmouth which blocked the line. I think the line was clear by around 1330.
I was supposed to be on the 16:30 from Edinburgh this afternoon and it was a bit of shambles at times. First they put the 1600 on the website and Twitter as cancelled between Edinburgh & Newcastle with the 1630 running as planned.
Then they cancelled the 1630 between Edinburgh and Newcastle then reinstated the 1600 using the set that would normally be the 1630.
Right thing to do as it meant that the set was turned around ASAP and moving again but there were quite a few confused looking people.
Aberdeen - Kx, and Kx - Aberdeen both diverted via Carlisle, due to the line closure at Morpeth due to OHL problems.
Inverness - Kx, was also due to divert, but became the 1st train via ECML as line reopened.
47271
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1130 King's Cross-Edinburgh was cancelled for this reason. I got sent over to Euston for the 1130 to Glasgow. All staff knew, no quibbles, pretty well handled from my point of view.
1D53
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1S03 would have been the one you saw.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Out of interest, why don't XC ever divert via Carlisle when the ECML is closed north of Newcastle?
They always seem to turn round short, even those headed to/from Aberdeen.
They always seem to turn round short, even those headed to/from Aberdeen.
Do any of their crews still sign that way ?
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Maybe not, but it's more a question of TOC policy.
Perhaps it's something to do with available capacity via Hexham, and VTEC taking it all.
I certainly got the impression when Arriva XC begun, maybe DFT or whoever had decided that the WCML wasn't part of its strategy at all seeing as Virgin XC had previously diverted some voyagers that way
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If line capacity via Hexham is limited, then much better to use it for a 2+8 VTEC HST than a 4/5 car XC Voyager.
D1009
Established Member
It takes so much longer to go via Carlisle, they wouldn't have enough stock to run the service.
Simple enough process to double them up though
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When they barely have enough stock to run singles half the time, in theory it is a great idea but in reality there is no chance of it happening
SteveP29
Member
Did these trains do a run around of Newcraighall to get back onto the Carstairs line, or did they go over the High Level bridge at Newcastle to keep them in formation? (ie, 1st class at the London end)
Almost certainly the Newcastle loop
They wouldn't need to would they? 1st class would be at the London end of Edinburgh Waverley and would still be there when it arrives at Newcastle. Certainly when I've done the diversions the trains have always been the right way round at Newcastle and Edinburgh without having to do anything fancy.
Kryten2340
Member
They would just need to reverse at Newcastle wouldn't they?
A train from Aberdeen (with first class at the front heading south) would reverse at Edinburgh to head towards Carlisle, putting first class at the back.
Train would thus arrive at Newcastle from Carlisle with First Class still at the back, so would need to reverse again at Newcastle to keep first class at the south end.
Altetnatively, First Class can be kept at the front throughout by looping via the Edinburgh South Suburban, and then again via the High Level Bridge at Newcastle, without any reversals.
Suspect train crew would be changed anyway at both Edinburgh and Newcastle, which would speed any necessary reversal anyway.
Train would thus arrive at Newcastle from Carlisle with First Class still at the back, so would need to reverse again at Newcastle to keep first class at the south end.
Altetnatively, First Class can be kept at the front throughout by looping via the Edinburgh South Suburban, and then again via the High Level Bridge at Newcastle, without any reversals.
Suspect train crew would be changed anyway at both Edinburgh and Newcastle, which would speed any necessary reversal anyway.
An opportunity missed to do an unscheduled diversion in 1st class on an HST over the Tyne Valley line?
At the back while heading north into Newcastle station, which means First is at the front when it heads back south again.
If it does the diversion both ways, it isn't so much of an issue, as it may run wrong formation on part of the journey but will be corrected anyway on the return (this is what was happening when the HST's were running to Newark and then reversing to go via Lincoln)
If it only does it one way then a run round the loop at Newcastle would sort it
If it only does it one way then a run round the loop at Newcastle would sort it
If a VTEC set did London to Edinburgh only it would still be the right way round at Edinburgh as long as it reverses at Newcastle. The same applies southbound.
adrock1976
Established Member
I'm expanding slightly on what others have mentioned above.
In normal circumstances, First Class is at the front of the train facing Berwick upon Tweed (the start and end point of the North British Railway). By leaving Waverley along the normal route, as most of us know, First Class would be at the buffers upon arrival at London KX.
If departing Waverley heading in the direction of Carlisle (the start and end point of the Caledonian Railway), First Class is at the rear for the Waverley - Newcastle Central leg.
As the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway runs on the south bank of the mighty Tyne between Gateshead Metrocentre and NCL, it approaches NCL from the south. It can either enter NCL via the King Edward Bridge or the High Level Bridge. However, when departing NCL to continue south to KGX, it has to go over the same bridge that it entered the station by so as now to keep First Class facing London.
If the train departed Waverley towards the Berwick direction and was routed via the South Surburban, First Class would be at the front on entering NCL. In this instance, the train would have to depart from NCL towards KGX via the opposite bridge to which it had entered )e.g. enter via King Edward, depart by High Level) so as to have First Class facing London after crossing the mighty Tyne again.
Hope that clarifies a few things for you.
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