Urmston direct to Manchester Victoria

[Mcr Warrior]

Seems to have been a late evening TPE service running this week originating from Liverpool Lime Street, calling at a handful of intermediate stations with Urmston the last (final) stop before Manchester Victoria (rather than Manchester Piccadilly). Presumably a temporary thing?

Realtime Trains | 2319 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria | 09/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2319 departure from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria on 09/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Class 170101]

Monday to Thursday this week, due to Engineering works I expect.

Though next week its a bus from Liverpool to Manchester Airport as the train is diverted via Newton Le Willows.

 

[Adam Evans]

This has happened a few times on the last trains of the evening.

I've seen a few late trains running from Lime Street through the CLC and then they divert to Victoria, presumably after reversing from Oxford Road (although not always calling there). They started doing this when TPE began running the Cleethorpes service through to Liverpool via the CLC, although the last eastbound service of the day usually just runs to Mcr Airport.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oxford Road traditionally strictly closes to passengers at midnight (the last Liverpool-Manchester of the day didn't traditionally call there - may still not - for that reason - it'd run to Piccadilly only). Presumably if it can't go to Piccadilly, reversing there and going to Victoria via Ordsall is probably the only option?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Oxford Road traditionally strictly closes to passengers at midnight (the last Liverpool-Manchester of the day didn't traditionally call there - may still not - for that reason - it'd run to Piccadilly only). Presumably if it can't go to Piccadilly, reversing there and going to Victoria via Ordsall is probably the only option?

Looks like the above Urmston->Manchester Victoria TPE service does indeed reverse at Manchester Oxford Road, but it's a few minutes after midnight. Can't see anything else which calls at Manchester Oxford Road after 2359 on an evening thus allowing passengers to board/alight.

 

[Class 170101]

Oxford Road traditionally strictly closes to passengers at midnight

Any idea why this is? Oxenholme and Warrington Bank Quay seem to have this as well.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Any idea why this is? Oxenholme and Warrington Bank Quay seem to have this as well.

And Lancaster - TPE wanted to operate from Manchester an hour later in the evening but Avanti refused so it had to terminate at Preston.

It's presumably just the cost of extra staffing, particularly if it'd mean an extra shift, at stations where antisocial behaviour potential or other hazards mean staff would have to be present. It isn't a specific requirement to staff open buildings (Bletchley is open 24/7 and the only access is through the building) plus Lancaster has a side gate, but in some cases the risk assessment will dictate it - and for Manchester Oxford Road I can totally see why.

 

[coxxy]

Oxford Road traditionally strictly closes to passengers at midnight (the last Liverpool-Manchester of the day didn't traditionally call there - may still not - for that reason - it'd run to Piccadilly only). Presumably if it can't go to Piccadilly, reversing there and going to Victoria via Ordsall is probably the only option?

Reverses at ox rd as others have said, ox rd is closed so isn't a passenger stop.

Pretty sure it usually ends up forming a vic-york service around 0130 ish

 

[Sheridan]

I travelled on the TfW from Lime Street at 2322 the other night, I saw there was a 2319 TPE to Victoria so assumed it would be heading down the Chat Moss and when I checked Traksy at Liverpool South Parkway I was very surprised to see it still ahead of us! But this thread has explained it, an unusual routing for sure.