Railways in Worcestershire

RAILWAYS IN WORCESTERSHIRE
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Worestershire's Railway Timetables in 2014

WORCESTERSHIRE 2015 - TRAIN SERVICE SUMMARY

The 2014/15 passenger timetables started on 14th December 2014 and ran until 16th May 2015. See the entry in the train summary 2014 page for a list of some changes to Sunday services.

Birmingham and Gloucester Railway

Services on this route are operated by Cross Country Trains. All trains go via Spetchley except for a few scheduled to go non-stop via Worcester Shrub Hill.

Trains to and from Bristol and the West Country do not stop anywhere in Worcestershire and are operated mostly using four-car class 220 'Voyager' diesel multiple units or five-car class 221 'Voyager' diesel multiple units. On Saturdays only the 20:00 Bristol Temple Meads to Birmingham New Street is routed via Worcester Shrub Hill but does not stop.

The basic service pattern is half-hourly. Trains to the South-west leave Birmingham New Street at xx:10 and xx:42 and to the North-east leave Cheltenham Spa at xx:12 and xx:40 The trains take about forty minutes to travel between these two stations.

Trains between Cardiff and Nottingham are operated using two-car class 170/1 diesel multiple units, two-car class 170/5 diesel multiple units or three-car class 170/6 diesel multiple units. Two Birmingham bound trains stop at Bromsgrove in the morning (one of which at 07:24 continues to Stanstead Airport and two Cardiff bound trains call there in the afternoon, presumably to cater for commuter traffic to and from Birmingham New Street. Apart from these four trains (Monday to Friday only) the rest do not stop in the county. Trains to Cardiff leave Birmingham New Street at xx:30 and those to Nottingham leave Cheltenham at xx:01. If running on time the trains would pass each other near Spetchley.

From Monday to Saturday the 05:00 (1V01) and 05:42 (1V02) services from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff are routed via Worcester Shrub Hill but do not stop there.(/P>

Some but not all of the following services are operated by an HST 125 set with a class 43 diesel power car at each end. This entry needs updating.

Monday to Saturday:

1V44 06:00 Leeds to Plymouth returning with 1S53 12:23 Plymouth to Glasgow (To/from Paignton on Saturdays)

1V54 06:32 Dundee to Plymouth returning with 1E73 17:23 Plymouth to Leeds (Monday to Friday). Operates to Newquay on Saturdays.

1V46 06:32 York to Plymouth returning with 1S55 13:23 Plymouth to Edinburgh (Monday to Friday)

1V64 13:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth returning with 17:23 Plymouth to Leeds (Fridays only)

1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth returning with 1E63 15:23 Plymouth to Leeds (Mondays to Fridays)

It should be noted that some services may be operated by HST's on Sundays but their use is irregular.

Birmingham New Street to Hereford

Services on this route are operated by London Midland Trains using mostly class 170/5 two-car diesel multiple units or class 170/6 three-car diesel multiple units. The basic travel pattern is hourly with services leaving Birmingham New Street at xx:49 and Hereford at xx:40 (there are some minor variations). The time taken for the full journey is just over 90 minutes and four diesel multiple units are required to operate the service. Trains pass each other near Worcester. Two services in each direction stop at Barnt Green. From 10th December 2012 London Midland enhanced the Sunday services to provide more trains including the reintroduction after a gap of over forty years of a morning departure from Hereford to Birmingham New Street.

There is also a 'ghost' London Midland service which leaves Birmingham New Street 23.00 on Fridays only for Worcester Shrub Hill and Gloucester (1V30). The section of line between Worcester Shrub Hill and Gloucester sees no other scheduled London Midland services. The train is not in the printed Cross County Trains Nottingham & Derby to Bristol and Cardiff timetable which shows the last service between Birmingham New Street and Gloucester as departing at 22.12, nor does it appear in London Midland's timetable No.14 (Birmingham New Street/Moor Street to Worcester Shrub Hill and Hereford. However, it is shown in First Great Western's timetable No.22 (Bristol to Worcester and Great Malvern) and in Table 57 on the Network Rail web site. The train returns to Worcester as empty stock.

London Paddington to Worcester and Hereford (former Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway and Worcester & Hereford Railway)

Services on this route are operated by First Great Western using either class 43 'HST 125' diesel multiple units, two-car class 165/1 diesel multiple units, three-car class 166 diesel multiple units. or class 180 five-car 'Adelante' diesel multiple units

.

Monday to Friday from 14th December 2014 until 16th May 2015:

Sixteen Monday-Friday trains from London Paddington with another starting from Didcot. Trains terminated at Worcester, Malvern or Hereford to no particular pattern. Services operated to totally different times on Saturdays with most trains going to Great Malvern or Hereford and on Sundays.

