Ken's 2019 All Lines Rail Rover
Trains
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Stations
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Miles
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Train 1
Service: 2U02 0512 Taunton to Cardiff
Operator: GWR
Class: 158
My journey
Bristol TM to Cardiff
Stats: 38.2 miles, 7 stops in 0:53 (43.2 mph)
I mentioned that I like travelling on those strange journeys that seem to have no logical place in the timetable. Quite by chance I’d spotted one that would provide an easy but unusual way home. Train 1L98, operated by CrossCountry, leaves Bristol Temple Meads at 0613 every weekday morning. It goes via Gloucester and Cheltenham to Birmingham New Street then on to – Stansted Airport. I had no idea such a train existed, and it would get me home. It would take a long time but I wouldn’t have to muck about travelling through London.
I got up, got ready, and checked Realtimetrains. They’ve only gone and cancelled the bugger! Well, I was up, and it was too early for breakfast. I wandered onto the station to see what’s what. There was a Taunton to Cardiff service imminent so I jumped on that. For the record it was another GWR class 158. At this time of day it wasn’t crowded.
The train headed out towards the four miles or so of the Severn Tunnel, along the recently re-quadrupled line through Stapleton Road and round the curve to Pilning. My God, the new electrification infrastructure is ugly. I mean, it’s never pretty, but this stuff is appalling. And they want to install it through Bath?
After the tunnel we were in Wales. My aim was to get off at Newport and catch a train towards, say, Gloucester, more or less replicating the line of the cancelled Stansted train. But it soon became clear that the timings were such that I might as well stay on to Cardiff and change there, perhaps getting a better seat on the next train than if I’d chanced it at Newport.
Train 2
Service: 1M92 0744 Cardiff to Nottingham
Operator: CrossCountry
Class: 170
My journey
Cardiff to Nuneaton
Stats: 125.8 miles, 7 stops in 2:24 (52.4 mph)
I got off what was by now quite a crowded train at Cardiff. I stood back to allow those with places to go to go to them. As the platform emptied I was approached by a woman. She was one of those people who ask for advice with no intention of ever taking it.
“Is this the right platform for Bridgend?”.
I looked at the monitors. The platform we were on had nothing booked to depart for several tens of minutes. I told her that there was a train leaving soon, but it was a different platform and it was slow, going via Barry.
“My partner said it was platform 2”.
Well, Valley Lines trains at Cardiff Central use platforms 6-8. I took another look. There was a fast train not much later that would get to Bridgend far sooner than that Barry and Vale of Glamorgan one. I told her about it, and mentioned which platform it was booked for. She was still sceptical. She knew that her partner had all the answers, and she was sure that the platform I’d tried to send her to – for God knows what nefarious reason – was incorrect. It’s just a pity that her partner didn’t seem to be contactable. She was still standing on an empty platform staring at the screens when I left many minutes later.
While she settled down to her new life on Cardiff Central station I settled down into a seat on a CrossCountry class 170 heading for Nottingham. This long service wasn’t one I’d used before, so it had that going for it. And it would call at Birmingham New Street, so I could change for a Stansted train. There would be little new line to travel but it had a small first-class section so I’d be comfortable.
We set off back to Newport then along the Gloucester to Newport line, passing along the Wye and Severn valleys. There’s plenty to see: the Severn bridges, long stretches of river with birds, boats, remote nuclear power stations, and stations such as Chepstow. After Gloucester the train continued via Cheltenham and the not yet open Worcestershire Parkway before reaching the hub of the CrossCountry network, Birmingham New Street.
Then I remembered something. I wasn’t allowed to get on or off a CrossCountry service at this station before 10.00. OK, I’ll stay on to Nottingham, then perhaps get the East Midlands train to Ely. So I stayed on but had yet another idea. West Midlands Railway had started operating the quirky D-Trains (formally class 230) on the Marston Vale line. So I could go for a ride on one of them if I could get to Bedford or Bletchley. That should be easy. My train was calling at Tamworth, which is on the West Coast Main Line. As is Bletchley. So I’ll change at Tamworth.
