Travel advice & experiences during the Glasgow Central disruption

[Buzby]

I was booked to travel tomorrow to Sheffield via TPE to Manchester then EMR. This won’t happen due to the closure, TPE say there’s ticket acceptance to Edinburgh on ScotRail and southbound TPE from Edinburgh.

My issue is I can get to Sheffield by both LNER and CrossCountry, but there’s no acceptance.

Anyone more versed on the available permutations available to get me there?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Failed Unit]

In terms of trains yes.
Sheffield - Doncaster, Doncaster - Edinburgh and then Edinburgh - Glasgow Queen Street with various operators.

Likewise you can use XC direct from Sheffield - Edinburgh then Scotrail to Queen Street

what specific tickets do you have - acceptance isn't too clear. I would be amazed if you were blocked if you hare doing a sheffield - Glasgow journey considering the situation.

 

[Buzby]

Sadly the 2 main TOCs on the ECML are LNER & XC both not offering acceptance of my Advance ticket when service was cancelled at 1100 this morning. From Glasgow I can use ScotRail to Edinburgh then TPE to Preston, Northern to Manchester, then try a pick up the EMR service, but I’m going from a booked single change to almost 4!

 

[Failed Unit]

Is it worth cancelling your ticket(s) and seeing what trainsplit provides going via ECML on a new ticket?

 

[Buzby]

I used the Forum site for the originals. Looking again, the cost is now double! So making use of acceptance seems the only cost-effective way forward!

 

[cheshlanc]

Is the probable effect on tomorrow's Avanti services known yet? National Rail is still suggesting the 0617 Warrington Bank Quay to Glasgow will be running as usual (clearly impossible) but some trains were being terminated at Preston today. I'll be travelling to Lancaster, what are my chances of getting beyond Preston?

 

[mmh]

Is the probable effect on tomorrow's Avanti services known yet? National Rail is still suggesting the 0617 Warrington Bank Quay to Glasgow will be running as usual (clearly impossible) but some trains were being terminated at Preston today. I'll be travelling to Lancaster, what are my chances of getting beyond Preston?

I would guess it's likely you'll have to go via Edinburgh, or via Motherwell and change onto the Central low level service for wherever's most convenient (Argyle Street is nearest if your final destination is the Central / nearby)

 

[Pacef8]

Booked to go to glasgow on the one train that runs from liverpool in the morning . Could we use our tickets and just go to carlisle instead ?

 

[D1537]

Booked to go to glasgow on the one train that runs from liverpool in the morning . Could we use our tickets and just go to carlisle instead ?

Yes, if it runs (it will terminate at Carlisle anyway).

 

[cheshlanc]

I would guess it's likely you'll have to go via Edinburgh, or via Motherwell and change onto the Central low level service for wherever's most convenient (Argyle Street is nearest if your final destination is the Central / nearby)

Thank you - but to clarify, I'm only going as far as Lancaster (on the 0617 to Glasgow), my question is what the chances are of services that are meant to terminate at Glasgow running through to Edinburgh like some did today? Or will they be terminating at Preston like others did?

 

[teaspoon]

Thank you - but to clarify, I'm only going as far as Lancaster (on the 0617 to Glasgow), my question is what the chances are of services that are meant to terminate at Glasgow running through to Edinburgh like some did today? Or will they be terminating at Preston like others did?

Many of Avanti's services terminated at Motherwell, and I'd imagine it'll be a similar situation tomorrow.

(I'm heading south this evening and could have gone that way, but a reasonably-priced Seatfrog upgrade tempted me to go through to Edinburgh instead)

 

[cheshlanc]

Many of Avanti's services terminated at Motherwell, and I'd imagine it'll be a similar situation tomorrow.

(I'm heading south this evening and could have gone that way, but a reasonably-priced Seatfrog upgrade tempted me to go through to Edinburgh instead)

Hopefully that happens tomorrow then!

 

[D1537]

Thank you - but to clarify, I'm only going as far as Lancaster (on the 0617 to Glasgow), my question is what the chances are of services that are meant to terminate at Glasgow running through to Edinburgh like some did today? Or will they be terminating at Preston like others did?

The Preston issues today were mostly because of a trespassing incident. The 0617 should run to at least Carlisle tomorrow. Basically the plan is that the hourly Euston-Glasgow direct trains run to Motherwell and the ones that go via Birmingham terminate at Carlisle. Edinburgh trains should be unaffected.

