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Hi all. I am planning a Bolton <-> Edinburgh trip with TPE and I noticed on RTT a lot of journeys say reservations compulsory. I have never seen this on anything but the Caledonian sleeper. Is this a new thing for TPE? https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P12926/2025-03-20

I think it's because the Southport trains don't generally call at Ince at present. Would a whole new recast be needed to add the extra stop? And about 5% of trains terminate at North Western currently so they will be pan up the whole way.

Both I assume.

A Wigan based Northern conductor I asked said he’d been told they power changeover is being moved to Hindley soon.

Is via Warrington Central cleared for 800s? Is TfW running via Mid-Cheshire?

Could a 323 only be recovered by another 323? Could any other Northern stock be compatible?

That argument is a bit weak surely. A lot of single 323s out on booked six car diagrams. We aren’t expecting more diagrams before the Victoria based staff are trained but we do expect Northern to have enough 323s active to avoid regular short forming.

Reducing the through platforms from four to two really really reduces your flexibility no? Not really acceptable. If we’re reviving previously planned works what about Platforms 3-5 at Salford Central…

I walked Lostock to Bolton and back this morning and all the Wigan bound traffic seems to be sprinters. I have not looked at RTT but there cannot be many 769s out if any.

Lack of paths/stock/will to get it to run. Only one through service a day now and five Edinburgh-Newcastle shuttles.

Well thats TPE North West unable to run during this lol. Wish they kept the Liverpool-Man Vic-Edinburgh…

Northern crew have driven 319s up to Oxenholme before on training runs. Could another 769 head up and retrieve it?

Not optimal but the Cumbria services could pick up the stoppers?

The Northern 158 fleet is already maxed out is it not? Would mean needing other DMUs to support.

What’s Avanti’s rationale for this? Transpennine has provisions in place to facilitate divert but Avanti cannot/will not?

This sounds like a dysfunctional Blackpool to the excellent Blackburn comparison.

Oh absolutely. The double 185s being rammed years ago proved that. The two double 323s gives us 554 seats. Currently the four car 331s yield only 283….

Yes but Northern was clear at the time it was never permanent. A lot of these three car 331s are to go back to the North East where they were intended to be used. There are no where near enough three car 331s in existence to provide every route with them.

Re: Blackpool-Manchester Four car 331s are being swapped for six cars worth of 323. That's an enormous increase in seats. My wife struggles to board at Lostock when its a single 331. This is one of the biggest service improvements in years.

This feels like a sticking plaster rather than a new contract? How would northern conductors feel it Northern just copy and pasted the new TfW contract as that was quite well received.