Avanti West Coast timetable

[30907]

As 30907 says, there were extra stops made at Crewe and Stafford, there was a same-platform LNWR connection at Crewe for Birmingham 15 minutes later

Thanks, always nice to guess right (RTT showed the train losing 3-4 minutes passing both).

 

[AJP62]

Just looking at new timetable from May and good to see mainly 3 tph back on Euston - Manchester.

However one missing train, which has been running through Covid, is the first EUS - MAN via Macclesfield. This provides the prime 8.02 from MAC to MAN which was always the most popular service with standees most days even with 11 car Pendos. Looking closer at the peak service from May there are no fast MAC - MAN services between 7.05 and 8.35 so the 3 Northern stoppers in this period will take the brunt which even with reduced commuter numbers will be uncomfortable I expect! Stoke will similarly be affected

There has been a prime, fast 8.30ish arrival into MAN for many years. Originally, when my wife started taking it in early 90s, a hauled Cross Country set, then ex Clacton units for a while before going over to Pendos eventually.

 

[CHESHIRECAT]

Just looking at new timetable from May and good to see mainly 3 tph back on Euston - Manchester.

However one missing train, which has been running through Covid, is the first EUS - MAN via Macclesfield. This provides the prime 8.02 from MAC to MAN which was always the most popular service with standees most days even with 11 car Pendos. Looking closer at the peak service from May there are no fast MAC - MAN services between 7.05 and 8.35 so the 3 Northern stoppers in this period will take the brunt which even with reduced commuter numbers will be uncomfortable I expect! Stoke will similarly be affected

There has been a prime, fast 8.30ish arrival into MAN for many years. Originally, when my wife started taking it in early 90s, a hauled Cross Country set, then ex Clacton units for a while before going over to Pendos eventually.

Also shame the 2300 from Euston to Picc not back..useful for night in London!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It gets everyone to London that wants it & serves intermediate stations en-route. Those for the West Mids can bail further down the line for a connection or a very short RR bus or taxi ride compared to what they would’ve had to endure. It’s a win win in my book.

Except for those starting from Edinburgh, who would make up a fair proportion of passengers?

 

[dk1]

Except for those starting from Edinburgh, who would make up a fair proportion of passengers?

They are the unfortunate ones.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Just looking at new timetable from May and good to see mainly 3 tph back on Euston - Manchester.

However one missing train, which has been running through Covid, is the first EUS - MAN via Macclesfield. This provides the prime 8.02 from MAC to MAN which was always the most popular service with standees most days even with 11 car Pendos. Looking closer at the peak service from May there are no fast MAC - MAN services between 7.05 and 8.35 so the 3 Northern stoppers in this period will take the brunt which even with reduced commuter numbers will be uncomfortable I expect! Stoke will similarly be affected

There has been a prime, fast 8.30ish arrival into MAN for many years. Originally, when my wife started taking it in early 90s, a hauled Cross Country set, then ex Clacton units for a while before going over to Pendos eventually.

The 14:15 from Manchester to Euston appears to be missing unless I'm blind as a bat

 

[Bletchleyite]

The 14:15 from Manchester to Euston appears to be missing unless I'm blind as a bat

Yes appears so, missing from both the PDF timetable and Realtime Trains.

 

[Grumpy Git]

Also shame the 2300 from Euston to Picc not back..useful for night in London!

Part of the NOT 'levelling-up'?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Part of the NOT 'levelling-up'?

I've used that train to MKC and it's never busy. With Manchester being a big city many of the things you can do in London you can do there anyway, and 2300 is that bit too early to get to Euston following an evening visit to the theatre, it'd need to be 2330 like the last Brum. It also never operated on a Saturday, the day when it might be most useful!

 

[Watershed]

I've used that train to MKC and it's never busy. With Manchester being a big city many of the things you can do in London you can do there anyway, and 2300 is that bit too early to get to Euston following an evening visit to the theatre, it'd need to be 2330 like the last Brum. It also never operated on a Saturday, the day when it might be most useful!

It might not have been pre-Covid but with changed post-Covid demand it might well be busier now.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It might not have been pre-Covid but with changed post-Covid demand it might well be busier now.

I can't see it being. There just isn't much demand for midweek evenings out in London that aren't quite late enough to take in a show. The one night it might be busy, Saturday, it has never operated.

 

[Huntergreed]

My main concern now is that the Glasgow to Euston via Birmingham services are still being sent to/from Blackpool. This leads me to fear that a permanent reduction in service has taken place under the guise of covid from Glasgow and north of Preston. I sincerely hope this is not the case and that these will make a return in the December 2022 timetable?

 

[Peter0124]

My main concern now is that the Glasgow to Euston via Birmingham services are still being sent to/from Blackpool. This leads me to fear that a permanent reduction in service has taken place under the guise of covid from Glasgow and north of Preston. I sincerely hope this is not the case and that these will make a return in the December 2022 timetable?

If they aren't coming back then a Crewe stop is really needed on the current Glasgow services.

 

[Some guy]

If they aren't coming back then a Crewe stop is really needed on the current Glasgow services.

It would make a busy service even busier Crewe passengers can easily change at Preston for Scotland services

 

[Peter0124]

It would make a busy service even busier Crewe passengers can easily change at Preston for Scotland services

Wouldn't say it's easy (atleast heading Northbound). The via Birminghams should return anyway hopefully.