Train 3
Service: 1U24 0933 Crewe to Euston
Operator: West Midlands Trains
Class: 350
My journey
Tamworth to Milton Keynes Central
Stats: 60.2 miles, 4 stops in 0:49 (73.7 mph)
Train 4
Service: 1Y28 0919 Rugeley Trent Valley to Euston
Operator: West Midlands Trains
Class: 350
My journey
Milton Keynes Central to Bletchley
Stats: 3.1 miles, 1 stop in 0:04 (47.6 mph)
Tamworth is one of those stations where two lines cross on different levels. I had trouble working out how to reach the London-bound platform until I realised that the route was completely separate from the route to any other part of the station, and required a walk along the platform to some steps passing under the high-level lines.
The platform was very busy. There were late commuters and families intent on a day out in London. And the train was seriously delayed. It was a Virgin service coming from Glasgow. More than that, it was the same train that had forced my plans to change on Monday, the 0428 departure. The problem this time was a signal failure. There were knock-on effects, too. A slower West Midlands Railway service from Crewe via Stoke was also running very late. Either would suit me: I’d need to change at Milton Keynes in any case. Eventually, over half an hour late, the slower service arrived. It was a class 350 – the same class as my the TransPennine train I was forced onto on Monday. The very late train from Glasgow soon overtook us, but it didn’t matter. I caught exactly the same train from Milton Keynes to Bletchley as I would have done had I caught the fast but probably crowded Virgin service. At Bletchley I went to the Marston Vale platform and waited.
Train 5
Service: 2S13 1201 Bletchley to Bedford
Operator: West Midlands
Class: 230 (230004)
My journey
Whole Route
Stats: 16.2 miles, 11 stops in 0:48 (20.3 mph)
The train soon appeared. The D in D-Train refers to District Line. A company called Vivarail bought up 150 coaches of Underground District Line D78 stock trains when they were no longer required in London. Vivarail generally tarted them up, had the bogies rebuilt, replaced the traction motors with modern ac ones and marketed them with either diesel engines generating traction power, or batteries. The trains on the Marston Vale line are prototype diesel versions.
And they seem quite good. The Underground heritage is inescapable, but they don’t feel like trains that are nearly 40 years old. They don’t exactly seem overpowered, but that’s not a problem on the lines that they’re aimed at. It’s looking quite good for Vivarail, as Transport for Wales are to use class 230s, and it’s been announced that a third-rail powered version will replace the 80-year-old former tube trains on the Isle of Wight.
The Marston Vale Line is very rural, with a number of minor stations scattered along its 16 miles. It once formed part of the Oxford – Cambridge line so it may have a bright future if plans for the reopening of that line come to fruition. As it stands it’s an interesting rural ride, especially on a ‘new’ train with signs throughout telling of the line’s attractions.
As I got off at Bedford I nearly collided with a gentleman on the platform.
“Good morning, John”, I said.
“Good gracious”, was the reply.
It was my chemistry teacher, John Leeming, coming to investigate the D Train. He mentioned something about meeting up for a pint. I’m still waiting.
Train 6
Service: 1P17 1241 Corby toSt. Pancras
Operator: East Nidlands
Class: 222
My journey
Bedford to St. Pancras
Stats: 49.3 miles, 2 stops in 0:36 (82.2 mph)
Train 7
Service: Circle Line Outer Rail
Operator: TfL
Class: S7
My journey
Kings Cross to Liverpool St
Stats: 2.1 miles, 4 stops in 0:10 (12.7 mph)
Train 8
Service: 2H36 1428 Liverpool St. to Cambridge North
Operator: Greater Anglia
Class: 317
My journey
Liverpool St. to Bishop’s Stortford
Stats: 33.4 miles, 9 stops in 0:42 (47.6 mph)
I crossed the footbridge and caught a very quiet East Midlands class 222. It was working a Corby to St. Pancras service. This has only recently started running regularly, and doesn’t seem to have built up much of an off-peak user base yet. But that meant that I had the undivided attention of a very pleasant trolley lady, who forced free tea and biscuits on me, despite my better judgement.
And so, from St. Pancras to Liverpool St. to Bishop’s Stortford, my journey of over 3300 miles ending on a Greater Anglia class 317. How boring. And that’s it, for now. But my wish list never seems to get any shorter. I’ll be back, but not for another couple of years.