U.K. and Ireland - West London Parliamentary Trains to cease

Just in case anyone hasn't done this yet who wants to you've only got until December to do these.

Clapham High Street to Kensington Olympia is London’s Parliamentary Train service (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_train) which I've taken and will have to do it in the other direction before it closes. These services exist because of a previous passenger train service that used to run over the sections of track (Manchester to Brighton) that are used now exclusively by this train as the only regular passenger service. Running the service is often cheaper than going though the legal hassle of closing the track sections introduced after Beeching to stop easy closure of lines.

However after doing their sums the DfT have decided (https://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-17/) to run a public consultation (http://assets.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-17/consultation.pdf) aimed at removing these services because they don't represent value for money and might end up in the re-advertised franchise if left running. So basically if you want to do it you have until the 8th of December 2012 and if you want to object to the closure it's the 9th of August.

Basically you turn up for either the service from Kensington (Olympia) at 10:02 (only goes to Wandsworth Road) or the Clapham High Street train at 16:11 and there will be a train advertised on the screen as running at the time I've listed. As the departure time approaches the screen will change to say the next train is not due to stop there and not to stand to close to the platform edge/board it. However this is actually your train, and don't wait as they really don't hang around the doors only stay unlocked (they don't open them) for about 30 seconds and it will leave not long after they are locked again. So having pushed the button you can board your very own train and have a delightful journey that few others have done to sunny Olympia.* The train does stop at Wandsworth Road, Imperial Wharf, West Brompton where the same routine exists and on the times I've done it some confused people have approached the doors and then thought better of it.

On one trip a gentleman raced down the stairs and onto the platform at West Brompton, opened the doors and leapt on. He saw me and said I didn't think I'd make it and then stopped speaking when he looked around and saw the rest of the carriage was empty. I said I didn't think he meant to board that train and after hearing the announcement that we were only going one more stop said "No" and swore a bit :D. Then said he was hoping to get an earlier one to Milton Keynes and had hoped this was that service but running late.

The first time I did it was just after the afternoon service was extended (unbeknownst to me) to Clapham High Street and I only discovered this when we arrived at Olympia. I bumped into the train manager and I mentioned that I was his passenger on the train, and we both remarked what a nice service it was. He then had a thought and asked me where I'd boarded, and he then said you'll have to do it again to get the full experience as it now starts at Clapham High Street.

*Although it comes into Platform 2 which is the Northbound platform and this can be confusing for some people, especially all those who board thinking that it will be continuing North not heading back to Clapham Junction.

Ah, I'll have to get my skates on then!

This Parliamentary train replaced an even stranger phenomenon: the Parliamentary train replacement bus service (http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2009/01/08/ghost-bus-appears-at-ealing-broadway-64767-22648450/). You used to be able to get a bus from Ealing Broadway to Wandsworth Road, though staff would apparently deny all knowledge of it, and the only notice of it was a poster on a pillar facing a wall.

I suppose there's always Newhaven Marine (http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.de/2011/03/newhaven.html)...

Ah, I'll have to get my skates on then!

This Parliamentary train replaced an even stranger phenomenon: the Parliamentary train replacement bus service (http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2009/01/08/ghost-bus-appears-at-ealing-broadway-64767-22648450/). You used to be able to get a bus from Ealing Broadway to Wandsworth Road, though staff would apparently deny all knowledge of it, and the only notice of it was a poster on a pillar facing a wall.

That was replaced by the train after complaints from a whole host of people including London TravelWatch (http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/news/2009/01/government-agrees-to-exorcise-ghost-bus) who argued.... that a proper closure procedure, with full consultation, should be implemented before a bus service could replace an existing rail service.


Well that's what's now happening.
I suppose there's always Newhaven Marine (http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.de/2011/03/newhaven.html)...
Yeah but that one you can't use :( this one you can :D, at least until the 8th of December ;)

There's a few others, too - I happened upon a Paddington to Gerrards Cross service recently, which was rather handy, as I was heading for Ruislip at the time.

