Greater Anglia makes further changes to its weekday timetable (from 10th January 2022)

[gazr]

Funny how TOCs are reducing length of trains to meet demand now, but during the first couple of lockdowns when the government were bailing them out, they ran full length trains carrying fresh air. SWR are now paying for that with the delay to the 701s.

 

[vinnym70]

Yesterday 1730 LST - Norwich had 50 passengers (used to be around 550) The 1750 had about 60 on it. Commuting to Liverpool St. has dropped off a cliff since working from home again was recommend.

How much is actually working-from-home related though? There's the additional factors of Xmas holidays (especially with the lieu days thrown in for good measure) and people needing to use up holiday before year-end which for most will be a use-or-lose scenario, especially if you've been saving up leave throughout the year hoping this pandemic might come to an abrupt end. I don't see predicting passenger numbers for next week as a very exact science and I might have been tempted to use next week as a learning exercise before making any changes the following week.

Anecdotally, whilst my employer is supporting home working for anyone that can, I've noticed significantly more folks in the office in the last few weeks.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

You wonder how much choice GA had. There are three references to ’taxpayers’ in Jamie Burles statement, which seems more like a statement prepared by the treasury.

Fair game to James Burles he has done more than any other operator to explain what the reasons are behind it. As i see it the DofT had already expended all the extra cash they were given to support TOCs in 2021/2 FY by late Autumn so with with WFH pushing travelling down again they have had to go to Treasury for a bail and been told to make savings hence this action. These actions are only going to make marginal savings on variable access charges which are small part of costs, EC4T charges with the best savings coming from reduced o/t and RDW if the operator is highly dependant on that to cover work but i don't know. All other costs are largely fixed. The outlier maybe on rolling stock lease charges depending on whether they've got all the legacy units on rolling monthly arrangements now so potentially could rapidly reduce there which is why its being suggested the 379's are being stood down as they were costing the most.
The real issue here now is how quickly they are allowed to respond once WFH is removed and the data is certainly pointing to London starting to look better but other than maybe some targeted changes to deal with higher usage at certain times I can see us being at this level till maybe April.

 

[Class 170101]

Meanwhile local passenger flows from the Clacton area into Colchester seem to require a long walk up East Hill from Hythe, or catch a bus.

Circulate via Colchester North to get to the Town station

 

[306024]

Circulate via Colchester North to get to the Town station

And have to wait over 30 minutes for a connection in both directions based on the off peak pattern in RTT. It will be quicker to walk.

 

[86246]

In past times the Peterborough - Ipswich service was of course probably the most cancellable regional service, but Soham station changes that.

After Felixstowe as that was the easier option to replace by a bus. Although that was back in the days of unit shortages which saw cancellations for a day or more. Thankfully that hasn't been seen since the 755s have taken over.

 

[TheEdge]

That is of course true, but a Sunday service, is a big reduction from that. Who knows? Hopefully it will be OK but 20 minute gaps in the peak at Chelmsford, with the next train being quite full, is a bit of a leap of faith. Don't envy Chelmsford station supervisor on Monday morning.

I've driven the 0604 up a few times over the last few weeks and as I've passed Chelmsford at 0720ish and there hasn't been much more than 20 people waiting there for the one behind me. I can't see it being too hideous, especially as I see the Norwich services are reverting to all stops all day so extra 12 cars that otherwise wouldn't be running. The 0604 itself has been pretty dead anyway.

 

[Spet0789]

A question for those who know the WAML well… why are the Stansted and Cambridge services running so slowly at peak times? As an example, pre-Covid weekend trains from Harlow Town to Liverpool Street generally were timed at just above 30 mins. Now they are timed for 40 minutes. Seems like the worst of both worlds! Weekend frequencies but peak weekday journey times.

 

[306024]

I've driven the 0604 up a few times over the last few weeks and as I've passed Chelmsford at 0720ish and there hasn't been much more than 20 people waiting there for the one behind me. I can't see it being too hideous, especially as I see the Norwich services are reverting to all stops all day so extra 12 cars that otherwise wouldn't be running. The 0604 itself has been pretty dead anyway.

That's pretty much what you would expect as the previous train was just 3 minutes ahead of you, tomorrow it will be 23 minutes. If nothing else it will be interesting to see how loadings work out.

