Avanti reduced timetable – passenger experiences

[Jimini]

Euston is cosy, this evening..

 

[ScottGallagher]

Euston is cosy, this evening..

Was there collecting tickets for Thursday about 6pm tonight and you could barely move around.

 

[TUC]

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.

Why? Cars are comfy, fast and reliable.

 

[dk1]

Wgy? Cars are comfy, fast and reliable.

Couldn’t disagree more if I wanted to.

 

[ctom_s]

I'm going to comic con in November in Birmingham, I just gave up on this and booked an advance ticket on the slow train. Looks like a mess.

 

[Huntergreed]

To be fair - the train I catch almost daily (20:06 Glasgow - Lockerbie (eventually to Crewe)) is rarely ever cancelled and usually punctual - it’s always quiet so plenty of room to spread out.

Whilst I am usually the first to knock Avanti, for my daily commute to Uni they seem quite reliable. For usually a ticket of around £5, I can’t complain too much.

 

[JamieL]

Why? Cars are comfy, fast and reliable.

Couldn’t disagree more if I wanted to.

Just out of interest why dk1? I don't think TUC is saying anything controversial - car travel is generally faster than train and, given the inconsiderate nature of many users of public transport, the car is often a much nicer environment. It is also generally cheaper and much more reliable. The only real plus sides of using trains is someone else doing the driving and the greener credentials. Both of those quickly fade to nowt when the service is unreliable, late, declassified etc etc.

 

[dk1]

Just out of interest why dk1? I don't think TUC is saying anything controversial - car travel is generally faster than train and, given the inconsiderate nature of many users of public transport, the car is often a much nicer environment. It is also generally cheaper and much more reliable. The only real plus sides of using trains is someone else doing the driving and the greener credentials. Both of those quickly fade to nowt when the service is unreliable, late, declassified etc etc.

It’s because I have never enjoyed road transport apart from very short journeys. I get travel sick as a passenger especially on a coach & I do not enjoy driving one bit. The cost does is not something that comes into it for me. Should the train not be an option then I simply wouldn’t go.

 

[All Line Rover]

given the inconsiderate nature of many users of public transport, the car is often a much nicer environment.

Although, regrettably, on the roads those same inconsiderate users move from being merely a nuisance, to having reckless control of life-or-death machines. Catch 22.

The on-board ambiance on Avanti tends to be quite pleasant given the nature of the demographic, event days excepted. The worst aspect of the ambiance is the wafting smell of heated faeces, which still hasn't been properly fixed - decades later.

 

[nlogax]

Keeping a very close eye on things here. I've decided to try Avanti n/b this coming Sunday and aiming to return to London the following Sunday (Oct 16th). Naturally nothing bookable for the 16th so tempted to see if my off peak return can secure me a seat on the day once reservations open up.

 

[jp4712]

I travel very regularly Lichfield to Euston First Class. Last Friday was quiet so I had a nice long chat with the Train Manager and Catering Supervisor. The conversation was prompted because I sat in coach J as usual, and the crew advised me that on certain Friday trains they've been told to put all 1st class pax in K (the half-coach next to the kitchen) leaving three coaches for Standard Premium. Surprise surprise, K was full with very irritated First Class customers while the remaining three 'Standard Premium' coaches were almost empty (by the way, J had First antimacassars so no one could possibly know that coach had, officially, been downgraded). Anyway, the TM told me the decision was "bonkers" and she'd taken a unilateral decision to not make all 1st passengers sit in K. She couldn't understand why the decision had been made, she rightly pointed out that all they've achieved is to irritate 1st passengers while next door is empty.

While talking, she brought up two further issues (in fairness this was at my prompting). Firstly, staff have not forgotten what she termed the "uniform fiasco"; not because of the uniforms themselves, but because of the shambolic way the changeover was organised - she said that some staff STILL don't have all their new uniform, and apparently the bad taste was the 'like it or lump it' approach.

The other gripe was that it's not just passengers who are being inconvenienced by the short term planning. She said (paraphrasing) "we work shifts and weekends, I get that, but normally we get loads of notice and I can plan my life around it. It's now Friday morning, I'm not working tomorrow (strike day), rest day Sunday - but as for Monday, I don't know if I'm working; if I am working, what time I'll start or finish; how many days I'm working until my next rest days; I just can't organise things like a doctor's appointment or even shopping." She's been with the company a fair while (she told me how many years but I won't say here as it might make her identifiable) and she seemed to be someone who really wants to do a good job but feels like Avanti have really 'lost the changing room' with their staff.

 

[All Line Rover]

[The guard] couldn't understand why the decision had been made [to kick all the 1st pax out of coach J], she rightly pointed out that all they've achieved is to irritate 1st passengers while next door is empty.

Because, clearly, Avanti's management love to cart around fresh air.

I've lost count of the number of occasions - particularly Saturday morning trains from Manchester to London - when I've travelled on a Pendolino where standard class was full, Coach G was moderately busy with standard premium pax, Coaches H and J were totally empty and Coach K (1st) was full. On some of these occasions, I held a first class seat reservation in Coach H or J, only to be told by staff on boarding that the carriage is "no longer first class" and I needed to move to K if I wanted food! Generally I did not bother - space is more appealing than food in a cramped environment.

What a way to run a business...

Still, it's delightful if you are in the know and manage to find one of these secret standard premium carriages. £25 for your own private carriage, a steal!

 

[Grumpy Git]

Is there also the possibility that the Avanti on board staff quite like only having to deal with one carriage for food, (and a half-one at that)?

