I've got a ticket for the fourth day of the Test Match. Researching how to
get there from Staffordshire reveals:

Birmingham-Euston diverted via Nuneaton, but no decent trains from Nuneaton
or anywhere else on the Trent Valley line.

Warwick Parkway to Marylebone not possible - journey via Reading and
Paddington.

Derby to St Pancras possible, leaving at 06xx and taking 3 hours.

So it's the car again, to Stanmore, or perhaps Hillingdon. Is there plenty
of parking at Hillingdon?

But why are engineering works not better co-ordinated so that at least one
route from the north is open on a crucial day? Or can they not read the
fixture list?

Regards

Jonathan

"Jonathan Morton"  writes:


> But why are engineering works not better co-ordinated so that at least one
> route from the north is open on a crucial day? Or can they not read the
> fixture list?


Maybe the question should be, "when did engineering works stop being
co-ordinated?" Before he retired, my Father worked in the BR Civil
Engineers department. They had planning meetings etc to ensure that
such things as you describe did not happen, and it was not unknown for
planned work to be cancelled because of a problem somewhere else on
the system (not only when the emergency job would have taken away
equipment or men which would have been used for the planned work)

On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 20:39:30 +0000 (UTC), "Jonathan Morton"
 wrote:



> Is there plenty
>of parking at Hillingdon?


stacks

On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 20:39:30 +0000 (UTC), "Jonathan Morton"
 wrote:


>I've got a ticket for the fourth day of the Test Match. Researching how to
>get there from Staffordshire reveals:
>
>Birmingham-Euston diverted via Nuneaton, but no decent trains from Nuneaton
>or anywhere else on the Trent Valley line.
>
>Warwick Parkway to Marylebone not possible - journey via Reading and
>Paddington.
>
>Derby to St Pancras possible, leaving at 06xx and taking 3 hours.
>
>So it's the car again, to Stanmore, or perhaps Hillingdon. Is there plenty
>of parking at Hillingdon?
>
>But why are engineering works not better co-ordinated so that at least one
>route from the north is open on a crucial day? Or can they not read the
>fixture list?


Maybe no-one expected the poms to do so well - especially the poms?

Les Brown

Jonathan Morton wrote:

> But why are engineering works not better co-ordinated so that at least one
> route from the north is open on a crucial day? Or can they not read the
> fixture list?



Or, why can't sports events take place when there is no engineering
works?

PhilD

--
<><

Jonathan Morton wrote:

> I've got a ticket for the fourth day of the Test Match. Researching how to
> get there from Staffordshire reveals:
>
> Birmingham-Euston diverted via Nuneaton, but no decent trains from Nuneaton
> or anywhere else on the Trent Valley line.
>
> Warwick Parkway to Marylebone not possible - journey via Reading and
> Paddington.
>
> Derby to St Pancras possible, leaving at 06xx and taking 3 hours.
>
> So it's the car again, to Stanmore, or perhaps Hillingdon. Is there plenty
> of parking at Hillingdon?
>
> But why are engineering works not better co-ordinated so that at least one
> route from the north is open on a crucial day? Or can they not read the
> fixture list?
>
> Regards
>
> Jonathan

If you are coming up to London on Sunday there is no point in parking
right out on the fringes. If you don't want to come through central
London Brent Cross is probabley your best bet for the Northern Line
direct to Oval. London is pretty quiet on Sundays with no parking
restictions and for the Test you would be arriving early anyway.

