My idea for Glasgow to Manchester on VWC

[route101]

Last week i travelled on the 1715 from Manchester to Glasgow and it was packed (4 car 350) i got on the first carriage and most seats had a reservation label and communters piled . Luckily i got a seat after preston . Edinburgh seems to get the 8 car 350s so i think a service at peak time from Manchester deserves better . An idea could be Virgin running Euston to Glasgow via Manchester or omitting Preston on this peak service !

 

[najaB]

An idea could be Virgin running Euston to Glasgow via Manchester or omitting Preston on this peak service !

Head over the the Timetables and Allocations sub-forum and do a search. You'll see this idea is raised fairly regularly.

 

[156478]

When I had my FirstGroup staff boxes through ScotRail I avoided this train like the plague travelling from Manchester to Glasgow. Even First Class was full to bursting. Then you get to Preston and the train dies a death and the people who are actually travelling the longest on the train - to Glasgow actually get a seat!!!! There really should be a train in front of the 1700 to run as a commuter train and not a pretend Intercity service using a jumped up commuter train trying to be all things to all people.

 

[thealexweb]

There really should be a train in front of the 1700 to run as a commuter train and not a pretend Intercity service using a jumped up commuter train trying to be all things to all people.

There is indeed, the 17:03 Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North. The two trains have the same arrival time in to Preston.

 

[IanD]

There is indeed, the 17:03 Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North. The two trains have the same arrival time in to Preston.

That would be it.

There really should be a train in front of the 1700 to run as a commuter train and not a pretend Intercity service using a jumped up commuter train trying to be all things to all people.

Although the 1703 would be ahead of the 1715 it would be behind a 1700.

 

[30907]

That would be it.



Although the 1703 would be ahead of the 1715 it would be behind a 1700.

1700 is the time off Airport. There is also a fairly fast 1714 Oxford Rd to Preston.

 

[Clansman]

Edinburgh seems to get the 8 car 350s !

I wish! There was a single 185 working the return Manchester Victoria to Edinburgh service which only died down Northbound at Haymarket!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Last week i travelled on the 1715 from Manchester to Glasgow and it was packed (4 car 350) i got on the first carriage and most seats had a reservation label and communters piled . Luckily i got a seat after preston . Edinburgh seems to get the 8 car 350s so i think a service at peak time from Manchester deserves better . An idea could be Virgin running Euston to Glasgow via Manchester or omitting Preston on this peak service !

You need to complete the current ICWC franchise consultation to get this idea registered.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of-intercity-west-coast-rail-franchise

Actually there's no sign at all that DfT has anything in mind for the next franchise other than tweaking the current timetable with the existing stock.
To achieve anything like you suggest, ICWC would need more stock, something the DfT keeps on avoiding (because it is looking ahead to HS2).

To get current VT services you can always go from Manchester via Warrington, Wigan or Preston on VT & Connections fares, or walk-up fares (SVR etc).
It's only TPE Advances which restrict you to their 350s.
There is a VT-only fare, but you could only do that via Crewe; however no trains are offered as far as I can see.
Another thought is that most WCML tickets to Edinburgh are valid via Glasgow (but not the other way round), so you could get VT to Glasgow and reach Edinburgh on SR/XC.

 

[Bungle965]

I wish! There was a single 185 working the return Manchester Victoria to Edinburgh service which only died down Northbound at Haymarket!

That would have been because the service started at Manchester Victoria rather than Piccadilly, for some reason TPE use both 350 and 185`s when they start and terminate at Manchester Victoria.
Sam

 

[Ianno87]

That would have been because the service started at Manchester Victoria rather than Piccadilly, for some reason TPE use both 350 and 185`s when they start and terminate at Manchester Victoria.
Sam

Presumably, because the route to/via Piccadilly is blocked, no electric route is available to get sufficient 350s out of Ardwick?

 

[Bungle965]

Presumably, because the route to/via Piccadilly is blocked, no electric route is available to get sufficient 350s out of Ardwick?

Ah yes that does seem a viable reason.
Sam

 

[Clansman]

That would have been because the service started at Manchester Victoria rather than Piccadilly, for some reason TPE use both 350 and 185`s when they start and terminate at Manchester Victoria.
Sam

I see, but a single 185 on a peak time service across the border? Should've been 6 cars at least.

 

[Bungle965]

I see, but a single 185 on a peak time service across the border? Should've been 6 cars at least.

Unfortunately as the previous poster said TPE were limited to what they could use due to the access to the main depot being cut off. So they would have to have to use whatever was available from a already stretched 185 fleet. I agree it is not ideal.
Sam

 

[Class 170101]

I wish! There was a single 185 working the return Manchester Victoria to Edinburgh service which only died down Northbound at Haymarket!

That would have been because the service started at Manchester Victoria rather than Piccadilly, for some reason TPE use both 350 and 185`s when they start and terminate at Manchester Victoria.
Sam

Presumably, because the route to/via Piccadilly is blocked, no electric route is available to get sufficient 350s out of Ardwick?

Ah yes that does seem a viable reason.
Sam

I see, but a single 185 on a peak time service across the border? Should've been 6 cars at least.

At weekends both 185s and 350s are used in pairs on the Manchester to Scotland route simply because there aren't enough 350s when run in pairs. (NB this is regardless of engineering works at Ardwick).