Avanti West Coast via Settle (for WCML Bridge replacement next January?)

[voyagerdude220]

I'll keep an eye out for any reservations becoming available- I think they were available a few days ago but I may be wrong with that! Thanks for your speedy reply!

You're welcome!

I've just noticed on Friday 2nd January 1Z37 10:38 Wolverhampton to Carlisle isn't shown as calling at Wigan North Western, which must surely be a mistake. It does show correctly as calling there on Thursday 1st January.

 

[tram21]

Does anyone know if there are any planned easements for fares during the diversions?

All flexible tickets from Wigan to Carlisle, for example, are routed via Lancaster, making them invalid on these services?

 

[voyagerdude220]

Does anyone know if there are any planned easements for fares during the diversions?

All flexible tickets from Wigan to Carlisle, for example, are routed via Lancaster, making them invalid on these services?

I've not seen/heard anything official from Avanti about this but I'd hope so.

E.g. When Preston is shut would they accept Wigan-Preston/Preston-Carlisle Cheap Day Returns which are much cheaper than a ticket from Wigan to Carlisle without splitting?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've not seen/heard anything official from Avanti about this but I'd hope so.

E.g. When Preston is shut would they accept Wigan-Preston/Preston-Carlisle Cheap Day Returns which are much cheaper than a ticket from Wigan to Carlisle without splitting?

I'd expect to see easements on tickets routed Lancaster (indeed surprised there aren't already) but not on splits.

 

[Barnsley]

Does anyone know if there are any planned easements for fares during the diversions?

All flexible tickets from Wigan to Carlisle, for example, are routed via Lancaster, making them invalid on these services?

Buy a ticket from Bolton, there is a 'via Clitheroe' ticket, vaild via Wigan, National Rail shows it as valid aswell

 

[tram21]

I've had a look and that 0909 service from Crewe to Carlisle is 'sold out' every day. Does anyone 'in the know' know anything about if the schedule is being changed for this service? I understand it was previously starting from Wrexham but its been scheduled as from Crewe for a while now...

 

[mgood]

I've been told that my booked 0918 service from Crewe to Carlisle on Friday 2nd January is now cancelled (but still showing on RTT and NR but not on Avanti website). Anyone with any better info on what's happening ?

Thanks

 

[voyagerdude220]

I've been told that my booked 0918 service from Crewe to Carlisle on Friday 2nd January is now cancelled (but still showing on RTT and NR but not on Avanti website). Anyone with any better info on what's happening ?

Thanks

I'm sorry I don't know, but hopefully it's still running as planned from Crewe, just not Wrexham as originally planned.

 

[anothertyke]

Is a North West Round Robin valid on these trains? The map doesn't link Blackburn and Hellifield.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Is a North West Round Robin valid on these trains? The map doesn't link Blackburn and Hellifield.

I would have thought so because they'd usually be valid up the WCML between Preston and Carlisle.

 

[TheSel]

Is a North West Round Robin valid on these trains? The map doesn't link Blackburn and Hellifield.

I would have thought so because they'd usually be valid up the WCML between Preston and Carlisle.

An interesting question. The North West Round Robin [NWRR] is NOT shown as valid at Clitheroe, Whalley, Langho or Ramsgreave & Wilpshire - unlike, say, the North West Rover [NWR] which is shown as being valid at those stations. It might be worth enquiring through the 'Fares Advice & Policy' section of the forum, rather than getting an unwelcome Penalty Fare notice?

 

[tram21]

I've been told that my booked 0918 service from Crewe to Carlisle on Friday 2nd January is now cancelled (but still showing on RTT and NR but not on Avanti website). Anyone with any better info on what's happening ?

Thanks

Something's changed with that 9am ish service all week and they seem to have removed them all from sale- I've asked them and they said they are chasing it internally and they will get back to me- if they do I'll post on here!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Dec 2025 ==

An interesting question. The North West Round Robin [NWRR] is NOT shown as valid at Clitheroe, Whalley, Langho or Ramsgreave & Wilpshire - unlike, say, the North West Rover [NWR] which is shown as being valid at those stations. It might be worth enquiring through the 'Fares Advice & Policy' section of the forum, rather than getting an unwelcome Penalty Fare notice?

Is a North West Round Robin valid on these trains? The map doesn't link Blackburn and Hellifield.

I think you'd be better asking Avanti the usual ways whether this ticket (and all other tickets usually valid on the WCML) is valid on the diversionary trains.

 

[Wiganlad]

I am booked on the 2nd January from Wigan to Carlisle on the 0751 - but when I check on Avanti there is no 0751 but an 0815 with a shorter journey time, I presume if this is true my advance ticket is still valid for this train.

 

[jfollows]

Avanti has form for retiming trains and not telling people, including people with advance tickets booked through them directly.

EDIT However, when I look, Avanti, Realtime Trains & http://timetablehistory.com/times.aspx?uid=S11776&date=20260102 all show 07:51 still.

Wolverhampton to Carlisle on 02/01/2026​

Avanti West Coast service​

	Station​	Arrive​	Depart​	Notes​
	Wolverhampton		06:27
	Stafford	06:41	06:53
	Crewe	07:11	07:14
	Warrington Bank Quay	07:31	07:33
	Wigan North Western	07:42	07:51
	Carlisle	10:44

Reservations compulsory
First class available
Restaurant car for first class passengers
Headcode: 1Z33, Service ID: VT124900, Train ID: S11776. Last schedule change 11/10/2025.

 

[Wiganlad]

They have obviously updated the timetable again

 

[jfollows]

I've been told that my booked 0918 service from Crewe to Carlisle on Friday 2nd January is now cancelled (but still showing on RTT and NR but not on Avanti website). Anyone with any better info on what's happening ?