 

[Alfie1014]

Liverpool Street at just after 09:00 this morning, just 3 trains platfomed. Though to be fair the TfL rail services were screwed up by some problem at Stratford so were tailing back on block up the EL. Excellent use of expensive infrastructure and resources!

 

[Class 466]

Bar the first service, everything between Liverpool St & Southend Vic is 10 720. Clacton is the same. Ipswich stoppers are a mixture of 8/12 321 & 10 720. Southminster Branch is two 720s.

 

[Bishopstone]

The main complaint on social media seems to have been the loss of Hertford East to Liverpool Street services. Everything from Hertford is running to Stratford.

The connection at Broxbourne onto the Up Fast from Cambridge is 15 minutes or so, such that it might be quicker to stay on the ex-Hertford to Stratford, then complete the journey by Elizabeth or Central lines.

 

[JonathanH]

The main complaint on social media seems to have been the loss of Hertford East to Liverpool Street services. Everything from Hertford is running to Stratford.

It does look a bit odd that the off-peak pattern doesn't just run through the peaks. Having Hertford services running to Stratford usually allows more trains to Cambridge in the normal timetable but those stay 2tph in a different part of the hour to the off-peak service.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

In the closed thread which was diverted into this one, @richiejv pointed out that the reduced capacity on this emergency timetable is causing crowded trains at his home station.

Not just there... Look at the overall level of custom on this 10 car 720 at about 15.30 this afternoon, from Stratford towards Liverpool Street...

I've also seen Norwich services today at Stratford in both directions with virtually every seat occupied. Another example was I took the 16.36 from Liverpool Street out to Stratford, I was in the 5th from the front ( another 10 car working ) and something like 65% of all the seats in that carriage were occupied - and remember, that's an hour before the peak and quite a walk from the barriers...

 

[richiejv]

In the closed thread which was diverted into this one, @richiejv pointed out that the reduced capacity on this emergency timetable is causing crowded trains at his home station.

Not just there... Look at the overall level of custom on this 10 car 720 at about 15.30 this afternoon, from Stratford towards Liverpool Street...

I've also seen Norwich services today at Stratford in both directions with virtually every seat occupied. Another example was I took the 16.36 from Liverpool Street out to Stratford, I was in the 5th from the front ( another 10 car working ) and something like 65% of all the seats in that carriage were occupied - and remember, that's an hour before the peak and quite a walk from the barriers...



View attachment 108548

And this morning’s train into London was even busier than yesterday’s - not surprising as Tuesdays are always busier than Mondays now. Everyone squeezed in, hardly any room to move… not very pleasant. And definitely not worth the peak fares tor the Sunday service.

 

[306024]

Wed 12/01/22
19.45 West Ham v Norwich
19.45 Spurs v Chelsea
Good luck to anyone travelling

 

[Bishopstone]

I see complaints this afternoon that a shoulder peak Liverpool Street - Clacton was formed of 5 coaches versus 10, due to a unit failure. Therefore wedged.

As there are only 5 Great Eastern mainline depatures per hour in the current timetable, so lots of platform capacity at LST, my bright idea is that a long set be held ‘hot spare’ in the station, ready to be deployed in just such an eventuality. I presume there is no shortage of units, given the sparse timetable.

Railway people: hit me with the fifteen reasons why this is impossible, and a silly idea.

 

[306024]

I see complaints this afternoon that a shoulder peak Liverpool Street - Clacton was formed of 5 coaches versus 10, due to a unit failure. Therefore wedged.

As there are only 5 Great Eastern mainline depatures per hour in the current timetable, so lots of platform capacity at LST, my bright idea is that a long set be held ‘hot spare’ in the station, ready to be deployed in just such an eventuality. I presume there is no shortage of units, given the sparse timetable.

Railway people: hit me with the fifteen reasons why this is impossible, and a silly idea.

It is a perfectly sensible idea which in the current climate is what probably makes it impossible. Have you run it past the DfT and the Treasury?

 

[andystock22]

Over the last two days there has been a huge number of complaints on social media about overcrowding on the Southend Victoria line.

Speaking to a colleague they would normally operate 5 trains per hour in thr evening peak, this is now down to 2 trains per hour.

 

[cactustwirly]

Over the last two days there has been a huge number of complaints on social media about overcrowding on the Southend Victoria line.

Speaking to a colleague they would normally operate 5 trains per hour in thr evening peak, this is now down to 2 trains per hour.

I suspect they are also using 5 car 720s as well.