And further afield, the once-a-week Denton Flyer has something of a following (thanks, I'm sure, to the pub in Stalybridge station...)

Hmm... parliamentary trains always remind me of those lines in the Mikado's great song in Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta:

The idiot who, in railway carriages,
Scribbles on window-panes,
We only suffer
To ride on a buffer
In parliamentary trains.

There's a few others, too - I happened upon a Paddington to Gerrards Cross service recently, which was rather handy, as I was heading for Ruislip at the time.

And further afield, the once-a-week Denton Flyer has something of a following (thanks, I'm sure, to the pub in Stalybridge station...)

I think they use the Paddington one for driver training but I may be wrong on that.

I think they use the Paddington one for driver training but I may be wrong on that.

They do - and it's also the diversion route for Chiltern train when Marylebone is closed.

They do - and it's also the diversion route for Chiltern train when Marylebone is closed.

Ah thank you, I think my friend who knows more about this than me told me that, but I wasn't 100% sure.

Geek-level detail of such oddities here: http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/2012.htm

Geek-level detail of such oddities here: http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/2012.htm

I just found the random train to my local station was interesting - That's serious stuff :eek:

This is so nonsensically typically British. I just love it. :)

Can we do a West London Parliamentary Train Farewell Do? It would be quite fun to turn up en masse with a bottle of champagne (of course!) towards the end of its life...

Can we do a West London Parliamentary Train Farewell Do? It would be quite fun to turn up en masse with a bottle of champagne (of course!) towards the end of its life...

Sounds like a very fun thing to do, and so nonsensically typically FT ;).

That won't look odd at all - a load of us with Champagne on Clapham High Street station boarding a train that says it isn't scheduled to stop there and don't get on it :D

I'm up for that anyone else?

Does it run at weekends? I'm not sure I'm willing to give up a day off work... but it is random enough I think it could be fun :D

I'll come if i'm not at work, saturday aftenoon would be fine

Sadly it doesn't appear to run in either direction at weekends or apparently Bank Holidays :( So unless you happen to be in London for work reasons with a free afternoon or can arrive early enough into London to work the next day.....;)

The nonsensical part of this is that no stations or lines are to be closed; they will all remain in use for something, just not for the purpose of this particular journey.

The nonsensical part of this is that no stations or lines are to be closed; they will all remain in use for something, just not for the purpose of this particular journey.

I think the bit from Wandsworth Road to Kensington O would still remain in use but only for non-passenger trains. The Parliamentary services are to keep it open for passenger service. This is the whole point. Insomuch as there is a point, of course.

I think the bit from Wandsworth Road to Kensington O would still remain in use but only for non-passenger trains. The Parliamentary services are to keep it open for passenger service. This is the whole point. Insomuch as there is a point, of course.

Correct there would as I understand it be various freight trains and passenger charters but no regular passenger services. The only reason these trains exist is to give the legal illusion that the there is a passenger service on that line when in fact everything possible is being done to stop people from using it.

Parliamentary trains report (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18644343) from the BBC.

Hmmm - I'm going to be on London on the 16th of July. Quite tempted actually!

Hmmm - I'm going to be on London on the 16th of July. Quite tempted actually!

If you do, please could you write us a trip report - hopefully, a bit more interesting than the Helsby ("No-one got on") to Ellesmere Port ("Well here we are, no-one got off) guy in the BBC report.:p

Hmmm - I'm going to be on London on the 16th of July. Quite tempted actually!

I've got the day off that day if you want a companion.

I've got the day off that day if you want a companion. Cool - you might have a date :D I'll drop you a PM to arrange :)

Cool - you might have a date :D I'll drop you a PM to arrange :)

Excellent, I'll keep an eye out and shove it in my BlackBerry. ^

If you do, please could you write us a trip report - hopefully, a bit more interesting than the Helsby ("No-one got on") to Ellesmere Port ("Well here we are, no-one got off) guy in the BBC report.:p

Okay so on Monday we did do the morning service and as requested here is a trip report (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/1367150-nonsensically-typically-british-train-know-where.html). Hope you have as much fun reading it as we did on the journey.

