Cross-country overcrowding: what could be done?

[Jimini]

Interesting one today. Currently travelling from Coventry to Reading. 1626 was cancelled south of Birmingham, so the 1726 was suitably rammed. Declassified first, people wedged up against doors etc. Managed to squeeze into carriage A.

Then lo’! The train manager piped up after leaving Coventry to let everyone know that because it was so crowded, we’d be running non-stop from Leamington to Reading, and passengers for Banbury and Oxford would need to get off at Leamington and catch the ex. Leeds service that was ten mins behind our train.

I now have a (free / declassified) first class seat, and an express journey to Reading!

 

[class 9]

Internal email from the MD confirms that XC will get 8 221 units from early next year in a rolling introduction over the year.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Internal email from the MD confirms that XC will get 8 221 units from early next year in a rolling introduction over the year.

Is that the balance of the Avanti units? I've lost track which are where.

 

[class 9]

6 ex Avanti units currently in store and the 2 that GC are currently using.

 

[Tetragon213]

Well, that's a good start at least.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It’s public knowledge they sent out a press release

Thread is here:

As we expected: Remaining eight 221s for XC

CrossCountry have today confirmed acquisition of the eight remaining Class 221 - that’s six currently off lease and two on short-term loan to Grand Central. As I’m sure we all expected...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Tetragon213]

If the staffing remains an issue, is there any scope for cutting out the middle 3 coaches from each, and popping them into an existing 4-coach set to create some horrifying franken-train of 7 coaches that will only need one guard still? At least that will act as a temporary plaster over the worst of the problem until the staffing issues are more firmly resolved?