1630 Euston (non-stop) Preston - Glasgow.

[krus_aragon]

population of Carlisle is only just over 70K

70K? That's more than the Isle of Anglesey!

 

[paul1609]

As an enthusiast most of my leisure trips between London and Scotland are by rail but all of my business trips are by air from South of London Airports. This is because air is perceived by the business comunity as too slow. If rail wants to attact this market London to Scotland Expresses have to be just that. The prime business services on both the East and West Coast need to have only 1 or 2 maximum stops.
The current situation where many of these services are basically fast to Yorkshire or Lancashire and then semi fast to Scotland will never attract the business market.

 

[rail-britain]

I have just booked on this service for 1 week on Wednesday at a cost of £86 first class, was very shocked a cheap ticket was available at such short notice!
The Virgin ticket is very good value when you consider that you get a meal and a bit of shandy as part of the deal (which would cost another £30 on the east coast if you are lucky enough to get a train with decent catering.)

Not just one meal and drink either
If there are very few First Class customers then you may be offered a second meal, which happened on many of my recent trips
Equally, make full use of the drinks on offer
Even if you don't want a drink, take one anyway, as it can be some time before they revisit with another round
At one point I had a lager, orange juice, and tea

After Preston there is then a second service of cold snacks, but usually only one service of drinks
The hosts then start clearing up, however if you want another drink then just ask them

 

[bengolding]

There is no real need for this train to sto at Carlisle, as there is an indirect connection at Preston for intermediate stations to Glasgow on the Glasgow Super Voyager. Or there is the direct 16:57 service.

On my First Class journeys, I tend to find that the Scotish crews on Virgin are more attentive as there are generally fewer passengers on the Pendolinos north of Preston.

You have a great value ticket. When I did the journey, I had to pay for a First Anytime single at around £200 as there were no First Advance fares on offer for the 16:30. You'll be offered the evening meal option from Euston and a sandwich/salad option from Preston. As there are few passengers north of Preston, the crew on my journeys were very generous with the drinks offering.

 

[Failed Unit]

Today it arrived at Preston at 18:28, most people left. See what time it gets into Glasgow. It may have been possible to get to Preston quicker if it wasn't for signal checks, but I guess with the line been so busy it is going to catch up with trains in front at some point.

 

[bengolding]

Unusually, it arrived into Glasgow on time at 20:40. As you say and from my experience, the train tends to get a great run from Euston to Preston but the second leg to Glasgow always seems to be the problem, especially if the preceding Manchester Airport to Glasgow TPE is delayed.

 

[Failed Unit]

Unusually, it arrived into Glasgow on time at 20:40. As you say and from my experience, the train tends to get a great run from Euston to Preston but the second leg to Glasgow always seems to be the problem, especially if the preceding Manchester Airport to Glasgow TPE is delayed.

Yep it arrived at 2038 by my watch, was heavily signal checked between Carstairs and Motherwell. So I guess 4 hours would be possible if the gave it a clear run, but now all class ones are equal that will never happen, as I have found out on the ECML when the 1500 has followed out an XC train from York stopping at Darlington and Durham and was not allowed to pass it at either!

If they did get it below 4 hours what would be the point for 1 train per day. They could run their London - Glasgow in under 4 hours but that won't worry BA when the average is still 4:29!

 

[bengolding]

I think it is still a long-term aspiration of Virgin to now concentrate on reducing journey times on the Euston-Glasgow route now that they have won the battle with Manchester.

Whilst faster trains to Glasgow are great, I still think it was poor of Virgin to omit Crewe on the standard calling pattern.

Did you travel all the way in First Class yesterday? How did you rate the service? Were there many customers left on board after Preston?

 

[Failed Unit]

I think it is still a long-term aspiration of Virgin to now concentrate on reducing journey times on the Euston-Glasgow route now that they have won the battle with Manchester.

Whilst faster trains to Glasgow are great, I still think it was poor of Virgin to omit Crewe on the standard calling pattern.

Did you travel all the way in First Class yesterday? How did you rate the service? Were there many customers left on board after Preston?

Yes I travelled first class, not complaints about the meal all served and packed away by slightly after rugby. Didn't see much of the trolley after Preston, so it anyone using it would be best advised to get a large drink when they do see it. The service was not as good as what GNER used to offer but comparing it to the current IC operators it is the best by a long way (oh how National Express have ruined the East Coast first class product)

There were about 6 in first class north of preston, I would estimate about 100 people in total on arrival at Glasgow.

I think going hourly will be better than faster for getting the passengers, Edinburgh - London always seems a lot more busy but I guess it is easier to change at Edinburgh if you are going further north which may influence things.

Talking about speeding things up, maybe speeding up Birmingham & Manchester would be a good thing, Surely both of these can be done in around 3 hours (maybe under for Manchester). People still fly between Glasgow and Birmingham / Manchester because they think the train is too slow!

 

[harz99]

Yep it arrived at 2038 by my watch, was heavily signal checked between Carstairs and Motherwell. So I guess 4 hours would be possible if the gave it a clear run, but now all class ones are equal that will never happen, as I have found out on the ECML when the 1500 has followed out an XC train from York stopping at Darlington and Durham and was not allowed to pass it at either!

If they did get it below 4 hours what would be the point for 1 train per day. They could run their London - Glasgow in under 4 hours but that won't worry BA when the average is still 4:29!

Yes but the marketing people would be able to say "London-Glasgow in under 4 hours", the fact that only one train a day was scheduled to do so wouldn't matter to them.

And I still say the 1630 should call at Carlisle, more so as it seems that operationally it struggles to achieve a smooth run north of Carlisle anyway.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Yes but the marketing people would be able to say "London-Glasgow in under 4 hours", the fact that only one train a day was scheduled to do so wouldn't matter to them.

I agree, even if it is just a psychological offer. You wouldn't believe the number of people I know or who I've met here in Glasgow who assume that flying or sleeper is the only bearable way to get to London. One or two four hour journeys to London could really get some attention here, and it's so tantalisingly close. Fingers crossed for forthcoming timetables...