Virgin Trains to Blackpool

[richardderby]

southern site are already selling tickets for the Blackpool train, although, a bit pricey until advances released..

Outward journey15 Dec 2014
Depart:
London Euston dep. 16:33
Arrive:
Blackpool North, 19:31
Changes: 0 Duration: 2h 58m
Passengers
1 Adult
Anytime Single£166.00
Route: Via any permitted route
Valid anytime on Travel Date. Available on any service.
terms and conditions

 

[yorkie]

There was a BBC article yesterday

Blackpool North will have one train a day on weekdays, starting from 15 December.

Blackpool has been campaigning for a rail link to London ever since the last direct service between the resort and the capital was scrapped in May 2003.

The Blackpool service will call at Kirkham and Wesham, Poulton-le-Fylde, Preston, Wigan North Western, Warrington Bank Quay, Crewe and Nuneaton.

The "Up" (towards London) service will be a single Voyager as it's booked to join an ex-Holyhead service at Crewe.

It's unclear what the length of the "Down" service is, and I can't see whether or not the train will split into two portions.

The trains are:

• 05:25 Blackpool North - London Euston (joins 0448 HHD-EUS at Crewe)
• 16:33 London Euston - Blackpool North

 

[Greenback]

In light of the recent threads prompted by the BBC coverage of Virgin's new services to Shrewsbury and Blackpool, and given that we have a long running thread about Shrewsbury services, I've created this thread to specifically discuss the Blackpool service.

I've moved the above post from a thread started earlier today.

 

[merlodlliw]

reminds me of the 60s, when me and friends caught the 1820 out of Rhyl on a Saturday,then changed at Warrington onto a direct Euston Blackpool service, returning on Sunday night via Manchester Victoria on the 2220 Holyhead boat train.

 

[dannypye9999]

Im guessing the new Blackpool service threatens the 03:37 Blackpool to Man Airport as most passengers using this service were changing at Manchester Picc for the 05:05 to London.

 

[samj]

Im guessing the new Blackpool service threatens the 03:37 Blackpool to Man Airport as most passengers using this service were changing at Manchester Picc for the 05:05 to London.

Really?! Thought it would be more likely to be full of drunks returning from a night out?!

 

[D6975]

There was a BBC article yesterday

The "Up" (towards London) service will be a single Voyager as it's booked to join an ex-Holyhead service at Crewe.

It's unclear what the length of the "Down" service is, and I can't see whether or not the train will split into two portions.

If you put in Chester, NRE doesn't offer a 16:33, so it doesn't have a Chester/N Wales portion. And it's only booked 3 mins at Crewe, don't they usually allow more than this if detaching/attaching?

 

[yorkie]

If you put in Chester, NRE doesn't offer a 16:33, so it doesn't have a Chester/N Wales portion. And it's only booked 3 mins at Crewe, don't they usually allow more than this if detaching/attaching?

Agreed, it's more likely that it doesn't detach.

 

[martinsh]

There was a BBC article yesterday

The "Up" (towards London) service will be a single Voyager as it's booked to join an ex-Holyhead service at Crewe.

It's unclear what the length of the "Down" service is, and I can't see whether or not the train will split into two portions.

The trains are:

• 05:25 Blackpool North - London Euston (joins 0448 HHD-EUS at Crewe)
• 16:33 London Euston - Blackpool North

the 1633 ex Euston is currently a single Voyager to Preston, so I guess it has just been extended to Blackpool ? [ Currently occasionally is a Pendolino, which would cause fun ! ]

 

[Clip]

So aimed at people going to London and not vice versa? Wouldve thought that an early direct to Blackpool especially on say a friday is more beneficial but then again if its tacked onto an existing service it is what it is.

 

[dannypye9999]

Really?! Thought it would be more likely to be full of drunks returning from a night out?!

Never any drunks whenever I travel on it although there used to be a few heading home to nearby Bolton or Preston but since being advertised as a non-stop to Manchester you can have the whole train to yourself.

 

[thealexweb]

Never any drunks whenever I travel on it although there used to be a few heading home to nearby Bolton or Preston but since being advertised as a non-stop to Manchester you can have the whole train to yourself.

