Virgin diverting via Shrewsbury

[Class 92]

During Easter weekend including the Friday and Monday it appears that Virgin are diverting Birmingham to Scotland services via Shrewsbury and Whitchurch as well as Bescot, the services are pick up only towards BHI and set down only towards Scotland at Shrewsbury. I believe this is because of the Norton Bridge engineering works? Virgin are currently doing driver training with a 57 between Preston/Crewe to Shrewsbury. London services are going via Alsager and Colwich and XC are reversing at both Rugeley and Stafford and using the Wolverhampton avoiding line.

 

[Gareth Marston]

good to see the trains being diverted

 

[neilb62]

That's Preston Drivers (no 2 link) learning Crewe to Shrewsbury, adding to their already extensive route-card.

 

[The Planner]

Will they keep it though? The Staffordshire Alliance project will be coughing up for it but will Virgin let it lapse like the Chilterns?

 

[AndrewE]

But will they all be voyagers, or diesel-hauled pendolinos?

 

[Class 92]

But will they all be voyagers, or diesel-hauled pendolinos?

I believe they will all be voyagers.

 

[AndrewE]

I believe they will all be voyagers.

That was quick! Thanks.
A

 

[185143]

But will they all be voyagers, or diesel-hauled pendolinos?

I believe they will all be voyagers.

Even with Lamington being closed?

 

[Class 92]

Even with Lamington being closed?

I thought it would be open by end of March?

 

[221129]

Even with Lamington being closed?

Thought it was likely to be open end of the month so unlikely to affect this ?

 

[neilb62]

Will they keep it though? The Staffordshire Alliance project will be coughing up for it but will Virgin let it lapse like the Chilterns?

Probably.....

 

[185143]

Even with Lamington being closed?

I thought it would be open by end of April?

Ah yes, didn't read the OP properly...

 

[neilb62]

All VT route learning now cancelled as of Monday PM.

 

[Bletchleyite]

All VT route learning now cancelled as of Monday PM.

In preparation for an announcement about Lamington going on even longer for a totally new bridge to be built?

 

[neilb62]

Neither, apparently its down to whoever is holding the purse strings.....

 

[craigybagel]

Supposedly Network Rail have refused to pay the route learning costs, or at least that's the rumour doing the rounds. Some Preston and Wolves TM's had already started route learning it as well as the drivers.

 

[The Planner]

There is a little bit more to it than that, neither side is covered in glory from what I can glean.

 

[craigybagel]

There is a little bit more to it than that, neither side is covered in glory from what I can glean.

Lol, that's why I made sure to include a "supposedly" and "rumour" in there - I'm sure the truth is suitably baffling!

 

[FenMan]

Lol, that's why I made sure to include a "supposedly" and "rumour" in there - I'm sure the truth is suitably baffling!

Good to see that passengers' interests are being looked after.

 

[Class 92]

Are these diversions still going ahead? It's just all the times have been removed from RTT.

 

[Philip Elliott]

Dead as a dodo...

 

[Class 92]

Why did they decide to cancel the diversions despite doing driver training between Crewe and Shrewsbury?

 

[causton]

Why did they decide to cancel the diversions despite doing driver training between Crewe and Shrewsbury?

If you read posts #15 and 16 that is probably as much as is being made public!

A shame as I had a reservation for one and planned my ALR around it, but instead I will be going to Manchester via Bescot, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Rugeley TV and Stoke (the XC services over the weekend) and then TPE north from there!