May 2025 Timetable Change - Confirmed Changes Only

[bramling]

379's are an improvement over 387's let alone 700's

They won’t really be replacing 700s, although I do wonder if we may see a point where 700/0s eventually disappear from the non-TL GN services. At one point they were down to just four diagrams.

But the only real benefit for GN users is the different seats, unless you happen to use first class, or have a dislike of green as an interior colour. Much as I dislike the ironing board seats, I’m not sure it’s worth suffering months of issues.

Presumably the plan is for squadron introduction of the 379 fleet in May?

 

[RHolmes]

Northern are expected to return to full operation of the Leeds to Huddersfield via Dewsbury service for May 2025, meaning Cottingley/White Rose, Morley and Batley will no longer be served by any Transpennine Express services

 

[A S Leib]

Northern are expected to return to full operation of the Leeds to Huddersfield via Dewsbury service for May 2025, meaning Cottingley/White Rose, Morley and Batley will no longer be served by any Transpennine Express services

As a casual observer that seems like a strange outcome given the withdrawal of Northern services between Stalybridge and Huddersfield.

 

[RHolmes]

As a casual observer that seems like a strange outcome given the withdrawal of Northern services between Stalybridge and Huddersfield.

it’s logical from a crew point of view as Northern have a depot either side of the route, whereas Transpennine crews have to travel from as far away as Hull and Liverpool to work the service.

The service was due to go back to Northern much earlier but they didn’t have the available crew or units for the service (or the Castleford which was reduced in frequency and later bustituted)

 

[Peter A]

As a casual observer that seems like a strange outcome given the withdrawal of Northern services between Stalybridge and Huddersfield.

Believe the plan is for the Manchester to Huddersfield (and presumably York) stopper to transfer back to Northern by 2030

 

[RHolmes]

Believe the plan is for the Manchester to Huddersfield (and presumably York) stopper to transfer back to Northern by 2030

Indeed, The future Transpennine TPRU fleet that are currently out to tender are being specified with that change in mind

 

[Halish Railway]

Indeed, The future Transpennine TPRU fleet that are currently out to tender are being specified with that change in mind

Likewise Northern’s with the some 85 dual/tri-mode multiple units.

 

[Harpo]

1(reliable) TPH Cardiff to Birmingham would be nice

 

[Llandudno]

As a casual observer that seems like a strange outcome given the withdrawal of Northern services between Stalybridge and Huddersfield.

Even stranger outcome considering Northern don’t have sufficient staff to run all their current services…?

 

[RHolmes]

Even stranger outcome considering Northern don’t have sufficient staff to run all their current services…?

Which is one of the reasons TPE will continue to operate 50% of the service for 6 months, and not hand it back in Dec 24 as was originally planned

 

[Llandudno]

Which is one of the reasons TPE will continue to operate 50% of the service for 6 months, and not hand it back in Dec 24 as was originally planned

Probably be better if TPE ran 100% of the service for a few years until (if) Northern have a full complement of train crew…

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Good evening all,

We're just about to see the December 2024 change take effect so thought it'd be a good time to start up a thread for the next change in May 2025.

Ideally keep this thread free for actual fact and gen as and when it is known rather than speculation and "I wish that this TOC would service that station".

First off, Scotrail are scheduled to increase Leven services to twice hourly by extending the Glenrothes-with-Thornton terminating service to Leven providing a service to Edinburgh 'each way'.

I admire you optimism.
I have followed the similar threads for several years, hoping for some factual comment. I am always quickly disappointed by the high percentage of wibble and rapidly 'unfollow' the thread. Here goes for 2025....

 

[A S Leib]

I admire you optimism.
I have followed the similar threads for several years, hoping for some factual comment. I am always quickly disappointed by the high percentage of wibble and rapidly 'unfollow' the thread. Here goes for 2025....

Maybe the solution is just to have two threads for each timetable change, with one more speculative than the other?

 

[devon_belle]

Agree – a speculative (or even 'wishlist') thread would be good to keep this one useful for actual news.

 

[A S Leib]

Agree – a speculative (or even 'wishlist') thread would be good to keep this one useful for actual news.

Done.

 

[David M]

Glasgow to Edinburgh Express services becoming every 15 minutes until at least 9pm on a Friday and Saturday - Saturday cut off is about 5.15pm just now, not sure about Friday but at least Saturdays are back to every 15 minutes during the day.
Edinburgh to Tweedbank services becoming half hourly on a Friday and Saturday night until at least 9.30pm
Edinburgh/Tweedbank services becoming 6 cars all day on a Saturday - the overcrowding on Saturday 14/12 had to be seen to be believed - granted the 1049 from Tweedbank to Edinburgh was cancelled but the 1020 was standing room only from Galashiels and many were left behind at Newcraighall
Sadly, can't see any of the above happening

 

[skyhigh]

I’ve never understood the point of putting 6 car trains on Airedale and Wharfedale lines. I get those services occasionally and they’ve always been empty

Just because you get an occasional train and it's quiet doesn't mean they all are. You should see the morning peak trains unloading at Leeds...

