I agree with 507009, but I also don't agree with the limited stop service either. Got on at Southport weeks ago and wanted to get of at Hightown but it stopped at Waterloo. Also was on the 19:28 Service to Hunts Cross with great unit 508117 but there was only 2 units stabled in birkdale siding 9, anyone know why? seen no MPV's recently on time.
The limited stop service was introduced as an alternative to full cancellation which would you prefer , particulary if your travelling in to Liverpool or Southport ?
I can see the sense in this if a train is severely late, but not in the case mentioned above where the train was stated as only 10 minutes late. The turn-around time at Southport is some 21 minutes, so there would have been no issue with this unit running on time on its next journey from Southport. On this route, I don't think there should be a semi-fast run unless it's 15 minutes late and holding up the service behind. That isn't the case when 10 minutes down.
It's obviously different for the Chester route with such a low turn-around time.
(28/11/2013 08:44)507009 Wrote: [ -> ]I can see the sense in this if a train is severely late, but not in the case mentioned above where the train was stated as only 10 minutes late. The turn-around time at Southport is some 21 minutes, so there would have been no issue with this unit running on time on its next journey from Southport. On this route, I don't think there should be a semi-fast run unless it's 15 minutes late and holding up the service behind. That isn't the case when 10 minutes down.
It's obviously different for the Chester route with such a low turn-around time.
21 minute turnaround time at Southport is off peak only, up to 0930 Mon to Fri and from about 1600-1800 it's only 6mins
(28/11/2013 09:35)ls1911 Wrote: [ -> ]21 minute turnaround time at Southport is off peak only, up to 0930 Mon to Fri and from about 1600-1800 it's only 6mins
CX06 EBK said it was the 09.49 from Brunswick that was made into a semi-fast, so it would've had the full 21 minutes at Southport.
(28/11/2013 08:44)507009 Wrote: [ -> ]I can see the sense in this if a train is severely late, but not in the case mentioned above where the train was stated as only 10 minutes late. The turn-around time at Southport is some 21 minutes, so there would have been no issue with this unit running on time on its next journey from Southport. On this route, I don't think there should be a semi-fast run unless it's 15 minutes late and holding up the service behind. That isn't the case when 10 minutes down.
It's obviously different for the Chester route with such a low turn-around time.
Southport services would be like Chester services if they only had one platform available for use.
It seems that the electrification of the line to Chester was done on the cheap at the Chester end as a failed unit at Chester unable to move causes major problems due to having no other platforms electrified . In the longer term would also like to see Platform 4 electrified .
(28/11/2013 09:44)507009 Wrote: [ -> ] (28/11/2013 09:35)ls1911 Wrote: [ -> ]21 minute turnaround time at Southport is off peak only, up to 0930 Mon to Fri and from about 1600-1800 it's only 6mins
CX06 EBK said it was the 09.49 from Brunswick that was made into a semi-fast, so it would've had the full 21 minutes at Southport.
You also have to factor in driver and guard PNB's.
(28/11/2013 14:58)Merseyrail 507/508 Wrote: [ -> ] (28/11/2013 09:44)507009 Wrote: [ -> ] (28/11/2013 09:35)ls1911 Wrote: [ -> ]21 minute turnaround time at Southport is off peak only, up to 0930 Mon to Fri and from about 1600-1800 it's only 6mins
CX06 EBK said it was the 09.49 from Brunswick that was made into a semi-fast, so it would've had the full 21 minutes at Southport.
You also have to factor in driver and guard PNB's.
At certain times of the day there should in theory be spare staff , one of the few grades still to have spare turns . If its only one train running late its not a problem but when the entire service is running late its a different matter.
Maybe so, but there aren't endless spare crews sitting about, very rare these days in fact.
I can see the sense in knocking stops out of a train that it 10 mins late, it wouldn't take much more before it would be affecting the train behind.
SD.
The problem I have with them running trains fast is the communication with passengers - there isn't any!. There are a few very lazy guards who do not do announcements, do not go through the trains doing customer service duties and checking tickets and are painfully slow at opening/closing doors, but when they want to get home, will happily send train out 90 seconds early. The lack of communication causes angry passengers and a bad image for the company. I also think that Merseyrail are one of the few TOC's who do not directly employ staff to answer queries/complaints from passengers (I think that HR do it) Seeing some of the dross that goes on twitter about Merseyrail, I do understand that it is hard to give productive answers to some people, however I still think that compared to other TOC's, they need to improve. Another key example is when they are publishing delay info. Now it reads "Services are disrupted on the Wirral Lines (then a link to website) and some random numbers. They should be like this"Services on the Ellesmere Port line are currently disrupted due to a flock of seagulls on the track. We apologise for any delay" still within 140 character limit and very clear... ahh rant over. Oh wait, when are we getting new trains (gets can opener for can of worms!!)