Okay so on Monday we did do the morning service and as requested here is a trip report (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/1367150-nonsensically-typically-british-train-know-where.html). Hope you have as much fun reading it as we did on the journey.

Great trip report ^.

First thing I read this morning, so a bright start to the day :).

Jimmie76 was a great tour guide pointing out lots of stuff I wouldn't have known (such as which was the key bit of track)... I've got to say I thought we were doomed to failure when I saw the green signal and doors which wouldn't open... but we made it through - and in style too :D

It was a random bit of fun - watching the many ways they try to discourage people from getting on the train was amusing... it was like being on a secret train.

Just like the Hogwart's Express but not really ! Anyway, I learnt something - it is bugger all to do with parliament ! :D

Sounds good fun, I know what you mean when you say you like doing "secret" things like that.

Just like the Hogwart's Express but not really ! Anyway, I learnt something - it is bugger all to do with parliament ! :D

Sounds good fun, I know what you mean when you say you like doing "secret" things like that.

Well actually it does have everything to do with parliament, that’s the reason for the very existence of the train. If they could just shut lines a without a public enquiry then they wouldn’t go through this charade.

Jenbel was an excellent fellow passenger and an ideal drinking companion at 10am :)

Or indeed if they could close the loophole allowing "parliamentary services" and force a proper enquiry to happen to look at the impact of particular services on the railway in a particular area, rather then just sweeping it all under the carpet...

...but that would be treating public transport as a public service, and that's not the done thing, apparently.

Or indeed if they could close the loophole allowing "parliamentary services" and force a proper enquiry to happen to look at the impact of particular services on the railway in a particular area, rather then just sweeping it all under the carpet...

To be fair in this case they did have a proper enquiry (where a lot of people wanted the Brighton - Manchester trains to keep running) but it was decided the rolling stock could be better used elsewhere for easing overcrowding. The bits of track that they now want to close to revenue trains are those bits that were missed out in the original consultation/enquiry.


...but that would be treating public transport as a public service, and that's not the done thing, apparently.

Interesting you mention a public service as you might wonder as I pointed out to Jenbel why they have just built a new ticket office on the platform at Kensington (Olympia) when last year they 'refurbished' the existing ticket office at vast expense. They took out all the old comfortable seating/original fixtures/plants etc. and refurbished it in minimalist style with Orange metal seats and not much else. They also added double doors to the platform which can't have been cheap, and the toilets are now closed as well I believe.

Interesting you mention a public service as you might wonder as I pointed out to Jenbel why they have just built a new ticket office on the platform at Kensington (Olympia) when last year they 'refurbished' the existing ticket office at vast expense. They took out all the old comfortable seating/original fixtures/plants etc. and refurbished it in minimalist style with Orange metal seats and not much else. They also added double doors to the platform which can't have been cheap, and the toilets are now closed as well I believe.

I've been wondering what the sense in all that was, too.

The toilets are still open - they can be accessed from the platform. I laid a cable in there last week, as it happens.

I've been wondering what the sense in all that was, too.

I'm led to believe that the reason they wasted vast amounts building a ticket office on the platform has to do with the desire to shut the public right of way over the footbridge to unticketed passengers (also known as local residents) and install ticket gates. They could have installed the gates and segreated foot traffic over the bridge between ticketed and unticked passengers, as happens at Reading (RDG). However TFL are being stubborn buggers again and apparently are trying to push ahead with a paper ticket system to open the gates for local residents, that won't I suspect cover a very wide catchment area and I suspect will miss me. The councils are mounting legal challenges, that I suspect TFL will spend more on defending than installing segreation barriers would cost. :(

The toilets are still open - they can be accessed from the platform. I laid a cable in there last week, as it happens.

