WCML services - number of WMT vs. Avanti services

[AJDesiro]

Northampton - Birmingham really needs 12 car trains but some of the platforms are too short. A possible solution could be too extend the Litchfield Trent Valley - Birmingham International local trains to Coventry. The LNR Euston - New Street services could be extended to 12 car trains and not call at the smaller stations between Coventry and New Street.

I suggest you read this: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-730-lnr-wmr-delivery-test-updates.215134/post-7239159.

Yes, that's the plan and alongside that is the plan to run 12 car 350's between London and Birmingham New Street using the surplus units no longer needed on the Trent.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Apr 2025 ==

Lets not forget that the plan for the 730's was at least DCO if not DOO instead of the conventional working the units have needed retrofitting for.

The 350s have UDS which allows them to release the doors in the front 8/4 coaches on short platforms, so it shouldn't be an issue. There is a programme to retrofit them with ASDO, but whether it will be used or not is unclear.

 

[MatthewE707]

How did you arrive at the 2tph max?

Based on the current timetable (or actually the planned one from 15th September), there are 15 trains departing Euston on the fast lines from 1700-1759, and only two stop at Watford. The only available path would be between the 1702 and 1710, but I assume the plan is to eventually have the extra Liverpool services be hourly and therefore occupy this gap. There wouldn't be time to stop at Watford in any case with the next train departing Euston no more than 5 minutes later.

You need a faster Milton Keynes Birmingham.

I forgot to mention I also have a CrossCountry service from Brighton which uses the West London Line (as I said I'm ignoring freight) and then stops at Milton Keynes, Coventry, Birmingham International, New Street

What are you doing with the locals between Cov and International as you have now provided 4 fast Birmingham Coventry services?

They could start from Northampton like they used to or else start at Coventry if better turnback facilities were available at Coventry.

You also don't want to drop the Bletchley calls from the WMT fasts.

I still have the Euston - Leighton Buzzard - Bletchley ... services (essentially the current Birmingham services curtailed at Rugby)

 

[The Planner]

Northampton - Birmingham really needs 12 car trains but some of the platforms are too short. A possible solution could be too extend the Litchfield Trent Valley - Birmingham International local trains to Coventry. The LNR Euston - New Street services could be extended to 12 car trains and not call at the smaller stations between Coventry and New Street.

It might need 12 in the peaks from Northampton, not off peak. Do you mean the Rugeley trains? Nothing goes from Lichfield. The problem with that is they are all stations. You will really struggle with all stations New St to Coventry.

Based on the current timetable (or actually the planned one from 15th September), there are 15 trains departing Euston on the fast lines from 1700-1759, and only two stop at Watford. The only available path would be between the 1702 and 1710, but I assume the plan is to eventually have the extra Liverpool services be hourly and therefore occupy this gap. There wouldn't be time to stop at Watford in any case with the next train departing Euston no more than 5 minutes later.

If this is post HS2, ignore the current timetable.

I forgot to mention I also have a CrossCountry service from Brighton which uses the West London Line (as I said I'm ignoring freight) and then stops at Milton Keynes, Coventry, Birmingham International, New Street

Why? Waste of a path.

They could start from Northampton like they used to or else start at Coventry if better turnback facilities were available at Coventry.

You won't fit in all stations between New St and Coventry with 4 (6 if XC get another path) fast trains.

 

[43074]

I forgot to mention I also have a CrossCountry service from Brighton which uses the West London Line (as I said I'm ignoring freight) and then stops at Milton Keynes, Coventry, Birmingham International, New Street

There's no way any post HS2 scenario can ignore freight. Likewise I can't imagine there will be any appetite for reintroducing the old XC services from Brighton, and even if there was good luck threading that across the junction from the Brighton fast lines at Balham, then across the slow line to plats 16/17 at Clapham Junction and lining up with a path on/off the WCML fast lines at Willesden!

 

[MatthewE707]

There's no way any post HS2 scenario can ignore freight.

As I said this is only my own personal project, and not a serious attempt to create a timetable that could realistically be used. In the same way, I said I am including infrastructure upgrades - for example grade separation of some junctions, to make it a bit easier.