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Author Topic: Cross Country Franchise  (Read 5542 times)
SandTEngineer
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« Reply #15 on: April 17, 2018, 14:34:18 »

3.  In them 'olden days' trains used to join and split en-route so that capacity was matched to demand.  Plymouth and Worcester Shrub Hill are two stations on our area that come to mind that followed that practice.  I know its sometimes done at Bristol TM(resolve) on Cross Country, but it seems a skill set that the modern railway doesn't seem to like very much.  It very much helps with rolling stock allocation as a reduced number of coaches is required to provide the additional capacity needed, where its needed.
Surely this is TOC (Train Operating Company) or area dependent though?  If you were a stranger and the first few stations you visited included say Salisbury and Bournemouth, then you might think that adjusting capacity ‘en route’ was pretty normal 7/7...

Paul

Yes Paul.  But currently NR» (Network Rail - home page) has an aversion to joining and splitting services due to the perceived risks involved.  I can't see it being widely accepted in the future and it only really survives at sites that have done it historically.
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grahame
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« Reply #16 on: April 17, 2018, 14:43:38 »

Yes Paul.  But currently NR» (Network Rail - home page) has an aversion to joining and splitting services due to the perceived risks involved.  I can't see it being widely accepted in the future and it only really survives at sites that have done it historically.

Splitting and joining at Swansea for Carmarthen is new - or at least hasn't been done for a generation and has been re-introduced hasn't it?   Or have I found a single separation in a sea of always-joined trains?
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #17 on: April 17, 2018, 15:42:51 »

If Cross Country are to retain services west of Exeter, can the next franchise include a commitment to provide a service between Exeter and Newton Abbot during high tides at Dawlish. If the Voyagers are to be retained, could XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) be forced to provide a shuttle service using salt-resistant stock. (All XC services west of Exeter between 0700 and 1100 were suspended today (17/04/18) and then, just to run salt into the wound  Roll Eyes, the 1S47 0828 Penzance to Glasgow Central (1103 off NTA» (Newton Abbott - next trains)) was heavily delayed by a signal failure in Kernowland.)
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Zoe
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« Reply #18 on: April 17, 2018, 16:00:35 »

The recently published West Coast ITT (Invitation to Tender) generally maintains the status quo I believe on the grounds that HS2 (The next High Speed line(s)) is on the horizon.  I wonder if it will be argued that significant extra capacity on XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) is not justified when a lot more capacity will be created on the core routes from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds when HS2 opens.
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Western Pathfinder
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« Reply #19 on: April 17, 2018, 16:13:51 »

Also happens at Salisbury ,with SWR» (South Western Railway - about) service from Waterloo to Temple Meads.
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simonw
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« Reply #20 on: April 17, 2018, 17:05:51 »

Has anyone published a geographical and time map showing where and when Cross Country trains are busy?

I am not convinced Cross Country trains will be busy when other franchises do their jobs properly. I am quite sure Birmingham to Manchester and Glasgow is very well covered by West Coast!

It would be very interesting to be able to accurately view the issues rather than extrapolate Cross Country issues in the West Of England exasperated by late, cancelled and short GWR (Great Western Railway) trains.
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SandTEngineer
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« Reply #21 on: April 17, 2018, 17:42:38 »

Has anyone published a geographical and time map showing where and when Cross Country trains are busy?

I am not convinced Cross Country trains will be busy when other franchises do their jobs properly. I am quite sure Birmingham to Manchester and Glasgow is very well covered by West Coast!

It would be very interesting to be able to accurately view the issues rather than extrapolate Cross Country issues in the West Of England exasperated by late, cancelled and short GWR (Great Western Railway) trains.

....mmm.  Well here is an example.  Travelled on the 0925 from Plymouth to Bristol TM(resolve) on Saturday 14/04/2018.  4 coach Voyager. Train full and standing by Exeter St.D and didn't empty out until Bristol TM where as many got on as got off (or so it looked to me).
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #22 on: April 17, 2018, 19:02:34 »

I am not convinced Cross Country trains will be busy when other franchises do their jobs properly. I am quite sure Birmingham to Manchester and Glasgow is very well covered by West Coast!

Birmingham to Manchester isn’t covered by West Coast at all, not direct at least, just CrossCountry!
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Adelante_CCT
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« Reply #23 on: April 17, 2018, 19:31:44 »

Quote
not direct at least, just CrossCountry!

What about the 21:25 from Birmingham?  Wink
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devonexpress
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« Reply #24 on: April 21, 2018, 14:44:45 »

To be honest with you XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) need a mix of 5 coach and 6 or 7 coach IET (Intercity Express Train)'s the Voyagers could then go to West Coast, Northern, Transpennine,Chiltern Mainline or ScotRail. The only issue I would think of is Bournemouth tunnel. This then means that the HST (High Speed Train)'s can be withdrawn or kept as seasonal stock. CrossCountry seriously need to sort themselves out, a lot of services are heavily overcrowded, and the Voyagers are a poor choice of traction for most of the routes they operate.

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