Wolverhampton Station

[Masboroughlad]

Now that Wolverhampton is run by WMT and not Virgin, have the facilities and service deteriorated? Is there still a 1st class lounge?

 

[Bald Rick]

Now that Wolverhampton is run by WMT and not Virgin, have the facilities and service deteriorated? Is there still a 1st class lounge?

The only lounge you ever need at Wolves station is the Great Western PH. It is definitely First Class.

 

[The Planner]

Doesn't really matter since the redevelopment is going to start soon.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No First Class lounge.

 

[gord]

The loss of the first class lounge and some changes in branding are the only things I've noticed so far. Platform 4 is still a bit of a pain to get to and from. If you're in 1st class on a Euston train, which normally goes from there, it's quite a walk all the way around. Hopefully, the refurbishment will sort that out.

Northbound services through Wolverhampton tend to suffer the fallout of congestion through New Street a fair bit. Always impressed with the dispatchers there, they seem able to get some very tightly timetabled northbound services in and out of platform 1 very efficiently, particularly when the trains have been held up at New Street. Sometimes they arrive only a few minutes apart.

Always a busy station, looking forward to seeing the refurbishment. Might be even more used when the Metro is connected as people from places such as West Brom, Wednesbury and Bilston (and Dudley in the future) may find it easier to get to than New Street if they're needing to catch a northbound train.

 

[adrock1976]

Could somebody explain the reason how management of Wolverhampton station has transferred from being managed by an Intercity operator to a local/regional operator?

Wolverhampton station was designed as an Intercity station when the electrification project happened back in the 1960s.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Could somebody explain the reason how management of Wolverhampton station has transferred from being managed by an Intercity operator to a local/regional operator?

Wolverhampton station was designed as an Intercity station when the electrification project happened back in the 1960s.

Because it's primarily used by regional passengers.

 

[brick60000]

The loss of the first class lounge and some changes in branding are the only things I've noticed so far. Platform 4 is still a bit of a pain to get to and from. If you're in 1st class on a Euston train, which normally goes from there, it's quite a walk all the way around. Hopefully, the refurbishment will sort that out.

Northbound services through Wolverhampton tend to suffer the fallout of congestion through New Street a fair bit. Always impressed with the dispatchers there, they seem able to get some very tightly timetabled northbound services in and out of platform 1 very efficiently, particularly when the trains have been held up at New Street. Sometimes they arrive only a few minutes apart.

Always a busy station, looking forward to seeing the refurbishment. Might be even more used when the Metro is connected as people from places such as West Brom, Wednesbury and Bilston (and Dudley in the future) may find it easier to get to than New Street if they're needing to catch a northbound train.

The RA box on platform 1 seems to be in an awkward position. By the looks they have to dispatch one in the middle of the straight section and one by the curve, creating rather a walk for both dispatchers to the RA when dispatching Pendolinos (which is by the goods lift)

 

[Smethwickian]

Could somebody explain the reason how management of Wolverhampton station has transferred from being managed by an Intercity operator to a local/regional operator?

Wolverhampton station was designed as an Intercity station when the electrification project happened back in the 1960s.

Virgin operate just one train per hour in each direction, which hardly justifies the company being in charge of the station. XC don't run stations so that leaves ATW, also with 1tph each way, or WMT with all the rest and more to come. Not large enough to justify being run by Network Rail.

 

[DarloRich]

The first class lounge has closed?!?!?!?!?! Omg. How will us normal passengers survive?

It is going to be rebuilt anyway isn't it?

 

[LowLevel]

Could somebody explain the reason how management of Wolverhampton station has transferred from being managed by an Intercity operator to a local/regional operator?

Wolverhampton station was designed as an Intercity station when the electrification project happened back in the 1960s.

Because West Midlands Rail see themselves as being like Transport for London in the future and thus want to bring their major local hubs in house. Now the Intercity work has fragmented there's no overwhelming major operator. They tried to get Coventry and Birmingham International and Virgin weren't happy so Wolverhampton transferring was a compromise.

 

[Sheddyone]

Work has already started on the rebuild:

https://www.expressandstar.com/news...work-to-finally-begin-on-new-railway-station/

The tram extension is progressing well:

http://metroalliance.co.uk/third-ph...xtension-to-commence-from-monday-9-july-2018/

Virgin operate just one train per hour in each direction, which hardly justifies the company being in charge of the station. XC don't run stations so that leaves ATW, also with 1tph each way, or WMT with all the rest and more to come. Not large enough to justify being run by Network Rail.

I agree that WMR/WMT are probably the best people to run the station *now* (remember Virgin used to run 2 per hour EBW), but there are still more long distance services than locals (M-F off-peak):

Long distance

LNWR Birmingham - Liverpool, 2 per hour each way.
Virgin London - Shrewsbury, 2 per day each way.
Virgin London - Glasgow/Edinburgh, 1 per hour each way.
ATW Aberystwyth/Holyhead - Birmingham International, 1 per hour each way.
XC Manchester - Bristol, 1 per hour each way.
XC Manchester - Bournemouth, 1 per hour each way.

(6 per hour each way plus the Virgin Shrewsburys.)

Local

WMT Birmingham - Shrewsbury, 1 per hour each way.
WMT Walsall - Wolverhampton (via Birmingham), 2 per hour each way .

(3 per hour each way.)

Sheds.

 

[The_Train]

Virgin operate just one train per hour in each direction, which hardly justifies the company being in charge of the station. XC don't run stations so that leaves ATW, also with 1tph each way, or WMT with all the rest and more to come. Not large enough to justify being run by Network Rail.

To be fair I've always wondered why Stafford is operated by Virgin Trains considering how many of their service pass straight through barring the 1tph to/from Liverpool Lime Street. Surely WMT/LNWR would be better suited to operating considering there are 3tph in both directions that are operated by LNWR?

Edit: to remain on topic as well, I can certainly see why Wolverhampton is falling under WMT as during my short visit recently it certainly seemed as though most people there were waiting for local services.

 

[boxy321]

The only lounge you ever need at Wolves station is the Great Western PH. It is definitely First Class.

Avoid on home match days though!

 

[Bald Rick]

Avoid on home match days though!

That’s about the only time I’m there!

 

[boxy321]

Not a complaint. You just can't get in the door!

That’s about the only time I’m there!

 

[Bald Rick]

Not a complaint. You just can't get in the door!

But served very quickly!