West Midlands Railway

[Stuharris 6360]

Ticket inspector was checking tickets on the 08:38 West Midlands Railways service to Kidderminster from Moor Street just before Cradley Heath, heard somebody onboard, saying they use "Trainline", he purchases his ticket on his mobile when asked to show the ticket, then once they've checked it clicks refund and it only costs him a fee of £1 (he gets the rest of his money back), apparently he'd come from London doing this, he got off Cradley Heath.
Ticket Inspector checked his ticket and didn't seem to even notice anything.
He was also saying something like he doesn't mind paying for a service, but you don't get much of a service so he doesn't pay.

Strange West Midland Railways are accepting tickets of a site that lets people do this.

Sorry @2206 but that sounds rather suspect.

For a start the Trainline refund fee is £10,

Secondly, from the Trainline app "You will need to activate your downloaded ticket before travelling, however this should only be done on the day of travel and once you are sure you will be travelling that day. Activating your ticket is irreversible, once it's been activated it cannot be changed, refunded or moved so we recommend you only activate it just before boarding. Tickets should not be activated before 04.30 am on the day of travel, unless your train leaves before then."

Someone trying to fool people they are traveling for nowt!

[Kevin]

I'm more surprised that someone was even checking tickets.
Saturday I travelled Banbury to Liverpool and back via Kenilworth, Chase Line and Trent Valley line to Crewe and the new Chester - Liverpool service. Every single West Midlands train between every single stop the Senior Conductor walked the length of the train but didn't actually consider checking anyone's tickets. Rather glad I failed the interview for the job now, wouldn't want to work in a company that encourages that

[B61 ANDREW]

Interesting combination of 153-366 and 153-356 working together on the Hereford / Birmingham route yesterday. 8)

[Roy]

Photo of 139 002 on Stourbridge Line User Group Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/407285492711907

I wonder whether 139 001 will receive its new livery this coming week while it's out of service.

139 001 in service tomorrow in new livery.

[D10]

Interesting combination of 153-366 and 153-356 working together on the Hereford / Birmingham route yesterday. 8)

Another interesting working for 153 fans is the 0649 ex Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End and its subsequent trips. The booked allocation for this four carriage train is two 153 units and a two car 170.

[Tony]

Another interesting working for 153 fans is the 0649 ex Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End and its subsequent trips. The booked allocation for this four carriage train is two 153 units and a two car 170.

Here's a photo of it yesterday
http://wmbusphotos.com/Trains/Class170/170501.html

[mikestone]

29 trains turned back at Hednesford between Monday and Friday, including several instances of  consecutive trains.
;

[Sh4318]

Another interesting working for 153 fans is the 0649 ex Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End and its subsequent trips. The booked allocation for this four carriage train is two 153 units and a two car 170.

This working then goes onto do Dorridge/Whitlocks End to Kidderminster, before returning back to Worcester from Dorridge after 9pm. Will post diagrams later

[mikestone]

29 trains turned back at Hednesford between Monday and Friday, including several instances of  consecutive trains.
;

;
And nine yesterday, resulting in nothing from Rugeley to Hednesford between 12.12 and 14.45 - surely there can be no good reason for turning back a train that only returns to International.

[Westy]

;
And nine yesterday, resulting in nothing from Rugeley to Hednesford between 12.12 and 14.45 - surely there can be no good reason for turning back a train that only returns to International.

Well we hope Arriva or NX are keeping an eye on the situation.

[Roy]

This working then goes onto do Dorridge/Whitlocks End to Kidderminster, before returning back to Worcester from Dorridge after 9pm. Will post diagrams later

According to the Stourbridge Line User Group Facebook page, the following are the non-standard Monday to Friday Snow Hill line diagrams.