 

[Pemberton]

Hourly Avanti service south at 1645 from Wolverhampton cancelled yesterday, caught the 1745 instead. Absolute chaos with the crowds on reaching Birmingham New Street. Announcements from the train manager that the train wouldn't be moving due to overcrowding and until some people got off...he asked those travelling more locally to Coventry and Rugby to find an alternative train so there would be room for those travelling the longer London Euston journey. The train eventually arrived at Coventry just over 20 minutes late due to that wait and it's the first time I've seen a dozen or so people standing in coach J in 1st class because there were no available seats.

 

[Runningaround]

They should be made to publish a reasonable timetable at least a month in advance and if they cannot run the train they pay for taxis, coaches or hotels. If it means block booking a fleet or whole hotels in advance to ensure there is sufficient transport and rooms available then tough, the way they are getting away with a useless timetable and reservation system is only going to give other operators an excuse to behave the same way.
It's as if ''Essential travel only'' is now the default position travellers need to have when considering using their services on a weekend.

 

[Snow1964]

Looks like Andy Burnham (mayor) has written to Transport Secretary

Greater Manchester's mayor has urged the transport secretary to force Avanti West Coast into increasing services.
Andy Burnham said he wanted at least two trains per hour to run between Manchester and London by the end of October.
In a letter to Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Mr Burnham said the operator should lose its contract if it could not comply.
Avanti West Coast and the Department for Transport have both been approached for a response to Mr Burnham's demands.
Pre-pandemic there used to be three services per hour linking Manchester and London.

Avanti West Coast should be stripped of contract - Starmer

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says the service provided by Avanti West Coast is "frustrating".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[ScottGallagher]

On the 1010 from.Euston , any reason why it was retimed? Still get into Lancaster at the same time anyway so I don't see the logic

No catering crew at all either even in First.

 

[Kite159]

On the 1010 from.Euston , any reason why it was retimed? Still get into Lancaster at the same time anyway so I don't see the logic

No catering crew at all either even in First.

Don't they run in the path of the Chester train from London to allow it to call at Crewe?

Then normal path afterwards

 

[ScottGallagher]

Ah I see, in fact arrived early at Crewe so sat for about 10 mins. Multiple double reservations too. Avanti really are a joke

Don't they run in the path of the Chester train from London to allow it to call at Crewe?

Then normal path afterwards

 

[voyagerdude220]

No catering crew at all either even in First.

That could possibly be as a result of 1R19 04:28 Glasgow to Euston being cancelled if it was supposed to be the same catering staff working your train back to Preston.

 

[scotlass]

Whilst I'm aware of all the woes of Avanti recently, I have to give credit where it's due. Travelled with them on the 15th September, which was fine when I booked, turned into a strike day, which was then cancelled due to the passing of HM The Queen. Arrived in plenty time at BHM as I require assistance. Friendly, helpful staff saw me to my seat (which was showing the original, correct reservation). I was asked by the Train Manager if I needed anything (I was booked in a priority seat). Train departed on time, stayed on time and the only reason it was a minute late into EDB was due to waiting in the Haymarket tunnel for a platform. Two members of staff boarded to train to help me with my luggage and carried it to the taxi rank where they stayed until a taxi arrived. Appreciate not all were actual Avanti staff, but really had no fault at any stage. Hopefully they get to the point where everyone's journey is like this.

 

[Snow1964]

Erased - comment now in Avanti contract extension to April thread

 

[DarloRich]

A) fine. When there is a train..........

 

[185]

So, I wonder... will this train run or not? The excuse reads like a 'dog ate homework' excuse letter

Photo: National Rail Enquiries App

 

[nlogax]

On n/b service from Euston which is only the second post-strike Glasgow service of the day. Plenty of spare seats in SP and Standard and we’re on time-ish. Sun is out and the coffee is decent so no complaints thus far.

 

[frodshamfella]

They are awful, I've been using LNWR from Runcorn or Acton Bridge to get to London. Bring back Virgin, or better still BR.

 

[nlogax]

Yesterday's journey to Glasgow on Avanti was wholly successful. No full / standing, no massive delays, everything worked, even a convivial atmosphere onboard. Colour me surprised.

 

[beefqueen]

Live in London, looking to travel to visit parents in central Scotland in six weeks’ time. Stopping at in-laws so searched for a return from Birmingham.

Travelling on Friday and back on Monday so able to book advance tickets (result!). No tickets available for weekend. Quickest journey is 4 1/2 hours with change at Preston - no direct trains from Birmingham to Glasgow. Cheapest return for two adults with a railcard is £300; first class tickets range from £500 to £850(!).

We have to drive to Birmingham so have taken the rational decision to drive to Glasgow - cheaper and more reliable. We would happily have spent around £300 with a railcard for a reliable, direct first class journey. We don’t know how Avanti can possibly hope - or deserve - to survive with this service.

 

[XAM2175]

We don’t know how Avanti can possibly hope - or deserve - to survive with this service.

Because it's the Department for Transport, rather than Avanti, that's losing out on the revenue.

 

[Welshman]

Mrs W. went to London this morning on the 0653 from Rhyl.
It was already 27 minutes late from waiting for crew at Holyhead.
The portion from Wrexham was cancelled due to shortage of drivers, and it was supposed to collect what would have been the Wrexham portion at Crewe to form 10 coaches southwards, but for some reason that didn't happen. So it was a rather cosy single voyager that pulled into Euston 33 minutes late.
Just another day on Avanti West Coast, and another delay compensation claim for me to file.