Northern (Arriva Rail North)

[Brickmill]

RE: Northern (Arriva Rail North)

(25/11/2018 10:43)iMarkeh Wrote:  Piccadilly can cope with the number of trains. Its P13/14 which can't cope.

What they should try and do is put the middle signals back into use and then they can 'call on' the next train so it is much closer. That is Piccadillys problem. It is about 2 minutes between the train leaving and the next one coming in. The closer trains are, the better Piccadilly will run.

Another thing they could do is put a passing loop around P13B. That way, the TFW Chester service or Northern Blackpool service can terminate on that platform and then head off. At times of disruption, this would certainly help compared to sending trains to terminate in P13 before making them cross other tracks to get into the Mayfield Loop or Longsight Loop. They would easily be able to terminate, have their break and then head out without causing any disruption to existing services. Alternatively if they are worried about certain trains clogging up the platform, you can terminate some services at Oxford Road, make them wait there and then move them into P13B when convenient and then they can go out at the normal time.

By not crossing tracks, you are opening up more paths. Albeit not many but it's a start as i'm sure you will agree and would help a heck of a lot during disruption as then you can quickly turn trains around without the need to delay services behind or send them to a loop. Much lower cost than the P15/16 scheme which seems to be going rather slowly.

Just to point out that my train which consistently sits outside Piccadilly for c. 6 minutes every morning, uses Platforms 1, 2 or 3 ie, far end from 13/14 through lines and (based on fares charged) is an off-peak train. So it must be terrible for those arriving at 13/14 or even 10, 11, 12 at the height of the morning peak.