Train classes between Lon Euston and L'pool L.Street

[tjhux]

OK so this is my first time posting on this forum so sorry if my lay-out is wrong in away way. But, to the point: I'll be travelling for the first time from Euston to Runcorn since a good couple years and I was wondering what trains Avanti WC use on this route. I know they operate the Class 390 (and recently the 800 series) but I've seen the class 220/221 fly by, too - and from what I've heard they aren't the best trains for 'long' distance journeys. Please can someone tell me if I'll be at risk of riding on a Voyager as I've long forgot what they use on this route

 

[alistairlees]

OK so this is my first time posting on this forum so sorry if my lay-out is wrong in away way. But, to the point: I'll be travelling by myself for the first time from Euston to Runcorn since a good couple years and I was wondering what trains Avanti WC use on this route. I know they operate the Class 390 (and recently the 800 series) but I've seen the class 220/221 fly by, too - and from what I've heard they aren't the best trains for 'long' distance journeys. Please can someone tell me if I'll be at risk of riding on a Voyager as I've long forgot what they use on this route

It will be a Pendolino (class 390). It won't be a Voyager.

 

[Energy]

It's almost always a class 390 in my experience, you can check on the day with RealTimeTrains if you'd like to be sure.

New class 807s are due to operate an additional train per hour but are indefinetley delayed due to an insufficient overhead power supply.

It will be a Pendolino (class 390). It won't be a Voyager.

Never say never, they have been there before but its very rare.

 

[tjhux]

It will be a Pendolino (class 390). It won't be a Voyager.

well I've never used it before so I could be misinterpreting it, but I checked RealTime Trains and they say it will be a "80x"? So am I correct in interpreting that as a class 805?

 

[Energy]

well I've never used it before so I could be misinterpreting it, but I checked RealTime Trains and they say it will be a "80x"? So am I correct in interpreting that as a class 805?

It may say it is pathed as an 80x, this means that it the timetable has been written so a class 805 or 807 could run the service. The class 390 is a bit quicker so it can run it to time and is usually early.

When a specific unit is assigned it will show on RealTimeTrains like this:

 

[tjhux]

It may say it is pathed as an 80x, this means that it the timetable has been written so a class 805 or 807 could run the service. The class 390 is a bit quicker so it can run it to time and is usually early.

When a specific unit is assigned it will show on RealTimeTrains like this:
View attachment 161474

aaah thank you for showing me, although I hope I do get a 80x (despite the bad reviews I've heard....)

 

[Energy]

aaah thank you for showing me, although I hope I do get a 80x (despite the bad reviews I've heard....)

The Avanti ones have different seats and an onboard shop, they are quite nice.

 

[tjhux]

The Avanti ones have different seats and an onboard shop, they are quite nice.

how good are the seats? I saw a review about GWR's 80x (I get confused with the numbers, they're all the same anyway :/) and apparently they're really bad..?

 

[Energy]

how good are the seats? I saw a review about GWR's 80x (I get confused with the numbers, they're all the same anyway :/) and apparently they're really bad..?

The Avanti ones are quite nice (your opinion may vary!) and are almost the same as the ones in the now refurbished pendolinos. Much better than the GWR seats which have worn rather poorly.

 

[tjhux]

The Avanti ones are quite nice (your opinion may vary!) and are almost the same as the ones in the now refurbished pendolinos. Much better than the GWR seats which have worn rather poorly.

sadly I haven't been on a Pendolino for some years now :`(
are they similar to the 350s ran by LNR?

 

[Energy]

sadly I haven't been on a Pendolino for some years now :`(
are they similar to the 350s ran by LNR?

Not really, the seats are the same as the Lumo 803s on the off-chance you've been on them. They are nice seats anyway.

 

[tjhux]

Not really, the seats are the same as the Lumo 803s on the off-chance you've been on them. They are nice seats anyway.

nope :¦
Are they similar to any trains that run the WCML/Over/Underground?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

nope :¦
Are they similar to any trains that run the WCML/Over/Underground?

Pendolinos are Pendolinos (Alstom).
No other train in the UK is similar, certainly not LNR's Siemens 350s.
They have all been refurbished internally with new seating and fittings since you last used one.
You will only find 80x (just 805 currently) on London-Chester-North Wales services and a few Birmingham trains.
If you really want to try an Avanti 80x, get a Chester/North Wales train and change at Crewe or Chester for Liverpool.
Note that Voyagers still run about half of these trains.
RTT will tell you on the day what sort of train is operating your service.

If you want to avoid Avanti, use an LNR 350 to Crewe and change there (into another LNR 350).

 

[tjhux]

Pendolinos are Pendolinos (Alstom).
No other train in the UK is similar, certainly not LNR's Siemens 350s.
They have all been refurbished internally with new seating and fittings since you last used one.
You will only find 80x (just 805 currently) on London-Chester-North Wales services and a few Birmingham trains.
If you really want to try an Avanti 80x, get a Chester/North Wales train and change at Crewe or Chester for Liverpool.
Note that Voyagers still run about half of these trains.
RTT will tell you on the day what sort of train is operating your service.

If you want to avoid Avanti, use an LNR 350 to Crewe and change there (into another LNR 350).

Sadly I already have the tickets booked.
But based on what you've told me, as I'll be staying in Chester, I will have luck getting one from CTR to L'pool*? Or would I better getting one to somewhere is Wales?
*just looked at RealTime Trains and AWC don't run that route

 

[yorkie]

well I've never used it before so I could be misinterpreting it, but I checked RealTime Trains and they say it will be a "80x"?

It doesn't say that.

You are looking at the timing load.

So am I correct in interpreting that as a class 805?

The Realtimetrains website does not show booked traction type; for some/many TOCs it will show the allocation, but typically not until the day.

 

[Energy]

Sadly I already have the tickets booked.
But based on what you've told me, as I'll be staying in Chester, I will have luck getting one from CTR to L'pool? Or would I better getting one to somewhere is Wales?

Unlikely but the refurbished 390s are quite different to the unrefurbished and rather nice. If its your first time getting one then it certainly isn't a trip wasted.

 

[tjhux]

Unlikely but the refurbished 390s are quite different to the unrefurbished and rather nice. If its your first time getting one then it certainly isn't a trip wasted.

well hopefully I get a refurbished train and not an old 390.........or god forbid a Voyager

 

[hexagon789]

well hopefully I get a refurbished train and not an old 390.........or god forbid a Voyager

The 390s have all been refurbished now and there's no danger of a Super Voyager on an Avanti service to Liverpool.

 

[tjhux]

The 390s have all been refurbished now and there's no danger of a Super Voyager on an Avanti service to Liverpool.

pheeww that's a relief

 

[childwallblues]

The 390s have all been refurbished now and there's no danger of a Super Voyager on an Avanti service to Liverpool.

Yes very unlikely to be a Voyager especially as the fleet has been reduced with the transfers to XC. But is is not unknown. A couple of years the 390 for the service failed and the only replacement available was a 221. It only ran as far as Crewe were it was replaced by.................a double 221! Liverpool crews sign 221s and poobably 805s now as they work some trains into North Wales.