Kevin

"Jonathan Morton"  wrote in
message news:dfq7i1$9cb$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

> I've got a ticket for the fourth day of the Test Match. Researching how to
> get there from Staffordshire reveals:
>
> Birmingham-Euston diverted via Nuneaton, but no decent trains from
Nuneaton
> or anywhere else on the Trent Valley line.
>
> Warwick Parkway to Marylebone not possible - journey via Reading and
> Paddington.
>
> Derby to St Pancras possible, leaving at 06xx and taking 3 hours.
>
> So it's the car again, to Stanmore, or perhaps Hillingdon. Is there plenty
> of parking at Hillingdon?
>
> But why are engineering works not better co-ordinated so that at least one
> route from the north is open on a crucial day? Or can they not read the
> fixture list?
>
> Regards
>
> Jonathan
>
>


Really you have to avoid the WCML at weekends completely, a friend of mine
has tickets for the England game at Old trafford on Sat 8th Oct (Bought them
before their recent 'performance' but that off topic), and wanted to travel
by train from Penrith, but it's a bus from Penrith to Preston, problem is
journey time is shown as 2.5 hours, for a 70 mile (ish) journey, which is
motorway just about the whole way. Coaches can I think legally do 65mph and
I've certainly seen them do more, so why an average speed of 28 mph. Really
the railways need to get their act together. I am a true blue tory, but I
would support renationalisation if it was done properly (i.e. get some
strong management in at all levels and run the system as properly integrated
affair). Anyway the upshot is he is going by car.

"Mike D"  wrote in message 
news:dfrjve$9u6$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-

> Really you have to avoid the WCML at weekends completely, a friend of mine
> has tickets for the England game at Old trafford on Sat 8th Oct (Bought 
> them
> before their recent 'performance' but that off topic), and wanted to 
> travel
> by train from Penrith, but it's a bus from Penrith to Preston, problem is
> journey time is shown as 2.5 hours, for a 70 mile (ish) journey, which is
> motorway just about the whole way. Coaches can I think legally do 65mph 
> and
> I've certainly seen them do more, so why an average speed of 28 mph. 
> Really
> the railways need to get their act together. I am a true blue tory, but I
> would support renationalisation if it was done properly (i.e. get some
> strong management in at all levels and run the system as properly 
> integrated
> affair). Anyway the upshot is he is going by car.


28 MPH average does seem to be somewhat slow especially if it is avoiding 
the passengers with intentions of  gettting on or off at Oxenholme or 
Lancaster.

KW

On Fri, 9 Sep 2005 09:17:35 +0000 (UTC), Mike D wrote in
<dfrjve$9u6$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>, seen in
uk.railway:


> it's a bus from Penrith to Preston, problem is
> journey time is shown as 2.5 hours, for a 70 mile (ish) journey, which is
> motorway just about the whole way. Coaches can I think legally do 65mph and
> I've certainly seen them do more, so why an average speed of 28 mph.


National Express used to use an average speed of 35mph for motorway
workings back in the days when coaches were unlimited (i.e. 70mph) and
that seemed about right. If coaches are 60 now (I don't know if
they're 60 or 65), that gives a 30 average (half the max speed) and
rounding the time to 2.5hrs gives recovery time, so it doesn't sound
that unreasonable in terms of speed to me.

-- 
Ross, a.k.a.
Prof. E. Scrooge, CT, 153 & bar, Doctor of Cynicism (U. Life)
Hon. Pres., National Soc. for the Encouragement for Cruelty to Dogboxes
Proud to be the target of various trolls, sock puppets and other idiots

"Ross"  wrote in message 
news:a2i3i11n300663s8uosrqcucstartpv18d@4ax.com...

> On Fri, 9 Sep 2005 09:17:35 +0000 (UTC), Mike D wrote in
> <dfrjve$9u6$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>, seen in
> uk.railway:
>
>> it's a bus from Penrith to Preston, problem is
>> journey time is shown as 2.5 hours, for a 70 mile (ish) journey, which is
>> motorway just about the whole way. Coaches can I think legally do 65mph 
>> and
>> I've certainly seen them do more, so why an average speed of 28 mph.
>
> National Express used to use an average speed of 35mph for motorway
> workings back in the days when coaches were unlimited (i.e. 70mph) and
> that seemed about right. If coaches are 60 now (I don't know if
> they're 60 or 65), that gives a 30 average (half the max speed) and
> rounding the time to 2.5hrs gives recovery time, so it doesn't sound
> that unreasonable in terms of speed to me.
>
> -- 

And presumably is diving off the motorway to serve Oxenholme and 
Lancaster...and my memories of Preston are that it's road system is not 
exactly free-flowing...!

