GWR to use Euston

[Class 170101]

We have done this before, the WCML has had plenty of disruption af Euston and will have plenty more when Handsacre is built. Im not sure what the engineering block has to do with them not liking IET seats or a train being cancelled. The seats are the seats and trains are cancelled every day.

Whilst seats are seats and cancellations do happen everyday for various reasons the railway needs listen to its customers and act on reasonable concerns as at the moment, I would suggest, it is failing to so.

I would suggest GWR need to look at extra options from Euston if possible or secondly could some services have been operated to Waterloo instead? Either IETs from Waterloo to Ealing Broadway via Kensington Olympia and SW Sidings, or perhaps IETs or Class 387s between Waterloo and Reading, and then onto GW destinations.

 

[The Planner]

Whilst seats are seats and cancellations do happen everyday for various reasons the railway needs listen to its customers and act on reasonable concerns as at the moment, I would suggest, it is failing to so.

I would suggest GWR need to look at extra options from Euston if possible or secondly could some services have been operated to Waterloo instead? Either IETs from Waterloo to Ealing Broadway via Kensington Olympia and SW Sidings, or perhaps IETs or Class 387s between Waterloo and Reading, and then onto GW destinations.

They did look at Waterloo and discounted it.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Sadly my neighbours had the opposite experience travelling from Euston on the 27th. Quite level headedly they have told me they will drive in future for their annual Plymouth to London christmas stay. I wonder how much business will be lost to the railway due to the descion to disrupt the Western for many years to come just to build OOC. For the record their main complaints were the train was cancelled and they had to wait 2 hours at Euston, oh , and as an elderly couple they can no longer cope with the uncomfortable seating on the GWR IETs. All such a shame, and potential income lost to the railway coffers. One has to question why it is acceptable to disrupt the Western for next 5 years minimum, when a main selling point for HS2 was not disrupting the WCML for a long period......

The only cancellation I noticed on the 27th was an IET from Penzance which didn't get past Plymouth (1Z82), and the return service at 1636 was cancelled from Euston (1Z89).
That didn't look like an issue with the engineering block or the diversion.

Realtime Trains | 1Z82 1020 Penzance to Plymouth | 27/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 1Z82 1020 departure from Penzance to Plymouth on 27/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[irish_rail]

The only cancellation I noticed on the 27th was an IET from Penzance which didn't get past Plymouth (1Z82), and the return service at 1636 was cancelled from Euston (1Z89).
That didn't look like an issue with the engineering block or the diversion.

Realtime Trains | 1Z82 1020 Penzance to Plymouth | 27/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 1Z82 1020 departure from Penzance to Plymouth on 27/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

1636 I think was the train they where booked on so that would figure.

 

[Falcon1200]

The only cancellation I noticed on the 27th was an IET from Penzance which didn't get past Plymouth (1Z82), and the return service at 1636 was cancelled from Euston (1Z89).

It's no consolation to those passengers affected by the cancellation but the service on 27th, over a convoluted route, otherwise seemed to operate well.

 

[Tilting007]

The only cancellation I noticed on the 27th was an IET from Penzance which didn't get past Plymouth (1Z82), and the return service at 1636 was cancelled from Euston (1Z89).
That didn't look like an issue with the engineering block or the diversion.

Realtime Trains | 1Z82 1020 Penzance to Plymouth | 27/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 1Z82 1020 departure from Penzance to Plymouth on 27/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This was a unit fault that caused this.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

This was a unit fault that caused this.

You'd have hoped that GWR/Agility could have found a replacement unit given several hours notice of the failure at Plymouth.
But an hourly through service from Plymouth and Swansea to London Euston was an impressive plan.

 

[The Planner]

I'm making the point that all the pain being lumped on GWR passengers at present , whether it be the seating, or now the addition of a railway that will be barely usable during holiday periods, is going to lead to lost custom and disruption for very little benefit (to those from south Wales and the south west).

You were saying that the WCML isnt disrupted due to HS2 works.

 

[irish_rail]

You were saying that the WCML isnt disrupted due to HS2 works.

I'm saying that the WCML should take the majority of the hit as it's the WCML that will "benefit" from HS2. Most of the Western will not, as services will be slowed down to call at OOC, and whilst that may be a little useful to the eastern end, it will be pretty pointless for the south west and south wales. Yet under the current plan, we have massive disruption to the Western for years to come for very little benefit, indeed journeys will be slowed down in the long term.

 

[MasterPhillips]

If enough capacity at Euston could be found for the 2-hourly semi fast services to the south west then I can’t see how the situation is any different to a normal day for South west passengers. Those to/from Cornwall had the same level of service. Except ending up in a different part of London (most will transfer to the tube anyway)

The most disadvantaged were those starting or changing at Reading as the Euston services were not advertised stops. So only the semi fast services could be used. This, in my opinion, is unacceptable and more likely to put people off travelling.

 

[The Planner]

I'm saying that the WCML should take the majority of the hit as it's the WCML that will "benefit" from HS2. Most of the Western will not, as services will be slowed down to call at OOC, and whilst that may be a little useful to the eastern end, it will be pretty pointless for the south west and south wales. Yet under the current plan, we have massive disruption to the Western for years to come for very little benefit, indeed journeys will be slowed down in the long term.

It is/has taking the majority of the hit.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

It is/has taking the majority of the hit.

Other than platform closures at Euston and any knock-on disruption caused by diverted GWR services, what is the impact of HS2 works on the WCML on a week-by-week basis?

 

[The Planner]

Other than platform closures at Euston and any knock-on disruption caused by diverted GWR services, what is the impact of HS2 works on the WCML on a week-by-week basis?

The same as OOC, little apart from the blocks, but its disingenuous to suggest the WCML isnt impacted and won't be.

 

[MrJeeves]

its disingenuous to suggest the WCML isnt impacted and won't be.

I mean, you said it is taking and has taken the majority of the hit. I think it's relatively safe to say that, at the moment, it has been affected rather little.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I mean, you said it is taking and has taken the majority of the hit. I think it's relatively safe to say that, at the moment, it has been affected rather little.

WCML disruption started I think in 2017 when the first enabling works started at Euston to reduce the footprint of the classic station and approaches for HS2.
The Trent Valley section was disrupted when the HS2 route tunnelled underneath it south of Lichfield.
I think the Birmingham line will be impacted where HS2 crosses the WCML at Berkswell, and the junction at Handsacre will be disruptive when construction starts.
The GW route (not just the GWR TOC) and Elizabeth Line will benefit hugely from the completed OOC station, and disruption will be limited to the specific short-term construction blocks.
Separately from HS2 connections, the stop at OOC will also enable better interchange between GW and EL services, and relieve crowding at Paddington.
Major works were planned at Crewe for HS2 Phase 2a, but these are now in abeyance (though the enabling resignalling programme started this Christmas).

 

[The Planner]

I mean, you said it is taking and has taken the majority of the hit. I think it's relatively safe to say that, at the moment, it has been affected rather little.

LNW-GW above has described it well. Half station blocks reduces the services out of Euston. Trent Valley does the same. Berkswell (now finished) meant reduced or no West Mids services. Crewe Independent Line resignalling over the last week shows the level of disruption 2A would have caused. Its not been shouted about as most HS2 work was taken alongside NR renewals, much like OOC will do.