'HST's' were scheduled to operate the following services from London Paddington:
to Hereford at: 08:22 (1W00); 10:22 (1W02); 17:22 (1W07); 18:22 'Cathedrals Express' (1W08) and 19:22 (1W09).
to Worcester Shrub Hill at 17:49, (1W59); 19:48 (via Cheltenham Spa) (1G88) and 21:48 (not HST on Fridays)(1W81)*.
to Great Malvern at 20:20 (1W75)*.

* Empty stock stabled overnight at Worcester.

A similar situation occured in the 'up' direction, except that the 15:32 (2Y84) departure from Great Malvern went only as far Didcot Parkway.

The HST services to London operated at the following times:
from Hereford at 04:50 (1P13); 05:28 (1P21); 06:42 'Cathedrals Express' (1P26); 13:14 (1P56); 15:14 (1P65) and 21:51 (1P90).
from Worcester Shrub Hill at 05:11 (1P07); 05:21 (via Cheltenham and Ashchurch) (1L10) and 07:08 (via Cheltenham Spa)(07:09 until 18th May)(1L28).
from Worcester Foregate Street at (1P87).

Saturdays to 16th May:

The HST services from London operated at the following times:

to Great Malvern at 05:21 (1W10).

to Hereford at 08:21 (1W00); 10:21 (1W02); 16:21 (1W06) and 18:21 (1W08).

to Worcester Foregate Street at 17:21 (1W07).

The HST services to London operated at the following times:

from Hereford at 06:17 (1P26); 07:10 (1P31); 12:13 (1P51); 15:13 (1P65) and 20:20 (1P87).

from Worcester Shrub Hill at 08:36 (via Cheltenham Spa)(1L40).

from Worcester Foregate Street at 20:02 (1P83).

from Great Malvern at 08:43 (1P37).

Sundays to 16th May:

The HST services from London operated at the following times:

to Hereford at 09:33 (1W01); 12:42 (1W03) and 17:42)(1W08)

to Worcester Shrub Hill at 13.42

to Great Malvern at 19.42 (1W73).

The HST services to London operated at the following times:

from Hereford at 13:33 (1P57) and 16:34 (1P73).

from Worcester Shrub Hill at 16.28 (1P69).

FROM 17th May 2015

The most important improvement was the 21 minute earlier arrival at London of the 05:28 (1P21) which no longer stopped at Kingham and had a much reduced time spent at Worcester Shrub Hill. At the southern end of the line there was a early new HST service from London to Moreton in Marsh returnding as a peak hour train. These changes were accompanied with a new fare structure that made some very large increases of 80% or more to many "walk-on" off-peak fares.

The new service operated at these times:

Seventeen Monday-Friday trains from London Paddington with others starting from Didcot and Oxford. Trains terminated at Worcester, Malvern or Hereford to no particular pattern. Services operated to totally different times on Saturdays with most trains going to Great Malvern or Hereford and on Sundays.

'HST's' were scheduled to operate the following services from London Paddington:
to Hereford at: 10:22 (1W02); 17:22 (1W07); 18:22 'Cathedrals Express' (1W08) and 19:22 (1W09).
to Worcester Shrub Hill at 17:49, (1W59); 19:48 (via Cheltenham Spa) (1G88) and 21:48 (not HST on Fridays)(1W81)*.
to Great Malvern at 20:20 (1W75)*.

* Empty stock is stabled overnight at Worcester.

A similar situation occured in the 'up' direction, except that the 15:50 (2Y94) departure from Worcester Foregate Street went only as far Didcot Parkway.

The HST services to London operated at the following times:
from Hereford at 04:50 (1P13); 05:28 (1P19); 06:42 'Cathedrals Express' (1P26); 15:14 (1P65) and 21:51 (1P90).
from Worcester Shrub Hill at 05:11 (1P07); 05:21 (via Cheltenham - no longer stops at Ashchurch) (1L10) and 07:08 (via Cheltenham Spa)(1L28).
from Worcester Foregate Street at 20:59(1P87).

Saturdays:

The HST services from London operated at the following times:

to Great Malvern at 05:12 (1W10).

to Hereford at 08:12 (1W00); 10:12 (1W02); 16:11 (1W06) and 18:11 (1W08).

The HST services to London operated at the following times:

from Hereford at 06:17 (1P26); 07:10 (1P31); 12:13 (1P51); 15:13 (1P65) and 20:20 (1P87).

from Worcester Shrub Hill at 08:36 (via Cheltenham Spa)(1L40).

from Worcester Foregate Street at 20:02 (1P83).

from Great Malvern at 08:43 (1P37).

Sundays:

Similar to Saturdays but with many fewer trains. the service was also severely disrupted because of engineering works and on many instances none of the trains ran to the published timetable. From tiem to time parts of the route were replaced by buses.

