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

[dk1]

I was also on this train, in the rear set that was pretty empty (had a table to myself in the 9th car and the table next to me was empty). Seems even enthusiasts don't walk down the platform.

Thanks for the tip. I know where to head for now. Enthusiasts by their own name have always been far too enthusiastic for my personal liking.

 

[Carlisle]

Anyone care to explain the sense in this journey rather than forming the first Carlisle -Preston service the next morning https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S23028/2026-01-04/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[tumbledown]

Anyone care to explain the sense in this journey rather than forming the first Carlisle -Preston service the next morning https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S23028/2026-01-04/detailed#allox_id=0

The last northbound in passenger use was 10-car, which has split with a 5-car unit staying in Carlisle to form the first southbound passenger service, and a 5-car unit heading back ECS to Crewe. Presumably in accord with predicted need in each direction first thing.

 

[jawr256]

The last northbound in passenger use was 10-car, which has split with a 5-car unit staying in Carlisle to form the first southbound passenger service, and a 5-car unit heading back ECS to Crewe. Presumably in accord with predicted need in each direction first thing.

It seems that unit (805008) is operating Avanti's first Crewe-Holyhead service this morning (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L02174/2026-01-05/detailed#allox_id=0)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

1Z86 (0605 Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle with 805 012) appears to have terminated at Blackburn with a traction equipment fault.
It was 40 minutes late by then.

Realtime Trains | 1Z86 0605 Birmingham New Street to Blackburn | 05/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1Z86 0605 departure from Birmingham New Street to Blackburn on 05/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[voyagerdude220]

1Z86 (0605 Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle with 805 012) appears to have terminated at Blackburn with a traction equipment fault.
It was 40 minutes late by then.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:s23185/2026-01-05/detailed

The plan now is for 1Z86 to set swap with 1Z83. 1Z83 is the 5 car which stabled at Carlisle overnight so maybe Avanti or Hitachi had concerns about that going off diagram?

 

[Hugo3000]

The plan now is for 1Z86 to set swap with 1Z83. 1Z83 is the 5 car which stabled at Carlisle overnight so maybe Avanti or Hitachi had concerns about that going off diagram?

They seem to have scrapped that plan now and an additional will run from Blackburn to Preston as 1T86.

 

[Ayman Ilham]

Booked a trip tomorrow from Preston to Carlisle on the diverted trains (the wife and kids will tag along cos why not); this will be my first time riding on Settle Carlisle and also, my first time on an Avanti Evero. Advance singles bought today (day before travel) at around £8pp each way w/ railcards. They show up on Avanti's booking system alongside the TPE/RRB combo via Oxenholme.

Our 0807 departure was cancelled after getting to Blackburn then turning back to Preston (Blackburn platforms too short for a set swap, of course), all because the horn didn't bloody work we'll be there on time for the 1007 departure!

 

[voyagerdude220]

Our 0807 departure was cancelled after getting to Blackburn then turning back to Preston (Blackburn platforms too short for a set swap, of course), all because the horn didn't bloody work we'll be there on time for the 1007 departure!

Couldn't they use platforms 1 and 2 at Blackburn? I'm guessing the 10:07 will be busy.

 

[31160]

0924 Carlisle to Preston caped, no working toilets

 

[Carlisle]

The last northbound in passenger use was 10-car, which has split with a 5-car unit staying in Carlisle to form the first southbound passenger service, and a 5-car unit heading back ECS to Crewe. Presumably in accord with predicted need in each direction first thing.

Thanks for the information

 

[lrbvoyager]

Both the 9 and 11 to Preston are cancelled

 

[voyagerdude220]

Couldn't they use platforms 1 and 2 at Blackburn? I'm guessing the 10:07 will be busy.

Would Avanti have been allowed to have had passengers boarding and alighting from their trains at Blackburn had they both been put into platforms 1 and 2 at Blackburn (which can both accommodate 10 cars) with the Train Managers having to self despatch?

 

[Ayman Ilham]

Couldn't they use platforms 1 and 2 at Blackburn? I'm guessing the 10:07 will be busy.

Occupied, so the signals put us at Platform 4. It is, it came short formed and everyone rammed into there, no announcements that another unit coupled later to give people a chance to get to the other unit to spread out. One or two went, but most couldn't be bothered to move.

 

[jp4712]

It's all a bit of a s**t show, isn't it? 1Z88 (0909 from Crewe) is showing as 25 late just after Blackburn. I'm booked on this train tomorrow, I gave myself just over an hour in Carlisle before heading back south but at this rate - if tomorrow is a repeat of today - I'd say that's looking a bit precarious...

