1984 - 1985

Its Hull out there!

Page last updated 10/12/2008

INTRODUCTION:

1984 was the first year of any major change to the pattern of services to and from Brighton and an increase to three trains a day. The highlight of the service was a direct service from Hull and Leeds the two portions combined at Sheffield which included class 08 haulage during the shunting move! There was no balancing service from Brighton for this, only an evening departure for Derby.  The outward service for Leeds and Hull originated from Paddington at 0650.

This year also saw the return of an overnight service to Gatwick from Manchester but just on a Friday and Saturday night. The Friday night service was actually a Holidaymaker service to Poole that ran via the Thames Valley then via Acton and Willesden where a Brighton driver ( and conductor?) joined the train to take it southwards. I'm sure there was also an unadvertised stop at Hove for another crew change. The Sunday night service I think ran via the West Coast mainline.

You may have noticed that the Sunday arrivals at Gatwick don't balance with the departures.......I have yet to find what happens to the "spare" set!

Sundays also Liverpool added to list of destinations available from Brighton.

TIMETABLE and ROUTE:

All trains were routed via East Croydon, Kensington Olympia (not calling ), North Pole Junction, Old Oak East Junction then Reading and the Thames Valley. All services now ran via Coventry and Birmingham International. The loco change was at Birmingham New Street. Crewe was only served by the Liverpool train on a Sunday as all the Manchester services now ran via Stoke.