The Anonymous Widower

Thoughts On LNER’s New Harrogate Service

I wrote about LNER’s improved service to Harrogate station in New Harrogate-London Rail Times Revealed.

If you look at each service, they have a very rel;axed stop at Leeds.

Northbound services are scheduled to take the following times.

• 0733 – 8 minutes
• 0933 – 7 minutes
• 1133 – 7 minutes
• 1333 – 7 minutes
• 1533 – 11 minutes
• 1733 – 13 minutes.

Sorthbound services are scheduled to take the following times.

• 0736 – 11 minutes
• 0936 – 10 minutes
• 1136 – 8 minutes
• 1336 – 9 minutes
• 1536 – 8 minutes
• 1736 – 9 minutes.

It seems a long time to pass through Leeds station.

But this is because the train reverses direction at Leeds station, so the driver has to change ends.

Will Azumas make any difference?

Azumas were designed around forty years after the current InterCity 125 trains that work the service. A five-car Azuma is also half the length of a two+eight InterCity 125.

So I wouldn’t be surprised to see in the new timetable, the 7-9 minutes reverse are timed for Azumas and the longer times are to allow InterCity 125 trains to run the service.

The Azuma services to Leeds seem to be run by two five-car trains, running as a pair.

Could this be, so that the train can split and join at Leeds?

• A pair of five-car Azumas would arrive in Leeds from London.
• A second driver gets in the rear cab of the rear train.
• The two trains automatically uncouple.
• The rear train drives off to the West to Bradford, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Skipton or wherever.
• The front train can drive off to the East to perhaps Hull, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Scotland or Sunderland.
• If required the driver could change ends and continue to the East.

The process would be reversed when going South.

Possible Destinations

These are possible destinations, distances and times.

• Bradford – 13 miles – 25 minutes
• Harrogate – 18 miles – 30 minutes
• Huddersfield – 17 miles – 35 minutes
• Hull – 20 miles – 60 minutes
• Middlesbrough – – 76 miles – 84 minutes
• Scarborough – 67 miles – 75 minutes
• Skipton – 26 miles – 43 minutes
• York – 25 miles – 30 minutes

It looks to me that Leeds will become a very important station for LNER.

Their timetabling team will certainly be having a large amount of mathematical fun!

I can certainly see.

• Bradford,, Huddersfield and Skipton having similar service levels to those starting to and from Harrogste in December.
• Battery-electric Azumas handling the last few miles on battery power.
• Journey times of under two hours between Leeds and Kings Cross.

I also feel that LNER and TransPennine Express will create an integrated network between Leeds and Scotland along the East Coast Main Line.

Conclusion

This arrangement gives a large range of destinations from London and the South.

Passengers and train operators would like it.

October 31, 2019 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Azuma Train, East Coast Main Line, Harrogate Station, Huddersfield Station, InterCity 125, Leeds Station, LNER, TransPennine Express