Public Positioning Journeys

Take a break from playing the game and chat here about real-world transportation issues!

Moderator: General Forums Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
JamieLei
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 7432
Joined: 10 Jan 2007 18:42
Location: Stratford, London

Public Positioning Journeys

Post by JamieLei »

Yesterday I travelled on what was effectively an ECS Greater Anglia journey from Cambridge to Liverpool Street, which called only at Audley End and Tottenham Hale. 50 minutes to Tottenham Hale was hugely competitive with the FCC service, since the interchange to Victoria Line is quick there, and once you add an extra 10 minutes to get to KX, the times are quite close at a much lower price (Greater Anglia allow Super Off Peak tickets on weekdays too). 8-coach 379 was almost empty - I was actually the only passenger in the rear unit, although that was more because the steps on the island platform at Cambridge dumped you in the midst of the first unit facing forward, and noone thought to turn around to the rear unit.

I was wondering what other public ECS journeys there are, that run ridiculously express journeys for the benefit of nobody. The only other one that I've been on is a late-night express to Chingford, calling at Walthamstow Central only - clearly the Chief Executive of NXEA lived in Chingford and wanted something to take him home after a night at the theatre!

There are also a few on the CrossCity line recently. "Wrong-direction" non-stop to Sutton Coldfield from New Street in the morning peak and oddly enough, an express into New Street from Sutton Coldfield at the end of the day.

Edit: Changed title from ECS to 'positioning'
Attachments
Screen shot 2012-06-20 at 17.40.16.png
Screen shot 2012-06-20 at 17.40.16.png (78.07 KiB) Viewed 1900 times
Last edited by JamieLei on 20 Jun 2012 22:37, edited 1 time in total.
Any opinions expressed are purely mine and not that of any employer, past or present.
User avatar
Ameecher
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 11919
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 15:39
Contact:

Re: 'Public' ECS Journeys

Post by Ameecher »

There's plenty on the North Kent Lines in the opposite directions to the peaks, being DOO they usually do a handful of stops and cane it back to be in position in London or Dartford.
Image
User avatar
Kevo00
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 5646
Joined: 07 Feb 2004 01:51
Location: East Coast MainLine

Re: 'Public' ECS Journeys

Post by Kevo00 »

Does LM still do that daft one up to Preston and then back ECS?

Perhaps not quite in this category but equally strange.
User avatar
61653
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 2095
Joined: 29 Sep 2009 09:13
Location: Batley, the People's Republic of West Yorkshire.

Re: 'Public' ECS Journeys

Post by 61653 »

Kevo00 wrote:Does LM still do that daft one up to Preston and then back ECS?

Perhaps not quite in this category but equally strange.
Wasn't that one a true 'ECS' (Empty Coaching Stock?) run to retain driver knowledge? The Sutton Coldfield examples mentioned above are not really ECS, positioning moves yes, but they are included in passenger timetables.
I was social distancing before it was cool 8)
Formerly known as 47434
Last train journey I could be bothered to look up the headcode for: 04/02/2016, Mirfield to Batley, 2J34 1459 Huddersfield to Leeds, Northern Rail 144015
User avatar
JamieLei
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 7432
Joined: 10 Jan 2007 18:42
Location: Stratford, London

Re: 'Public' ECS Journeys

Post by JamieLei »

Ah yes sorry, when I said ECS then I meant positioning. Of course if they have passengers, they're not 'empty' as such, but they would effectively be ECS journeys if they didn't stop.
Any opinions expressed are purely mine and not that of any employer, past or present.
User avatar
Ameecher
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 11919
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 15:39
Contact:

Re: 'Public' ECS Journeys

Post by Ameecher »

Well, they'd be ECS if they're not available for customer use. You could have a non-stop positioning move that isn't ECS [/pedant]
Image
User avatar
Dave
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 17243
Joined: 26 Dec 2005 20:19
Location: North London

Re: 'Public' ECS Journeys

Post by Dave »

The 1649 BHM-PRE ceased ages ago, and eventually Virgin's timetable changed so that trains left Birmingham at :20, not :00.

