0230 Euston to Holyhead

[MKB]

I can't find this Virgin service listed in the current published timetable or amendments, yet it appears on the booking websites and allows you to reserve seats.

Bizarrely, its first stop is Lichfield TV, which is down as taking 71 minutes, which is impressive for the middle of the night.

Anyone know why this train has appeared, why it's not in the timetable, and why it stops at Lichfield? Or is it a ghost train?

 

[The Planner]

1Z25 Euston Holyhead, runs Dec 1-4 only. Not sure why. It also ran on the 13th and 14th but with no stop at Lichfield.
Runs as a 221. 71 minutes to Lichfield is easily possible, it will probably do it in less on the night, 67-68 is acheivable.

 

[glynn80]

What exactly is this for?? I can't find any events going on the North Wales on those dates?

 

[rail-britain]

There is currently a promotion on London - Holyhead - Dublin all-inclusive fares
Monday to Friday this would pretty much be ideal for the 08:05 sailing from Holyhead
Equally, this removes the need for set rotation mid-week

 

[The Planner]

Seems an odd move to do for 1 week at the beginning of December and a thursday friday in the middle of November though. Its not planned at all after this.

 

[Chilled Phill]

Super Voyagers running that service? I thought the usual Pendo to Crewe and then a 57 hauled the EMU from there to Holyhead...

 

[Ben]

Its not a normal timetabled service though, anything can happen on it. (well not anything, but you get my meaning!)

 

[rail-britain]

There are engineering works at Rugby over these weekends and overnight
So presumably there is a Pendolino and Super Voyager that cannot make the required turnaround at London Euston
The easiest solution is to swap out the Pendolino for a Super Voyager, and that way the Super Voyager ends up back in the correct position each morning, alebit standing in for a Pendelino

 

[glynn80]

But why run it as a service? I'm sure Virgin run ECS moves rather then putting them into public service!

 

[175001]

An ECS move passes Bangor at the booked time this service runs at around 0550.

 

[The Planner]

There are engineering works at Rugby over these weekends and overnight
So presumably there is a Pendolino and Super Voyager that cannot make the required turnaround at London Euston
The easiest solution is to swap out the Pendolino for a Super Voyager, and that way the Super Voyager ends up back in the correct position each morning, alebit standing in for a Pendelino

It only runs 4 days in mid-week though, its not planned to run after that and cant be affected by any engineering works at Rugby as it would run straight through a block. As its a 0230 start, turnarounds cant come into contention as Voyagers only need 30 minutes at Euston and Pendos only needing more if they originate further north than Manchester or Liverpool.

 

[rail-britain]

Looks like these have been cancelled, these also appeared this morning :
01:30 Holyhead - Crewe 03:30 Virgin Trains
02:30 Lancaster - London Euston 05:20 Virgin Trains
These two trains are timed to be at Crewe at the same time, the 02:30 departing at 03:32

02:30 London Euston - Holyhead 06:17
All three of these would then in effect allow a swap of Pendolino and Super Voyager at London Euston
Presumably the Super Voyager which would then end up at Crewe would run ECS to Central Rivers

 

[Stonesourscotty]

I was outside euston at 2 this morning and the departure was still showing but it was not allocated a Platform.