The Anonymous Widower

Blackpool North Station Train And Tram Interchange – 6th May 2026

I took these pictures, as I changed between the train and the tram.

Note.

  1. There is a level step-free subway between train and tram.
  2. There is a Holiday Inn hotel over the subway.
  3. There is also a Premier Inn within walking distance.
  4. There is a black-cab rank at the station.
  5. The tram is step-free.
  6. The Sainsburys is a big superstore.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the interchange.

Note.

  1. The tram tracks are shown in pink.
  2. The train tracks are shown in orange.
  3. There appears to be a drop-off loop for passengers.
  4. Blackpool & Fylde Multiversity seems to be being built behind Sainsburys.

Blackpool must now have one of the best provincial stations in the UK.

 

 

May 7, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , | Leave a comment

Approach To Blackpool North Station – 6th May 2026

I took these pictures as my train yesterday approached Blackpool North station.

 

Note.

  1. Blackpool North station has six platforms.
  2. The platforms are 277, 277, 217, 205,203 and 205 metres long respectively.
  3. It appears that 9-car Pendolinos can use Platforms 1-3.
  4. It appears that 11-car Pendolinos can use Platforms 1-2.
  5. It appears that HS2 Classic-Compatible trains will be able to use Platforms 1-3.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the layout of the train and tram tracks.

Note.

  1. Blackpool North station is indicated by the blue arrow in the middle of the map.
  2. The pink tracks are the Blackpool tramway.
  3. The black tracks in the North-East cornet of the map are the extensive Blackpool Carriage Sidings.

I took these pictures as I approached the station.

Note.

  1. Blackpool carriage sidings are extensive.
  2. There is even a train washer.
  3. Manchester are advertising their new Bee Network.
  4. Blackpool North station can handle 11-car Pendolinos.

Could trains like Pendolinos and HS2 Classic-Compatible trains have their overnight servicing in Blackpool, before they start their day with a fast service to London Euston starting with stops at Poulton-le-Fylde, Preston, Wigan North Western, Warrington Bank Quay and Crewe stations?

It does look to me, that Blackpool North station could be used much more efficiently, now that it is fully-electrified and Avanti have a fleet of 7-car Class 807 trains.

 

 

May 7, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Making The Most Of What Is Left Of High Speed Two

High Speed Two is in a bit of a mess.

In the original design for HS2, this was the service pattern.

Note.

  1. Trains to the left of the vertical black line are Phase 1 and those to the right are Phase 2.
  2. Full-Size trains are shown in blue.
  3. Classic-Compatible trains are shown in yellow.
  4. The dotted circles are stations, where trains split and join.
  5. In the red boxes routes alternate every hour.

Click on the diagram to enlarge it.

The Eastern Leg Has Been Cancelled

This means that these trains have been cancelled.

  • Train 15 – 200 m HS2 FS – Birmingham Curzon Street and Leeds via East Midlands Hub
  • Train 16 – 200 m HS2 FS – Birmingham Curzon Street and Leeds via East Midlands Hub
  • Train 17 – 200 m HS2 CC – Birmingham Curzon Street and Newcastle via East Midlands Hub, York, Darlington and Durham
  • Train 18a – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Sheffield via Old Oak Common, East Midlands Hub
  • Train 18b – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Leeds via Old Oak Common and East Midlands Hub
  • Train 19 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Leeds via Old Oak Common and East Midlands Hub
  • Train 20 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Leeds via Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange and East Midlands Hub
  • Train 21a – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Sheffield via Old Oak Common, East Midlands Hub and Chesterfield
  • Train 21b – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and York via Old Oak Common and East Midlands Hub
  • Train 22 – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Newcastle via Old Oak Common and York
  • Train 23 – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Newcastle via Old Oak Common, York, Darlington and Durham

Note.

  1. All trains are one train per hour (tph)
  2. Train 18 splits and joins at East Midlands Hub, so runs as a 400 m train between London Euston and East Midlands Hub.
  3. Train 21 splits and joins at East Midlands Hub, so runs as a 400 m train between London Euston and East Midlands Hub.
  4. There are now no Birmingham and Leeds services.
  5. There are six spare HS2 paths between London Euston and Birmingham.

