As I do almost every year I will be travelling from the Stockport area to the Cambridge area on the August bank holiday. Travelling down late morning on Saturday 27th and Returning around teatime on Monday 29th. I may use local stations if it seems expediant, but i'm happy to use taxis to get between my home and Stockport and to get between Cambridge and my Destination if that is the expedient option.
There are quite a number of possible routes between Stockport and Cambridge. One can travel down the WCML with Avanti and wander over to Kings Cross (or take the tube to Tottenham hale if there is a problem on Great northnern), one can take the EMR to Ely, one can Take crosscountry via birmingham, one can travel Via Doncaster and Peterborough. I generally prefer the London route especially for return journeys in the evening as IIRC the EMRs end relatively early and I don't fancy getting stuck in Doncaster late at night with no staff to help.
I'm aware that things are not good on the rail network right now, and that Avanti and TPE in particular are really struggling with staffing. I've no idea what the situation is on EMR. Avanti apparently have weekend service reductions which aren't in the planners yet. I'm also aware that there seem to be some engineering work disruptions, though it's not clear if the precise details are confirmed yet, it appears Euston to Manchester services are intended to run but all runnig via crewe rather than a mixture of crewe and stoke. I presume I will have to continue to check times as the dates get closer.
Questions.
1. Assuming I make it to Euston in time for the last train can I reasonably assume that Avanti will get me back to stockport on monday evening?
2. Is there any possibility of industrial action that weekend?
3. Is there anything else I should be aware of?
There are quite a number of possible routes between Stockport and Cambridge. One can travel down the WCML with Avanti and wander over to Kings Cross (or take the tube to Tottenham hale if there is a problem on Great northnern), one can take the EMR to Ely, one can Take crosscountry via birmingham, one can travel Via Doncaster and Peterborough. I generally prefer the London route especially for return journeys in the evening as IIRC the EMRs end relatively early and I don't fancy getting stuck in Doncaster late at night with no staff to help.
I'm aware that things are not good on the rail network right now, and that Avanti and TPE in particular are really struggling with staffing. I've no idea what the situation is on EMR. Avanti apparently have weekend service reductions which aren't in the planners yet. I'm also aware that there seem to be some engineering work disruptions, though it's not clear if the precise details are confirmed yet, it appears Euston to Manchester services are intended to run but all runnig via crewe rather than a mixture of crewe and stoke. I presume I will have to continue to check times as the dates get closer.
Questions.
1. Assuming I make it to Euston in time for the last train can I reasonably assume that Avanti will get me back to stockport on monday evening?
2. Is there any possibility of industrial action that weekend?
3. Is there anything else I should be aware of?