Great Malvern to the South Coast

First Great Western operated seven trains (one every two hours) from various destinations to Great Malvern until 16th May 2015. From 17th May the last train was cut back to start from Worcester Shrub Hill leaving only running as far as Great Mavlern. Because these are slow trains, and it is often possible to catch later trains and change to these train en-route, the printed timetable (Central 5) does not show the full service. When the timetable altered on 14th December 2014 there were no significant changes affecting Worcestershire. The Monday to Saturday services are:

06:01 (06:00 from 17th May) Gloucester to Worcester Shrub Hill (2G79) (05:50 on Saturdays) and 06:47 Worcester Shrub Hill to Weymouth (2O70).

07:15 (07:14 from 17th May) Gloucester to Great Malvern (2G80) (07:15 on Saturdays) and 08:50 Great Malvern to Westbury (2F97). (To/from Worcester Shrub Hill on Saturdays.)

07:23 Warminster to Great Malvern (2E17) and 10:50 (10:46 on Saturdays) Great Malvern to Brighton (1O98 M-F; 1099 SO).

08:23 Southampton Central to Great Malvern (2M97) and 12:50 (12.51 from 17th May) Great Malvern to Weymouth (2O90). (To/from Worcester Foregate Street on Saturdays).

08:59 Brighton to Great Malvern (1V94) and 14:50 Great Malvern to Weymouth (2O94).

12:27 Southampton Central to Great Malvern (2M98) and 16:48 (16:50 on Saturdays) Great Malvern to Westbury (2F99).

15:28 Warminster to Great Malvern (2E25) and 18:50 Great Malvern to Bristol Temple Meads (2T97).

17:28 Warminster to Great Malvern (2E27) and 21:15 Great Malvern to Bristol Temple Meads (2T99)(terminates at Gloucester on Saturdays). From 17th May the 21.15 was cut back to start at Worcester Shrub Hill at 21.46.

20:41 Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Shrub Hill (2E29) (20:43 on Saturdays) and 22:28 (22:25 on Saturdays) Worcester Shrub Hill to Gloucester (2G99).

The Sunday service consists of four trains from Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Shrub Hill at 12:11 (12:05 from 17th May), 14:38 (14:41 from 17th May), 16:38 (16:41 from 17th May) and 18:41 (2E38, 2E42, 2E44 and 2E46). These trains return at 14.35 (14:36 from 17th May) (to Weston-super-Ware). 16:40, 18:40 and 20:38 (2T39, 2T43, 2T45 and 2T47 respectively).

Most services are operated by three-car hybrid class 158 diesel multiple units, but class 150/1, 150/2, 150/9 three-car hybrid units Class 153 railcars are also used to make up three-car trains. The first service of the day is often worked by a class 150 unit

If the northbound service meets with major delays it is often terminated short at Worcester Shrub Hill or Gloucester in order not to delay the return service.

Due to on-going engineering works services in July and Augudt trains run only to and from Bristol Temple Meads.

Services from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stourbridge, Worcester and Great Malvern

Trains on this route are operated by London Midland Trains using two-car or three-car class 172 diesel multiple units (class 150 diesel multiple units until the autumn of 2011). Anintensive service of commuter trains operates to Stourbridge Junction with many trains continuing to Kidderminster, Worcester Shrub Hill or Great Malvern. Trains formations often run as two units coupled together to make four or five car trains. Some trains also include a single car class 153 railcar in their consist, but this is rare following the transfer of many of the class to other operators. Many services run to or from Dorridge and other locations on the lines to Leamington and Stratford on Avon.

Kidderminster to London Marylebone

From Monday to Friday Chiltern Railways operates four services each weekday from Kidderminster to London Marylebone via Birmingham Snow Hill and Leamington Spa. These depart from Kidderminster at 06:09, 07:05, 07:30 and 08:09 (1H19, 1H26, 1H29 and 1H33). The fastest of these services (06:09), despite numerous stops in the West Midlands reaches London in just two hours and twenty minutes. One other service starts at Stourbridge Junction at 06:38 (1H21). On Saturdays there are three trains from Kidderminster at 07:12 (1H26), 08:13 (1H33) and 09:10 (1H389).

The return services (Monday to Friday) run from Marylebone to Kidderminster 17:15, 18:15, 18.47 and 20:15 (1K57, 1K62, 1K65 and 1K72) and at 21:15 (1J776) to Stourbridge Junction. On Saturdays and Sundays there are no services from Marylebone to Kidderminster or Stourbridge.

The empty stock from these trains is serviced at Stourbridge Junction Depot.

There are no Sunday services.

STOURBRIDGE TOWN BRANCH

Frequent services on the branch from Stourbridge Junction are operated by London Midland Trains using one of two class 139 single-car diesel railcars (the other can be found in the shed at Stourbridge Junction).