In my opinion, the big losers are travelers between Leeds and Birmingham, as travelers between London and Leeds can use the East Coast Main Line, which caters for several destinations in Yorkshire and the North-East.

Services Between London Euston and Birmingham

Services between London Euston and the Birmingham area are as follows.

  • Train 1 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Birmingham Curzon Street via Old Oak Common
  • Train 2 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Birmingham Curzon Street via Old Oak Common and Birmingham Interchange
  • Train 3 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Birmingham Curzon Street via Old Oak Common and Birmingham Interchange
  • Train 7 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly via Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange and Manchester Airport
  • Train 11a – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley via Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange , Preston, Carlisle and Edinburgh Haymarket
  • Train 11b – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Glasgow Central via Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange , Preston and Carlisle
  • Train 12 – 200 m HS2 CC – Birmingham Curzon Street and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central via Wigan North Western, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Carstairs and Edinburgh Haymarket/Motherwell

Note.

  1. All trains are one train per hour (tph)
  2. Train 11 splits and joins at Carlisle, so runs as a 400 m train on the Trent Valley Line.
  3. Train 12 runs alternatively to Edinburgh Haymarket and Edinburgh Waverley/Motherwell and Glasgow Central.
  4. All these services will join the Trent Valley Line at Handsacre junction.

There are 5 x 400 metre trains and 1 x 200 metre train.

Services Between London Euston and Manchester

Services between London Euston and the Manchester area are as follows.

  • Train 6 – 200 m. HS2 CC – London Euston and Macclesfield via Old Oak Common, Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent
  • Train 7 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly via Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange and Manchester Airport
  • Train 8 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly via Old Oak Common and Manchester Airport
  • Train 9 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly via Old Oak Common and Manchester Airport
  • Train 13 – 200 m HS2 FS – Birmingham Curzon Street and Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester Airport
  • Train 14 – 200 m HS2 FS – Birmingham Curzon Street and Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester Airport

Note.

  1. All trains are one train per hour (tph)
  2. Macclesfield should be able to handle one 200 m. HS2 Classic-Compatible train per hour, as it is shorter and has less passengers than an 11-car Pendolino.
  3. All Manchester Piccadilly services call at Manchester Airport.
  4. All these services will join the Trent Valley Line at Handsacre junction.

There are 3 x 400 metre trains and 3 x 200 metre train.

Services Between London Euston and Liverpool, Lancaster and Scotland

Services between London Euston and Liverpool, Lancaster and Scotland are as follows.

  • Train 4a – 200 m. HS2 CC – London Euston and Lancaster via Old Oak Common, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston
  • Train 4b – 200 m. HS2 CC – London Euston and Liverpool via Old Oak Common, Crewe and Runcorn
  • Train 5 – 200 m. HS2 CC – London Euston and Liverpool via Old Oak Common, Crewe and Runcorn
  • Train 10a – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley via Old Oak Common, Preston, Carlisle and Edinburgh Haymarket
  • Train 10b – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Glasgow Central via Old Oak Common, Preston and Carlisle
  • Train 11a – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley via Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange , Preston, Carlisle and Edinburgh Haymarket
  • Train 11b – 200 m HS2 CC – London Euston and Glasgow Central via Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange , Preston and Carlisle
  • Train 12 – 200 m HS2 CC – Birmingham Curzon Street and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central via Wigan North Western, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Carstairs and Edinburgh Haymarket/Motherwell

Note.

  1. All trains are one train per hour (tph)
  2. Train 4 splits and joins at Crewe, so runs as a 400 m train on the Trent Valley Line.
  3. Train 10 splits and joins at Carlisle, so runs as a 400 m train on the Trent Valley Line.
  4. Train 11 splits and joins at Carlisle, so runs as a 400 m train on the Trent Valley Line.
  5. Train 12 runs alternatively to Edinburgh Haymarket and Edinburgh Waverley/Motherwell and Glasgow Central.
  6. All these services will join the Trent Valley Line at Handsacre junction.

There are 3 x 400 metre trains and 2 x 200 metre train.

 

How Many Services Ran Between London And Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester In The Proposed Timetable?