 

[Watershed]

I see complaints this afternoon that a shoulder peak Liverpool Street - Clacton was formed of 5 coaches versus 10, due to a unit failure. Therefore wedged.

As there are only 5 Great Eastern mainline depatures per hour in the current timetable, so lots of platform capacity at LST, my bright idea is that a long set be held ‘hot spare’ in the station, ready to be deployed in just such an eventuality. I presume there is no shortage of units, given the sparse timetable.

Railway people: hit me with the fifteen reasons why this is impossible, and a silly idea.

Assuming the platforming works for a set to stay there all day, the DfT probably still wouldn't sign off on the "unnecessary" dead mileage and resultant cost in terms of crew hours for the set to be swapped daily. And yes, the degree of micromanagement really is such that they'd have to sign off on that!

The current environment of saving unit miles etc. at all cost is one of those situations where, if it happened before Covid - e.g. XC having a hot spare Turbostar and Voyager at New Street - then there's a chance of it continuing, but anything additional is out of the question.

The phrase "penny wise and pound foolish" comes to mind...

 

[JonathanH]

I suspect they are also using 5 car 720s as well.

Reports elsewhere suggest 10-car 720s on all workings. The relevant question is not whether the trains are overcrowded but whether they are more overcrowded than they were in March 2020 and whether passengers are spreading along the whole of the train.

 

[dk1]

Wed 12/01/22
19.45 West Ham v Norwich
19.45 Spurs v Chelsea
Good luck to anyone travelling

There is a 22:47 Liverpool St - Norwich Footex relief tomorrow night picking up at Stratford to relieve the 22:30 & 23:30. It even has catering staff booked.

 

[306024]

There is a 22:47 Liverpool St - Norwich Footex relief tomorrow night picking up at Stratford to relieve the 22:30 & 23:30. It even has catering staff booked.

There are a couple of extra VSTP Southend trains that have appeared tonight too, but is that going to be sufficient? Hope all the supporters are Covid free as it’s gonna be cosy.

 

[dk1]

There are a couple of extra VSTP Southend trains that have appeared tonight too, but is that going to be sufficient? Hope all the supporters are Covid free as it’s gonna be cosy.

Glad I am Free Day & N/A

 

[BJames]

There is a 22:47 Liverpool St - Norwich Footex relief tomorrow night picking up at Stratford to relieve the 22:30 & 23:30. It even has catering staff booked.

This is good. I know it's London Overground primarily but wonder what the loadings will be like at White Hart Lane from the Spurs match? Hertford Easts normally pick up an extra call here but as they are doing Northumberland Park instead it will only be 4tph Enfields and 2tph Cheshunts - but surely White Hart Lane station, rebuilt in the way it has been, is much better at handling numbers? Shame extra LOs (or even just the Hertford Easts) can't be sent via Seven Sisters - we used to get a lot of LO extras on match days.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Reports elsewhere suggest 10-car 720s on all workings. The relevant question is not whether the trains are overcrowded but whether they are more overcrowded than they were in March 2020 and whether passengers are spreading along the whole of the train.

My picture in reply #44 of the loading indicator yesterday was on board a 10 car 720...

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

There are a couple of extra VSTP Southend trains that have appeared tonight too, but is that going to be sufficient? Hope all the supporters are Covid free as it’s gonna be cosy.

With cases continuing to fall back especially in L&SE and the mood music sounding good that restrictions on 26th Jan won't be extended along WFH guidance will be dialled back the level of passenger demand will increase further. So lets hope all the TOCs can rapidly reinforce their offerring even if in the short term it has to be targeted to times of the day when capacity is clearly inadequate even if getting back to the Mon-Fri service takes longer (like May TT change in all probability).

 

[Bishopstone]

Assuming the platforming works for a set to stay there all day, the DfT probably still wouldn't sign off on the "unnecessary" dead mileage and resultant cost in terms of crew hours for the set to be swapped daily. And yes, the degree of micromanagement really is such that they'd have to sign off on that!

Thanks. I’m not one of those who take a knee-jerk oppositional approach to the very idea of cutting costs, but this is silly.

I hope the fleet holds-up for the football tonight.

 

[Alfie1014]

Apparently there’s a meeting between at least one local MP (who happens to be chair of the GEML Taskforce) and GA tomorrow, “to hold them over the coals”. Be interesting to see if anything changes!