170/5 + 153 +153

2S10 0649 Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End
2K05 0837 Whitlocks End to Kidderminster
2C20 0955 Kidderminster to Dorridge
2K20 1109 Dorridge to Kidderminster
2S40 1225 Kidderminster to Whitlocks End
2K36 1340 Whitlocks End to Kidderminster
2C50 1455 Kidderminster to Dorridge
2K51 1609 Dorridge to Kidderminster
2S72 1725 Kidderminster to Whitlocks End
2K65 1845 Whitlocks End to Kidderminster
2C74 2005 Kidderminster to Dorridge
2V79 2118 Dorridge to Worcester Foregate Street

172/0 + 172/0

2S08 0735 Birmingham Snow Hill to Whitlocks End
2K04 0807 Whitlocks End to Kidderminster
2C18 0936 Kidderminster to Dorridge
2V20 1046 Dorridge to Worcester Foregate Street
2C36 1216 Worcester Foregate Street to Dorridge
2V32 1346 Dorridge to Worcester Shrub Hill
2C54 1517 Worcester Shrub Hill to Dorridge
2V44 1646 Dorridge to Worcester Shrub Hill
2C70 1837 Worcester Shrub Hill to Dorridge
2K75 2030 Dorridge to Kidderminster
2S90 2145 Kidderminster to Stratford-upon-Avon
2W88 2330 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill

170/5 + 170/5

2C06 0630 Worcester Shrub Hill to Dorridge
2V10 0811 Dorridge to Worcester Shrub Hill
2S26 0952 Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End
2V22 1119 Whitlocks End to Worcester Shrub Hill
2C42 1317 Worcester Shrub Hill to Dorridge
2V36 1446 Dorridge to Worcester Foregate Street
2C62 1634 Worcester Foregate Street to Dorridge
2J71 1824 Dorridge to Stourbridge Junction
5J71 1939 Stourbridge Junction to Tyseley L.M.D.

[WMT3000]

According to the Stourbridge Line User Group Facebook page, the following are the non-standard Monday to Friday Snow Hill line diagrams.

170/5 + 153 +153

2S10 0649 Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End
2K05 0837 Whitlocks End to Kidderminster
2C20 0955 Kidderminster to Dorridge
2K20 1109 Dorridge to Kidderminster
2S40 1225 Kidderminster to Whitlocks End
2K36 1340 Whitlocks End to Kidderminster
2C50 1455 Kidderminster to Dorridge
2K51 1609 Dorridge to Kidderminster
2S72 1725 Kidderminster to Whitlocks End
2K65 1845 Whitlocks End to Kidderminster
2C74 2005 Kidderminster to Dorridge
2V79 2118 Dorridge to Worcester Foregate Street

172/0 + 172/0

2S08 0735 Birmingham Snow Hill to Whitlocks End
2K04 0807 Whitlocks End to Kidderminster
2C18 0936 Kidderminster to Dorridge
2V20 1046 Dorridge to Worcester Foregate Street
2C36 1216 Worcester Foregate Street to Dorridge
2V32 1346 Dorridge to Worcester Shrub Hill
2C54 1517 Worcester Shrub Hill to Dorridge
2V44 1646 Dorridge to Worcester Shrub Hill
2C70 1837 Worcester Shrub Hill to Dorridge
2K75 2030 Dorridge to Kidderminster
2S90 2145 Kidderminster to Stratford-upon-Avon
2W88 2330 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill

170/5 + 170/5

2C06 0630 Worcester Shrub Hill to Dorridge
2V10 0811 Dorridge to Worcester Shrub Hill
2S26 0952 Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End
2V22 1119 Whitlocks End to Worcester Shrub Hill
2C42 1317 Worcester Shrub Hill to Dorridge
2V36 1446 Dorridge to Worcester Foregate Street
2C62 1634 Worcester Foregate Street to Dorridge
2J71 1824 Dorridge to Stourbridge Junction
5J71 1939 Stourbridge Junction to Tyseley L.M.D.

I'm currently aboard 172007 which is coupled to a 172/2 forming 2V28, the 1246 Dorridge to Worcester SH.

[markcf83]

Something to look out for next month when I will be in the Midlands.

[B61 ANDREW]

172-213 Departed Bromsgrove for New Street around quarter to  seven this morning.  :)

[uniquicity]

172-213 Departed Bromsgrove for New Street around quarter to  seven this morning.  :)

Indeed, that journey is booked 172/0 or 172/2 depending on what's available