Sunday services on the Snow Hill Lines often feature ECS moves with minimal stops - the 1710 from Moor Street runs express to Stourbridge after leaving Snow Hill...
Official TT-Dave Fan Club

Dave's Screenshot Thread! - Albion: A fictional Britain
Flickr


Why be a song when you can be a symphony? r is a...
User avatar
JamieLei
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 7432
Joined: 10 Jan 2007 18:42
Location: Stratford, London

Re: 'Public' ECS Journeys

Post by JamieLei »

Ameecher wrote:Well, they'd be ECS if they're not available for customer use. You could have a non-stop positioning move that isn't ECS [/pedant]
Fiiine - changed the title. Positioning is a much better term anyway.
Any opinions expressed are purely mine and not that of any employer, past or present.
User avatar
Ameecher
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 11919
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 15:39
Contact:

Re: Public Positioning Journeys

Post by Ameecher »

Dave W wrote:Sunday services on the Snow Hill Lines often feature ECS moves with minimal stops - the 1710 from Moor Street runs express to Stourbridge after leaving Snow Hill...
I suspect you don't mean ECS at all ;)

ECS is a specific operating practise, it gets a crappy headcode usually because it's not as important as service trains (although you don't want them to be late!) and can operate without a guard. Positioning moves are full service trains as they have guards on them (where applicable) usually because they are needed for the next leg of the journey or need to return them to base. Might as well get them to do something if they're getting paid!
Image
User avatar
Dave
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 17243
Joined: 26 Dec 2005 20:19
Location: North London

Re: Public Positioning Journeys

Post by Dave »

Yeah f*** off Gavin. No one wants to hear what you're saying haha.

I was just copying the thread. Some of us do work full time you know (not that you'd know of late haha), and thus I am fugged haha.
Official TT-Dave Fan Club

Dave's Screenshot Thread! - Albion: A fictional Britain
Flickr


Why be a song when you can be a symphony? r is a...
User avatar
Dave
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 17243
Joined: 26 Dec 2005 20:19
Location: North London

Re: Public Positioning Journeys

Post by Dave »

By the way my current CCLDB password is no longer valid. FML.
Official TT-Dave Fan Club

Dave's Screenshot Thread! - Albion: A fictional Britain
Flickr


Why be a song when you can be a symphony? r is a...
User avatar
jvassie
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 3421
Joined: 18 Dec 2002 18:00
Location: High Wycombe, England
Contact:

Re: Public Positioning Journeys

Post by jvassie »

Dave W wrote:By the way my current CCLDB password is no longer valid. FML.
Indeed, I found that out yesterday too :(

They seem to have moved the PC at Clapham which had Southern's details stickered to the side of it..
(British) Modular Stations Set - Thread: | Website:
Swiss Set - Thread: | Website:
Route Map Creator
My Screenshot Thread
User avatar
JamieLei
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 7432
Joined: 10 Jan 2007 18:42
Location: Stratford, London

Re: Public Positioning Journeys

Post by JamieLei »

CCLDB? I haven't used that for yeaaars!
Any opinions expressed are purely mine and not that of any employer, past or present.
User avatar
Dave
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 17243
Joined: 26 Dec 2005 20:19
Location: North London

Re: Public Positioning Journeys

Post by Dave »

I hadn't used the South / Eastern details for years. I was using (I think) Network Rail's
Official TT-Dave Fan Club

Dave's Screenshot Thread! - Albion: A fictional Britain
Flickr


Why be a song when you can be a symphony? r is a...
andel
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
Posts: 7260
Joined: 07 May 2005 20:20
Location: Somewhere over the spandex sea
Contact:

Re: Public Positioning Journeys

Post by andel »

Bless you all....

Such moves also exist in the bus world, too - especially for contracted services.
Andel
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this post are not necessarily those of Andel, who will do and say almost anything to get the attention he craves.
[/size]
Post Reply

Return to “Real-World Transport Discussion”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests