PNEPAULS Travels

[pnepaul]

For the first time in a long while I am doing some travelling. Just a brief summary of what I have been up to.

Sunday, October 10th.

I travelled on the 16.09 Avanti service from Carlisle to Crewe. The train was very busy. I had already decided to sample Standard Premier. I found a seat in coach H and waited for someone to take my supplement. No one came so I got it for free, a good start to my travels. The journey was uneventful, apart from the usual slow approach to Crewe due to signals.

I then took the 18?? from LNWR Crewe direct to Stafford. I was surprised to see this 8 car train about 75% full, especially as it was Sunday evening. I took a taxi to the Premier Inn I had booked, I was told No breakfast as there was a gas leak in the restaurant. At least I got a refund for that.

Monday, October 11th.

A short journey on the 10.52 LNWR service from Stafford to Tamworth. Not much to see at both stations, but managed a coffee and a pastry while I waited for my next train ...

Which was the 12.19 Cross Country service to York. This was packed, as far as I could see every seat was taken. I had a large suitcase and had great difficulty find somewhere to stow it!. I was in coach C but eventually, put the case in coach D storage.

My final journey was from York to Newark North Gate on the 15.33 LNER service. This was very busy. I was in 1st Class and the coach was almost full.

I had planned to use a taxi from Newark station to the Premier Inn I had booked. None turned up at the taxi rank and the 2 local firms I rang were too busy. I walked to the hotel lol. Actually, it wasn't as far as I thought it would be.

Hopefully, I will be doing a few more of my modest journies!

 

[Kite159]

The Crewe - Euston via Trent Valley services are getting more popular due to the lack of cheap fares on Avanti.

When you see adverts on the interweb saying "London to Manchester one way from £39" and you know the cheaper LNwR + TfW only tickets are £35 for the super offpeak or £45 for offpeak. I can remember when I could do a return trip to Manchester from Grateley for around £39, when Virgin Trains had good priced "VTWC+ Connections" tickets. Shame the last few times I've looked at the fares of the 21:00 London - Manchester train which pre Covid I could get cheap have been more expensive than using XC from Basingstoke. The only really cheap advances seem to be on that late night service which doesn't arrive into Manchester until the early hours.

Hope the hotels were good

 

[Techniquest]

A nice bit of variety in there, you certainly got some busy trains there! I agree with Kite, sensibly priced Avanti tickets appear to have gone the way of the dodo. Such a shame Avanti are ruining the WCML (in my opinion), I've got to the point of refusing to travel with them unless there's no alternative. LNWR do a much better job of transporting me to and from London! A shame though as I do like the 390s.

Looking forward to more from you in due course!

 

[pnepaul]

Tuesday, October 12th.

I took advantage of cheap advance 1st Class tickets on LNER ( Avanti take note!)

I was on the 10.20 Newark North Gate to Kings Cross and 13.00 Kings Cross to York. Not much to say except the Kings Cross to York was delayed by 20 or so by a bridge strike at Finsbury Park. Also worth noting that both services were about 90% full even in 1st Class.

Wednesday, October 13th

My plan was Newark Castle to Grimsby Town via Lincoln, then Grimsby to Doncaster, two new routes for me...... however!

I walked from the Premier Inn to Newark Castle. I had a coffee and a large portion of lemon drizzle cake in the Coaches cafe on the station. I can recommend the cafe.
I boarded the 11.01 from Newark to Grimsby. During the journey, I got a message from TPE that my train from Grimsby to Doncaster had been cancelled. As I had other trips planned - see below - I discovered all was not lost as I could take the 11.50 from Lincoln to Doncaster via Gainsborough, another new route for me. It was a pleasant journey but was surprised to pass 3 freight trains on the way.

As I had done the ECML north of York for a while I had taken advantage of more cheap 1st Class fares on LNER. £27.50 on the return journey from Newcastle to Newark. Once again both LNER trains were abt 90% full, even in 1st Class.