Help Please with london midland

[danfitz123]

Thinking of going down to london on the great escape ticket soon. What is the best point to change from liverpool lime street? Would it be stafford or crewe or birmingham? Thanks Guys

 

[bengolding]

Definitely not Birmingham unless you want a longer journey! I'd hazard a guess at Stafford but this depends upon which of the two trains per hour you catch from Liverpool. Certainly northbound, customers are advised to change at Stafford from the Trenty Valley for faster connections to Crewe.

 

[Pumbaa]

xx04 from Liverpool arrives Stafford xx09, the London train arrives at xx14 and leaves at xx21 from Platform 1.

Coming in to Stafford from London there's a similar 10 min connection time.

 

[yorkie]

As mentioned in the recent Liverpool-London thread...

If you change at Crewe, you'll find the London train has already gone, and a bit of a wait for the next one, with a detour via Stoke-on-Trent!

The Trent Valley is quicker than the congested route via Birmingham & Wolves.

So, yes, definitely change at Stafford!

 

[danfitz123]

Thank you everyone. Sorry if I have been trouble. You have saved me a lot of time. Thanks again

 

[Geezertronic]

Thank you everyone. Sorry if I have been trouble. You have saved me a lot of time. Thanks again

You must be the politest poster in the world, I am sure it is a pleasure for people to offer you advice

 

[Simon Poole]

xx04 from Liverpool arrives Stafford xx09, the London train arrives at xx14 and leaves at xx21 from Platform 1.

Coming in to Stafford from London there's a similar 10 min connection time.

It's XX13 and leaves at XX21 but Stafford is your best option, from Stafford calls at RUGELEY TRENT VALLEY, Lichfield Trent Valley, Tamworth, Atherstone, Nuneaton, Rugby, Northampton (might have to wait 5 to 10 minutes sometimes), Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction if you had to go by Birmingham you would have to stop at more stations between Rugby and Watford Junction

 

[danfitz123]

Thank you Geezertronic and Simon poole. Does anyone know whether there will be a buffet cart onboard any services from stafford to london euston?

 

[scotsman]

Thank you Geezertronic and Simon poole. Does anyone know whether there will be a buffet cart onboard any services from stafford to london euston?

Err, dunno much about Stafford service but London Midland usually have a trolley I think (?)

Virgin will have a shop but no trolley.

 

[MCR247]

Err, dunno much about Stafford service but London Midland usually have a trolley I think (?)

Virgin will have a shop but no trolley.

He isn't using Virgin

There will just be a trolley (I think) although I'm not sure its on all services

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Thank you Geezertronic and Simon poole. Does anyone know whether there will be a buffet cart onboard any services from stafford to london euston?

Trolley only, if you are lucky. VT services Stafford-Euston have a shop (buffet and basic travel items) and sometimes a trolley selling tea and coffee during weekday peak trains, or did.

 

[MCR247]

Trolley only, if you are lucky. VT services Stafford-Euston have a shop (buffet and basic travel items) and sometimes a trolley selling tea and coffee during weekday peak trains, or did.

He is using London Midland

 

[MidnightFlyer]

He is using London Midland

He possibly gets a trolley then!

We had a massive debate about this a while ago here about the service on the service (if that makes sense!) because no-one knows if there is a pre-designated trolley service or just 'maybe, maybe not'

 

[Mr Spock]

As far as I can ascertain there are 2 trains each way that have a trolley service, southbound (I think) are the 08.20 and 15.20 from Stafford and the northbound will possibly be the 11.46 and the 17.46 but not 100% sure.

 

[Simon Poole]

He possibly gets a trolley then!

Not all services from Crewe to London Euston have Trolley services, what i heard from the people one time who work teh trolley service, overhearing an coonverstation while in first class after a day in London and heading back home

the Trolley people are based in Birmingham and have to travel from Birmingham to Crewe, Crewe to London Euston, London Euston back to Crewe and Crewe to Birmingham, long day for them

There;s only two services from London Euston to Crewe that have Trolley services, one arrives at Rugeley Trent Valley at 1342 and 2044 (1829 out of London Euston which doesn't stop at Stafford), there might be more Crewe to Euston or Euston to Crewe services that have Trolley services

If yoou also travel from the 0821 from Stafford to London Euston, at Northampton, you have to get off the train to get something from the cafe and take out and have it on the train, the train won't leave becuase it has to wait so they can couple another Class 350 to the Train to form an 8 Coach Train to Euston that's one of the services which don't have an trolley service

 

[danfitz123]

Ok, thanks for the information guys. This has helped a great deal.

Thanks

 

[Pumbaa]

As far as I can ascertain there are 2 trains each way that have a trolley service, southbound (I think) are the 08.20 and 15.20 from Stafford and the northbound will possibly be the 11.46 and the 17.46 but not 100% sure.

Such a stupid way of doing things, but I think its been pulled. Was on the 1521 on Friday, and the Guard (Mike if you know him) said he had been briefed that they'd gone.

 

[Mr Spock]

It was operating a few weeks ago but I would not be surprised if it has been stopped as it always seemed strange to only have the service on a couple of trains each way.

 

[Simon Poole]

As far as I can ascertain there are 2 trains each way that have a trolley service, southbound (I think) are the 08.20 and 15.20 from Stafford and the northbound will possibly be the 11.46 and the 17.46 but not 100% sure.

1146 out of Euston does becuase it gets to Rugeley at 1342 and i always see an Trolley...it's always at the rear of the train and not sure about the 1746 but there is one on the 1829 to Crewe, went to London twice last month and i catch that train and there always been an trolley service

during the week there no 1646 and 1746, they only run on saturday and bank Holiday Mondays

 

[danfitz123]

One more thing if I may. Its about Northern this time. When I get back from london to LPY(south parkway), the next train to halewood(my station)is a few minutes later. Will Northern let me buy the ticket on the train even though I borded at a manned station. It will be too difficult to run to the ticket office and then run back in time for the Northern. Thanks

 

[MidnightFlyer]

One more thing if I may. Its about Northern this time. When I get back from london to LPY(south parkway), the next train to halewood(my station)is a few minutes later. Will Northern let me buy the ticket on the train even though I borded at a manned station. It will be too difficult to run to the ticket office and then run back in time for the Northern. Thanks

You could buy it onboard your train to Liverpool Sth Pkwy.

 

[danfitz123]

You could buy it onboard your train to Liverpool Sth Pkwy.

Thanks

 

[transportphoto]

Or at any ticket office you come accross during your travels

 

[danfitz123]

OK, Big Thanks