Parlimentary train to West Ruislip

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

Still runs but only to/from West Ealing

Get used to seeing that as I feel in the longer term Chiltern will be operating the Greenford's and the potential of West Ealing - Wycombe

However the fairly recent DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) proposal to transfer the Greenford shuttles to Chiltern was eventually abandoned, they withdrew it because on investigation it was no easier for Chiltern to operate it.  The latest NR^» (Network Rail - home page) proposals in the route study are for Chiltern to run services to new platforms at Old Oak Common.   

I think we covered this in another thread recently, and here it is - in amongst the Paddington Christmas engineering work:
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20357.msg247971#msg247971

Paul

[bobm]

Reported on Twitter that there around 200 on Friday’s final run from Paddington.

[grahame]

Reported on Twitter that there around 200 on Friday’s final run from Paddington.

Indeed.   Ran into / out of platform 1 at Paddington.  3 car train, extra stops on the way out.  End of an era - the former main line from Paddington to Birmingham and Birkenhead.   Lots on Facebook too.

[rogerw]

I was told that the number on that service was more than the total for the rest of the year including at least one visitor from the other side of the pond

[paul7575]

Reported on Twitter that there around 200 on Friday’s final run from Paddington.

Indeed.   Ran into / out of platform 1 at Paddington.  3 car train, extra stops on the way out.  End of an era - the former main line from Paddington to Birmingham and Birkenhead.   Lots on Facebook too.

Probably left the usual passenger behind on Platform 14.  He’s probably writing his  complaint about now...

Paul

[grahame]

A timetable extract from the summer of 1963 when you could catch a train from Paddington via this line for your summer holiday in resorts line Barmouth, Bala and Birkenhead

[JontyMort]

A timetable extract from the summer of 1963 when you could catch a train from Paddington via this line for your summer holiday in resorts line Barmouth, Bala and Birkenhead

The 1010 was presumably a Blue Pullman at this point, because the LNW line was in the throes of electrification.

[grahame]

Still runs but only to/from West Ealing

Report at

https://londonist.com/london/transport/a-new-ghost-train-is-now-running-in-london

[IndustryInsider]

Still runs but only to/from West Ealing

Report at

https://londonist.com/london/transport/a-new-ghost-train-is-now-running-in-london

I'm not sure why it doesn't still go into Paddington?  Was handy in keeping route knowledge up for diversions when Marylebone was closed in that regard.

[ChrisB]

With Crossrail services supposedly being introduced in this timetable, available slots/platform at Paddington would have been at a premium....

[stuving]

Still runs but only to/from West Ealing

Report at

https://londonist.com/london/transport/a-new-ghost-train-is-now-running-in-london

Since December 6th Chiltern have had four more round trips from South Ruislip to West Ealing booked as STP, two earlier ones and two later but finishing by 14:00. Some of those have run on most days, but the later ones have usually been cancelled. Training their pool of drivers on this new routing looks like the most likely reason for it. It's hard to say how long they will continue, as STP changes are only booked week by week.

[IndustryInsider]

At least it's making use of the new permissive bay platform at West Ealing with its capacity for 4-car trains.  Mind you, that's even further for people to walk if their Greenford train is at the far end of the platform.  No wonder usage is way down!