Which is each TOC's "poor relation" route?

[tbtc]

Recent threads have referred to various TOCs having a route that is their "lowest priority".

For example, it was claimed that Birmingham - Stansted has gone from being a "flagship" route for Central Trains to a b-list one for XC.

There are claims that London Midland treat the Chase line (Rugeley - Walsall/Birmingham) as low priority.

Everyone thinks that their "local" line should be a bigger priority (I'd claim that the two-coach 170s on a number of TPE services through Sheffield shows that they don't treat the South Transpennine route as importantly as the "North" or "North West" ones).

But what do you think the "poor relation" is at various TOCs?

 

[Zoe]

In the longer term the Paddington to Plymouth/Penzance route may well end up the poor relation for the Greater Western franchise as it will remain unelectrified with stock up to 60 years old if the HSTs do remain in service until 2035.

 

[marks87]

For ScotRail, it's surely Glasgow-Stranraer.

 

[HST Power]

Anyone know the route for FCC? I'd be curious to know.

 

[AlterEgo]

EC - Hull to London
VT - Birmingham to Scotland
LM - Marston Vale (possibly)
Northern - Middlesbrough to Newcastle
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

For ScotRail, it's surely Glasgow-Stranraer.

Definitely agree - a shame too as it was once a very prosperous route.

 

[SWT_USER]

For me FGW's would be the Greenford branch.

 

[First class]

Merseyrail it will be Liverpool-Kirkby or Ellesmere Port.

Northern has loads. Ellesmere Port to Helsby...

 

[AlterEgo]

Merseyrail it will be Liverpool-Kirkby or Ellesmere Port.

Are these Pacer-operated?

 

[Class172]

For London Midland I would say the Marston Vale Line services.

 

[Yew]

Any train going to lincoln?

 

[Schnellzug]

In the longer term the Paddington to Plymouth/Penzance route may well end up the poor relation for the Greater Western franchise as it will remain unelectrified with stock up to 60 years old if the HSTs do remain in service until 2035.

But once people in Par and Totnes have seen the IEP, who know, they may think that they've got the best part of the deal. See also: Voyagers vs. HSTs.

 

[Aictos]

Anyone know the route for FCC? I'd be curious to know.

That's quite easy, the Hertford Loop and the Wimbledon Loop are the poor relations of all the routes served by FCC although sometimes some improvements are made from time to time.

 

[WestCoast]

Are these Pacer-operated?

No, all Merseyrail services are operated by 507s/508s.

However Merseytravel (the PTE) funded a 'refurbishment' of some Pacers in their area now in the general Northern fleet, which are dreadful.

 

[Max]

For TPE, probably either Hull on north TPE or east of Sheffield on South TPE. I would agree with Hull for East Coast. Maybe the Whitby line on Northern? Or the Barton-on-Humber branch (no Northern crews even sign it!).

 

[yorksrob]

For Northern I think I'd have to say Knottingley - Goole. One train per day each way ! That said, it's probably East Yorkshire's low priority as much as Northern's (funny lot out in the sticks ).

 

[Greenback]

ATW - Wrexham to Bidston anyone?

 

[TheJRB]

Southern's must surely be the Wandsworth Road to Kensington Olympia line that they run one train in either direction each weekday on.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Maybe the Whitby line on Northern?

I don't know, it's improved quite a lot since the local CRP came about, and Northern have changed the stock from 142 to 156 operation.

ATW - Wrexham to Bidston anyone?

As above, ATW have done quite a lot for this line. It's currently got its highest passenger levels in years, and there was talk a while ago about a second service per hour.

 

[cjohnson]

Southern's must surely be the Wandsworth Road to Kensington Olympia line that they run one train in either direction each weekday on.

I think such a 'parly' service doesn't really count for the purposes of this thread (plus it's not that neglected - it's being extended to Clapham High St come December!)
I would say that the inner SLL (via Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill) is probably Southern's "poor relation" - 2-car 456s only 2tph on a quite useful route, but which is to be ditched come ELLX-2.

 

[TheJRB]

I would imagine Southeastern's would be the Sheerness branch.

 

[HST Power]

That's quite easy, the Hertford Loop and the Wimbledon Loop are the poor relations of all the routes served by FCC although sometimes some improvements are made from time to time.

I was (honestly) thinking Hertford but I didn't want to risk saying so, only for someone to jump out and berate me on the importance of Herford connections!

 

[TheJRB]

I think such a 'parly' service doesn't really count for the purposes of this thread (plus it's not that neglected - it's being extended to Clapham High St come December!)
I would say that the inner SLL (via Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill) is probably Southern's "poor relation" - 2-car 456s only 2tph on a quite useful route, but which is to be ditched come ELLX-2.

Good point and very true.

 

[Lampshade]

Northern's would be Saltburn - Bishop Auckland or Blackpool South - Colne.

 

[yorksrob]

Northern's would be Saltburn - Bishop Auckland or Blackpool South - Colne.

Actually yeah - you win

 

[WestCoast]

Northern's would be Saltburn - Bishop Auckland or Blackpool South - Colne.

I'd agree with that, perhaps also Morecambe to Leeds on Northern?

 

[district]

Southern Marshlink?

 

[TheJRB]

Southern Marshlink?

I thought that too, but it appears Southern have tried to extend to four coaches (they did a trial back in June) and increase frequency while Network Rail have always advised them against doing so.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

All good and sound candidates.

Marston Vale in particular - though , in truth , it does not have a lot of traffic potential.

 

[tbtc]

For ScotRail, how about the Motherwell - Cumbernauld route, since that was the one the scrapped to find a spare unit for the Pope's visit to Glasgow last year?

If we are allowed to do old TOCs then for Northern Spirit/ Arriva Trains Northern the Sheffield - Wakefield Kirkgate stopper (since withdrawn/replaced) was always the first train to be cancelled if they didn't have enough units/ drivers/ guards.

 

[Gareth]

For Merseyrail, it's the Ellesmere Port branch of the Wirral Line, which is 2tph, much less than the rest of the network.

For Northern, surely the Ellesmere Port-Helsby route with its pathetic parliamentary service, although I wouldn't be surprised if there's simialr lines throught Northern's area.

Arriva Train Wales, perhaps Wrexham-Bidston. It seems a bit forgotten.

Virgin, the Liverpool service, at least if we're talking about major cities.