London Midland Trains

[Kevin]

LM run 12 car 350 formations - I believe the 350s are in the same boat as the TPE 185s, they cannot go DOO, as they are incompatible.

Well aware LM do 12 cars, ergo I specified West Midlands

[andy41]

Just been speaking to a London Midland manager, no plans to do it, but 172s are suitable. In reply to Kevin's comment, although no 12 car trains in the West Midlands, LM runs12 car formations

We've been told that despite the 172's being technically suitable, the reliability and performance issues with them plus the cost of the modifications that would be required for them would make them unviable for that level of investment.  I guess it depends on the management you speak to. But there are so many alterations and features not used on the 172's due to issues drivers have had with them I just can't imagine it happening on them. The current dash screens that should be used by drivers for vigilance and messages etc are taped over as drivers were finding glare from them distracting and there isn't much dashspace left for anything else.

[Stuharris 6360]

http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/vivarail-lays-out-action-plan-as-faulty-repair-work-to-blame-for-train-fire

[Bob]

Just out of interest why do they run the 19.22 to Rugeley as an all stops to Walsall?  When there's walsall trains either side? An hour to Hednesford after long day at work ffs?

[T840MAK]

Just out of interest why do they run the 19.22 to Rugeley as an all stops to Walsall?  When there's walsall trains either side? An hour to Hednesford after long day at work ffs?

Just had a quick check on Realtime Trains. Looks to me as if there is a 1857 and 1957 Walsall departure, so I assume that the 1922 runs as an all stops to maintain the thirty minute frequency an hour longer, whilst it may not be required at the other side of Wolverhampton, or may not be required on the return journey from Walsall. The latter then saves on an empty stock path from Walsall, as they can run it from Birmingham and use a train which passes those stations anyway to pick up the calls.

I'm not sure if it's a franchise requirement to provide a limited number of trains from the intermediate stations to stations north of Walsall, though I doubt it, it may also be a possibility.

[Bob]

Right ballache after a long day lol. Takes longer on a diesel train!

[Roy]

Network Rail have announced their proposed blockades for Walsall and Chase line services for electrification and line speed works.  On Sat/Sun 10/11 June, and every Sunday from 18 June to 30 July, the line will be closed north of Pleck, meaning replacement buses north of Tame Bridge.

They then propose a 16 day blockade from 13 August - the first 6 days from Pleck to Rugeley and the following 10 days from Ryecroft to Rugeley, meaning bus replacement services north of Tame Bridge from 13-18 August and north of Walsall from 19-28 August.

The good news of course is that there will be no late running overcrowded train services to complain about over those 16 days.   

[Trident 4194]

Pretty much all trains are suspended...

[2206]

Pretty much all trains are suspended...

The X1 was overcrowded earlier. 6845 had a full standing load leaving Birmingham International towards the City Centre at 15:00.
A large crowd waiting for the X1 to Coventry as well which was a X1 branded Platinum.

[JoNi]

Only four trains on the departure board at Birmingham New Street, two of those are going to Plymouth!

[Cheese]

Only four trains on the departure board at Birmingham New Street, two of those are going to Plymouth!

One more than when I was passing through just before 6, and one of those was just saying 'Delayed'.  4909 was the haulage home due to no Cross City which was slowed somewhat outside New Street by a WB Enviro on the 80 (possibly 4960) on the 80 appearing to scrape down the side of it...

[Sh4318]

One more than when I was passing through just before 6, and one of those was just saying 'Delayed'.  4909 was the haulage home due to no Cross City which was slowed somewhat outside New Street by a WB Enviro on the 80 (possibly 4960) on the 80 appearing to scrape down the side of it...

Could've been, it was on there today. I got 4760 on the 80 as the Wolves-New St & Snow Hill lines were suspended

[2206]

The Cross City line is closed today due to extensive damage caused by Storm Doris. Rail replacement  buses are operating calling at stations between:
- Lichfield Trent Valley and Sutton Coldfield.
- Redditch and Longbridge.
- Longbridge and Bromsgrove.
All tickets dated 23rd February will be valid today.
Rail tickets are valid on all National Express West Midlands services along the Cross City Line.
https://twitter.com/NetworkRailBHM/status/835041510445957120
https://twitter.com/LondonMidland?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
https://www.londonmidland.com/travel-information/live-information/service-disruption?uq=636235167198211933&hootPostID=28d34a8fd8b43b64fac889d664b0bc82#INC1321053455

[mikestone]

But in their wisdom control decided to clutter up journey check by listing individual cross-city trains under cancellations, and Bedford-Bletchley's 2 v 1's in the formation changes

[Bob]

If LM are getting 153s this summer could they not run them on the two car scheduled trips on the Chase line and move a couple of two car 170s to run at Bletchley?  As a stop gap capacity increasing measure? There'd be more seats on the trips then and fresh air. The 2 car 4.42 from new st can be hell