First North Western London services

[Jorge Da Silva]

What services ran to London Euston by First North Western? how often? What stock? and When?

 

[Ianno87]

Manchester Airport - Euston ~ 4 times per day with Class 322s

Rochdale (via Manchester Victoria) and Blackpool North to Euston ~ 2-3 times per day or so with Class 158s.

Ran May 1998-May 1999. A single Rochdale service stumbled on until May 2000.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Manchester Airport - Euston ~ 4 times per day with Class 322s

Driver, guard, one man, dog and bicycle. Used one once when I was a student for a random day trip to London, thirteen quid with YP which even in 1999 money was good value. First Class present for ORCATS raid purposes only. Also used the Class 158 services a couple of times which were more popular and I believe at the end actually profitable - they were knackered by getting poor paths, which probably made sense as a 2-car unit was a bit of a waste of valuable WCML paths.

 

[MatthewRead]

What was the calling pattern?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

£10 single fares offered for the first few weeks , then £20 each way.

From my observation - the 322 services loaded very poorly.

 

[Ianno87]

£10 single fares offered for the first few weeks , then £20 each way.

From my observation - the 322 services loaded very poorly.

The single return trip I did I recall maybe being 30-40% loaded I recall.

FNW even gave out free copies of the Telegraph to all passengers!

 

[Bletchleyite]

£10 single fares offered for the first few weeks , then £20 each way.

From my observation - the 322 services loaded very poorly.

Which is why I'm flummoxed as to why LNR want to extend the Trent Valleys to there.

 

[jfollows]

What was the calling pattern?

The airport service, from memory, Alderley Edge and Tamworth, the latter usually being an extended stop because the timings were very generous. Didn't call at Wilmslow, but I didn't live here then anyway. I only used the service once, for the novelty and because I knew it wouldn't be busy.

 

[jfollows]

Which is why I'm flummoxed as to why LNR want to extend the Trent Valleys to there.

If there were a regular, reliable, hourly service (say) that's a totally different proposition to an occasional service. In particular, it'd be hard to rely on the occasional service as a connection out of an inbound flight. Once an hour and a deal with advance tickets allowing use of a later service for late arrivals could generate demand.

 

[jfollows]

What was the calling pattern?

Web archive https://web.archive.org/web/19991129052631/http://www.firstnorthwestern.co.uk/ttables/route23.htm gives Newton-le-Willows, Tamworth and Watford Junction for the Rochdale/Manchester Victoria service

 

[MatthewRead]

They didn't pick up and set down at Watford Junction unlike Virgin Trains did they?

 

[Dr Hoo]

I used the Class 158 service once, which was moderately loaded. Unlike the Virgin loco-powered services of the time there was no smoking accommodation. We pulled up at Tamworth and I casually mentioned to the guard that he should announce that we had stopped for a smoke break. He did so and literally every passenger alighted and sparked up (except me).

 

[Ianno87]

The airport service, from memory, Alderley Edge and Tamworth, the latter usually being an extended stop because the timings were very generous. Didn't call at Wilmslow, but I didn't live here then anyway. I only used the service once, for the novelty and because I knew it wouldn't be busy.

It was Alderley Edge, Sandbach, Tamworth and Watford.

 

[Ianno87]

Web archive https://web.archive.org/web/19991129052631/http://www.firstnorthwestern.co.uk/ttables/route23.htm gives Newton-le-Willows, Tamworth and Watford Junction for the Rochdale/Manchester Victoria service

The Blackpools were (I think) Poulton, Kirkham, Leyland, Euxton then ran to Warrington Bank Quay to attach to the Rochdales.

 

[Ianno87]

Which is why I'm flummoxed as to why LNR want to extend the Trent Valleys to there.

If there were a regular, reliable, hourly service (say) that's a totally different proposition to an occasional service. In particular, it'd be hard to rely on the occasional service as a connection out of an inbound flight. Once an hour and a deal with advance tickets allowing use of a later service for late arrivals could generate demand.

Might also depend on how well they convince people that Manchester Airport is "Manchester".

 

[Wirewiper]

There was a time when people from the London area would fly from Manchester as flights to certain destinations were considerably cheaper than flying from a London airport. I don't know if that is still the case.