XC Voyager to Cardiff

[gazthomas]

Apologies if this has been discussed before - I have searched the forum to no avail.

I find myself on what looks like a one daily XC Voyager to
Cardiff Central. All other trains seem to be a 170 from Nottingham.

I see the balancing working as an early morning trip to Bristol Temple Meads.

What is the purpose? Is it for maintenance?

 

[Kite159]

Route retention for the tunnel?

 

[gazthomas]

That makes sense to a point, but this is a once daily trip from Manchester, why not run a 170 via the tunnel?

 

[Dhassell]

That makes sense to a point, but this is a once daily trip from Manchester, why not run a 170 via the tunnel?

I doubt any Bristol XC drivers sign Turbos.

 

[Tom Quinne]

0502 Bristol Barton Hill to Bristol Temple Meads (0507)

0520 Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central (0623) via Brisol Parkway.

0700 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly (1059) via Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway.

1705 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central (2103) via Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads.

2131 Cardiff Central to Bristol Barton Hill (2238) empty stock.


I don’t know what it does once up in Manchester, I would assume it does a return to Birmingham maybe ?

The trip to Cardiff and back calls at Filton Abbey Wood, Patchway, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport in both directions.

 

[Tom Quinne]

I doubt any Bristol XC drivers sign Turbos.

Brisol XC sign 220/221/170 & 43 traction.

 

[Tom Quinne]

That makes sense to a point, but this is a once daily trip from Manchester, why not run a 170 via the tunnel?

It’s a a revenue grab for Patchway and Filton in the main, also I think hang over from pre XC (Arriva) days.

 

[221129]

Brisol XC sign 220/221/170 & 43 traction.

Note that is only the drivers though.

 

[221129]

It’s a a revenue grab for Patchway and Filton in the main, also I think hang over from pre XC (Arriva) days.

Not really. It is primarily for route retention.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Hmmm, you’ve more faith than me on that score.

Why not run a train at midday, a prime peak hour service to suck up all those fares to Filton Abbey Wood...

 

[221129]

Hmmm, you’ve more faith than me on that score.

Why not run a train at midday, a prime peak hour service to suck up all those fares to Filton Abbey Wood...

Hmm I wouldn't class 2015 as a prime peak time... nor really is 0741.

 

[Tom Quinne]

0700 from Cardiff, 0715 from Newport, 0730 from Severn Tunnel...

 

[Ianno87]

I believe it's a train service requirement in the franchise agreement. Much like the daily Guildford service.

 

[221129]

It's done at times where is doesn't interfere with other services too.

 

[Tom Quinne]

The first GWR departure from Cardiff being 0627 into Brisol for 0722, or the next 0730 off Cardiff, Brisol 0821.

Nicely placed commuter service...that route retention XC 0700 departure from Cardiff.

 

[Ianno87]

It's done at times where is doesn't interfere with other services too.

It's done in "marginal time" in the diagram. I.e
What would be a Bristol terminator that doesn't need to come back.

 

[221129]

It's done in "marginal time" in the diagram. I.e
What would be a Bristol terminator that doesn't need to come back.

Quite, it is making use of a set that would otherwise be sat on the depot.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Leave the set on Barton Hill until 0730 bring it out for the 0800 Manchester Piccadilly, likewise terminate at Brisol Temple Meads at 2000.

No one uses it to go from Cardiff to Manchester when there is a quicker direct service not lot long before.

It’s a prime revenue extraction service, leaving out a GWR into the bargin.

 

[221129]

The first GWR departure from Cardiff being 0627 into Brisol for 0722, or the next 0730 off Cardiff, Brisol 0821.

Nicely placed commuter service...that route retention XC 0700 departure from Cardiff.

It sits in a GWR path hence the requirement for the small stops. It is a franchise requirement, valuable route retention and nothing really to do with an ORCATS raid. It is also a bit of a pain in the arse that particular train.

 

[221129]

Leave the set on Barton Hill until 0730 bring it out for the 0800 Manchester Piccadilly, likewise terminate at Brisol Temple Meads at 2000.

No one uses it to go from Cardiff to Manchester when there is a quicker direct service not lot long before.

It’s a prime revenue extraction service, leaving out a GWR into the bargin.

You clearly don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Dhassell]

Leave the set on Barton Hill until 0730 bring it out for the 0800 Manchester Piccadilly, likewise terminate at Brisol Temple Meads at 2000.

No one uses it to go from Cardiff to Manchester when there is a quicker direct service not lot long before.

It’s a prime revenue extraction service, leaving out a GWR into the bargin.

I have seen someone use it from Birmingham to Cardiff before, even though changing at Bristol Parkway would have been quicker, the reason was 'its easier'.

 

[221129]

I have seen someone use it from Birmingham to Cardiff before, even though changing at Bristol Parkway would have been quicker, the reason was 'its easier'.

You would be surprised how many do actually do that. Especially for Filton, Patchway and the Tunnel Jct..

 

[Tom Quinne]

Nope, no idea at all.

Obviously you do, so I’ll bow down to your superior knowledge please forgive me, a mare pleb for daring to utter a view contrary to yours sir.

I will now retreat back under my rock.

 

[221129]

Nope, no idea at all.

Obviously you do, so I’ll bow down to your superior knowledge please forgive me, a mare pleb for daring to utter a view contrary to yours sir.

I will now retreat back under my rock.

Well you confess to not knowing but then insist on arguing with someone who works with this specific train on a regular basis when they explain politely how you were misinformed....

 

[PHILIPE]

I believe it's a train service requirement in the franchise agreement. Much like the daily Guildford service.

Correct, I'm certain.

 

[PHILIPE]

I doubt any Bristol XC drivers sign Turbos.

Bristol do much of the work at the Southern end on Cardiff to Nottinghams. Relieve at Newport or Gloucester

 

[Tom Quinne]

Okay, I know I said I would retreat back to my rock....

Bristol do much of the work at the Southern end on Cardiff to Nottinghams. Relieve at Newport or Gloucester

Glcouester generally for drivers, Newport generally for guards.

Drivers sign cross traction, guards ex VT and ex Central traction only for their SCon and TM grades.

 

[gazthomas]

It’s interesting to note that it runs about 16 mins behind a “direct” Cardiff train fron Birmingham New Street to Cheltenham.

I am puzzled why a franchise agreement would specify one train per day!

 

[Starmill]

all those fares to Filton Abbey Wood...

I'm not prepared to count, but how many services are there per day from Bristol to Filton Abbey Wood? XC will form possibly 2% of the service? Almost no revenue at all.

How many people actually use the train is of no real importance. What matters is the number of journeys, the speed of the journeys and the capacity of the rolling stock.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Two XC trains call each day at Filton minus Sunday.

I’ve no idea how revenue share is calculated, but I’m sure the revenue they do receive makes it worth the hassle.

XC crew retain knowledge of Bristol to Cheltenham via Swindon, and Bristol to Taunton via Westbury using DVD and cab ride refresh.

I’ll accept it’s a franchise commitment, but I’m sure XC didnt fight to hard to get rid of it.

I would have thought the cost of fuel, crew cost, track access etc far outweigh the revenue both taken direct on train of which there can be much (when the guard can get through) and the revenue share they take of overall from the stations served.