 

[Avenger20]

Glasgow to Edinburgh Express services becoming every 15 minutes until at least 9pm on a Friday and Saturday - Saturday cut off is about 5.15pm just now, not sure about Friday but at least Saturdays are back to every 15 minutes during the day.
Edinburgh to Tweedbank services becoming half hourly on a Friday and Saturday night until at least 9.30pm
Edinburgh/Tweedbank services becoming 6 cars all day on a Saturday - the overcrowding on Saturday 14/12 had to be seen to be believed - granted the 1049 from Tweedbank to Edinburgh was cancelled but the 1020 was standing room only from Galashiels and many were left behind at Newcraighall
Sadly, can't see any of the above happening

Please use the speculative thread which has now been created for these kind of posts? At first I read your message assuming it was actual gen! It's handy to keep wants/wishes/speculation and actual info separate to avoid misinformation and general wibble.

 

[52290]

A couple that stand out to me:

• 1tp2h Bradford Forster Square to London Kings Cross
• Start of electric-only services from Wigan Northwestern to Manchester/Stalybridge via Bolton, possibly 2tph Wigan to Stalybridge.
• Possible adjustments to the Wharfedale and Airedale line timetables to facilitate the introduction of six carriage trains and 2tph Bradford Forster Square to Ilkley and Skipton.
• Reintroduction of more CrossCountry services.

I wonder if a ticket from Leyland to Manchester will be valid via Wigan? I hope so!

 

[jfollows]

I wonder if a ticket from Leyland to Manchester will be valid via Wigan? I hope so!

Yes it is.

 

[52290]

Yes it is.

Good, I prefer to go to Victoria where my favorite Manchester pub is. (The Lower Turks Head on Shudehill and 2nd favorite Hare and Hounds also on Shudehill.)

 

[Jimcam]

Will Cambridge South and its associated timings be shown in the timetable from December 2025, with trains calling there as soon as the station and signalling are ready for them in (I think) January 2026?

 

[dk1]

Will Cambridge South and its associated timings be shown in the timetable from December 2025, with trains calling there as soon as the station and signalling are ready for them in (I think) January 2026?

Should be. Much depends on the ECML timetable but allowances will be made for calls when it opens.

 

[Ianigsy]

Just because you get an occasional train and it's quiet doesn't mean they all are. You should see the morning peak trains unloading at Leeds...

And especially the school trains - there’s usually a fair contingent from Ilkley going to Bradford Grammar and St Mary’s at Menston is the nearest Catholic school for most of the area.

 

[swt_passenger]

Will Cambridge South and its associated timings be shown in the timetable from December 2025, with trains calling there as soon as the station and signalling are ready for them in (I think) January 2026?

It is shown in the draft. There’s a direct link to it just been added in the Cambridge South construction thread:

Cambridge South new station construction progress.

I looked at this a while back and visited the site to see. It looked to me as if it would be feasible and maybe was originally built with that in mind. It was discussed last June, see #655 et seq...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[AlanL]

Hopefully Transport for Wales will start running the new 197s on the Birmingham -Shrewsbury route (with 4 coach trains on every service!).

 

[baza585]

It is shown in the draft. There’s a direct link to it just been added in the Cambridge South construction thread:

Cambridge South new station construction progress.

I looked at this a while back and visited the site to see. It looked to me as if it would be feasible and maybe was originally built with that in mind. It was discussed last June, see #655 et seq...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Llandudno]

Hopefully Transport for Wales will start running the new 197s on the Birmingham -Shrewsbury route (with 4 coach trains on every service!).

Which will be a reduction in seating capacity compared to a 4 Car 158, but there will be more standing room though!

 

[amahy]

Just because you get an occasional train and it's quiet doesn't mean they all are. You should see the morning peak trains unloading at Leeds…

You should see the 2 car trains that Northern insists on running at peak time leaving people on the platform. They should be prioritising making those at least 3 or 4 car before lengthening other services.

 

[Halish Railway]

You should see the 2 car trains that Northern insists on running at peak time leaving people on the platform. They should be prioritising making those at least 3 or 4 car before lengthening other services.

Yes but those are generally diesel worked services which are much more difficult to find spare rolling stock for. I find lengthening the Wharfedale line services a bit odd, although it’s definitely necessary to lengthen the Leeds to Skipton services to 6 carriages. Having to take on the Leeds to Huddersfield stoppers and start running a fast Leeds to Sheffield service (4 units in total) won’t help matters.

Hopefully enough diesel units can be released by the electrification of Bolton to Wigan and diagramming electric units onto the entirely electrified Hazel Grove to Manchester Piccadilly and Wigan Northwestern to Manchester Victoria via Eccles rush hour services.