LICHFIELD TO REDDITCH

Six trains per hour run on this route with two per hour being extended to Redditch. All services are operated by London Midland Trains using three-car class 323 electric multiple units.

FREIGHT TRAINS

Updated 9/2/2014. Since the last update there has been an increase in the operation of many of the irregular services shown in this list.

A full list of freight services can be found in the Freightmaster Quarterly publication. Most of the only regular freight trains are on the former Birmingham & Gloucester Railway with a few going through Worcester Shrub Hill to Round Oak, Brierley Hill or Handsworth. Most trains are conditional and the ones listed here are some of the daytime services that can usually be relied upon to operate from Mondays to Fridays:

6M81 04:45 Margam to Round Oak loaded covered vans. Operated by a DB Schenker class 66 diesel locomotive. This train passes Worcester at about 09:30. The locomotive from this train returns to Margam with the train code No.6V07 (see below).

6M96 05:50 Margam to Corby loaded steel coil wagons. Operated by DB Schenker using a class 66 diesel locomotive. This conditional train arrives at Bromsgrove around 10:00 if running. This train is banked up the Lickey Incline.

6B36 07:32 Didcot to Ashchurch MoD stores train. This train not longer operates.

4V38 08:25 Daventry to Wentloog Tesco containers train. The service which started operating on 28th February 2012 can usually be relied upon to run to time. It normally passes Abbotswood Junction at about 10:35am and runs every day except Saturday. Operated by a DRS livery class 66 diesel locomotive. The return working (4V36) passes Abbotswood about 21.00 but on Sundays goes via Worcester at about 19.00 having left Wentloog at 16,57.

6V05 10:01 Round Oak to Margam empty covered vans. Operated by a DB Schenker class 66 diesel locomotive. This train passes Worcester at about 11.15 if running. This is about 45 minutes later than previously.

4V06 08:52 Rugeley to Stoke Gifford empty coal wagons. Operated by Freightliner. This train runs frequently and if on time passes Abbotswood at about 11:45. This train can easily be confused with train code No.4V47 (below).

6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey empty oil tankers. Operated by DB Schenker using class 60 diesel locomotives. The train passes Bromsgrove about 13:50 if running on its scheduled path. The balancing working 6V98 loaded tanks goes through Worcestershire during the night. 6E41 operates often but irregularly. The train passes Abbotswood Junction at about 12:40pm.

4E66 08:55 Margam to Redcar empty coal wagons. This train is irregular.

6V67 03:53 Redcar to Margam loaded coal wagons (wagons loaded with coke). This train rarelyn operates.

4V47 11.15 Rugeley to Stoke Gifford empty coal wagons. Operated by Freightliner. This train runs frequently and if on time passes Bromsgrove at about 14:00.

6V92 10:23 Corby to Margam empty steel wagons. Operated by a DB Schenker class 66 diesel locomotive. This train passes Bromsgrove just after 14:00 if running on time.

6M41 11.55 Margam to Round Oak covered vans. Operated by a DB Schenker class 66 diesel locomotive. This train passes Worcester at about 16:50 running on time. An irregular working.

6Z97 13.42 Beeston to Cardiff Tidal loaded scrap wagons. Operated by a DRS class 66 diesel locomotive. This train rarely operates.

6Z30 15:10 Handsworth to Cardiff Tidal loaded scrap boxes. Infrequent.

4V57 15:24 Rugeley to Stoke Gifford empty coal wagons. Operated by Freightliner. This train runs infrequently but if on time passes Bromsgrove at about 18:20.

4V30 (Mondays excepted, conditional) 08.07 Ratcliffe to Portbury empty coal hoppers. Operated by Colas. A Colas locomotive works a Saturdays Only 15.16 from Redcar to Worcester yard loaded coal train.

4V94 10.35 Ironbridge to Portbury empty biomass hoppers. This train passes Abbotswood at about 13.30 but is infrequent.

6V07 14:54 (previously 17.04) Round Oak to Margam loaded covered wagons. Operated by an EWS class 66 diesel locomotive. This train passes Worcester at about 16:00 if running on time.

6O42 11:31 Halewood to Southampton car carrying train. This Fridays only conditional train which is rarely seen passes Abbotswood Junction at about 16:45 if running. Operated by a DRS class 66 diesel locomotive. Infrequent.

Other trains seen from time to time include nuclear flask trains from Berkeley, Plymouth (very infrequent) and Bridgwater (operated by DRS), loaded steels coil, from Margam to Hartlepool or Corby (operated by EWS), cement empties from Westbury to Earles and the New Measurement Train. EWS operates occasional loaded coal trains from Portbury to Ferrybridge Power Station.

On Sundays, train code No.4V38 Daventry to Wentloog passes Abbotswood Junction at about 11am. Loaded steel trains often runs in the evening from Margam to Hartlepool and Scunthorpe.

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