Crosscountry- can someone explain the madness?

[Norm_D_Ploom]

I have asked this question before and can't recall if I got an answer but would it not be possible to run Mk 4's in 6,7,8,9 coach sets with locomotive power whether diesel or electro d as a way of providing additional capacity?

 

[The Planner]

I have asked this question before and can't recall if I got an answer but would it not be possible to run Mk 4's in 6,7,8,9 coach sets with locomotive power whether diesel or electro d as a way of providing additional capacity?

Where are they coming from? 67s wouldn't keep the timetable for a start.

 

[Geezertronic]

Had the luxury of ten cars on my Manchester to Birmingham International service yesterday. Quite pleasant really but those Voyagers are crying out for a decent refurb.

Me as well - 18:27 (although I left at New Street)

 

[Norm_D_Ploom]

Where are they coming from? 67s wouldn't keep the timetable for a start.

That's why I asked the question

 

[Christmas]

Would it be possible that if the Avanti Voyagers were allocated to XC that they could be split to permanently increase their own 4 and 5 cars to 7s or 8s? This would leave a significant number of driving cars which could be run as 3 or even 2 cars on lightly used services.

 

[robert thomas]

Reinstating those Bristol to Birmingham services really has mucked up things. Nobody uses those trains, and the ones to the south west just get busier and more likely to be a 4 or 5 car than before the timetable change. We were much better off prior to May.

These have at least reinstated connections to and from Bristol Parkway for passengers from South & West Wales

 

[JohnRegular]

Would it be possible that if the Avanti Voyagers were allocated to XC that they could be split to permanently increase their own 4 and 5 cars to 7s or 8s? This would leave a significant number of driving cars which could be run as 3 or even 2 cars on lightly used services.

I (and others) have made this suggestion on other threads, and I think it makes a lot of sense because the end cars have very few seats for their length, and to avoid having to double up on staff (both guards and catering). Ideally these reformations would go hand-in-hand with refurbishment but that may be asking too much!

Most of the spare driving cars should be scrapped, though; a hypothetical 2-car voyager would have 84 seats (not much more than a single 153), 2 large toilets (which according to this forum can't be easily altered or removed) and would be massively overpowered for any route that might suit such a low capacity train. I can't imagine using centre cars for a 3-car voyager is a sensible use of resources either.

 

[class 9]

Would it be possible that if the Avanti Voyagers were allocated to XC that they could be split to permanently increase their own 4 and 5 cars to 7s or 8s? This would leave a significant number of driving cars which could be run as 3 or even 2 cars on lightly used services.

Couldn't run as a 2, as the Driving vehicles don't have air compressors.

 

[Christmas]

Couldn't run as a 2, as the Driving vehicles don't have air compressors.

I've noticed them at Polmadie as two cars and there was also a two-car on display at Railfest at the NRM, possibly brought in by a loco though if unable to move by themselves.
So a three car would be possible?

 

[kylemore]

Where are they coming from? 67s wouldn't keep the timetable for a start.

Well why not ease the timings?

Speed isn't important for these flows - getting a seat and a reasonable fare is.

 

[Railperf]

Yes, no, maybe. Discussed numerous times this year in other existing threads with absolutely no evidence either way. We know the west coast 221s and the East Midlands 222s both have ends of lease in sight. Everything else remains speculation.

A new build of Class 810s would seem the best option.

 

[Watershed]

Well why not ease the timings?

Speed isn't important for these flows - getting a seat and a reasonable fare is.

That would mean completely recasting the timetable. It's simply not happening.

 

[OrangeJuice]

Would it be possible that if the Avanti Voyagers were allocated to XC that they could be split to permanently increase their own 4 and 5 cars to 7s or 8s? This would leave a significant number of driving cars which could be run as 3 or even 2 cars on lightly used services.

The voyagers should just have been 6 or 7 coaches from the beginning. Current demand on the pre COVID timetable would be hard to guess, but they've always been bad so a new mixed fleet of 7 and 9 carriage trains would be perfect for future growth and catching up with horrendous overcrowding

 

[Ken H]

If XC has a profitable core, why is an open access operator not muscling in???

 

[Deafdoggie]

I'm glad that's all sorted. XC can have old West Coast voyagers and/or new 810's and use their HSTs more then lower the fares. Excellent news.
By the way, who's signing the cheque for all this?

 

[Mag_seven]

As we are now ostensibly in the realms of speculation its time to bring this thread to a close.

There are numerous threads in the speculative section about Cross Country so please consider using one of those threads e.g.

How can Cross country overcrowding be alleviated?

Just got on 13.11 from leeds ex edinburgh to penzance. Myst admit I am surprised this is comprised of 4 carriages! Totally rammed standing all along all aisles and vestibule areas. This follows on from a similarly rammed 9 car set in the opposite direction the preceeding direction last Friday...

www.railforums.co.uk

thanks all