TransPennine Express services to Manchester Victoria
 

For those inerested, First TransPennine Express have been diverting services so that they run into Manchester Victoria on Sundays.

I decided to do the run myself yesterday to see how they get from Piccadilly to Victoria, the trains ran into Salford Crescent, with the return train using the track without a platform. Then reversed into to correct direction. I decided to treat myself to first class and I really enjoyed the 185 journeys, passemgers were really friendly and I thought it was great to see 185s in Manchester Victoria. Don't know how long this will last but it was certinately interesting.

Photos of the day are now up on my fotopic site.

http://www.davidhicks.fotopic.net/c1130145_1.html

David,
According to the National Rail website Transpennine Express trains will be using Manchester Victoria again on 25/26th November but the service between Manchester Airport and Victoria will be operated by bus.

TransPennine had also been running some bus services last Sunday as well as railway ones, past 15:00 they started using buses regulary. I am not sure why they do this, perhaps because of higher traffic around the Salford area making it harder for them to be able to reverse.

Great to see newer trains in Victoria on the day. What suprised me was how quiet Victoria was, compared to the station on a weekday. Also the 158 units are becoming rare, I saw one two car tpx 158 on the day, other services were 185's.

What was also interesting was that the 185's did not use their automated systems, instead the train manager read out the service details. Perhaps this was because Victoria is not listed in the computer system they use for the announcements.

Yes David, you are probably right. The section of railway between Manchester Piccadilly (Platforms 13/14) and Salford Crescent can get very congested.

Yes it seems amazing how many serivces use that line. Especially in the week.

Well it looks like there will be more to come of 185 units on that line when they are used on the North West services, and they are replacing the voyagers on Scotland services.

Do you have any more detailed info David?

Is it still running via Huddersfield on Sundays when it diverts or down the Calder valley

There is this webpage by tpx to explain the new service.

http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/news/newsStory.asp?NewsID=64

So it will also see Scotland services to Manchester Airport.

Thanks David. I will have a look at that.