TransPennine Express

[boby32]

RE: TransPennine Express
Consultation for May 2018 timetable.

http://moderngov.merseytravel.uk.net/doc...TATION.pdf

[mikestone]

RE: TransPennine Express
Still not clear how the stations currently served by Northern between Stalybridge and Leeds will be split - I know the Hull interests complained strongly that some might be served by "their" trains.

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express

(10/07/2017 17:33)mikestone Wrote:  Still not clear how the stations currently served by Northern between Stalybridge and Leeds will be split - I know the Hull interests complained strongly that some might be served by "their" trains.

Between Stalybridge and Huddersfield it'll be Greenfield and Marsden or Mosley and Slaithwaite. Both semi-fasts will serve Stalybridge, Batley and Dewsbury. Due to pathing constraints Cottingley will be served by TPE in one direction and Northern's Leeds to Southport service in the other. The Hull train will be a 'semi-fast' so that Manchester to York services will be every 15 minutes.

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express
Chris Grayling has said electrifying Manchester to Leeds will be too difficult and has suggested electrifying sections and using bi-mode trains: https://t.co/zzGPOaZeyQ

[wirralbus]

RE: TransPennine Express

(23/07/2017 10:07)knutstransport Wrote:  Chris Grayling has said electrifying Manchester to Leeds will be too difficult and has suggested electrifying sections and using bi-mode trains: https://t.co/zzGPOaZeyQ

Sounds like the great electrification policy unravelling , firstly the loss of Cardiff to Swansea now this.

[St Helens Rider]

RE: TransPennine Express
The problem with all these electrification programmes is that will create a massive rolling stock problem. Will all these bi-mode units be built over the next few years and what of the electric stock already ordered. This is the mess that is British Transport Policy.

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express

(23/07/2017 11:43)St Helens Rider Wrote:  The problem with all these electrification programmes is that will create a massive rolling stock problem. Will all these bi-mode units be built over the next few years and what of the electric stock already ordered. This is the mess that is British Transport Policy.

Initially TPE are to get 12 CAF EMUs (for services to Scotland via Preston only), loco-hauled sets (hauled by 68s) and Hitachi bi-modes. However, the plan was for the 68s to be switched for electric locos and the bi-modes to be moved to Middlesbrough and Scarborough services once Manchester-York was wired. I imagine this now means the bi-modes will remain on Newcastle services (2tph with alternate ones extended to Edinburgh) and the 68s won't be switched for electric locos. Also the potential order of additional EMUs mentioned in the TPE franchise agreement now won't happen - unless they just acquire a few extra for the Scottish services via Preston.

[markydh]

RE: TransPennine Express
No, it wasn't. The bi-modes are and were always for the Liverpool to Edinburgh via Newcastle and Man Airport to Newcastle services to take advantage of the ECML top speeds. The initial plan was to operate the mark 5s on these services before the bi-modes arrive but they will now operate on their final home of the Middlesbrough and Scarborough from the beginning.

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express

(23/07/2017 14:52)markydh Wrote:  No, it wasn't. The bi-modes are and were always for the Liverpool to Edinburgh via Newcastle and Man Airport to Newcastle services to take advantage of the ECML top speeds. The initial plan was to operate the mark 5s on these services before the bi-modes arrive but they will now operate on their final home of the Middlesbrough and Scarborough from the beginning.

The franchise agreement mentions switching the 68s for electric locos once Manchester to York is wired. How would they have been used on Scarborough and Middlesbrough services post-2021 if the 68s were returned and the replacement locos couldn't run on unelectrified sections? The plan for December 2019 was bi-modes on Newcastle services and mk5s on Scarborough/Middlesbrough but that wasn't the final home for the mk5s if the 68s were to be returned. The mk5 carriages could be hauled at 125mph, it's just the 68s can't haul them that fast.

[markydh]

RE: TransPennine Express
The plan was to order 125mph capable EMUs when Transpennine electrification was complete. Only then would bi-modes replace the mark 5s on non-Newcastle services. They have only been ordered as Hitachi don't have the capacity to build enough bi-modes to meet the terms of the franchise award. They're not seen as anything other than a stop gap.