Historic service levels through Stoke-on-Trent

[thenorthern]

Just some questions about the services through Stoke-on-Trent. When was the current services of two fast trains to London per hour introduced also when were the CrossCountry trains to the south west and the south coast introduced. Also what were the services like in the days gone by.

Finally how many Stafford to Stoke-on-Trent slow trains per day were there before the WCML upgrade and what stock did they use for these services.

Cheers to anyone who knows.

 

[Bevan Price]

Haven't had time to go through every timetable, but 1975 & 1984 timetables show 15 "stopping" services between Stoke & Stafford. Most of these originated at Manchester Piccadilly, and some ran through to Wolverhampton or Birmingham. These would be mostly Class 304 until they were withdrawn, although in later years, Classes 310 or 312 also reached Manchester.

By 1999, there were only 8 Stoke - Stafford "stopping" services of which one continued to Coventry, and another to Wolverhampton. These would be Chass 323. In the final years before the LM Euston/Stoke/Crewe services began, some of the Stoke / Stafford shuttles had declined to a single Class 153.

In 1985, Euston - Stoke - Manchester was mostly every 2 hours, with some enhancement at peak hours. By 1991, the service was mostly hourly, and remained at this level until after the Pendolinos entered service.

What became "cross country" had only 6 southbound services calling at Stoke in 1984. By 1991, the services were approximately hourly, but serving a variety of destinations. Similar service levels continued until after arrival of the Voyagers.

 

[dannypye9999]

I remember around 1990 the last 'XC' service of the day from Manchester to Birmingham departed Manchester at 18:00. there was also a 19:00 Fridays only service, along with some Friday nights only holidaymakers departing about 23:00

 

[alex17595]

Finally some use for my March 2006 rail guide.

There is 0 stopping trains and they are all replaced by buses with various stopping patterns run on behalf of central trains.
I count 20 VT services on a M-F with a few running in the morning peak and a generally hourly service through the day.

 

[thenorthern]

I remember back in 2001ish time seeing a train at Stoke-on-Trent that I think may have been a Class 323 or it may have been a 321 or 322. Didn't First North Western for a while operate a small amount of services beyond Stoke-on-Trent once?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

FNW operated a handful of trains to New Street via Stoke ! - a very late evening one was a 323 ...taken off when the "core" area was struggling for resources around the time of Operation Princess ..

 

[thenorthern]

FNW operated a handful of trains to New Street via Stoke ! - a very late evening one was a 323 ...taken off when the "core" area was struggling for resources around the time of Operation Princess ..

The very last 2 Central Trains of the day from Liverpool to Birmingham I think travelled through Alsager in 2001.

 

[dannypye9999]

I remember back in 2001ish time seeing a train at Stoke-on-Trent that I think may have been a Class 323 or it may have been a 321 or 322. Didn't First North Western for a while operate a small amount of services beyond Stoke-on-Trent once?

Not sure what class they used for this but it was a hired train from another TOC and was an EMU it had orange seats on it with tables and the carriages were similar to MK1

 

[sprinterguy]

Not sure what class they used for this but it was a hired train from another TOC and was an EMU it had orange seats on it with tables and the carriages were similar to MK1

North West Trains operated seven class 309s (They weren’t hired in from another TOC) that had been taken on by Regional Railways North West in the early to mid nineties for use between Manchester and Stoke/Crewe. They also operated the infrequent Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham International service that extended beyond Stoke.

North West Trains also operated class 322 units, displaced from Stansted Skytrain workings, on their open access service from Manchester to Euston.

 

[martinsh]

North West Trains also operated class 322 units, displaced from Stansted Skytrain workings, on their open access service from Manchester to Euston.

IIRC this was actually Manchester Airport - Euston and didn't go through Stoke

 

[sprinterguy]

IIRC this was actually Manchester Airport - Euston and didn't go through Stoke

I had a feeling that might be the case - Not really familiar with those services - so mentioned them separately.