Atomic Systems

Whilst most services running are not that interesting or "same old same old" as I would say. Same old stopping patterns, etc. There are a limited amount of scheduled services running this Summer which are quite interesting. For instance they have different stopping patterns, diverted routes, etc. Use this thread to post details of these interesting services. This doesn't include rail tours, only scheduled services.

I'll get things started off...

0940 Arriva Cross Country Newquay-Edinburgh. Calling Plymouth, Exeter St. David's, Bristol Temple Meads, Birmingham New Street, Derby, then all regular intercity stops to Edinburgh.

What is interesting about this one is the limited stop run between Newquay and Birmingham. Including 1 hour 45 minutes non-stop between Newquay and Plymouth, and 1 hour 27 minutes between Bristol and Birmingham. Would love to travel on this one between Newquay and Birmingham, but it would be too much of a trek to do so for me.

0940 Arriva Cross Country Newcastle-Newquay. Calling Durham, Darlington, York, Leeds, Wakefield Westgate, Chesterfield, Derby, Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Plymouth, Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Newquay.

What's particularly interesting about this one is the non-stop between Birmingham and Bristol, and Bristol and Plymouth. A nice 2 hour non-stop run between Bristol and Plymouth.

Im on a strange one today. Chesterfield - Wakefield Westgate... Without calling at Sheffield, but we dont go anywhere near there either... So where do we goo??? Should be interesting

Although, at the moment - we aint going nowhere without a driver...

The station throat at the Meadowhall end of Sheffield has been dug up for point work renual, so a few through XC service are going via Rotherham Masbourgh - Tapton Junc (just north of Chestefield) and not into Sheffield, those that do call at sheffield terminate in Platform 7 or 8 at Sheffield. Might post a pic or two later on.

Also of note is later this year (from september i think) Bradway tunnel is being closed for works meaning that all XC service will reverse at Sheffield, so from the north they will arrive into Sheffield from the Meadowhall direction then revese back the same way and do a right at Nunney Junc onto the old GCR line as far as Beighton then onto the Midland 'Old' road to Tapton Junc and Chesterfield. EMT Mainline services to/from St Pancras will also do the same, but the EMT Connect (Norwich - Liverpool) will terminate at Chesterfield and Sheffield as there isnt enough capacity through the north end (Meadowhall end) of Sheffield Station - Nunney Junc.

The longest non-stop service in Ireland is the 11:30 Sundays Only Galway - Dublin Heuston taking 2 hours 24 minutes with no intermediate calls. This train is formed of Mk3s.

Well, what happened with the train today...

Arrived at chesterfield - no relief driver. Onwards to Sheffield where the driver was waiting. Sheffield - no driver, and of course the engineering works meaning the whole of the stations trackwork is being relayed. So back to Chesterfield. Halfway there - train brakes came on, because someone tried to get off the train at Sheffield and so the locking system saw a "fault". Arrived at Chesterfield, and the driver turned up 20 minutes later. Then onwards to Leeds via Bolton on Dearne, and Moorthorpe.

Saturday's only. 0909 Bristol Temple Meads-Weymouth. 1655 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads. Not sure of the stopping patterns of these services, as they're not listed in the FGW timetables. Though I expect the stopping pattern is very identical to the normal Bristol-Weymouth's.

Interesting in that they are additional Summer Saturday services. And hauled by (the superb) Class 67's and Virgin Trains coaches.

Well the 12:57 Paddington to Penzance today was non stop Reading to Taunton - normal enough till it went straight on at Reading, Non Stopped Didcot, Swindon and Chippingham, then turned down the Melksham Line..

enotayokel wrote:Well the 12:57 Paddington to Penzance today was non stop Reading to Taunton - normal enough till it went straight on at Reading, Non Stopped Didcot, Swindon and Chippingham, then turned down the Melksham Line..

I was down in Bristol Temple Meads yesterday evening, and saw an HST run non-stop through the station down towards Taunton. This was at approximately 1830. This I presume would have been the 1657 service from London Paddington, running non-stop from Reading-Taunton via Swindon and Bath. And scheduled to arrive Taunton 1902. Not sure why it was running this route or why the 1257 was running via Chippenham and Melksham, as the 1557 and 1757 are routed via Westbury and Castle Cary.

Unfortunately for anyone living/visiting Bristol there's no sign of any scheduled FAST services to/from London on the horizon that actually stop at Bristol though. The 2024 service from Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington from earlier this year stands out as one of my most memorable journeys for the fact it ran non-stop to Reading via the Bath Chippenham Swindon route!

Another FGW one.....

Summer Saturday's only, 5th July-6th September. 0806 London Paddington-Newquay. Calling Reading(0833), Exeter St. Davids(1012), Plymouth(1109), Par(1153), and Newquay(1300).

This is a bit to short notice. But West Coast mainline services, between London and Birmingham tomorrow ONLY look interesting. With journey times between 2 hours 35-2 hours 40 minutes. Services operating via Nuneation(though not stopping there) from Rugby-Birmingham. So this could well be a Class 57 loco(or other locos?) attached to the train at Rugby to haul the train onto Birmingham. Alternatively, could be an HST or Voyager from Euston all the way to wherever it's going. Maybe someone in the know could confirm what the plan is.

Also, what is interesting is the long journey time between Watford Junction and Milton Keynes. 45 minutes. Must be either some severe speed limits in force, or the fast lines are out of use.

Timetable for the 1101 service for example. London Euston 1101, Watford Junction 1123, Milton Keynes 1208, Rugby 1236, Birmingham New Street 1342.

I'm not going myself. But looks interesting nevertheless.

IIRC the 'Blockbuster' services (BNS to Euston shuttles) are running Coventry, Leamington Spa, Banbury, High Wycombe, West Rislip, Greenford, West Ealing, Acton, Willesden and Euston. Services are 2 221s and have lots of recovery time built in (inc a booked 20 min wait at West Rislip for Single Track pathing)

Also for the Hampstead Heath tunnel blockage, London Overground are operating Watford Junc to Stratford via Primrose Hill for a few weeks this summer

enotayokel wrote:IIRC the 'Blockbuster' services (BNS to Euston shuttles) are running Coventry, Leamington Spa, Banbury, High Wycombe, West Rislip, Greenford, West Ealing, Acton, Willesden and Euston. Services are 2 221s and have lots of recovery time built in (inc a booked 20 min wait at West Rislip for Single Track pathing)

Yes these do sound very interesting INDEED. From London Euston they run non-stop to Coventry via the route you mentioned. Then onto Birmingham International.

Take the timetable of the Saturday 0900 from London Euston for example. London Euston 0900, Coventry 1114, Birmingham International 1125.

Only running untill Saturday 23rd August. And it appears these specail shuttle services are only running in one direction, northbound only.

Unfortunately the prices to ride on these services seems to be very expensive. Cheapest I can seem to get is £31.40 cheap(!!!) day single!!

The Euston - Bham Intl via Banbury trains run in the other direction too. For one thing it would be stupid to run empty back to London, really...