 

[Kite159]

Hopefully the 12;07 from Preston is held a few minutes to allow connections from the late running 09;30 Euston to Preston train (delayed due to going via Northampton).
Although it will be interesting to see if it will be a single unit (805009 is arriving into Preston ECS from Crewe, with the unit it's meant to attach to (005) running 46 minutes late as it's coming empty from Carlisle.

 

[ChilliSauce]

Hopefully the 12;07 from Preston is held a few minutes to allow connections from the late running 09;30 Euston to Preston train (delayed due to going via Northampton).
Although it will be interesting to see if it will be a single unit (805009 is arriving into Preston ECS from Crewe, with the unit it's meant to attach to (005) running 46 minutes late as it's coming empty from Carlisle.

Sent via Northampton because 5D83 a wonderful new class 8xx booked 09.02 from Euston but late start, managed to clap out between Hanslope and Rugby blocking the DF .. offending unit now dumped in Platform 3 at Rugby.

 

[DavidK]

I see the 1127 from Carlisle has been cancelled as well as the 0923, so all going very well

 

[Ayman Ilham]

Occupied, so the signals put us at Platform 4. It is, it came short formed and everyone rammed into there, no announcements that another unit coupled later to give people a chance to get to the other unit to spread out. One or two went, but most couldn't be bothered to move.

On the plus side, we still got free seats but separate airline seats, although no table seat which would've been ideal for the family. We're trundling along past Settle, my 2-year-old son is very engrossed with the views.

 

[FrontSideBus]

I did it yesterday and am currently going the other way down to Leeds on a Northern stopper. I've been talking to a chap who was supposed to be going to Preston on 5Z85 but the train was cancelled because allegedly the water tanks for the toilets had frozen solid!
Surely Hitachi would have foreseen something like that when they were designed???

 

[Ayman Ilham]

I see the 1127 from Carlisle has been cancelled as well as the 0923, so all good very well

The 1127 was meant to be the train that I had which terminated at Preston.

 

[jp4712]

I just watched the 0909 from Crewe trundling over Ribblehead viaduct running 40 minutes late. Stunning weather for views, I hope the windows are clean... The Ribblehead webcam can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/live/aeOz1FLrU7M?si=-dMLri-4SrBHY3VS

 

[InkyScrolls]

I was driving a Northern service southbound over the S&C earlier - I did think the Avanti service looked a bit patchy!

 

[lrbvoyager]

Is the 13:21 from Carlisle still running with no problems?

 

[Ayman Ilham]

I just watched the 0909 from Crewe trundling over Ribblehead viaduct running 40 minutes late. Stunning weather for views, I hope the windows are clean... The Ribblehead webcam can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/live/aeOz1FLrU7M?si=-dMLri-4SrBHY3VS

I'm on that train, just 15 minutes left to Carlisle.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jan 2026 ==

Is the 13:21 from Carlisle still running with no problems?

Yeah, that's formed with the train I'm currently on, it will be arriving into Carlisle in 10 mins.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Hopefully the 12;07 from Preston is held a few minutes to allow connections from the late running 09;30 Euston to Preston train (delayed due to going via Northampton).
Although it will be interesting to see if it will be a single unit (805009 is arriving into Preston ECS from Crewe, with the unit it's meant to attach to (005) running 46 minutes late as it's coming empty from Carlisle.

It was indeed held for the connection.

 

[jp4712]

I'm on that train, just 15 minutes left to Carlisle.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jan 2026 ==


Yeah, that's formed with the train I'm currently on, it will be arriving into Carlisle in 10 mins.

Just as a matter of interest, how busy was it please?

 

[railrambler]

I did it yesterday on and am currently going the other way down to Leeds on a Northern stopper. I've been talking to a chap who was supposed to be going to Preston on 5Z85 but the train was cancelled because allegedly the water tanks for the toilets had frozen solid!
Surely Hitachi would have foreseen something like that when they were designed???

Yes I had wasted journey from Appleby to Carlisle wanting to catch this 805 from Carlisle to Preston and return. Apparently a “Northern member of staff who shall remain anomalous” told me theses trains were not designed to venture into Cumbria as it gets too cold up here

 

[dk1]

Sent via Northampton because 5D83 a wonderful new class 8xx booked 09.02 from Euston but late start, managed to clap out between Hanslope and Rugby blocking the DF .. offending unit now dumped in Platform 3 at Rugby.

Just passed that. Was an 805 I think so at least bimodal.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Yes I had wasted journey from Appleby to Carlisle wanting to catch this 805 from Carlisle to Preston and return. Apparently a “Northern member of staff who shall remain anomalous” told me theses trains were not designed to venture into Cumbria as it gets too cold up here

But similar 80x LNER trains traverse higher and equally severe country in Scotland daily, en route from Perth to Inverness.