Yes I only found out about the doors from the platform (that were previously always locked) being opened when talking to another local resident. I dread to think why you needed to lay a cable to/from the toilets!:eek:

I've been wondering what the sense in all that was, too.

The toilets are still open - they can be accessed from the platform. I laid a cable in there last week, as it happens.

Your last sentence would read so much better had you said "I laid out Vince Cable in there last week". :D

The toilets are still open - they can be accessed from the platform. I laid a cable (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=laying%20cable) in there last week, as it happens.

Beyond learning all about these oddities of travel, I have now learned another phrase for defecation. Thank you, Panda4! Btw, how clean are these bathrooms? Is it worth a side trip just to use the underused loo?

Beyond learning all about these oddities of travel, I have now learned another phrase for defecation. Thank you, Panda4! Btw, how clean are these bathrooms? Is it worth a side trip just to use the underused loo?

They have always been clean whenever I've used them, you can access them as has already been mentioned via the platform and until the end of the paralympics (unless the councils succeed in their legal challenge) without the need for a ticket. interesting fact of the day, these toilets were originally there for the Motorail (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorail_%28British_Rail%29) passengers.

I'm led to believe that the reason they wasted vast amounts building a ticket office on the platform has to do with the desire to shut the public right of way over the footbridge to unticketed passengers (also known as local residents) and install ticket gates. They could have installed the gates and segreated foot traffic over the bridge between ticketed and unticked passengers, as happens at Reading (RDG). However TFL are being stubborn buggers again and apparently are trying to push ahead with a paper ticket system to open the gates for local residents, that won't I suspect cover a very wide catchment area and I suspect will miss me. The councils are mounting legal challenges, that I suspect TFL will spend more on defending than installing segreation barriers would cost. :(


I can't believe they didn't do a cost/benefit analysis on segregating the bridge.

If it is closed off behind barriers (which I agree would be a bit inconvenient - I use it to get to the Boris bikes, although I'm not sure why else anyone else would really need it instead of the road bridge further up), then you could always use your Oyster. It would be covered if you had a Travelcard, and PAYG would not be debited.

Beyond learning all about these oddities of travel, I have now learned another phrase for defecation. Thank you, Panda4! Btw, how clean are these bathrooms? Is it worth a side trip just to use the underused loo?

Interestingly enough, I remember thinking how remarkably clean and good quality they were...

...until I had finished. :D

I can't believe they didn't do a cost/benefit analysis on segregating the bridge.

I can, although what I find more likely is that they considered the idea for a few fleeting seconds and then dismissed it just as quickly. I can imagine the methods and practices of Richard Parry living on after his departure from TFL.

If it is closed off behind barriers (which I agree would be a bit inconvenient - I use it to get to the Boris bikes, although I'm not sure why else anyone else would really need it instead of the road bridge further up), then you could always use your Oyster. It would be covered if you had a Travelcard, and PAYG would not be debited.

Basically because it saves time, energy and is a public right of way shortcut that saves having to go to the top of Olympia way, then over the road bridge and then back down Russell Road. I visit relatives who live on the other side of the tracks from me and this will be a right royal pain if I have to remember my oyster card every time I go out.

I can, although what I find more likely is that they considered the idea for a few fleeting seconds and then dismissed it just as quickly. I can imagine the methods and practices of Richard Parry living on after his departure from TFL.

:D So you've no evidence for that whatsoever.

TfL / Richard Parry clearly made the right decision in terms of the Olympia tube, although there has been a marginal negative impact on some people.

Basically because it saves time, energy and is a public right of way shortcut that saves having to go to the top of Olympia way, then over the road bridge and then back down Russell Road. I visit relatives who live on the other side of the tracks from me and this will be a right royal pain if I have to remember my oyster card every time I go out.

I am well aware of that - and I use that route myself! Which Londoner would go out without an Oyster card anyway? Its like not taking house keys out! It's not exactly a long walk up Olympia way and back again if one does forget it. I also suspect that the number of people who use the bridge as a public right of way must be very small - as there are bridges not far away in both northern and southern directions.

