The bus that only runs 4 times a year

[whole diary]

[grahame]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12945892

Posted in "The Wider Picture" cos it turns out to be mainly about parliamentary trains.  Not sure that Stockport -> Stalybridge should really be "Parly" ... I think there's a genuine flow there!

[TerminalJunkie]

For those of you who prefer words to pictures:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/therell-be-another-bus-in-a-month-or-so-2260119.html

[JayMac]

Two errors in Simon Calder's items.

Firstly, there is a service in the other direction over the Latchmere curve from Wandsworth Road, it runs non stop to Kensington Olympia.

Second, the W13 bus service runs only when people book. If there's no-one on the inbound service then the return from Milton Keynes will not run. The service, called Wanderbus, is a community bus service and is run by volunteers.

Gonna do the journey from Wandsworth Road. to Kenny O later this week. Just for the heck of it!

[willc]

Not sure that Stockport -> Stalybridge should really be "Parly" ... I think there's a genuine flow there!

As a frequent user of the line in the 1980s to get between Yorkshire and Birmingham in my student days, i can assure you there isn't. Local traffic was absolutely minimal, with almost everyone on board connecting between Transpennine trains and services running south of Manchester Piccadilly, to avoid the bus journey between the two Manchester stations - which was the only reason Stockport-Stalybridge lasted as long as it did. Once Transpennine services started going to Piccadilly, the entire basis for Stockport-Stalybridge trains went - Greater Manchester PTE^▸ (Passenger Transport Executive)/PTA^▸ (Passenger Transport Authority)/ITA^▸ (Integrated Transport Authority) has never thought it was worth trying to develop the route.

[smokey]

Two errors in Simon Calder's items.

Firstly, there is a service in the other direction over the Latchmere curve from Wandsworth Road, it runs non stop to Kensington Olympia.

Second, the W13 bus service runs only when people book. If there's no-one on the inbound service then the return from Milton Keynes will not run. The service, called Wanderbus, is a community bus service and is run by volunteers.

Gonna do the journey from Wandsworth Road. to Kenny O later this week. Just for the heck of it!

Make a Day of it, take the 09:25 from Kenny O, have 6 1/2 hours in Wandsworth then catch the 16:12 back

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

I suspect that if Stockport wasn't at capacity, the Denton reddish south link would see regular services, infact despite the fact it's a long way round running a morning and evening service from rose hill to Stockport via guide bridge and Denton would still be quicker than road

[JayMac]

As a frequent user of the line in the 1980s to get between Yorkshire and Birmingham in my student days, i can assure you there isn't. Local traffic was absolutely minimal, with almost everyone on board connecting between Transpennine trains and services running south of Manchester Piccadilly, to avoid the bus journey between the two Manchester stations - which was the only reason Stockport-Stalybridge lasted as long as it did. Once Transpennine services started going to Piccadilly, the entire basis for Stockport-Stalybridge trains went - Greater Manchester PTE^▸ (Passenger Transport Executive)/PTA^▸ (Passenger Transport Authority)/ITA^▸ (Integrated Transport Authority) has never thought it was worth trying to develop the route.

I'd imagine that the road traffic situation is very different to 20-30 years ago, willc.

The Friends of Reddish South Station are arguing for an improved service because, "the Reddish, Gorton and Hyde road corridors are becoming increasingly congested we need to be thinking about alternative modes of transport to Stockport and Manchester."

[eightf48544]

Just after electrification to Manchester and while Woodhead was still open, the quickest way to Sheffield was often Stockport Guide Bridge to Sheffield Victoria.

There is a big supermarket right by one of the stations which might generate trade.

The other use could be to keep passengers out of Manchester Piccadilly, by diverting them via Stockport. Although take point about Stockport at capacity. Is Stockport still unique in having 4 AB sections through the station?

Re Latchmere Number 2 to Wandsworth Road via Factory junction, presumably the "parly" will still be required when LOREL run their Highbury to Claphsm Jn service via the East London Peckham and South London. This will connect with the West London to Willesden at Clapham Jn to form an outer circle. As the Clapham Jun trains will  only use Factory Junction to Longhedge Jn, leaving the stretch to Latchmere No. 2 without passenger trains.

Does anyone know the status of Latchmere No 3 to West London Jn which was put back to allow Eurostars to get to North Pole and was used for a while by some connecting services from the North. I've used it with Clan Line on a railtour.

Did that line have to be formally closed or was it never really open to passenger trains?

 

[JayMac]

Make a Day of it, take the 09:25 from Kenny O, have 6 1/2 hours in Wandsworth then catch the 16:12 back

Now I could spend 6^ hours in Wandsworth - there are a couple of nice pubs on the riverside I know there. Unfortunately Wandsworth Road station is in Clapham, Borough of Lambeth!!

Also, does anyone know what's happening over the other section of track that lost its train service when CrossCountry stopped their Brighton services? The stretch from Acton East Junction to North Pole Junction. Is the 'ghost bus' still running from Ealing Broadway?

[paul7575]

Does anyone know the status of Latchmere No 3 to West London Jn which was put back to allow Eurostars to get to North Pole and was used for a while by some connecting services from the North. I've used it with Clan Line on a railtour.

Did that line have to be formally closed or was it never really open to passenger trains?