Sean

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 18:39:28 +0100, Ross 
wrote:


>National Express used to use an average speed of 35mph for motorway
>workings back in the days when coaches were unlimited (i.e. 70mph) and
>that seemed about right. If coaches are 60 now (I don't know if
>they're 60 or 65), that gives a 30 average (half the max speed) and
>rounding the time to 2.5hrs gives recovery time, so it doesn't sound
>that unreasonable in terms of speed to me.


Indeed, and that aside the service will probably call at Oxenholme and
Lancaster, which will take some time and involves straying a fair way
from the motorway.

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

On Fri, 9 Sep 2005 20:42:50 +0100, "Sean Marshall"
 wrote:


>And presumably is diving off the motorway to serve Oxenholme and 
>Lancaster...and my memories of Preston are that it's road system is not 
>exactly free-flowing...!


It's usually OK on a Saturday, but it is a fair way away from the
motorway, and much of it 30mph.

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

"Mike D"  wrote in message
news:dfrjve$9u6$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...


> Really you have to avoid the WCML at weekends completely, a friend of mine
> has tickets for the England game at Old trafford on Sat 8th Oct (Bought
them
> before their recent 'performance' but that off topic), and wanted to
travel
> by train from Penrith, but it's a bus from Penrith to Preston, problem is
> journey time is shown as 2.5 hours, for a 70 mile (ish) journey, which is
> motorway just about the whole way. Coaches can I think legally do 65mph
and
> I've certainly seen them do more, so why an average speed of 28 mph.
Really
> the railways need to get their act together. I am a true blue tory, but I
> would support renationalisation if it was done properly (i.e. get some
> strong management in at all levels and run the system as properly
integrated
> affair). Anyway the upshot is he is going by car.


As indeed I am tomorrow. And as I had to do on the Sunday at Trent Bridge,
when I couldn't get to Nottingham in time from as close as Burton upon Trent
because of works at Derby. And so it goes on.

Regards

Jonathan

On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 20:39:30, "Jonathan Morton"
 wrote:


>I've got a ticket for the fourth day of the Test Match. Researching how to
>get there from Staffordshire reveals:
<snip>
>But why are engineering works not better co-ordinated so that at least one
>route from the north is open on a crucial day? Or can they not read the
>fixture list?


Richard Bowker was there yesterday, so I'm sure the SRA knew the
fixture list!  Perhaps there are no cricket fans on the board of
Network Rail?

Paul Harley

-- 
Remove "eeek" to contact me!

"Jonathan Morton"  wrote in
message news:dfq7i1$9cb$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

> I've got a ticket for the fourth day of the Test Match. Researching how to
> get there from Staffordshire reveals:
>

> But why are engineering works not better co-ordinated so that at least one
> route from the north is open on a crucial day? Or can they not read the
> fixture list?
>

Perhaps they feel it's better to fix all the lines for the thousands of
commuters and regular passengers who use the services midweek instead of
keeping one open for a few hundred sports fans?

Nick

"Nick Pedley"  wrote in message
news:dg7hq7$plm$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...

>
> "Jonathan Morton"  wrote in
> message news:dfq7i1$9cb$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...
> > I've got a ticket for the fourth day of the Test Match. Researching how
to
> > get there from Staffordshire reveals:
> >
>
> > But why are engineering works not better co-ordinated so that at least
one
> > route from the north is open on a crucial day? Or can they not read the
> > fixture list?
> >
> Perhaps they feel it's better to fix all the lines for the thousands of
> commuters and regular passengers who use the services midweek instead of
> keeping one open for a few hundred sports fans?


Well, yes, of course there's merit in that argument. But it's particularly
galling if you are *both* a regular commuter and a sports fan. :-)

After all, it's just bad marketing to provide a good service for the
commuter and then not be able to provide "added value" by way of some
reasonable leisure services at weekends.

Regards

Jonathan