Avanti reduced timetable – passenger experiences

[Kite159]

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So that's three local airports gone for pax within a decade (Carlisle/Doncaster/Blackpool). Hopefully at Carlisle that will be temporary and I'm wondering if the new FlyBe might be interested in routes from there? With the state of Avanti we need an alternative.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Sep 2022 ==


I don't think I could travel Crewe/London in them unless in first; many pax don't go the full distance on them in my experience - although I would imagine that many more do so nowadays as an alternative to Avanti. I'm assuming that 350/2's are the units on that route?

Thought they were being replaced anyway?

There are 37 of the 2s & 50 of the 1, 3 & 4s (which have 2+2 seating throughout). They tend to be worked as one fleet rather than the 2s being diagramed for the stoppers.

Meant to be getting replaced by the 730s, for whenever they might enter traffic

 

[GodSaveTheKing]

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There are 37 of the 2s & 50 of the 1, 3 & 4s (which have 2+2 seating throughout). They tend to be worked as one fleet rather than the 2s being diagramed for the stoppers.

Meant to be getting replaced by the 730s, for whenever they might enter traffic

The Crewe-London services usually have 8-cars coupled with a 350/1or3or4 and a 350/2, so mixed 2+2 and 2+3 seating depending on which coach you're in.

 

[Howardh]

The Crewe-London services usually have 8-cars coupled with a 350/1or3or4 and a 350/2, so mixed 2+2 and 2+3 seating depending on which coach you're in.

Think the coaches could be marked clearly that anyone sat in 2 + 3 has an alternative 2 + 2 available?

 

[Kite159]

The Crewe-London services usually have 8-cars coupled with a 350/1or3or4 and a 350/2, so mixed 2+2 and 2+3 seating depending on which coach you're in.

In my experience the Crewe - London trains can be anything from a pair of 2+2 seated 350s (1, 3 or 4, as there is little difference between the 3 sub-classes these days), a 2+2 seated 350 attached to a 3+2 seated 350/2, or even a pair of 350/2s.

A mixed pair is slightly better because families & other large groups do like the bays of 6 (quoting the words of @Bletchleyite), as the 2+2 seated ones are mostly airline seats.

Although from Crewe they do load from the back, so the rear coach could be full & standing but the front coach is empty.

I do wonder how many passengers who had previously used Avanti has since discovered the "slower & cheaper" trains run by London Northwestern, deciding it isn't as bad as feared so will carry on using them when Avanti go back to normal?

 

[Master29]

With all of this, one wonders if things would have been better with Beardie at the helm.

 

[GodSaveTheKing]

In my experience the Crewe - London trains can be anything from a pair of 2+2 seated 350s (1, 3 or 4, as there is little difference between the 3 sub-classes these days), a 2+2 seated 350 attached to a 3+2 seated 350/2, or even a pair of 350/2s.

A mixed pair is slightly better because families & other large groups do like the bays of 6 (quoting the words of @Bletchleyite), as the 2+2 seated ones are mostly airline seats.

Although from Crewe they do load from the back, so the rear coach could be full & standing but the front coach is empty.

I do wonder how many passengers who had previously used Avanti has since discovered the "slower & cheaper" trains run by London Northwestern, deciding it isn't as bad as feared so will carry on using them when Avanti go back to normal?

Haven't seen a pair of 350/2 on this route recently, but good to know. LNR should start thinking its extension to Manchester (via Wilmslow or Warrington?).

 

[All Line Rover]

There are a number of services, even on weekdays, diagrammed as 2 x 350/2s and which typically turn out as such. Not sure why LNR consider this a good idea.

 

[Jimini]

Realtime Trains | 9M59 1652 Edinburgh to Preston | 30/09/2022

Real-time train running information for 9M59 1652 departure from Edinburgh to Preston on 30/09/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This service is partially cancelled​

This service was cancelled between Preston and London Euston due to temporary speed restrictions as a result of heat (X4).

Edinburgh > Euston curtailed at Preston because it's too hot out, apparently?