:D So you've no evidence for that whatsoever. I've got as much evidence as TFL did about passenger numbers at the station using the tube before they took the decision ;):rolleyes:

TfL / Richard Parry clearly made the right decision in terms of the Olympia tube, although there has been a marginal negative impact on some people. Yeah - anyone wanting to visit the exhibition centre, as well as the local residents



I am well aware of that - and I use that route myself! Which Londoner would go out without an Oyster card anyway? Its like not taking house keys out! It's not exactly a long walk up Olympia way and back again if one does forget it. I also suspect that the number of people who use the bridge as a public right of way must be very small - as there are bridges not far away in both northern and southern directions.

Yeah if you don't mind the extra 5-10 mins it takes.

Yeah if you don't mind the extra 5-10 mins it takes.

5-10 minutes??? If you've only got one leg!

5-10 minutes??? If you've only got one leg!
Well it is very close to half a mile to do the journey, so assuming it takes 7½ minutes that's 4 mph, which is I think average walking speed.

5-10 minutes??? If you've only got one leg!
Well it is very close to half a mile to do the journey, so assuming it takes 7½ minutes that's 4 mph, which is I think average walking speed.

Are you going via Aberdeen? It's no more than an additional 500m, and if you can't walk that in 5 mins you should see a Doctor.

Anyway, things got so bad we had to use the last of the heavy oxygen just to keep the hair-dryers going.

Are you going via Aberdeen? It's no more than an additional 500m, and if you can't walk that in 5 mins you should see a Doctor.
I got that from google maps starting at the Motorail carpark/old ticket office entrance and ending on Fairfax place.

I was hoping that this train was on the line used by V (aka Guy Fawkes II) to reach Parliament.
;)

I was hoping that this train was on the line used by V (aka Guy Fawkes II) to reach Parliament.
;)

Now, I'm no fan of the current coalition, but surely that's going a bit far...

As with many bits of filming on the Tube, that scene was shot on the disused Aldwych branch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldwych_tube_station).

If it is closed off behind barriers (which I agree would be a bit inconvenient - I use it to get to the Boris bikes, although I'm not sure why else anyone else would really need it instead of the road bridge further up), then you could always use your Oyster. It would be covered if you had a Travelcard, and PAYG would not be debited.

Normally, touching in and out at the same station will result in a penalty fare being charged on PAYG. Are they making special provision for here for allowing pedestrians with Oyster cards to pass through?

Normally, touching in and out at the same station will result in a penalty fare being charged on PAYG. Are they making special provision for here for allowing pedestrians with Oyster cards to pass through?

Nope just going to issue paper tickets for limited numbers of local residents! :td:

Nope just going to issue paper tickets for limited numbers of local residents! :td:

If this is a concern to you, I would demand that they allow Oyster PAYG users to pass through. It would require the gates to be specially programmed to allow this, but it is certainly technically possible.

Paper tickets don't last a long time so you'd have to get them reissued fairly regularly. Very inconvenient.

If this is a concern to you, I would demand that they allow Oyster PAYG users to pass through. It would require the gates to be specially programmed to allow this, but it is certainly technically possible.

Paper tickets don't last a long time so you'd have to get them reissued fairly regularly. Very inconvenient.

I can't remember where I read this, but I believe you have 2 minutes to change your mind after touching in with Oyster PAYG. After that, touching out at the same station charges you the minimum fare to the next station (you would only get 2 maximum fares if you stayed inside for ~2 hours). It would not be hard to change this to 15 minutes, which would also avoid a lot of bother when your train doesn't arrive and you want to take an alternative mode of transport.

I can't remember where I read this, but I believe you have 2 minutes to change your mind after touching in with Oyster PAYG.

Only if you then touch in again, at the same or another station, within 45 minutes.

Otherwise, it's a penalty fare.

If this is a concern to you, I would demand that they allow Oyster PAYG users to pass through. It would require the gates to be specially programmed to allow this, but it is certainly technically possible.