 

[mmh]

Thank you - but to clarify, I'm only going as far as Lancaster (on the 0617 to Glasgow), my question is what the chances are of services that are meant to terminate at Glasgow running through to Edinburgh like some did today? Or will they be terminating at Preston like others did?

My apologies, I completely overlooked that you said you were going to Lancaster! Sorry about that.

 

[Krokodil]

The 0617 should run to at least Carlisle tomorrow. Basically the plan is that the hourly Euston-Glasgow direct trains run to Motherwell and the ones that go via Birmingham terminate at Carlisle.

I hope that those who complain about Avanti cutting off everything north of Preston whenever there's an issue affecting only part of the line are taking note.

 

[185143]

I hope that those who complain about Avanti cutting off everything north of Preston whenever there's an issue affecting only part of the line are taking note.

To be fair, they seem to have been making more of an effort recently.

AFAIK, the last infamous "Do Not Travel North of Preston" was issued last year. If this had happened 6 months ago, I've not doubt at all they'd have acted differently to now.

 

[D1511]

I hope that those who complain about Avanti cutting off everything north of Preston whenever there's an issue affecting only part of the line are taking note.

To be fair, they seem to have been making more of an effort recently.

AFAIK, the last infamous "Do Not Travel North of Preston" was issued last year. If this had happened 6 months ago, I've not doubt at all they'd have acted differently to now.

9S80 was cancelled at Preston on Wednesday last week, with me on board. So they're still happy to do it when it's operationally convenient for them. At least they didn't run it ECS to Edinburgh once they'd thrown off the passengers though, as they've done to me before.
With all the grief at Central, perhaps they'll make a special effort to run all the Edinburghs at least for the next few days... .

 

[Acathater]

Thank you - but to clarify, I'm only going as far as Lancaster (on the 0617 to Glasgow), my question is what the chances are of services that are meant to terminate at Glasgow running through to Edinburgh like some did today? Or will they be terminating at Preston like others did?

If the train is stopped at Preston the Northern Barrow and Windermere services should still be running

 

[Krokodil]

9S80 was cancelled at Preston on Wednesday last week, with me on board. So they're still happy to do it when it's operationally convenient for them.

Presumably that was down to inbound crew being displaced by problems north of Carlisle. Altering trains because you've got no one to work them is rather different to throwing the towel in on the whole service because only part of the route is blocked.

 

[AY1975]

Hopefully Glasgow Central will have reopened by Wednesday of next week when I'm due to travel to Glasgow for the day with TransPennine, but if not, I presume I will be able to put in a claim for a cancelled journey if I decide not to make the journey at all.

Or if I decide still to make the journey as far as Carlisle, would I be able to claim a partial refund? And would I have to go to Carlisle as that would be where my train would terminate and I hold a ticket to Glasgow, or would I be allowed to alight at an intermediate station such as Lancaster or Oxenholme and spend the day there instead?

 

[Pacef8]

I have asked the same but trans pennine would give the definitive answer i guess. The glasgow train from liverpool didnt even appear on realtrains website this morning.

 

[enginedin]

I was booked to travel tomorrow to Sheffield via TPE to Manchester then EMR. This won’t happen due to the closure, TPE say there’s ticket acceptance to Edinburgh on Scotrsil and southbound TPE from Edinburgh

I realise this might have been yesterday, but there was (and still is) ticket acceptance with Avanti and Northern, so you could have got to Manchester, at which point you would then have been on your original route to Sheffield.

As @Failed Unit says, I can't imagine any ticket which is to, or via, Glasgow at the moment is going to be rejected by any TOC

 

[Solweytracker]

The TPE Edinburgh to Manchester/Preston WCML services have taken a bad hit today (and yesterday) as a result of the fire adjacent to Glasgow Central. According to RealtimeTrains only 3 are running each way, compared to the normal 7 e.w.

The 8 e.w. TPE Edinburgh to Newcastle ECML services appear fully scheduled according to timetable and running smoothly.

Can anyone shed more light on exactly why TPE are having to withdraw the Edinburgh WCML services? I am aware that the official websites refer to staff displaced at Glasgow Central, but this knock-on effect on an obvious alternative routeing for a second day is concerning.

