Info & Facts about the WCML

[ENC Rail]

Note - apologies if this is in the wrong sub-forum, I wasn't 100% sure where to post this!

I've got a couple of months off, so I've decided to try and learn as much as I can about a route or mainline I'm not too familiar with, so I've chosen the WCML (including the branches to Manchester, Liverpool, Holyhead etc).

I have been trainspotting on the WCML a few times at Euston, Rugby, Tamworth & more and I know the basics of the route (e.g. Avanti run the full route & intercity services, LNWR run local/semi fast services as far as Crewe/Liverpool, TPE run services on the northern end etc) though it is not a route I'm too familiar with.

I'm looking for any info on passenger services along the WCML (as in trains that operate them, stops, how many trains per hour etc, an example being Euston to Manchester), passenger numbers on the WCML, classes of train (passenger) & TOCs that run on the WCML and any more info you have!


Below are a few main questions I have:


Are the class 390/0s & 390/1s mixed into one common pool, or are certain services always allocated as 9 or 11 car?

Do class 390s still run to Liverpool, or are these services now only operated by 807s?

Are class 350 & 730/2 diagrams one common pool, or are certain diagrams always allocated a certain class?

Are the class 350 subclasses mixed into one common pool?

Where do the branches to Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham etc branch off from the main line?

What are the key depots/sidings along the route?

How many trains leave Euston per hour?

Is the WCML four tracked all the way up to Preston?


If I think of any more questions I'll post them in this thread.

Any info or facts about the WCML are appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[VT 390]

Are the class 390/0s & 390/1s mixed into one common pool, or are certain services always allocated as 9 or 11 car?

Services are usually booked for either 390/0 or 390/1 but either can operate and turn up on all class 390 operated services/routes.

Do class 390s still run to Liverpool, or are these services now only operated by 807s?

1 of the 2 London to Liverpool services each hour is class 390 operated, this is the faster London - Tamworth - Lichfield - Runcorn - Liverpool Lime Street service.
The slower London - Milton Keynes Central - Crewe - Runcorn - Liverpool South Parkway - Liverpool Lime Street service is class 807 operated with occasional class 805. Although class 390 can operate this service on an as required basis but will skip South Parkway (and Hartford).

Are class 350 & 730/2 diagrams one common pool, or are certain diagrams always allocated a certain class?

There are set diagrams for the class 350, class 730/0 and class 730/2. These have changed over time since the 730 introduction.
The 730 generally operate most Euston to Crewe Trent Valley services and some Milton Keynes/Tring to Euston stopping services. A limited number of Birmingham via Northampton services are 730/2 operated. Until last year Birmingham to Liverpool was mainly 730/2 operated but this has now reverted to class 350 operation.
Class 730/0 do still operate some south WCML services (usually in 9 carriage formations) I believe this is planned to end from December 2026.

Are the class 350 subclasses mixed into one common pool?

Generally any of the class 350 with London Northwestern Railway (class 350/1, 350/3 and 350/4) can turn up on any service.
The class 350/2 have left now and these were the only units with a significant interior difference.

Where do the branches to Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham etc branch off from the main line?

Manchester branches off Colwich Junction and Little Bridgeford Junction for services via Stoke-on-Trent and at Crewe for services via Wilmslow.
Liverpool branches off at Weaver Junction.
Birmingham is on the West Midlands loop of the WCML branching off just north of Rugby and re joining the main WCML Trent Valley route at Trent Valley Junction (Stafford).

How many trains leave Euston per hour?

In a standard off peak hour:
Avanti West Coast operate 10 trains per hour (3 Manchester, 2 Liverpool, 1 Chester, 1 Glasgow, 3 Birmingham).
London Northwestern Railway operate 7 trains per hour (2 Birmingham, 1 Crewe, 2 Milton Keynes, 2 Tring).
London Overground (on the Watford DC/Lioness line) operate 4 trains per hour all stations to Watford Junction.

Lumo West Coast operate a few trains a day which are extra to the above service pattern.

