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Stephen
Average Member
United Kingdom
151 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 13:42:13
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National Express are consulting on proposed changes to the Hertford East service. These are tied into the new rolling stock being introduced for the Stansted Express services in 2011. Essentially, they want to speed up the airport services and this would involve holding Hertford services at Broxbourne for what they say will be 3-4 minutes while the express goes through.
We lost the semifast services in 2005 when they took the paths to enhance the Stansted service. Now they want us to lose out again. Hertford East services would take 53 minutes to reach Liverpool Street. I don't have the pre-2005 timetable, but didn't it used to take around 40 minutes on the peak service? Adding stops to Tottenham Hale put several minutes on the schedule. Since then they have also added time to reduce the number of late arrivals, to take it to the current 49 minutes
There is more information here: West Anglia Consultation
They are inviting comments until 11 February 2011, so let them know what you think. I spend long enough on their trains already! |
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Alec
Senior Member
United Kingdom
616 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 13:59:19
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Call me sad, but I do have a copy of the pre-2005 timetable. The semi-fast service was:
Ware to Liverpool St
07:12 - 07:50
07:42 - 08:19
08:12 - 08:52
Liverpool St to Ware
17:24 - 17:59
17:54 - 18:29
18:24 - 18:59
I don't commute, thankfully, and also tend to change at Tottenham Hale when I do go into town. But the bit that really kills is the last mile or two into Liverpool St on the rare occasions that I venture that far... |
Edited by - Alec on 02 Dec 2010 15:28:43 |
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Dusty
Senior Member
United Kingdom
685 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 14:32:28
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| Why don't they just start the service four minutes later from Hertford. It would then follow the Stansted service from Broxbourne Junction - Stansted service gets it's fast path and no increase to Hertford branch journey times. |
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ian.ball
WoLFer & Moderator
United Kingdom
2790 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 14:46:35
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| So, they're charging an extra 7% in fares so they can make the journey 7% longer? Like Alec, I'm very glad I don't commute, they seem to take the view that their customers are only there to be ripped off. |
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Scottman
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1760 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 15:53:35
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I don't 'commute' either - I changed careers once and companies twice to avoid it. But I hugely sympathise
with those that must.
But as an occasional traveller - two observations (i) I have never seen an even slightly full Stansted Express train and (b) how much time would it lose if it stopped at Broxbourne ?
That would be one simple way of restoring a semi fast service to and from Hertford E. |
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JuNu
Junior Member
United Kingdom
56 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 16:16:14
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One thing to add when providing your feedback (please make sure you do - these are the only chances we have) is that the removal of fast services was balanced with the addition of direct stratford services.
A year later they removed the most useful direct stratford service (7:49 from Ware), and made the remaining ones sit at Broxborne for 10 minutes.
One option I have thought of is to have a constant shuttle between Hertford E and Broxbourne say every 15 minutes, then we can all connect to fast services from there. With this they could add more fast services as there would not be a slow Hertford train blocking the line.
Obviously it would mean everyone changing at Broxbourne but I'd take that if it meant faster end-to-end journey times. |
Edited by - JuNu on 02 Dec 2010 16:16:32 |
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JuNu
Junior Member
United Kingdom
56 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 16:20:28
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In a straight line (which follows the train line closely) it's 21 miles from Ware to Liverpool Street.
If they put this timetable change through (53 minutes) we will be travelling at an average of 23mph.
You can go faster on a bike. |
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New Boy
Average Member
United Kingdom
380 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 16:22:25
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We are the poor cousins to the Cambridge line, and are typically held at Broxbourne already.
I will vent my anger towards consultation process. |
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Dusty
Senior Member
United Kingdom
685 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 17:02:58
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quote:
Originally posted by JuNu
In a straight line (which follows the train line closely) it's 21 miles from Ware to Liverpool Street.
22 miles 10 chains by rail distance, still not much faster than a bike though.
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Alec
Senior Member
United Kingdom
616 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 17:13:10
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It's always felt harsh that the Stansted Express doesn't stop at Broxbourne. While I understand that it's an express service, it manages to stop at Harlow & Stortford....
