Dividing train

A dividing train is a train that separates into two trains partway along its route, so as to serve two destinations.

Operation

On the initial leg of its journey, the train is driven as normal by a single crew. At a designated station before a junction, the train stops and some of the cars are detached, with passengers or goods still on board. The front part of the train then departs to run the remainder of its route. A second train is then formed from the detached cars, the points are changed at the junction, and a new crew drives the train on a different route to a second destination. Where the train is formed of multiple units – self-contained trainsets with their own propulsion and driving cabs – two or more units work in multiple on the first leg. After detachment, the second crew drives in the trailing unit's front cab.

On the return journey, the two trains may join at the same station where they divided. Special signalling is required at the station, both to recognise the division of the outbound train as intentional, and to allow the two inbound trains to enter the same block. The British rail network uses a draw ahead signal for the latter.[1]

Examples

Australia

Belgium
  • IC trains between Genk and Knokke or Blankenberge (IC 1527-1542) are divided in Bruges, the front part will go to Knokke (IC 1627-1642) while the rest continues to Blankenberge and the same occurs on the return leg (IC 1505-1520). The consists are either made up with AM96 EMU's (enable passage from set coach to another) or M6 coaches hauled by Class 19 locomotives. In the latter case, cab cars and engines are fitted with automatic couplers to allow quick separation. On periods with high affluence or when facing problems, these IC trains could run entirely to one destination (usually Blankenberghe) and another trainset was be provided for the leg between Bruges and Knokke. This dual service ended with the new transport timetable introduced in December 2017. Now, separate trains are used for each destination.[2]
  • despite not being advertised as coupling trains, some IC trains between Lille Flandres and Tournai are then coupled with one or two AM96 trainsets going from Tournai or Kortrijk to Namur, therefore allowing to travel directly from Lille to Namur.[3]
  • The same happens with IC trains Between Lille Flandres and Mouscron. At Mouscron, they are coupled with AM96 multiple units which then run IC trains between Mouscron and Antwerp Centraal.[3]

Germany
  • There are several dividing regional and high-speed trains all over Germany. ICE trains from Munich often split at Hanover into sections for Bremen and for Hamburg. ICE from Berlin split at Hamm into sections for Cologne and for Dusseldorf.
  • Hanover Stadtbahn: In the evenings and on Sundays the lines 2 and 8 of Hanover's light rail system work with dividing trains. Trains start in Alte Heide as line 2 and divide in Peiner Straße stop. One part continues as line 8 to Messe Nord, the other as line 2 to Rethen. In the other direction, trains reconnect at Bothmerstraße station and run as line 2 to Alte Heide.
  • Hamburg S-Bahn: The trains on the line S1 of Hamburg's S-Bahn system usually split at Ohlsdorf into sections for Hamburg Airport and for Poppenbüttel.
  • Since 2014, the Regional-Express services RE 1 Mannheim–Saarbrücken–Trier–Koblenz and RE 11 Luxembourg City–Trier–Koblenz operate jointly with trains dividing in Trier main station. The RE 1 part is operated by the German DB Regio South-West with a Stadler FLIRT single-deck EMU as part of the Süwex network, while the RE 11 part is operated by the Luxembourgish Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois with a double-deck Stadler KISS EMU. This is probably the only situation where a single-deck and a double-deck train of two countries' national railways divide
  • Since 2018, the Regional-Express service RE 7 Hamburg–Elmshorn–Neumünster–Kiel/Flensburg is split in Neumünster with the front train continuing to Kiel, the rear to Flensburg.

United Kingdom

Dividing trains operate on several lines on the British railway network, commonly (although not exclusively) in the south of the country. To ensure consistent journey times, the front part of a dividing train usually becomes the rear of the returning service when it reunites.

In addition, some services discard carriages part-way along the route, & pick them back up on the return journey. This may be because a portion of the line has short platforms at a number of its stations, or because of demand being much higher on one section than another.

Route From Dividing at Destination Remarks
Arun Valley line[4] London Victoria Crawley or Horsham Front part non-stop to Barnham, then major stations to Portsmouth Harbour On Sundays calls at all stations to Barnham & divides there.
Rear part most or all stations to Bognor Regis
Caledonian Sleeper[5] (Lowland) London Euston Carstairs Front part to Edinburgh Waverley
Rear part to Glasgow Central
Caledonian Sleeper (Highland) Edinburgh Waverley Front part to Inverness
Middle part to Aberdeen
Rear part to Fort William
Cambrian Coast Line Birmingham New Street Machynlleth Front part to Aberystwyth Both parts call at Dovey Junction, but use separate platforms & therefore must divide one stop earlier.
Rear part to Pwllheli
Caterham line
Tattenham Corner line		 London Bridge (some peak-time trains start from Victoria)[6] Purley Front part to Caterham Colloquially known as the "Cat & Tat". Was the most common service pattern on the branches from Purley before resignalling work made them an extension of the Brighton Main Line local tracks.
Rear part to Tattenham Corner
Chatham Main Line[7] London Victoria Faversham Front part to Ramsgate
Rear part to Dover Priory
Fen line[8] London King's Cross Cambridge Front 4 carriages to all stations to King's Lynn
Rest of train discarded at Cambridge
South Western Main Line London Waterloo Southampton Central or Bournemouth Front 5 carriages to Weymouth Most Dorset stations beyond Bournemouth have short platforms, while as far as Poole the train forms the principal express service on a heavily-trafficked line.
Rest of train to Poole or Bournemouth
West of England Main Line London Waterloo Salisbury Front part to Exeter St Davids
Rear part to Bristol Temple Meads

United States of America

Reception

Dividing trains are sometimes seen as a pitfall for the unwary traveller.[9]

See also

References
  1. Richard Stokes (executive producer); David Dore (writer, narrator) (1989). British Rail signalling: part 1 (video). British Railways Board. Event occurs at 20:37. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  2. "Plan de transport de décembre 2017 : Flandre occidentale". www.belgianrail.be (in French). Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  3. http://beluxtrains.net/indexfr.php?page=searchstation
  4. https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables, see Table 28
  5. "Caledonian Sleeper timetables & tickets" (PDF). First ScotRail. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2013. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables, see Table 38
  7. "Mainline train times 3: Kent Mainline via Chatham". Southeastern. 19 May 2013. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. "London King's Cross (KGX) and Cambridge (CBG) to Ely (ELY) and King's Lynn (KLN): Mondays to Fridays" (PDF). First Capital Connect. 15 April 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. Christian, Maxwell (May 2012). "The Colonel's Extracts: The Pain of the Dividing Train". Retrieved 26 August 2013.
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