slugabed
Zu lang am schnuller.
Posts: 1,480
|
Post by slugabed on May 26, 2009 17:53:51 GMT
A few months ago,when the X-country trains service on the Brighton Line was withdrawn,it was announced on this forum that the stretches of line uniquely served by these trains were to be replaced by a weekly (!) unadvertised bus service between Ealing Broadway and Wandsworth Road.
This bus service has now been replaced by a train service,equally unadvertised,operated by Southern,departing Olympia at 10:12 and returning from Wandsworth Rd at 16:35 M-F.
I rode this latter train today.At Wandsworth Rd,it was on the indicator as a normal service,but as the train pulled in,the shouty voice announced "This train is not in public service"
Then the doors opened.
The journey takes about 1/4 hour and enables those curious to ride lines usually freight only.
Apparently,as conjectured on this forum,the replacement bus was ruled inadequate.This leaves the sections North and West of Olympia in limbo....does anyone know how this has been resolved?
I must thank Bill Wilson of Gensheet for alerting me to this.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 26, 2009 18:08:46 GMT
I rode this latter train today.At Wandsworth Rd,it was on the indicator as a normal service,but as the train pulled in,the shouty voice announced "This train is not in public service" Then the doors opened.I must thank Bill Wilson of Gensheet for alerting me to this. I assume it was in service then? I'd presume it must be in service or it wouldn't meet the parliamentary requirements that otherwise required the bus service or formal closure process! (It only needs to cover the bits lost by the former Virgin route and not otherwise covered by existing services, not the whole of the longer bus service... is there still a bit missing? ) |
|
slugabed
Zu lang am schnuller.
Posts: 1,480
|
Post by slugabed on May 26, 2009 19:34:49 GMT
I assume it was in service then? I'd presume it must be in service or it wouldn't meet the parliamentary requirements that otherwise required the bus service or formal closure process! (It only needs to cover the bits lost by the former Virgin route and not otherwise covered by existing services, not the whole of the longer bus service... is there still a bit missing? ) Apparently so,as the guard opened ONE door,and let us on. Departure was delayed by a light engine taking the same route,an indication of the priority accorded this service. There were 3 passengers,including myself,at least one of which appeared to be a "Genuine Passenger" It arrived on the S/B platform at Olympia and formed the 17:00 departure South. As to your second point,the XCountry trains went on to stop at Reading,after Olympia,using either the curve from North Pole-jct. to the GW,or via the sidings at Willesden-jct and on to the GW via Acton Wells-jct and the Poplar Lines. It was the only regular passenger service on these lines,as well as those South of the River,and this is why the Ghost Bus went Ealing Bdy-Olympia-Wandsworth Rd. Either these Northern lines still have the bus,or they have another service using them,or......what are the alternatives? Have closure proceedings been instituted? Gensheet is as in the dark about this as me. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 26, 2009 22:43:37 GMT
Ealing Broadway to Olympia is still covered by bus. No closure proceedings are anticipated, and the new South Central franchise spec includes the operation of a *train*, at least once a week, between Wandsworth Road and Ealing Broadway. This should commence with the December timetable.
It will almost certainly be operated with one of Southern's class 171 DMUs, probably in the evening after finishing Uckfield line services and before going to depot.
|
|
|
|
Post by upfast on May 27, 2009 7:58:49 GMT
I'm sure that this train is mentioned in a poster at a non London Southern Railway station.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2009 18:40:02 GMT
I will try out this train service on Monday morning if i can get from Victoria to Kenssington Olympia in time
|
|