And I definitely agree that it would be great if they could stop at Broxbourne and manage connections to the Hertford East branch. The only problem I could see with a branch shuttle, is if (when!) it failed to synchronise with the Stansted Express. But, if there was a way to make it work, it could be really quite appealing... |
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spear
Advanced Member
1380 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 17:36:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Scottman
I don't 'commute' either - I changed careers once and companies twice to avoid it. But I hugely sympathise
with those that must.
But as an occasional traveller - two observations (i) I have never seen an even slightly full Stansted Express train and (b) how much time would it lose if it stopped at Broxbourne ?
That would be one simple way of restoring a semi fast service to and from Hertford E.
It used to, but people kept getting on it so they stopped it. |
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JudieT
Senior Member
United Kingdom
612 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 19:51:09
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quote:
Originally posted by JuNu
One thing to add when providing your feedback (please make sure you do - these are the only chances we have) is that the removal of fast services was balanced with the addition of direct stratford services.
A year later they removed the most useful direct stratford service (7:49 from Ware), and made the remaining ones sit at Broxborne for 10 minutes.
One option I have thought of is to have a constant shuttle between Hertford E and Broxbourne say every 15 minutes, then we can all connect to fast services from there. With this they could add more fast services as there would not be a slow Hertford train blocking the line.
Obviously it would mean everyone changing at Broxbourne but I'd take that if it meant faster end-to-end journey times.
I've often thought a shuttle service would suit us better and would definitely support that idea.
You used to be able to get the 'fast' train from LST to broxbourne and change onto the 'slower' one to Hertford East and vice versa. I also remember my journey time being just 40 minutes on the faster train that didn't stop between Broxbourne and Tottenham Hale and you didn't get buffetted about by so many other passengers getting on and off - oh halcyon days! My journeys now are nearly always over an hour.
I will certainly be putting my views forward to National Express and encourage everyone else to do so too - after all it is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil. |
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New Boy
Average Member
United Kingdom
380 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 20:50:48
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Have responded utilising some good ideas on the forum. Everyone else must do the same.
Will also alert the Mercury. |
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Scottman
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1760 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2010 : 23:54:29
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| Just be careful you don't create the idea that you find your own way to Broxbourne ! |
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Pat-H
WoLFer
United Kingdom
2404 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2010 : 06:55:16
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What we need is for all the train services to be run by one company working for the good of the commuters and not shareholders profits.
That way at least the ongoing tax payers input would be for our good!
And yes take care that creating a separation in the branch-line loop will make it much easier to slim that service down or lose it in the future.
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kevin phillips bong
WoLFer
970 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2010 : 11:16:56
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As an ex-coummuter you all have my sympathy.
I've said before and I'll say it again no one, nobody cares about our branch line. They would love to shut it and run more blasted Sexp/Camb services.
The morons of the last 20 years who run and are in charge of our line are completely and utterly useless. I feel sorry for the staff and passengers who use our line. Perfect opportunity with all the housing thats gone up along the line let alone the Olympics to have a reason to improve and expand the line yet zilch....always promises no delivery - who on earth is in charge of our line. For the last 10 years names changes, owner changes but no improvement to our 'service'.
Sorry to be negative but is it worth complaining and to whome? - they probably don't know/care Ware our line is. |
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Mel
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1297 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2010 : 11:53:06
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| when we went from Ware to Paddington one Sunday in October there was a replacement bus service running. We were waiting under the portico at the station and the bus pulled in over the road, we didn't even have time to cross the road before he pulled away leaving everyone stranded. A nearby taxi driver drove after him and bought him back and the bus driver admitted he didn't know the way to Cheshunt station. One of the passengers had to direct him.. what a company. Why can't they employ a local bus company when they need them? |
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Pat-H
WoLFer
United Kingdom
2404 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2010 : 17:19:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Mel
when we went from Ware to Paddington one Sunday in October there was a replacement bus service running. We were waiting under the portico at the station and the bus pulled in over the road, we didn't even have time to cross the road before he pulled away leaving everyone stranded. A nearby taxi driver drove after him and bought him back and the bus driver admitted he didn't know the way to Cheshunt station. One of the passengers had to direct him.. what a company. Why can't they employ a local bus company when they need them?
Maximising profit over service would be my guess.
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mb1
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2142 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2010 : 17:24:05
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| Well they only have a short time until the franchise is taken away, so they need to deliver as little service as possible to screw as much money as possible out of it, before they lose their chance altogether. |
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