 

[Acathater]

The TPE Edinburgh to Manchester/Preston WCML services have taken a bad hit today (and yesterday) as a result of the fire adjacent to Glasgow Central. According to RealtimeTrains only 3 are running each way, compared to the normal 7 e.w.

The 8 e.w. TPE Edinburgh to Newcastle ECML services appear fully scheduled according to timetable and running smoothly.

Can anyone shed more light on exactly why TPE are having to withdraw the Edinburgh WCML services? I am aware that the official websites refer to staff displaced at Glasgow Central, but this knock-on effect on an obvious alternative routeing for a second day is concerning.

Only a guess but are the Edinburgh trains handled by Glasgow crew?

 

[hexagon789]

The TPE Edinburgh to Manchester/Preston WCML services have taken a bad hit today (and yesterday) as a result of the fire adjacent to Glasgow Central. According to RealtimeTrains only 3 are running each way, compared to the normal 7 e.w.

The 8 e.w. TPE Edinburgh to Newcastle ECML services appear fully scheduled according to timetable and running smoothly.

Can anyone shed more light on exactly why TPE are having to withdraw the Edinburgh WCML services? I am aware that the official websites refer to staff displaced at Glasgow Central, but this knock-on effect on an obvious alternative routeing for a second day is concerning.

Only a guess but are the Edinburgh trains handled by Glasgow crew?

TPE don't have a depot in Edinburgh, so the WCML services are all crewed by either Glasgow or Preston.

The TPE Edinburgh/Newcastle are Glasgow or Newcastle drivers and perhaps there's some slack at Newcastle that can be used to cover those diagrams Glasgow would work.

 

[Buzby]

As @Failed Unit says, I can't imagine any ticket which is to, or via, Glasgow

I decided to set off early, head to Edinburgh and see what was suggested. No issues with my (clearly incorrect) tickets when scanned by train staff, however at Waverley staff opened the manual gates and loudly told ’West Coast’ passengers NOT to scan tickets because the barriers would reject them.

My original ticket was TPE (Glasgow to Manchester) and EMR (Manchester to Sheffield). Finding a TPE bod, he suggested I take a TPE train to Newcastle which left in 30 minutes. Train staff said nobody would have an issue with Glasgow passengers, and there was a TPE service heading to Liverpool, and if I bailed out at Leeds, I could get a Northern express service to Sheffield (ticket acceptance permitted). I had a journey on 4 trains with 3 changes and arrived 90 minutes earlier than using my west coast route! (Even then I was told to claim Delay Repay for the inconvenience!).

With Central not reopening for my return on Friday, I’ll be doing something similar on the way back - I was really impressed with all staff I was in contact with and the resilience of the network, not only that it was FUN, and felt like I had an any train Rover!

 

[Pacef8]

I guess you cannot claim for Fridays cancelled service from liverpool to glasgow . Even though the station has announced it will not be open by then ?

 

[Buzby]

I guess you cannot claim for Fridays cancelled service from liverpool to glasgow

Already received an email confirming my return Sheffield to Manchester & Manchester to Glasgow (both TPE) are cancelled. My best alternative option will be Sheffield to York & York to Edinburgh (both XC) then ScotRail Edinburgh to Glasgow QS. Unsure if TPE will have ticket acceptance in place but then, but I‘m willing to argue my case if challenged!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The TPE Edinburgh to Manchester/Preston WCML services have taken a bad hit today (and yesterday) as a result of the fire adjacent to Glasgow Central. According to RealtimeTrains only 3 are running each way, compared to the normal 7 e.w.

The 8 e.w. TPE Edinburgh to Newcastle ECML services appear fully scheduled according to timetable and running smoothly.

Can anyone shed more light on exactly why TPE are having to withdraw the Edinburgh WCML services? I am aware that the official websites refer to staff displaced at Glasgow Central, but this knock-on effect on an obvious alternative routeing for a second day is concerning.

I don't know the background but Avanti have diverted some Glasgow (via Birmingham) trains to/from Edinburgh, and may be using the cancelled TPE paths to do that.
This hasn't been specifically publicised, but it may be because of limited capacity to turn trains at Motherwell.

 

[MontyP]

Travelling from London to Glasgow later today - is the best way to go LNER via Edinburgh, or Avanti to Motherwell and then the ScotRail local? Is there any problem getting on the local at Motherwell? A colleague of mine travelled earlier in the week and he had heard stories of 1-2 hour waits at Motherwell