Thanks

See http://timetablehistory.com/times.aspx?uid=S63006&date=20260102

Schedule History

• Train added to timetable on 03/12/2025
• Service details were changed on 20/12/2025

	Station​	Arrive​	Depart​	Notes​
	Crewe		09:18
	Warrington Bank Quay	09:36	09:38
	Wigan North Western	09:49	09:53
	Carlisle	12:32

Reservations compulsory
First class available
Restaurant car for first class passengers
Headcode: 1Z35, Service ID: VT126902, Train ID: S63006. Last schedule change 20/12/2025

Starting from Crewe now, according to this.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Does anyone know if there are any planned easements for fares during the diversions?

All flexible tickets from Wigan to Carlisle, for example, are routed via Lancaster, making them invalid on these services?

Good question! Not long now to the blockade and I'm only seeing Advance singles being offered by Avanti if booking on their direct train(s) between Wigan North Western and Carlisle (via Appleby).

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Wrexham start was, I thought, to maintain the service commitment for a daily Wrexham service (normally to Euston).
Otherwise why bother with the early ECS Crewe-Wrexham positioning run?
So how have they managed to remove the Wrexham commitment to allow a Crewe start?

Answering my own question, the Wrexham start is still there, but shown at 0820 1K35 to Crewe P12, where it becomes the 0918 1Z35 to Carlisle.

 

[voyagerdude220]

The Wrexham start was, I thought, to maintain the service commitment for a daily Wrexham service (normally to Euston).
Otherwise why bother with the early ECS Crewe-Wrexham positioning run?
So how have they managed to remove the Wrexham commitment to allow a Crewe start?

Answering my own question, the Wrexham start is still there, but shown at 0820 1K35 to Crewe P12, where it becomes the 0918 1Z35 to Carlisle.

Even now, less than 24 hours before departure, 1Z35 is showing no availability on Journey Planner tomorrow and Friday.

I wonder if this will be much less busy than usual because of the lack of reservations/Advance tickets on this train. Interestingly it is bookable next Monday when it runs via Preston.

 

[richardderby]

Good question! Not long now to the blockade and I'm only seeing Advance singles being offered by Avanti if booking on their direct train(s) between Wigan North Western and Carlisle (via Appleby).

as suggested in an earlier post, probably best to buy a Bolton Carlisle CDR via Clitheroe which is valid and slightly more expensive.

OFF-PEAK DAY R CDR​

Route VIA CLITHEROE​

Validity SEE RESTRICTNS Restrictions B1 OFF-PEAK​

Adult £36.40​

Child £18.20​

 

[tram21]

The Wrexham start was, I thought, to maintain the service commitment for a daily Wrexham service (normally to Euston).
Otherwise why bother with the early ECS Crewe-Wrexham positioning run?
So how have they managed to remove the Wrexham commitment to allow a Crewe start?

Answering my own question, the Wrexham start is still there, but shown at 0820 1K35 to Crewe P12, where it becomes the 0918 1Z35 to Carlisle.

I was told by Avanti customer services that the Wrexham service had been cancelled and won't be running.

They're the same people that constantly told me the connecting Carlisle train was definitely completely sold out, only for tickets to be released on Monday with 100% avaliablity, so take that with a pinch of salt!

 

[voyagerdude220]

as suggested in an earlier post, probably best to buy a Bolton Carlisle CDR via Clitheroe which is valid and slightly more expensive.

OFF-PEAK DAY R CDR​

Route VIA CLITHEROE​

Validity SEE RESTRICTNS Restrictions B1 OFF-PEAK​

Adult £36.40​

Child £18.20​

Out of curiosity I've just looked at this ticket and frustratingly it appears that the Off Peak restrictions are still being applied this Friday, presumably because of the ticket being priced by Northern and not Avanti.

 

[MrJeeves]

Even now, less than 24 hours before departure, 1Z35 is showing no availability on Journey Planner tomorrow and Friday.

There are no coaches allocated to this service in the reservations system.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

as suggested in an earlier post, probably best to buy a Bolton Carlisle CDR via Clitheroe which is valid and slightly more expensive.

OFF-PEAK DAY R CDR​

Route VIA CLITHEROE​

Validity SEE RESTRICTNS Restrictions B1 OFF-PEAK​

Adult £36.40​

Child £18.20​

Noted thanks. Couldn't get an itinerary travelling on the Wigan NW to Carlisle direct train with that.

 

[MrJeeves]

Out of curiosity I've just looked at this ticket and frustratingly it appears that the Off Peak restrictions are still being applied this Friday, presumably because of the ticket being priced by Northern and not Avanti.

But you'd be entirely within your rights to buy it, hop on board, and then excess it to a ticket valid for that time.

 

[hexagon789]

But you'd be entirely within your rights to buy it, hop on board, and then excess it to a ticket valid for that time.

I thought under the new NRCoT, excesses had to be done before boarding now?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

According to RTT, 805 007 is on its way from Wrexham to Crewe (1K35), where it will merge with 805 005 to form 1Z35 0918 Crewe-Carlisle.
1Z33 (0645 Wolverhampton-Carlisle) is approaching Hellifield.
The weather over the S&C in the next few days should be...interesting.

 

[Kite159]

But you'd be entirely within your rights to buy it, hop on board, and then excess it to a ticket valid for that time.

Assuming you can get past the gateline

 

[MerlinRail 804]

How busy are the services likely to be? I’m planning on travelling on 1Z37/1Z40 tomorrow and am trying to work out if I should book a seat (they’re only really left in the quiet coach) or scramble for unreserved coach C on the day?

 

[AlterEgo]

I thought under the new NRCoT, excesses had to be done before boarding now?

Change of route excesses yes. Time restriction, no.

NRCOT 9.5.1 refers.