In peak hours LNR operate a few additional extra services, there are also a few random extra Avanti services.

Is the WCML four tracked all the way up to Preston?

No, its 4 tracked Euston to Rugby (slow lines via Northampton).
The Trent Valley section (Rugby to Stafford is mainly 4 track except for a 3 track section from Rugby to Nuneaton and is double track Colwich Junction to near Stafford.
Stafford to Crewe is 4 tracked.
Crewe to Preston is mainly double track with 4 tracks from Crewe to just south of Winsford, just north of Warrington Bank Quay, and just North of Wigan North Western to Preston.

 

[Bald Rick]

Avanti West Coast operate 9 trains per hour (3 Manchester, 2 Liverpool, 1 Chester, 1 Glasgow, 3 Birmingham).

Maths check - 10 trains an hour, and one of the Birminghams carries on to Scotland (as well as the hourly Glasgow).

 

[ENC Rail]

Thanks both for the info!

 

[ENC Rail]

Class 730/0 do still operate some south WCML services (usually in 9 carriage formations) I believe this is planned to end from December 2026.

I forgot about the 730/0s, I was thinking purely of LNWR stock!

Manchester branches off Colwich Junction and Little Bridgeford Junction for services via Stoke-on-Trent and at Crewe for services via Wilmslow.

Is it 3 trains each way per two hours, or one each way every 40 minutes?

 

[NormalPerson7]

Is it 3 trains each way per two hours, or one each way every 40 minutes?

For Avanti West Coast London-Manchester, in usual operation 2 trains per hour go via Colwich Junction and Stoke-on-Trent (calling London - Milton Keynes - Rugby - Stoke-on-Trent - Macclesfield - Stockport - Manchester, and London - Nuneaton - Stoke-on-Trent - Stockport - Manchester), and 1 train per hour goes via Crewe (calling London - Stafford - Crewe - Wilmslow - Stockport - Manchester).

Little Bridgeford Junction is used in case of diversions and for trains from Birmingham/Stafford to Stoke-on-Trent/Manchester. On this route, there is one LNR local service per hour from Stafford to Crewe via Stoke-on-Trent, and two CrossCountry services per hour (from Bristol/Bournemouth to Manchester via Birmingham).

 

[VT 390]

Maths check - 10 trains an hour, and one of the Birminghams carries on to Scotland (as well as the hourly Glasgow).

Thanks for spotting that mistake, I do not know how that happened I think I must have forgot the second Liverpool in the Avanti total.

 

[VT 390]

Little Bridgeford Junction is used in case of diversions and for trains from Birmingham/Stafford to Stoke-on-Trent/Manchester. On this route, there is one LNR local service per hour from Stafford to Crewe via Stoke-on-Trent, and two CrossCountry services per hour (from Bristol/Bournemouth to Manchester via Birmingham).

To add to this for completeness there are regular Avanti services booked to use this route towards Stoke-on-Trent each day.
This includes a daily southbound Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston service via Birmingham (class 390 operated), this is additional to the Trent valley Manchesters and fills a gap in Cross Country services towards Birmingham..
There are also 2 northbound extensions of London to Birmingham evening services extended to Crewe via Stoke-on-Trent, one of which is class 805/807 operated and the other class 390 operated.

 

[VT 390]

For Avanti West Coast London-Manchester, in usual operation 2 trains per hour go via Colwich Junction and Stoke-on-Trent (calling London - Milton Keynes - Rugby - Stoke-on-Trent - Macclesfield - Stockport - Manchester, and London - Nuneaton - Stoke-on-Trent - Stockport - Manchester), and 1 train per hour goes via Crewe (calling London - Stafford - Crewe - Wilmslow - Stockport - Manchester).

Is it 3 trains each way per two hours, or one each way every 40 minutes?

The via Stoke-on-Trent services operate each hour on a 20-40 minute frequency with the via Crewe filling in the missing 20 minute gap giving an even 20 minute frequency (on departure from the origin station) Manchester to London.

