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Do we know if Merseyrail are providing strengthen 6 cars on the Southports today, going to be a lot of extra passengers with Northern and F T E services terminating at Hunts Cross

(04/05/2013 08:32)N271CKB Wrote: [ -> ]Do we know if Merseyrail are providing strengthen 6 cars on the Southports today, going to be a lot of extra passengers with Northern and F T E services terminating at Hunts Cross

Should be normal 3 cars, unless some were made up to 6 at the start of service

(04/05/2013 14:40)507022 Wrote: [ -> ]Should be normal 3 cars

Now why doesn't that surprise me?!

It's about time the Hunts Cross - Southport weekend 6 car services were extended beyond the tiny part of the year they now occupy (mid July to mid September). Should be May - end of September and the run up to Christmas shopping in December at least to satisfy the loadings. I also feel the Southport line should run 6 cars on matchdays. Several other operators strengthen their trains when local teams are at home - even the much-maligned First Capital Connect - so Merseyrail should follow suit also. I'm sure other Southport line regulars who have used the train when Goodison or Anfield has been spilling out will feel the same way. The trains are a nightmare at those times.

No additional cars today on the Northern Line despite it being derby day and the Sunday service STILL hasn't gone to every 15 mins on the Southport line. What a disgrace.

Traditionally Southport services dont change to the summer frequency until the timetable change.

The top and bottom is that Merseyrail are probably just operating the service as per the concession agreement and anything else has to be agreed with both parties Merseyrail and Merseytravel.

Traditionally they started in late April. It's only the last couple of years it's got worse but it's the sort of reduction they don't shout about for obvious reasons, rather like the summer 6 car period being reduced in the last two years.

(05/05/2013 15:08)507009 Wrote: [ -> ]Traditionally they started in late April. It's only the last couple of years it's got worse but it's the sort of reduction they don't shout about for obvious reasons, rather like the summer 6 car period being reduced in the last two years.

It's not been reduced in the last two years - as long as I can remember it's mostly been mid July to mid September as has been mentioned previously, although it may have been a week later on the occasional year depending on when the Southport Air show was

Interesting one this , does a six car set cost more to run than a three car set in track access fees.

It appears there's been a 15 min service running today between Southport and Liverpool

(05/05/2013 15:52)N271CKB Wrote: [ -> ]It appears there's been a 15 min service running today between Southport and Liverpool

That's correct - Merseyrail run a summer Sunday service at Easter and May Day but only 3 car trains HTH

Good to see, much needed today.
However I traveled on the 12.06 from Hunts Cross, 508 134 it had some people standing by the time it left ( mainly because a TPE service had arrived ) and was bursting by the time it left Brunswick.