Sheepcote Lane curve was definitely formally closed to passenger service at the end of 2004 - I guess the official correspondence will be archived as the SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) were responsible for the application.  ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) had been running a service off the West London Line into Waterloo, it was covered by a taxi in the very early hours for the last few months.

There's a short history here: http://www.avoe05.dsl.pipex.com/Sheepcote%20Lane%20curve.htm  - it includes a link to a relevant DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) letter, but not the probably more specific second page; however ATW's statement that closure had been approved is there...

Paul

[anthony215]

Make a Day of it, take the 09:25 from Kenny O, have 6 1/2 hours in Wandsworth then catch the 16:12 back

Now I could spend 6^ hours in Wandsworth - there are a couple of nice pubs on the riverside I know there. Unfortunately Wandsworth Road station is in Clapham, Borough of Lambeth!!

Also, does anyone know what's happening over the other section of track that lost its train service when CrossCountry stopped their Brighton services? The stretch from Acton East Junction to North Pole Junction. Is the 'ghost bus' still running from Ealing Broadway?

The bus is still operating i think Southern did plan to run a wandsworth road to ealing broadway service using a class 171 but network rail refused as it would be difficult to rescue  due to  the couplers not matching those of the class 165/166 fleet.

Southern have now decided to give the idea another go this time as a evening journey from Clapham common  i think, to Ealing Broadway & back, i suppose network rail may be more willing  this time as the route is a little bit more quieter than during the daytime.

[paul7575]

Southern have now decided to give the idea another go this time as a evening journey from Clapham common  i think, to Ealing Broadway & back, i suppose network rail may be more willing  this time as the route is a little bit more quieter than during the daytime.

But the whole idea of a SN service to/from Ealing Broadway is stupid. There is a perfectly usable parallel route using the Central Line from Shepherds Bush, so no-one whatsoever is being inconvenienced.  If there really is a necessity for through fares to be available, why not just produce one with the necessary routeing to make them valid on LU - it will be a damn sight cheaper than running an empty DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) about...

Paul

[JayMac]

It's nothing to do with fares. It's all about providing a service, no matter how silly, instead of going through the formal closure procedure. A legal requirement that must be done when a passenger service is removed from a stretch of line or station.

Since CrossCountry ceased to serve Brighton, two stretches of line (one between Acton Main Line and Shepherd's Bush and the other between West Brompton and Wandsworth Road) were no longer traversed by in service passenger trains. The second of those two now sees a once-a-day return trip from Kensington (Olympia) to Wandsworth Road.

The first, however is more problematical. A requirement to provide the service lies with Southern, as it was written into their franchise agreement beginning Sept 2009. The major problem is suitable rolling stock. As the line is not electrified between Acton East Junction and West London Junction Southern don't have any suitable rolling stock. What DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) they do have are not yet cleared to run over that section.

So, until that problem is overcome we have a token once a week rail replacement bus running in lieu of a passenger train service.

Southern have now decided to give the idea another go this time as a evening journey from Clapham common  i think, to Ealing Broadway & back, i suppose network rail may be more willing  this time as the route is a little bit more quieter than during the daytime.

I've done a bit of digging and have found provisional timings:

2017 SSuX Clapham High Street - Ealing Broadway
2112 SSuX Ealing Broadway - Clapham High Street

Start date not comfirmed yet, but when these services do start the two other 'parlys' between Kenny O and Wandsworth Town will be withdrawn.

Class 171s to be used. The problem of incompatible couplings is still going to be an issue should one of the Class 171s fail on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line). Still quite busy through Ealing Broadway around 9pm on a weekeday. Bit of a wait for another Dellner coupled 171 to make it's way form Selhurst Depot.

[grahame]

The Friends of Reddish South Station are arguing for an improved service because, "the Reddish, Gorton and Hyde road corridors are becoming increasingly congested we need to be thinking about alternative modes of transport to Stockport and Manchester."

Hi, BMN ... someone pointed out to me that the Friends of Reddish South Station are members of ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships), and asked me how come their application was accepted and the TransWilts one wasn't.   And I couldn't find a good answer from what we've been told so far.   I think it's absolutely right that they're members, by the way - my question isn't "why are they members", it's "how come we're not allowed based on lack of trains and the fact that we want more, when others are".   Answers sought - I'm more and more thinking we may not have the full story.

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=8690.0 for the linked story

[eightf48544]

I've done a bit of digging and have found provisional timings:

2017 SSuX Clapham High Street - Ealing Broadway
2112 SSuX Ealing Broadway - Clapham High Street

Thanks  anthony for those. One question hoiw are they going to turn round at Ealing Broadway? As far as I know there is no bi-directional working through the station.

It could either fgo back empty via Down Relief to Acton West Junction and go into the yard and come back wrong line to Up Relief or go down Relief to Hanwell  and come back over the first crossover of Hanwell Jn and come right line Up Relief.

If it starts in May it would be possible to do one way in daylight.

I presume it will be on a Travelcard so i can do some running around andcatch iot from Calpham High stret and change at Ealing for Taplow.

Grahame interesting point re ACoPR and Reddish South. When is campaining for a better train service not campaiging for a better train service?

Sorry can't help I'm as puzzled as you.