 

[londonmidland]

Currently watching this service make its way north from London Euston to Glasgow Central. At the time of this post it is currently running 27 minutes late.

Why do I have a feeling it’ll gain further delays as it progresses north and/or will terminate short of its booked destination…

 

[Agent_Squash]

Currently watching this service make its way north from London Euston to Glasgow Central. At the time of this post it is currently running 27 minutes late.

Why do I have a feeling it’ll gain further delays as it progresses north and/or will terminate short of its booked destination…

At least it didn't miss the Oxenholme close down.

(In all seriousness, if you are north of Preston at the moment you are better off taking the car or even bus!)

 

[dk1]

At least it didn't miss the Oxenholme close down.

(In all seriousness, if you are north of Preston at the moment you are better off taking the car or even bus!)

Really? Nothing can be as bad as taking those two means of transport surely. I’d rather take my chances with the train any day of the week.

 

[GodSaveTheKing]

Really? Nothing can be as bad as taking those two means of transport surely. I’d rather take my chances with the train any day of the week.

Believe it or not, I was looking around and attempted to find a way to get to the Lakes by public transport (except trains).

Then I found this:

Service X8 The Lakes

www.stagecoachbus.com

 

[Agent_Squash]

Really? Nothing can be as bad as taking those two means of transport surely. I’d rather take my chances with the train any day of the week.

I've not tried the Preston - Lancaster bus, but the 555 Lancaster - Kendal via M6 is leather seats and USB at every seat - only thing it's missing compared to Avanti is air con! It was hourly until this weekend - when unfortunately it is stopped for the winter season.

At least they follow the timetable.

 

[dk1]

I've not tried the Preston - Lancaster bus, but the 555 Lancaster - Kendal via M6 is leather seats and USB at every seat - only thing it's missing compared to Avanti is air con! It was hourly until this weekend - when unfortunately it is stopped for the winter season.

At least they follow the timetable.

I’m feeling travel sick just at the thought of it all. Thanks but I’ll wait for the train whenever that maybe lol.

 

[GodSaveTheKing]

I’m feeling travel sick just at the thought of it all. Thanks but I’ll wait for the train whenever that maybe lol.

Strike starts at midnight!...

 

[dk1]

Performance currently stands at 47% today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Sep 2022 ==

Strike starts at midnight!...

Not literally. Only for shifts that start after it.

 

[XAM2175]

Currently watching this service make its way north from London Euston to Glasgow Central. At the time of this post it is currently running 27 minutes late.

Why do I have a feeling it’ll gain further delays as it progresses north and/or will terminate short of its booked destination…

It's just a few minutes out of Motherwell now!
(at +76, of course)

 

[gazzaa2]

They've filled the LNWR services to and from Euston right up that's for sure.

 

[LRV3004]

I'm assuming that 350/2's are the units on that route?

Mixed bag. Could be a 350/1, 350/2, 350/3 or 350/4. I use these services frequently to/from Crewe and Rugby when travelling "pass" to or from Daventry.

 

[Runningaround]

What's the impact on visitor numbers? I can't and haven't booked a trip that requires an Avanti service since due to not being confident of getting back. I've only made one since they introduced un-bookable trains in spring leading to me being unable to choose the trains.

 

[numtot12345]

There was yellow weather warning on Friday which affected services between Glasgow and Carlisle. I was booked on 1240 from GLC to chester (change at warrington) but was cancelled from Preston i think onwards, so not sure how I would have got to Warrington from Preston. Has to take the car instead - weather absolutely shocking on m74 with the rain and wind so was a good decision on reducing the timetable in my opinion. Hopefully I will get refund on my outbound tickets. Unlikely to on the return ones I suspect.

Also, I'd signed up for when tickets would become available to book for Sunday 2nd Oct, I think the email through on Fri 30th Sept, which is a bit of a farce. Because of it I had booked first train up on Monday morning instead (but driving back now obvs because I took the car down)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Seconded for the 350/2's, they are dreadful trains for some of the routes that they are used on, quite unsuitable.

