They don't have a depot in Carlisle anymore - it was closed around 20 years ago. And they certainly don't have any stabling facilities there.
Very slightly OT: Do they have crew changes at Carlisle? I thought they did. .. or it could just be me thinking that. We all know Preston is one.
No, just Preston (and Crewe/Wolverhampton on some services).
On Avanti services, I've only ever seen the onboard train cleaning crew changing trains at Carlisle.
Indeed, I think that happened under BRs Inter City sector, apart from some catering crew who are still based there & a few sidings by the station that have long been used to stable 390/221 stock during disruption or engineering work.
The alternative train to Crewe (and change for Liverpool) after the 1907 was the 1910 Holyhead which was a 5 car Voyager ! The 1930 to Glasgow made an extra stop at Crewe as the next alternative but the 1940 to Manchester wasn't an option as it was also cancelled. Which ever you got it was likely to be rammed & a miserable journey.
So no guard/train manager then.
...And yet plenty of ECS moves between both Glasgow and Edinburgh, and Preston, in both directions! Disappointing that two of the morning cancellations were Lancaster starters, so presumably not even enough crew to cover the short trip north of Preston. Sorry for the rant but I really do think Lancaster gets a raw deal from Avanti's staffing policy, based as it is around Preston!
I'm assuming those crews that are available wont come off roster or change to help out hence why it can be consecutive services on a particular route.
To be fair, there are still a number of Northern and TPE services calling at Lancaster when Avanti has thrown in the towel.
It’s also due to the fact of the contract of each depot Euston, Wolverhampton, and Manchester drivers aren’t allowed anywhere north of Preston station meaning if they’ve got the train crew to run it south of Preston but not the north the train has to be terminated there
Sorry, I'm not sure I understand; unless by "contract" you mean drivers' route knowledge. I get that drivers with route knowledge south of Preston wouldn't be able to drive north of Preston. Or is this a contractual issue in terms of employment?
www.journeycheck.com
3 of the cancellations from Manchester to Euston this morning all ran as ECS so there does seem to be more of a shortage of TM's/ conductors than drivers
Sounds like just route knowledge. I wouldn't imagine Glasgow & Preston depots would not permit it in the same way Glasgow drivers wouldn't sign that far South.
Perhaps they mean agreements between unions & management regarding what depots cover which routes & procedures for proposed changes.
Good question. Seems like a shocking waste of electricity in a climate emergency and, for Avanti, no doubt a significant track access charge that could better be spent on doing something useful for the customers - or am I mis-understanding something here?
The drivers would be in the wrong place for their next working so would have to run. Track access is already paid for so only a bit of juice used.
On the departure board at Manchester Piccadilly (photo attached)
I'd swerve that one, even if it was a matter of life or death!