 

[VT 390]

To summarise the standard off-peak Avanti and London Northwestern service patterns the following operates each hour out of Euston, note in some hours some services do not operate or have minor amendments to the departure times and/or have additional station calls. The rolling stock on some services can be swapped but the primary rolling stock for each is included below:

xx:02 Chester (class 805) Euston - Stafford - Crewe - Chester - (some services extended to Holyhead/Wrexham General)
xx:07 Liverpool Lime Street (class 390) Euston - Tamworth - Lichfield Trent Valley - Runcorn - Liverpool Lime Street
xx:10 Birmingham New Street (class 390) Euston - Coventry - Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
xx:13 Manchester Piccadilly (class 390) Euston - Nuneaton - Stoke on Trent - Stockport - Manchester Piccadilly
xx:16 Birmingham New Street (class 805/807) Euston - Watford Junction - Milton Keynes Central - Rugby - Coventry - Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
xx:30 Glasgow Central (class 390) Euston - Warrington Bank Quay - Wigan North Western - Preston - Lancaster - Oxenholme Lake District (irregular service) - Penrith North Lakes (irregular service) - Carlisle - Glasgow Central
xx:33 Manchester Piccadilly (class 390) Euston - Stafford - Crewe - Wilmslow - Stockport - Manchester Piccadilly
xx:40 Birmingham New Street/Scotland (class 390) Euston - Coventry - Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street - Sandwell & Dudley - Wolverhampton - Stafford - Crewe - Warrington Bank Quay - Wigan North Western - Preston - Lancaster - Oxenholme Lake District (irregular service) - Penrith North Lakes (irregular service) - Carlisle - Glasgow Central (1tp2h) - Haymarket (1tp2h) - Edinburgh (1tp2h) Glasgow and Edinburgh Alternate
xx:43 Liverpool Lime Street (class 805/807) Euston - Milton Keynes Central - Crewe - Runcorn - Liverpool South Parkway - Liverpool Lime Street
xx:53 Manchester Piccadilly (class 390) Euston - Milton Keynes Central - Rugby - Stoke-on-Trent - Macclesfield - Stockport -Manchester Piccadilly


xx:09 Milton Keynes Central (class 350/730) Euston - Harrow & Wealdstone - Bushey - Watford Junction - Kings Langley - Aspley - Hemel Hempstead - Berkhamsted - Tring - Cheddington - Leighton Buzzard - Bletchley - Milton Keynes Central
xx:23 Birmingham New Street (Class 350) Euston - Watford Junction - Leighton Buzzard - Bletchley - Milton Keynes Central - Wolverton - Northampton - Long Buckby - Rugby - Coventry - Canley - Tile Hill - Berkswell - Hampton in Arden - Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
xx:24 Tring (class 350/730) Euston - Harrow & Wealdstone - Watford Junction - Hemel Hempstead - Berkhamsted - Tring
xx:39 Milton Keynes Central (class 350/730) Euston - Harrow & Wealdstone - Bushey - Watford Junction - Kings Langley - Aspley - Hemel Hempstead - Berkhamsted - Tring - Cheddington - Leighton Buzzard - Bletchley - Milton Keynes Central
xx:46 Crewe (class 730) Euston - Milton Keynes Central - Rugby - Nuneaton - Atherstone - Tamworth - Lichfield Trent Valley - Rugeley Trent Valley - Stafford - Crewe
xx:54 Tring (class 350/730) Euston - Harrow & Wealdstone - Watford Junction - Hemel Hempstead - Berkhamsted - Tring
xx:56 Birmingham New Street (class 350) Euston - Leighton Buzzard - Bletchley - Milton Keynes Central - Wolverton - Northampton - Long Buckby - Rugby - Coventry - Canley - Tile Hill - Berkswell - Hampton in Arden - Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street

 

[ENC Rail]

Thanks both for the replies!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Hest Bank level crossing (three miles beyond Lancaster heading North towards Carnforth) is the nearest point that the WCML gets to the coast. Used to be a station here, but closed February 1969.