  • Train 4a – 200 m. HS2 CC – London Euston and Lancaster
  • Train 4b – 200 m. HS2 CC – London Euston and Liverpool
  • Train 5 – 200 m. HS2 CC – London Euston and Liverpool
  • Train 6 – 200 m. HS2 CC – London Euston and Macclesfield
  • Train 7 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly
  • Train 8 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly
  • Train 9 – 400 m HS2 FS – London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly

Note.

Macclesfield may be in Cheshire, but for my purposes in this calculation, it’s also in South Manchester.

 

There are 4 x 400 metre trains and 2 x 200 metre train.

But as I stated in Manchester Piccadilly Station Platform Layout, until the track and the tunnel to Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly is built, 400 m HS2 Full-Size will have to be replaced by 200 m HS2 Classic Compatible trains, as no other train will fit the existing Manchester Piccadilly station.

This would mean that 6 x 200 m HS2 Classic Compatible trains will run.

I can turn these two schedules into seats per hour.

Consider.

  • The current service is 3 x 11-car Pendolinos per hour, which is 607 seats per train or a total of 1821 seats per hour.
  • A 200 metre HS2 Full-Size and a 200 metre HS2 Classic Compatible train, both have 504 seats.

This means that the proposed timetable has 5040 seats, but only 3528 seats, if HS2 FS trains can’t be used and have to be replaced by 200 metre HS2 Classic Compatible train.

I can build this table.

  • Current – Pendolinos – 1821 seats per hour.
  • Interim – Using 200 metre HS2 Classic Compatible trains – 3528 seats per hour – This is a 94 % increase over the current figure.
  • Full – Using 200 metre HS2 Full Size trains in tunnels to Manchester Piccadilly – 5040 seats per hour – This is a 177 % increase over the current figure.

Note.

In Manchester Piccadilly Station Platform Layout, I stated that it is my belief, that an Interim timetable can be achieved by replacing all 11-car Pendolinos by 200 metre HS2 Classic Compatible trains.

Could More Capacity Be Added By Adding A Blackpool Service?

In Blackpool North Station Platform Layout, I looked at the possibilities of adding a Blackpool service to HS2.

This was my conclusion.

I believe Blackpool North station could handle as least one pair of 200 metre HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains to and from London Euston every hour.

It might be able to handle two such trains in every hour.

Adding two pairs of 200 metre HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains between London Euston and Blackpool every hour, would add 1008 seats.

If it is possible to add two pairs of 200 metre HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains, my table would be as follows.

  • Current – Pendolinos – 1821 seats per hour.
  • Interim – Using 200 metre HS2 Classic Compatible trains – 5544 seats per hour – This is a 204 % increase over the current figure.
  • Full – Using 200 metre HS2 Full Size trains in tunnels – 7056 seats per hour – This is a 287 % increase over the current figure.

I must admit, the percentage increases have surprised me, but I have checked and checked them.

Is The Interim Solution Plus Two Trains Between London Euston And Blackpool North The Solution?

Consider.

  • Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston, get two extra services to London Euston, Old Oak Common and Birmingham Interchange.
  • All trains will be 200 metre HS2 Classic Compatible trains.
  • Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston, Manchester Piccadilly will not need major upgrades.
  • Manchester Airport would not be served initially, but a tunnel connecting Crewe, Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly could be added later.
  • There is no connection between Birmingham and Leeds and the East Midlands.

Could HS2 Serve Holyhead?

In Could HS2 Trains Continue To Wales?, I show that if Crewe And Chester Is Electrified, then a HS2 Classic Compatible train fitted with batteries should be able to go between London Euston and Holyhead in a couple of minutes under three hours.

It could be a good start!

 

April 27, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blackpool North Station Platform Layout

In this post, I will look at the current platform layout at Blackpool North station and see if it needs to be updated for High Speed Two.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the current platform layout at the station.

Note.

  1. The pink tracks are the Blackpool Tramway.
  2. The Tramway station has two terminating platforms and a crossover and together with the delta junction on the seafront, trams can go North or South.
  3. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Tramway upgraded.
  4. The red tracks are the Blackpool Branch to Blackpool North station.
  5. Blackpool North station has six platforms and their lengths are 277, 277, 205, 203, 203 and 205 metres.
  6. The two longer platforms are on the South side of the station and can take an 11-car Pendolino or an HS2 200 m. Classic-Compatible train.