Paper tickets don't last a long time so you'd have to get them reissued fairly regularly. Very inconvenient.

Well TFL are about as flexible as a brick so no chance there with Oyster, especially given their previous attitude to the residents of Olympia. Given the councils are talking to lawyers to keep the right of way open, TFL are going to be paying to defend their actions. As I have pointed out before they could just have segregated the bridge into TFL customers and non TFL customers (as happens at Reading Station) and still kept the idea of gates onto the platforms. This wouldn't have cost much (especially compared to lawyers fees) and stopped the rest of us from feeling like TFL don't give a toss. There is even a gated route round the side of the old ticket office that they could have used to get non travelling passengers onto the bridge. Sadly they chose not to and now again are at loggerheads with local residents and the councils.

These Parliamentary trains did not stop on the 8th as planned, but the timings of the trains have changed. This was due to the new franchises not being awarded thanks to the screw up. As the new franchise hasn't come into effect they can't legally stop the service yet but they will do as soon as the new franchise comes into being.

TFL are also looking at segregating the bridge traffic at KPA after I think discovering with the help of the councils, that they would have been blocking a right of way. So great news on that front.

These Parliamentary trains did not stop on the 8th as planned, but the timings of the trains have changed.

Is this now the 06:18 from Battersea Park to Wandsworth Road (06:21) continuing to Highbury and Islington, and the 22:57 from Wandsworth Road to Battersea Park (22:59), which originates at H&I at 22:17? Someone pointed out these two trains on the new schedule to me.

if it is, they really aren't wanting anyone to get them :eek:

Is this now the 06:18 from Battersea Park to Wandsworth Road (06:21) continuing to Highbury and Islington, and the 22:57 from Wandsworth Road to Battersea Park (22:59), which originates at H&I at 22:17?

This is a *new* parliamentary train service! It's presumably needed because of the cancellation of Southern's LBG-VIC via Denmark Hill services, which were replaced with London Overground services that otherwise don't serve Battersea Park.

As the new franchise hasn't come into effect they can't legally stop the service yet but they will do as soon as the new franchise comes into being.

The new (combined Southern + Thameslink) franchise was never supposed to come into effect before late-2013?

The new times are 10:02 Kensington (Olympia)->Wandsworth Road, and 16:10 Wandsworth Road->Kensington (Olympia). Obviously timed at the end of morning peak and start of evening peak. They do seem to conflict with London Overground's schedules, though, so I'm sure they'd like to get rid of them for this reason.

This is a *new* parliamentary train service! It's presumably needed because of the cancellation of Southern's LBG-VIC via Denmark Hill services, which were replaced with London Overground services that otherwise don't serve Battersea Park.
Could you stop telling me stuff like that please? I am going to become a ghost train stalker :o

The new (combined Southern + Thameslink) franchise was never supposed to come into effect before late-2013?

The new times are 10:02 Kensington (Olympia)->Wandsworth Road, and 16:10 Wandsworth Road->Kensington (Olympia). Obviously timed at the end of morning peak and start of evening peak. They do seem to conflict with London Overground's schedules, though, so I'm sure they'd like to get rid of them for this reason.

It starts at CLP at 16:09 for the full journey.

Could you stop telling me stuff like that please? I am going to become a ghost train stalker :o

It's your turn to provide the refreshments if you fancy doing that one with me. :)

Looks like TFL has listened to reason, and is keep pedestrian access across the bridge.

Transport for London (TfL) will be introducing automatic ticket gates and also preserving pedestrian access across a footbridge at London Overground's Kensington (Olympia) station. (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/27664.aspx)

While the gates are being installed, an additional staircase will also be built to relieve congestion and provide an unobstructed pedestrian route between Olympia Way and Russell Road.

Following feedback from the community and their council representatives, plans for the station were revised to maintain unrestricted pedestrian access across the footbridge. The platforms will be inaccessible from this segregated pedestrian route.