Cross Country

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

Unfortunately, that's not true.  The 1307 service from Edinburgh currently runs as an 8-car train from Edinburgh to Gloucester where it splits, with 4 cars continuing to Plymouth and the other 4 cars returning ecs to Central Rivers.  From December, that 4 car unit will continue in service to Cardiff Central where it will stable overnight.  This replaces the 1707 Nottingham to Cardiff Class 170 service which will be truncated to terminate at Gloucester with the unit running ecs back to Birmingham New Street.

The following morning, this 4-car unit will form the 0945 departure from Cardiff Central replacing the current 0945 Cardiff Central to Nottingham Class 170 service which will start at New Street at 1149.  It arrives at New Street at 1145 and the 0628 Penzance to Edinburgh service will attach to the back of it when it arrives at 1156, thus forming an 8-car service north of Birmingham.  However, at present, the 0628 service leaves Penzance as a 4-car unit but is attached to another 4-car unit at Plymouth making an 8-car train from Plymouth to Edinburgh.  This means that the station calls from Plymouth to Bristol Parkway will be made by a 4-car train rather than an 8-car train.

I just went of what I read the allusion was this was a new service 

[twbc99]

Unfortunately, that's not true.  The 1307 service from Edinburgh currently runs as an 8-car train from Edinburgh to Gloucester where it splits, with 4 cars continuing to Plymouth and the other 4 cars returning ecs to Central Rivers.  From December, that 4 car unit will continue in service to Cardiff Central where it will stable overnight.  This replaces the 1707 Nottingham to Cardiff Class 170 service which will be truncated to terminate at Gloucester with the unit running ecs back to Birmingham New Street.

The following morning, this 4-car unit will form the 0945 departure from Cardiff Central replacing the current 0945 Cardiff Central to Nottingham Class 170 service which will start at New Street at 1149.  It arrives at New Street at 1145 and the 0628 Penzance to Edinburgh service will attach to the back of it when it arrives at 1156, thus forming an 8-car service north of Birmingham.  However, at present, the 0628 service leaves Penzance as a 4-car unit but is attached to another 4-car unit at Plymouth making an 8-car train from Plymouth to Edinburgh.  This means that the station calls from Plymouth to Bristol Parkway will be made by a 4-car train rather than an 8-car train.

The unit does not stay in Cardiff overnight. In the morning it arrives off the 0649 Derby - Cardiff (between Derby and Birmingham this is a new service). In the evening it forms the 2103 Cardiff - Birmingham before heading onto Central Rivers.

[mikestone]

Presumably something else out of Plymouth is strengthened - or one of the existing twin set workings  into Plymouth detaches at New St.

[mikestone]

Looks like 1S41 will have the extra set out of Plymouth, detaching at Derby off 1V71 which isn't shown to detach but there seems to be a new 5E71 Derby-Central Rivers at the appropriate time.

[Bob]

Why are Cross Country services so appallingly overcrowded?? The 5 carriage 13.21 from Stafford to New St which im currently on has heating full blast and is that crowded i couldnt even get to the bloody seat id reserved! Awful. Voyagers have cramped interiors at the best of times. HSTs with coaches were far far better and didnt stink of sewage either

[BMJ1970]

I suspect the next people to run it will be advised to run longer trains-much longer trains.

Running longer trains is not as simple as many people think.  Many of the depots that CrossCountry stable their trains overnight are already at full capacity. The "next people" will have exactly the same problem. Careful diagramming will be required,  but the extra 12 Voyager sets will be a bonus,  eventually.

[Westy]

Why are Cross Country services so appallingly overcrowded?? The 5 carriage 13.21 from Stafford to New St which im currently on has heating full blast and is that crowded i couldnt even get to the bloody seat id reserved! Awful. Voyagers have cramped interiors at the best of times. HSTs with coaches were far far better and didnt stink of sewage either

Your seat probably would've been nicked by randoms anyway!

[Bob]

Your seat probably would've been nicked by randoms anyway!

Most likely. It werent a pleasant experience 

[Bob]

On the 2.12 new st to nottingham ( gettimg off at Derby). Jesus the state of Cross Country 170s is awful. Filthy, and a fair few ripped seats, most of the seats that arent in that state have got padding thats collapsed . Hopefully they refurb them cos they certainly need it!

[twbc99]

On the 2.12 new st to nottingham ( gettimg off at Derby). Jesus the state of Cross Country 170s is awful. Filthy, and a fair few ripped seats, most of the seats that arent in that state have got padding thats collapsed . Hopefully they refurb them cos they certainly need it!

They are. The first one (170 101) is currently at Crewe being done which will include new seats and a new livery on the outside.

[Bob]

They are. The first one (170 101) is currently at Crewe being done which will include new seats and a new livery on the outside.

Thats  good. Just on the 13.10 derby to new st. I cant believe they use 2 carriage DMUs its already standing only and hasnt even left derby yet

[twbc99]

Thats  good. Just on the 13.10 derby to new st. I cant believe they use 2 carriage DMUs its already standing only and hasnt even left derby yet

It use to be worse as they had quite a few 2 car 170's but the center cars in the WMR (now EMR) 170's got transferred over to Cross Country a few year back but they still do have 6? 2 car 170's which do seem to be concentrated on the Cardiff - Notts route with a mix of 2 and 4 car diagrams.

[Tony]

I am off to East Yorkshire for a holiday on 12th May.

I have just booked my tickets, and saved a fortune with a split, probably my biggest ever yet, but I bet they catch not so savvy people out

On 12th May cheapest ticket showing as available from Stafford to Hull is £110.60.

Split the ticket in Manchester
Stafford - Manchester £5.30
Manchester - Hull £14.60

Saving of over £90!

With my railcard Stafford - Manchester is £3.50 probably the cheapest advance ticket I have ever known Cross-Country offer!

[Tony]

I'm off to East Yorkshire for a few days in May, for part of my journey I've got the cheapest Cross Country tickets I've ever managed 
Stafford to Manchester £3.50 each way!
Add to that Transpennine Express
Manchester to Hull for £9.50 each way and
Hull to Filey on Northern £2 each way
 even for the two of us it cheaper than driving 

[Roy]

Hourly Manchester Piccadilly to Bristol Temple Meads (southbound only) and Plymouth to Edinburgh (northbound only) will be stopping at Worcestershire Parkway station from the May timetable change.