It appears to be a compact interchange between the trams and the trains.

I have some further thoughts.

Do Trains Spend The Night Parked In Blackpool North Station?

The Wikipedia entry for Blackpool North station says this about work done whilst the station was being electrified.

A major rebuild and upgrade of the nearby carriage servicing depot was carried out at the same time.

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this section and received this reply.

Yes, trains can and do spend the night parked in the sidings and platforms at Blackpool North station. While many trains return to depots for maintenance, some units are stabled overnight at the station to facilitate the first early morning services of the day, as the facility is a key terminus for Northern Trains.

Overnight Stabling: Trains often occupy the 6 platforms or nearby sidings to start service early in the morning.

Station Activity: While passenger facilities close around midnight, the site itself remains secure for overnight parking.

Blackpool North station appears to be almost an efficient  cross between terminal station and depot.

Stabling a train at Blackpool North station could be the easy way for Avanti West Coast or HS2 to run an early train to London.

Could A Late Train From London Bring Up All The Stragglers And Take Back All The Early-Risers?

The only transport, I’ve ever scheduled in anger were container ships, but it seems the following could be possible.

  • A late train runs from London Euston to Blackpool North, stopping at stations where it is thought necessary.
  • The train gets an overnight service and a wash-and-brush-up in Blackpool North station, from staff in the local depot.
  • An early train runs from Blackpool to London Euston, stopping at stations where it is thought necessary.

It would be efficient use of equipment and staff. It would also help those in Crewe, Warrington, Wigan, Preston and the Fylde, who wanted to spend a long day in London or the South.

Could Blackpool North Handle A 400 Metre HS2 Classic-Compatible Train To And From London?

Consider.

  • Avanti West Coast’s London Euston and Blackpool North train calls at Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston.
  • The Specification of the HS2 Classic-Compatible Train says that they should be able to split and join, with all the speed and competence of a sex act, at one of Epstein’s parties.
  • Blackpool North has two platforms that are 277 metres long, which can both handle 200 metre HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains.
  • Preston station has a platform, that is one of the longest in England at 362 metres.
  • Wigan North Western station has a platform that is 274 metres long.
  • Warrington Bank Quay station has main line platforms that are 250-260 metres long.
  • Crewe station has a platform that is 390 metres long.
  • The provisional timetable for HS2 shows pairs of 200 metre HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains, stopping at Preston and Crewe stations.
  • When built, HS2 stations at London Euston, Old Oak Common and Birmingham Interchange will be able to handle pairs of 200 metre HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains.

I am fairly sure that a 400 metre HS2 Classic-Compatible Train could run between London Euston and Blackpool North stations

  • The train could call at Old Oak Common, Birmingham Interchange, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston stations.
  • The frequency could be as passenger numbers needed.
  • HS2 stations at London Euston, Old Oak Common and Birmingham Interchange will be able to handle pairs of 200 metre  HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains.
  • Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston stations should be able to handle pairs of 200 metre  HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains by using selective door opening.
  • Each 200 metre  HS2 Classic-Compatible Train, would use one of Platform 1 or 2 at Blackpool North station.

The two 200 metre  HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains would either split and join at Preston station or by some shunting in Blackpool North station.

Conclusion

I believe Blackpool North station could handle as least one pair of 200 metre  HS2 Classic-Compatible Trains to and from London Euston every hour.

It might be able to handle two such trains in every hour.

 

 

April 26, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Design, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Four Cunard Queens To Come Together For The First Time, In Liverpool

The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from Liverpool City Region.

This is the sub-heading.

British cruise line Cunard has announced that all four Cunard ships will come together in Liverpool in 2028.

On 16 May 2028, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Anne will unite on the River Mersey, the first time the full fleet of four has ever assembled.

This is a unique opportunity to see all four Queens together in one place, and will happen in Liverpool, Cunard’s spiritual home, where the company was founded in 1840.

These two paragraphs add some more details.

The last time Cunard ships gathered on the Mersey was in 2015, when the three Queens came together to celebrate the brand’s 175th anniversary, attracting more than one million spectators to the city and its waterfront.

