Chiltern Mainline: Nice & Fast!

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

No clues unfortunately

[IndustryInsider]

The latest monthly figures show that Chiltern had a much better period for punctuality and reliability.

Punctuality:  91.48% (last month 83.70%), though, as ChrisB predicted, that result was not enough to stop the Moving Annual Average drop below the all-important charter discount trigger of 92%.  With leaf-fall problems and possible bad weather to come over the following few periods, I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to trigger a discount for several months.

Reliability:  99.37%

[Chafford1]

Chiltern's December timetable is published here:

http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/sites/default/files/December%202011%20Timetable%20booklet.pdf

[Chafford1]

With extra carriages and more seats on some services 

http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/december-timetable
 

[paul7575]

Interesting how they can juggle the finite amount of stock and strengthen all those services.  I wonder if there is a comparable list of trains that are shrinking? 

Paul

[Btline]

I suppose by advertising the trains with extra seats, they'l hope people rush for them, lessening the crush on the other services.

Are they adding more carriages to loco hauled trains/ using more loco hauled services?

[paul7575]

Are they adding more carriages to loco hauled trains/ using more loco hauled services?

Neither, as far as a comparison of the linked table and the linked timetable is concerned.  (LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) services being shown by an S or B in the column header.)   Previous discussions elsewhere suggest there is no more hauled stock available to Chiltern until May 2012 anyway.

[ChrisB]

The old unrefurbished LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) stock is being replaced by one of the extra 'silver' LHCS sets in May12, so only a net gain if one, not two sets next year.

Not sure why they dont keep it on

[paul7575]

Maybe it is going in for refurbishment itself by then - I always thought the real deadline for needing all the LH stock they've gathered up was the start of the Oxford service?

(Not to be used FOR the Oxford service though, for clarification.  The Oxford service will use 168s - more LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) will be needed for Birmingham services.)

Paul 

[ChrisB]

Agreed...although they badly need to reassess their LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) provision - more 16x series already needed elsewhere on their network, so the sooner they are introduced, the less overcrowding they'll suffer

[IndustryInsider]

Some fairly major changes to the Chiltern service from May.  Designed to improve punctuality and reduce crowding there are full details here:  http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/sites/default/files/01_0%20CRCL%20May%2012%20Timetable%20Introduction%20Public.pdf

Some real positives including a super quick 34 minute London to Haddenham peak service in the evening, as well as targeted train lengthening. Though one area of concern is that they are reducing the off-peak service levels at Seer Green and Northolt Park from two trains per hour, to one train per hour.  I can see Barry Doe being negative about this as one of his bees in his bonnet is the level of services at the inner Chiltern stations!  This will hopefully help punctuality as there will be one less stopping train path per hour operating between Gerrards Cross and High Wycombe.  Personally, I don't think that the reduction at Seer Green is too much of an issue, but the Northolt Park one is disappointing - given that the train will still be running past the station.

[ChrisB]

The current loadings are very disappointing.....use it lose it is never truer in times of austerity....

I'm againstthe HDM improvement - they've already got a decent-enough service while those using that train further up the line see it get slower & slower, and fuler & fuller....

[paul7575]

Wasn't there some debate a while back about why they weren't actually terminating more services at Gerrrards Cross, which after all is why they provided a new turnback siding and certain details of the resignalling. 

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) one of the earlier timetable proposals that appeared with the relevant track access application suggested that the 172s would be dedicated to a Marylebone - Gerrards Cross all stations stopper, and it was a bit of a surprise that this never happened...

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) one of the earlier timetable proposals that appeared with the relevant track access application suggested that the 172s would be dedicated to a Marylebone - Gerrards Cross all stations stopper, and it was a bit of a surprise that this never happened...

As I remember, in the earlier timetables (for both phase 1 and 2) there was 1tph stopper from Gerrards Cross, and another 1tph starting at West Ruislip (using the 172s).  Both of those were supposed to make a Northolt Park stop to retain the twice-hourly service.

[paul7575]

That's right - this was the phase 1 version of the timetable for weekdays southbound:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/track%20access/2%20completed%20consultations/2009/2009.10.27%20chiltern%20railways%2073rd%20supplemental%20agreement%20-%20consultation%20closed%2023%20november%202009/eg3%20phase%201%20weekday%20bhm-myb.pdf

...and this was the relevant 73rd TAA (Nov 2009) wording about 172s:

Faster new Class 172 rolling stock for the inner London station calls south of Gerrards Cross facilitate some of the additional capacity, by enabling an increased number of train paths to run with main line services having fewer station calls. The timetable structure has been designed to maximise capacity by running the new class 172 units on stopping services to Gerrards Cross and West Ruislip enabling the majority of other services to run non stop to Gerrards Cross or beyond.

Paul