On 7 Oct, 15:54, "Paul Scott" wrote:
A bit of an issue for the upcoming WLL services?

Southern have applied to ORR for the proposed Dec 08 service, but there are
problems because (if I'm reading correctly) Network Rail believe the WCML
Moderation of Competition agreement prevents them allowing a service that
calls at Wembley Central and Kensington Olympia en route from EC to MK...

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pd...27sa_apfrm.pdf

For further information the draft agreement he

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pd...27sa_dftag.pdf

shows all the intended permutations of SN services on the route on weekdays,
Sat, and Sun, from Purley to Milton Keynes...

Paul S

In it's original form, as introduced by Connex, the Brighton-Rugby
service was a most useful innovation. At the time, ISTR that there was
much talk of the service being extended north to Birmingham, I believe
the plan was to take a North London Railways path north of
Northampton, preserving the half hourly frequency between that town
and Birmingham.

It was truncated to a Watford-Brighton service a couple of years after
it's introduction without ever getting it's northward extension,
another victim of the WCML upgrade. I'm pleased to see that sense is
prevailing and it is going back further north, although the change of
trains required to get to Gatwick Airport may somewhat limit it's
usefulness.

I am aware of the capacity constraints between Rugby and Birmingham
that may mean it's a non-starter, but does anyone out there have any
idea if Southern (or indeed Southern/LM, both being Govia companies)
have any plans to extend at either end? They could use both 350's and
377's for this service!

Rich