The 2028 gathering is expected to build on that legacy, drawing significant crowds and global attention, with Liverpool marking the moment in its own distinctive style through a waterfront celebration as the Four Queens meet, returning home for the first time.

Queen Mary 2’s arrival in Liverpool on 16 May 2028 will also mark her first ever transatlantic crossing from New York directly to the city, as well as Cunard’s first eastbound arrival from New York to Liverpool in more than 61 years, since RMS Sylvania berthed at Princes Landing Stage on 18 November 1966.

But there is another big difference between the the 2015 gathering and the planned 2028 gathering, other than an extra liner, is that in 2017-8, Liverpool Lime Street station was transformed, which I wrote about in Liverpool Lime Street Station After the Transformation of 2017-18.

The station station has ten platforms, arranged so they can operate as two separate stations; one serving Manchester and the East and the other serving Crewe and the South.

  • Five platforms are longer than 220 metres, so they can handle 8-car 200 metre HS2 Classic-Compatible trains.
  • Three platforms are longer than 265 metres, so they can handle 11-car 265.3 metre Pendolino Class 390 trains.
  • Four platforms are longer than 150 metres, so they can handle 5-car Hitachi Class 802 trains.
  • Platform 5 on the Manchester and the East side of the station is 181 metres long and I suspect can handle a Hitachi Class 807 train in an emergency.

It looks to me, that the station was rebuilt, so that Liverpool can handle any combination of trains, that Network Rail envisage might want to use the station at the same time.

A major event like the Grand National, an important international football match in Euro 2028 or the 2028 Four Queens Gathering could attract lots of visitors, some of whom might come in luxury excursion trains.

If Network Rail have been prudent, they will have planned for an event like the 2028 Four Queens Gathering.

Typically, Liverpool Lime Street station now has two trains per hour (tph) to London Euston.

Usually, these are an 11-car  Pendolino and a 7-car Class 807 train, which have a total capacity of 607+453 or 1060 seats.

This picture shows Platform 9 handling an 11-car Pendolino.

Note.

  1. The curve of the platform appears to be used to allow the longer train to fit.
  2. The platform is wide, so 607 passengers and their baggage, babies and buggies can safely embark from the an 11-car Penolino train.
  3. In Wires, New Platforms And Sidings At Blackpool North Station – 17th April 2018, it appears that platforms at Blackpool North station have a slight curve too.

Have Network Rail been listening to a certain limerick about a Man of Kent?

 

 

 

April 24, 2026 Posted by | Design, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Would It Be Sensible To Transfer The Euston And Blackpool North Service From Avanti West Coast To High Speed Two?

Currently, Avanti West Coast’s Euston And Blackpool North service is just one train per day.

  1. It stops at Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston stations.
  2. An HS2 service could serve Blackpool North station perhaps four or five times a day.
  3. To save paths, it could join and split at Crewe with one of the Manchester services.
  4. If Blackpool North station were On HS2, it could stop at Old Oak Common station.
  5. Blackpool North station now has a connection to Blackpool tramway.
  6. Platforms at Blackpool North station can take an 11-car Pendolino or  8-car 200 m. HS2 train.
  7. HS2 would shorten the journey time to London, by about 30-40 minutes.
  8. The Blackpool tramway would be expanded to bring travellers to HS2.
  9. It might help to level-up Blackpool and the surrounding area.
  10. I don’t think there would be any pathing issues.

I feel this could be an interesting possibility.

April 19, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Could High Speed Two Serve Blackpool North?

Consider.

  • Blackpool North station is electrified and will have an electrified route to London Euston HS2 and Birmingham Curzon Street stations, when High Speed Two opens.
  • Yesterday, both 11-car and 9-car Class 390 trains, which are longer than single High Speed Two classic-compatible trains, used Blackpool North station.
  • Blackpool is noted for fresh air and fun.
  • Blackpool needs leveling-up. Surely High Speed Two will help with this?
  • Blackpool has a unique Modern and Ancient tramway to bring residents and visitors to High Speed Two.

I am fairly sure, that single High Speed Two class-compatible trains could use Blackpool North station.

But could another High Speed Two service have a path between London and Preston to serve Blackpool?

Because of the cancellation of Phase 2 of High Speed 2, there are spare paths on High Speed Two between London and the West Midlands.