 

[Some guy]

My main concern now is that the Glasgow to Euston via Birmingham services are still being sent to/from Blackpool. This leads me to fear that a permanent reduction in service has taken place under the guise of covid from Glasgow and north of Preston. I sincerely hope this is not the case and that these will make a return in the December 2022 timetable?

What I heard is they’ve lost the paths for Glasgow so a Blackpool service might be the normal. It’s a bit stupid as 1tph is not enough for Glasgow and TPE aren’t much help

 

[Bald Rick]

What I heard is they’ve lost the paths for Glasgow so a Blackpool service might be the normal. It’s a bit stupid as 1tph is not enough for Glasgow and TPE aren’t much help

that’s not true.

 

[Some guy]

that’s not true.

They said network rail has taken their paths our of Glasgow meaning it won’t be back anytime soon

 

[The Planner]

They said network rail has taken their paths our of Glasgow meaning it won’t be back anytime soon

They are both in the Dec 22 timetable, fast off Euston at xx.30, West Mids at xx.40

 

[Bald Rick]

They said network rail has taken their paths our of Glasgow meaning it won’t be back anytime soon

what ‘they’ said is not true.

Network Rail can not arbitrarily remove paths.

 

[Falcon1200]

It would make a busy service even busier Crewe passengers can easily change at Preston for Scotland services

I would not call a 45 minute wait (or more accurately, fester) at Preston in the Down direction exactly easy ! And apart from anything else, Crewe offers so many other connectional possibilities it is bizarre that hardly any Glasgow/Euston expresses call there.

 

[jfollows]

Wilmslow-Crewe-Glasgow was always my preferred route but involved long waits. Initially there were through services from Crewe which were all Voyagers which offended me in principle and which I don't really care much for either.
Extending the Euston-Wolverhampton service to Glasgow/Edinburgh fixed this for me because it delivered Pendolinos on some services, and I used to use First Advance fares. So it was a nice journey.
So it looks like it remains so for Edinburgh journeys at least. Maybe for Glasgow I might try TPE from Manchester Airport.

 

[Some guy]

I would not call a 45 minute wait (or more accurately, fester) at Preston in the Down direction exactly easy ! And apart from anything else, Crewe offers so many other connectional possibilities it is bizarre that hardly any Glasgow/Euston expresses call there.

Because Crewe already has enough services served by Avanti. It don’t need every service to stop there

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Apr 2022 ==

They are both in the Dec 22 timetable, fast off Euston at xx.30, West Mids at xx.40

The reason it was cut short was due to shortage of staff at Glasgow. They struggle to have full staff as it is now

 

[The Bear]

They are both in the Dec 22 timetable, fast off Euston at xx.30, West Mids at xx.40

That's excellent news.
I wonder if we'll see any earlier & or later Anglo-Scots services come Dec22??

 

[The Planner]

Because Crewe already has enough services served by Avanti. It don’t need every service to stop there

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Apr 2022 ==


The reason it was cut short was due to shortage of staff at Glasgow. They struggle to have full staff as it is now

That doesn't mean the path has gone.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Apr 2022 ==

That's excellent news.
I wonder if we'll see any earlier & or later Anglo-Scots services come Dec22??

I wouldn't hold your breath to be honest.

 

[Some guy]

That's excellent news.
I wonder if we'll see any earlier & or later Anglo-Scots services come Dec22??

Hopefully that’s the case as Glasgow has needed an extra service for a long time. The 5:57 Glasgow service from Crewe was very useful for when getting a long day in Glasgow. They need to bring back the 20:06 on Saturday and Sunday’s too

 

[The Bear]

That doesn't mean the path has gone.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Apr 2022 ==


I wouldn't hold your breath to be honest.

The rumor mill had been suggesting a couple of extra services both morning & evening (plus whatever TPE want to do as up until Covid TPE had been attempting to bring in night services via the backdoor).

They need to bring back the 20:06 on Saturday and Sunday’s too

Until NR changes it's possession policies you won't get anything late out of Glasgow on a Saturday night.....

 

[Bletchleyite]

The rumor mill had been suggesting a couple of extra services both morning & evening (plus whatever TPE want to do as up until Covid TPE had been attempting to bring in night services via the backdoor).

There was supposed to be a 23something Manchester to Lancaster, possibly continuing to Carlisle. This was an issue because Avanti wouldn't staff Lancaster late enough for it to call there. I think it ran Manchester-Preston pre COVID, though.

 

[The Bear]

There was supposed to be a 23something Manchester to Lancaster, possibly continuing to Carlisle. This was an issue because Avanti wouldn't staff Lancaster late enough for it to call there. I think it ran Manchester-Preston pre COVID, though.

Thats correct, 23:15 Man Airport-Carlisle.
Which was to stable to form a Carlisle-Liverpool the following morning.
Which now run as 23:15 Man Airport-Preston and 06:26 Oxenholme-Liverpool.

Presumably because this was going to stop outside of current station opening hours any extra station staff would have to be funded by TPE, which presumably they weren't willing to pay for.......

 

[Falcon1200]

Because Crewe already has enough services served by Avanti. It don’t need every service to stop there

But it does need direct trains from Glasgow ! It is bad enough having to change at all to get between Scotland's largest and England's second city, never mind having to hang around for 45 minutes at Warrington, Wigan or Preston northbound.