Public Positioning Journeys

[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'

[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.

[Kevo00]

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

Perhaps not quite in this category but equally strange.

[61653]

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.

[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.

[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]

[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...

[JamieLei]

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.

[Ameecher]

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!

[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.

[Dave]

By the way my current CCLDB password is no longer valid. FML.

[jvassie]

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..

[JamieLei]

CCLDB? I haven't used that for yeaaars!

[Dave]

I hadn't used the South / Eastern details for years. I was using (I think) Network Rail's

[andel]

Bless you all....

Such moves also exist in the bus world, too - especially for contracted services.