If the core section of High Speed Two is extended Northwards to Crewe, as advocated by Dyan Perry of the High Speed Rail Group, that I wrote about in The Future Of HS2 Could Lie In Its Original Vision, this would create extra paths to Crewe.

It looks to me, that the tricky part of the route is between Crewe and Preston.

This diagram shows High Speed Two services, as they were originally envisaged before Phase 2 was discontinued.

Note.

  1. Trains to the left of the vertical black line are Phase 1 and those to the right are Phase 2.
  2. Full-Size trains are shown in blue.
  3. Classic-Compatible trains are shown in yellow.
  4. Blue circles are shown, where trains stop.
  5. The dotted circles are where trains split and join.
  6. In the red boxes routes alternate every hour.

Click on the diagram to enlarge it.

Note that if Phase 1 were to be completed to Crewe, there would be five full-size and five classic-compatible trains using the West Midlands and Crewe section of the High Speed Two route, of which five trains would terminate at Manchester Piccadilly HS2 station and two classic-compatible trains would terminate at Liverpool Lime Street.

So just three Scottish trains and one to Lancaster would go North of Warrington Bank Quay station, which would be an average of one train every fifteen minutes.

High Speed Two will be fully digitally signalled and I’m sure that trains could run as flights of two or more trains, a couple of minutes apart.

This would mean that a London and Blackpool North service could run say two minutes behind one of the London and Scotland services to Preston

  • Between London and the West Midlands, there would be twelve trains per hour (tph).
  • Between the West Midlands and Crewe, there would be also be twelve tph.
  • Between Crewe and Preston, there would be five tph.

I believe it would be possible for High Speed Two  to run a London and Blackpool North service, provided that the London Euston to Crewe core of High Speed Two is completed soon after Phase 1 is completed.

It should also be noted, that I believe the second Scottish service from London could also have a flight with another service. So could Barrow or Blackburn have a High Speed Two service from London?

May 13, 2025 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Times Of Avanti West Coast Trains Between London Euston And Crewe

This table shows the first few Avanti West Coast trains between London Euston and Crewe on the 17th March 2025.

  • 390119 – IS37 – Glasgow – 11 cars – 05:31 – 07:29 – 2 stops – 118 mins – 80.3 mph.
  • 390155 – IH61 – Manchester Piccadilly – 11 cars – 06:29 – 08:08 – 2 stops – 99 mins – 95.7 mph.
  • 807007 – IF11 – Liverpool Lime Street – 7 cars – 06:36 – 08:23 – 2 stops – 107 mins – 88.6 mph.
  • 390104 – IS42 – Glasgow – 11 cars – 07:29 – 08:59 – 0 stops – 90 mins – 105.3 mph
  • 390010 – IH62 – Manchester Piccadilly – 9 cars – 07:33 – 09:10 – 1 stop – 97 mins – 97.7 mph.
  • 390044 – IF12 – Liverpool Lime Street – 9 cars – 07:43 – 09:18 – 2 stops – 95 mins – 99.7 mph.
  • 390118 – IS45 – Glasgow – 11 cars – 08:30 – 10:01 – 0 stops – 91 mins – 104.2 mph
  • 390040 – IH63 – Manchester Piccadilly – 11 cars – 08:33 – 10:19 – 1 stop – 106 mins – 89.4 mph.
  • 807001 – IF14 – Liverpool Lime Street – 7 cars – 08:43 – 10:28 – 1 stop – 95 mins – 99.7 mph.
  • 805001/805011 – ID83 – Holyhead – 10 cars – 09:02 – 10:51 – 1 stop – 109 mins – 86.9 mph.
  • 390136 – IS48 – Glasgow – 11 cars – 09:30 – 11:02 – 0 stops – 92 mins – 103.0 mph
  • 390040 – IH64 – Manchester Piccadilly – 9 cars – 09:33 – 11:08 – 1 stop – 95 mins – 99.7 mph.
  • 390154 – IF16 – Liverpool Lime Street – 11 cars – 09:43 – 11:31 – 1 stop – 108 mins – 87.7 mph.
  • 805012/805003 – ID84 – Chester – 10 cars – 10:10 – 11:53 – 1 stop – 103 mins – 92.0 mph.
  • 390130 – IS52 – Glasgow – 11 cars – 10:30 – 12:00 – 0 stops – 90 mins – 105.3 mph
  • 390151 – IH65 – Manchester Piccadilly – 11 cars – 10:35 – 12:09 – 1 stop – 94 mins – 100.8 mph.
  • 807008 – IF18 – Liverpool Lime Street – 7 cars – 10:43 – 12:30 – 1 stop – 107 mins – 88.6 mph.
  • 805009 – ID85 – Chester – 5 cars – 11:00 – 11:46 – 1 stop – 106 mins – 89.4 mph.

