Heysham Port ferry connections inbound arrvals

[BigCj34]

I decided to go o a trip to the Isle of Man, using the rail service that is supposed to connect with it. Outbound there was little issue, although I had a 1h42 wait in Lancaster as there was no later train from Ulverston to connect to it, but the train to Heysham went smoothly.

On my return however, the Steam Packet Company was timetabled to be using their catamaran services which meant arrivals would arrive over 2 hours before the scheduled rail service from Heysham. Only when I asked at the check-in desk (only person I could ser available to ask!) if that was the only option I was told about a replacement bus departing soon, there was no signage.

Presumably then the actual rail service carted fresh air until Morecambe. But has anyone else experienced this? Looking at timetables I note that many inbound services use the slow ferry so would connect with the rail service.

Clearly at face value it is odd a dedicated rail connection will arrive at a useless time and cart fresh air. Would it simply be too difficult to change the timings to coordinate with the actual ferry arrivals and simply have the service running empty for operational convenience some days and use an RRB if the arrivals are much earlier? It is an onward service to Leeds so clearly that journey could cannot aimply be moved to accommodate ferries.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I believe the rejig of the ferries is only lasting a couple of weeks as Ben my Chree needs repairs before the TT traffic, I too was caught in it but switched to the Liverpool (which was by far the roughest sea crossing I have done, ever), as I didn't want to get up too early. It was also done at very short notice, about 2 weeks ago, presumably that being when the fault was found.

Thus it probably is too complex to change the rail service.

 

[VideozVideoz]

I decided to go o a trip to the Isle of Man, using the rail service that is supposed to connect with it. Outbound there was little issue, although I had a 1h42 wait in Lancaster as there was no later train from Ulverston to connect to it, but the train to Heysham went smoothly.

1h42 wait?? I thought Ulverston to Lancaster was an hourly service!

In terms of your main query, am I wrong to assume the inbound service would meet the ferry leaving, thus meaning only half the amount of air is being carted around?!

 

[Bletchleyite]

1h42 wait?? I thought Ulverston to Lancaster was an hourly service!

In terms of your main query, am I wrong to assume the inbound service would meet the ferry leaving, thus meaning only half the amount of air is being carted around?!

Today the ferry went both ways early so as to accommodate the Liverpool which is the last sailing there of the year. So no. Not sure what's set up for next week.

 

[SouthernR]

I suppose one should be thankful for a RRB, but it would be nice if they told you about it.
Normally, the nearest bus stop of any use is over 1km away, with regular services to Morecambe, Lancaster & Carnforth. There is another stop about 500m away with a few irregular services to Morecambe, Carnforth & Windermere. There is one at 10.40 though.
I don't suppose there are any bus timetables or direction signs at the ferry terminal.
And don't expect any transport to connect with night sailings.

 

[BigCj34]

1h42 wait?? I thought Ulverston to Lancaster was an hourly service!

In terms of your main query, am I wrong to assume the inbound service would meet the ferry leaving, thus meaning only half the amount of air is being carted around?!

Ulverston to Lancaster was hourly, but now there are gaps in the services.

Actually that's a point about departing passengers, the train in does connect better for outbound passengers according to the ferry timetable, but less so for inbound. As departing passengers need to be dropped off first before taking arriving passengers the rolling stock diagram doesn't work for the current ferry set up. It's probably easier for the ferry to adjust its timings to meet the rail connections, showing how constrained the service is, and as the station only serves the port there is never going to be a justification for more services. Clearly putting on the odd RRB is much easier.

The earlier arrival fast ferry was wasted on me accordingly. Not a huge fan of the fast services anyway, there is less to do as they're smaller and any slight turbulence makes it hard to walk around on it without falling over anyway!

EDIT: Clarified that train has to arrive to drop off departing passengers before collecting arrivals.

 

[BayPaul]

Ulverston to Lancaster was hourly, but now there are gaps in the services.

Actually that's a point about departing passengers, the train in does connect better with inbound passengers according to the ferry timetable, but as departing passengers need to be dropped off first before taking arriving passengers the rolling stock diagram doesn't work for the current ferry set up. It's probably easier for the ferry to adjust its timings to meet the rail connections, showing how constrained the service is, and as the station only serves the port there is never going to be a justification for more services. Clearly putting on the odd RRB is much easier.

The earlier arrival fast ferry was wasted on me accordingly. Not a huge fan of the fast services anyway, there is less to do as they're smaller and any slight turbulence makes it hard to walk around on it without falling over anyway!

The ferry is unlikely to adjust timings. It is primarily a freight service, followed by ro-ro passenger vehicles. Rail connected traffic is a minor part of their business in comparison. The timings all work around optimum freight delivery times to the island's shops and businesses

 

[Bletchleyite]

The ferry is unlikely to adjust timings. It is primarily a freight service, followed by ro-ro passenger vehicles. Rail connected traffic is a minor part of their business in comparison. The timings all work around optimum freight delivery times to the island's shops and businesses

I think the suggestion was that the railway should adjust. But realistically it probably can't.

I don't think the cat carries lorries?

 

[30907]

A reasonable number of foot passengers use the service (from experience a few weeks ago) and it would be perfectly reasonable for the Steam Packet company to charter a bus to Lancaster.
It would also be logical to put a sign out, though IIRC there is only one possible way out!

Departures from Heysham this week seem to be consistently at the normal 1415.

 

[BigCj34]

A reasonable number of foot passengers use the service (from experience a few weeks ago) and it would be perfectly reasonable for the Steam Packet company to charter a bus to Lancaster.
It would also be logical to put a sign out, though IIRC there is only one possible way out!

Departures from Heysham this week seem to be consistently at the normal 1415.

Agreed. Not much of a reason to bring a car to the IoM to be honest, it costs a bomb and the island actually has decent public transport plus the port is right in town. A Manx going to the UK might have more of a reason to bring a car though...

 

[Bletchleyite]

The railway only really exists because of the nuclear power station. If that does close, the railway probably will as well in time, and then there would likely be a bus, which would probably be better overall as it would offer the flexibility of e.g. waiting for delayed sailings, and would be fairly quick via the Bay Gateway.

 

[BigCj34]

The railway only really exists because of the nuclear power station. If that does close, the railway probably will as well in time, and then there would likely be a bus, which would probably be better overall as it would offer the flexibility of e.g. waiting for delayed sailings, and would be fairly quick via the Bay Gateway.

Probably why Holyhead and Harwich International work better, or even Stranraer until the port moved. Those services would run anyway whether there was a port or not, and delayed (or as it happens, earlier arriving) passengers can get the next train.

 

[BayPaul]

I think the suggestion was that the railway should adjust. But realistically it probably can't.

I don't think the cat carries lorries?

The cat was filling in between its regular sailings, so also couldn't adjust. It can carry some lorries.

Basically, no chance of the ferry company being able to adjust either.