On a Euston-Crewe train last week, a mix of 350/4 (front) and 350/2 (rear), the conductor made deliberate use of that formation at short-platform stations (Atherstone/Rugeley).
He asked people to move from the "green" seats (350/2) to the "grey" seats (350/4) to ensure they could get off.
I don't know if it is actual LNR policy to combine two sets like that, or whether it's just pot luck what 350 combination turns up.

 

[D1537]

I do wonder how many passengers who had previously used Avanti has since discovered the "slower & cheaper" trains run by London Northwestern, deciding it isn't as bad as feared so will carry on using them when Avanti go back to normal?

I'm using LNR all of the time now and probably won't go back to Avanti unless there are big changes. 57 mins RUG-EUS is practically no different timewise anyway, they're more likely to turn up on time (and indeed, at all), and the last time I travelled it was more than £20 cheaper for a return as well.

 

[LRV3004]

On a Euston-Crewe train last week, a mix of 350/4 (front) and 350/2 (rear), the conductor made deliberate use of that formation at short-platform stations (Atherstone/Rugeley).
He asked people to move from the "green" seats (350/2) to the "grey" seats (350/4) to ensure they could get off.
I don't know if it is actual LNR policy to combine two sets like that, or whether it's just pot luck what 350 combination turns up.

Pot luck. There really is no set formation. The only sort of guarantee (if you can call it that) is that the train will be an eight-car formation. If you’re exceptionally unlucky you’ll get two 350/2s paired up……

 

[David57]

On a Euston-Crewe train last week, a mix of 350/4 (front) and 350/2 (rear), the conductor made deliberate use of that formation at short-platform stations (Atherstone/Rugeley).
He asked people to move from the "green" seats (350/2) to the "grey" seats (350/4) to ensure they could get off.
I don't know if it is actual LNR policy to combine two sets like that, or whether it's just pot luck what 350 combination turns up.

I have noticed the use of 'seat colours' from conductors to identify parts of the train which will be short platforming, very helpful, and employs common sense.

 

[PeterY]

Seconded for the 350/2's, they are dreadful trains for some of the routes that they are used on, quite unsuitable.

The last time I travelled from Milton Keynes to Crewe was in a 350 but at least I had a seat and plenty of snacks with me.

 

[Starmill]

I have noticed the use of 'seat colours' from conductors to identify parts of the train which will be short platforming, very helpful, and employs common sense.

"blue seats for Stechford!" was a common call on one train.

 

[LRV3004]

I’ve heard those announcements about the seat colours and wondered “but what if someone is colour blind”? I have heard one conductor announce about moving forward to the “train with TV screens in” though!

 

[Parham Wood]

Probably not what the OP intended but a friend of mine's experience with the new timetable is a disaster. They had moved to Central Wales planning to get the fast Shrewsbury to London train for a two night mid week stay for work and the similar return. As this is now cancelled and the trains are so unreliable they have opted to go Shrewsbury - Birmingham which is probably 90 minutes or more longer. They are not impressed! NB I think the fast was Avanti from what they said. They are not interested in reasons and just think it is very poor.

 

[Starmill]

Probably not what the OP intended but a friend of mine's experience with the new timetable is a disaster. They had moved to Central Wales planning to get the fast Shrewsbury to London train for a two night mid week stay for work and the similar return. As this is now cancelled and the trains are so unreliable they have opted to go Shrewsbury - Birmingham which is probably 90 minutes or more longer. They are not impressed! NB I think the fast was Avanti from what they said. They are not interested in reasons and just think it is very poor.

The service from Shrewsbury to London Euston was supposed to be at 0639, arriving at 0913. I note that it has been reinstated however.

Its withdrawal surely had no serious effect on the journey time for your friend as there's a 0646 to Crewe and the connection from there arrives in London just 3 minutes later at 0913. OK I admit there's the inconvenience of changing trains at Crewe...

There's a 0651 from Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street, and then an 0810 from there to London Euston which only gets there half an hour later at 0940. Nothing like 90 minutes.