Note.

  1. All trains shown, go through Crewe.
  2. Some trains were delayed, hence their slow average speed.
  3. The Glasgow trains, which run non-stop from Euston to Warrington Bank Quay were the fastest, with four trains over 100 mph.

I have a few other thoughts.

The Class 805 Trains Are Crying Out For Batteries

In The Data Sheet For Hitachi Battery Electric Trains, I said this on how the Hitachi Class 80x trains will perform on batteries.

These are my conclusions about Hitachi’s battery packs for Class 80x trains.

  • The battery pack has a capacity of 750 kWh.
  • A five-car train needs three battery-packs to travel 100 miles.
  • A nine-car train needs five battery-packs to travel 100 miles.
  • The maximum range of a five-car train with three batteries is 117 miles.
  • The maximum range of a nine-car train with five batteries is 121 miles.

Holyhead and Crewe is only 105.5 miles.

As battery technology gets better, these distances will increase.

The Fast Glasgow Train Appears To Be Leading A Convoy

The non-stop to Warrington Bank Quay Glasgow trains, also appear to be leading one Manchester Piccadilly, a Liverpool Lime Street and a Chester/North Wales train in a convoy, through Milton Keynes Central and the Trent Valley.

This convoy could grow as other services are added to the West Coast Main Line.

The Open Access Services Might Have Their Own Convoy

It would seem to me, that it might be possible to run a second convoy every hour, out of phase with the current one following the Glasgow service.

It also might be more virtual than real and under the control of the digital signalling, that will be installed on the line.

March 23, 2025 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

High Speed Two To Blackpool

There has been a lot of speculation about the Northern end of High Speed Two, so I might as well add sort out a few facts and add a bit of  speculation of my own.

The Current Blackpool Service

I shall look at the 05:35 train on the 5th October 2023.

  • It was a pair of Voyagers or Class 221 trains.
  • Euston and Blackpool North are 226.5 miles apart.
  • The train called at Preston, Wigan North Western, Warrington Bank Quay, Crewe and Stafford
  • The train should have arrived at Preston at 05:56 and left at 0600.
  • The train should have arrived at Wigan North Western at 06:11 and left at 06:12.
  • The train should have arrived at Warrington Bank Quay at 06:22 and left at 06:24.
  • The train should have arrived at Crewe at 06:46 and left at 06:55.
  • The train should have arrived at Stafford at 07:13 and left at 07:14.
  • The train should have arrived at London Euston at 08:35
  • The journey took three hours.
  • The average speed was 75.5 mph.
  • The Crewe and Blackpool North section is 68.5 miles and the train is scheduled to take one hour and eleven minutes.
  • The average speed between Crewe and Blackpool North is 57.9 mph.
  • There are three trains per day (tpd).

Note.

  1. Other services between London Euston and Blackpool North  are run by eleven-car Class 390 trains or Pendolinos.
  2. Blackpool North is fully electrified to London.

This means that London Euston and Blackpool North could be run using High Speed Two Classic-Compatible trains.

I have a few questions.

What Time Would Be Possible At The Present Time?

Consider.

  • According to the Wikipedia entry for High Speed Two, one hour and seventeen minutes is the fastest time between London Euston and Stafford.
  • The 05:35 is timed to take one hour and thirteen minutes with the four stops, between Blackpool North and Stafford.

This would give a London Euston and Blackpool North time of two hours and thirty minutes.

What Time Would Be Possible When High Speed Two Lite Opens To Handsacre Junction?

Consider.

  • According to the Wikipedia entry for High Speed Two, fifty-five minutes will be the fastest time between London Euston and Stafford, after High Speed Two opens to Handsacre junction.
  • The 05:35 is timed to take one hour and thirteen minutes with the four stops, between Blackpool North and Stafford.

This would give a London Euston and Blackpool North time of two hours and eight minutes.

What Frequency Would Be Needed?

LNER seem to run their secondary services to places like Harrogate and Lincoln using a frequency of one train per two hours (tp2h).

That could be an ideal frequency.

Would There Be A Path For The Train To And From London Euston?

This graphic shows High Speed Two services after Phase 2b is completed.

Note.

  1. Services shown in blue are run by High Speed Two Full Size trains.
  2. Services shown in yellow are run by High Speed Two Classic-Compatible  trains.
  3. Each of these trains will have a frequency of one tph.
  4. The nine paths to the right of the vertical black line will not be needed for some time. If ever!
  5. It looks like a maximum of only eleven paths will be needed to the South of Birmingham.
  6. It looks like a maximum of only fourteen paths will be needed to the North of Birmingham.

In Will High Speed Two Lite Make Stafford An Important Station?, I totted up all the services through Stafford after High Speed Two Lite opened to Handsacre junction and got these figures.

  • Through Stafford station, there are totals of 11 tpd and 14 tph.
  • Along the Trent Valley Line, there are totals of 11 tpd and 12 tph.
  • North of Stafford on the West Coast Main Line, there are totals of 9 tpd and 12 tph.
  • South of Stafford on the West Coast Main Line, there are totals of 2 tpd and 2 tph.
  • Between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, there are totals of 2 tph.

I accounted for services moving from the West Coast Main Line to High Speed Two.

Consider.

  • A large proportion of the route between Preston and Handsacre junction, where the route would join High Speed Two Light has two dedicated high speed tracks and two tracks for freight and local services.
  • Digital signalling on High Speed Two has been designed to handle eighteen trains per hour (tph) at 225 mph.
  • Surely, the two dedicated high speed tracks, if fitted with High Speed Two digital signalling could handle say 16 tph at 140 mph.
  • Network Rail are good at juggling trains to squeeze in more services.
  • Extra paths could be created by splitting and joining trains at Crewe or Preston.

My Control Engineering training and practice tells me that it should be possible to add perhaps two tph between Preston and Euston.

Conclusion

I believe that High Speed Two Classic-Compatible  trains could be close to two hours between Blackpool and London Euston, when High Speed Two Lite opens from Handsacre junction.

 

October 8, 2023 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Proposed High-Speed Two Services Are Not Complete

This diagram shows High Speed Two services.

Note.

  1. Trains to the left of the vertical black line are Phase 1 and those to the right are Phase 2.
  2. Full-Size trains are shown in blue.
  3. Classic-Compatible trains are shown in yellow.
  4. The dotted circles are where trains split and join.
  5. In the red boxes routes alternate every hour.

Click on the diagram to enlarge it.

Are The Services Incomplete Or Has Someone Left Something Out?

Look at trains 4, 5 and 6.

  • Train 4 is a pair of Classic-Compatible trains, which split at Crewe, with one going to Liverpool Lime Street and the other to Lancaster.
  • Train 5 is a single Classic-Compatible train, that goes to Liverpool Lime Street.
  • Train 6 is a single Classic-Compatible train, that goes to Macclesfield.

As an example, Train 5 could be a pair of Classic-Compatible trains, which split at Crewe, with one going to Liverpool Lime Street and the other to Chester, Llandudno, Bangor and Holyhead. I actually believe that this would be a way of creating a low-carbon route to Dublin, with a zero-carbon high-speed ferry from Holyhead.

What to do with Train 6 is more difficult.

  • Stafford and Stoke need to be served by High Speed Two.
  • Stafford, Stoke and Macclesfield are not stations with long platforms, so may not be suitable places to split a pair of Classic-Compatible trains.
  • Places North of Macclesfield to terminate trains are not numerous and probably only Manchester and Huddersfield may be suitable.

The alternative might be to split a pair of Classic-Compatible trains forming Train 6 at Birmingham Interchange, one going to Stafford, Stoke and Macclesfield and the other going to Blackburn, Blackpool, Crewe, Lancaster, Liverpool or Preston

 

February 18, 2023 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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