Bolton is not advertised as a stop?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Bolton is not advertised as a stop?

Both Preston and Bolton are uplift only so at Blackpool North and Preston (I can't comment for onboard) it would be advertised as first stop Manchester Piccadilly.

 

[WCML]

16:33 ex Euston - the always late train. It manages to catch up by the time it gets up north though with all the padding in the timetable.

Expect some overcrowding on this service. The single voyager just about manages on the busier commuting days, but with extra Blackpool passengers on board, I would imagine there may well be some standing until Rugby.

Very glad I don't use this service anymore, would be unbearable in the shop end of coach D where the door is always jammed open, air con knackered and nasty smells leaking in.

 

[merlodlliw]

16:33 ex Euston - the always late train. It manages to catch up by the time it gets up north though with all the padding in the timetable.

Expect some overcrowding on this service. The single voyager just about manages on the busier commuting days, but with extra Blackpool passengers on board, I would imagine there may well be some standing until Rugby.

Very glad I don't use this service anymore, would be unbearable in the shop end of coach D where the door is always jammed open, air con knackered and nasty smells leaking in.

I would have thought Blackpool passengers would be using the current service anyway & change at Preston.
The importance for the service is to London,same from Shrewsbury,Always good publicity for your towns name appearing on the screens at Euston.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If you put in Chester, NRE doesn't offer a 16:33, so it doesn't have a Chester/N Wales portion. And it's only booked 3 mins at Crewe, don't they usually allow more than this if detaching/attaching?

Noting that we are on the "Virgin service to Blackpool" thread, I am somewhat intruiged by the mention of Chester station at the start of the posting above.

 

[tractakid]

Paul, Chester is served by the other portion of the morning train from Blackpool, from Holyhead, which join at Crewe. This is not the case for Blackpool's return train, and checking for departures to Chester at 16:33 was the way of testing this.

 

[theshillito]

Since the only Virgin Train to Blackpool is the one in the evening, shouldn't the title of the thread be "Virgin Trains from Blackpool"?

I'm kinda surprised Shrewsbury gets more than one service while Blackpool is left with one, but perhaps the number of passengers from Shrewsbury combined with those from Telford are more than those from the Blackpool North line? I guess it could just be down to paths and timetabling.

 

[snail]

I'm kinda surprised Shrewsbury gets more than one service while Blackpool is left with one, but perhaps the number of passengers from Shrewsbury combined with those from Telford are more than those from the Blackpool North line? I guess it could just be down to paths and timetabling.

Another possible morning service would be to move the 0658 ex Lancaster. This used to be a Voyager service to Birmingham but was switched to a Pendolino when extended to Euston last December.

 

[WatcherZero]

Since the only Virgin Train to Blackpool is the one in the evening, shouldn't the title of the thread be "Virgin Trains from Blackpool"?

I'm kinda surprised Shrewsbury gets more than one service while Blackpool is left with one, but perhaps the number of passengers from Shrewsbury combined with those from Telford are more than those from the Blackpool North line? I guess it could just be down to paths and timetabling.

Just being done by extending existing diagrams, no rolling stock to put on a more frequent service, or during actually useful times of day.....

 

[dk1]

Just being done by extending existing diagrams, no rolling stock to put on a more frequent service, or during actually useful times of day.....

Just got to wait till they string them wires

 

[dannypye9999]

Just got to wait till they string them wires

What wires?

 

[LeylandLen]

I assume, when its electrified in a few years time, Blackpool N with have at least 2 platforms long enough to take 11 car Pendelinos/ 2 x 5 car Voyagers ? Will Poulton , Kirkham have suitable length platforms ??

 

[dk1]

What wires?

Have you not heard

 

[BantamMenace]

I assume, when its electrified in a few years time, Blackpool N with have at least 2 platforms long enough to take 11 car Pendelinos/ 2 x 5 car Voyagers ? Will Poulton , Kirkham have suitable length platforms ??

in a word, no. Extension/refurbishment of the Poulton platform to the east would be relatively easy though. Cant comment for kirkham

 

[Howardh]

Looking at that single ticket price above...I think I'll fly if it's all the same!

Meanwhile, will the Fleetwood link ever happen*....and if it does will there ever be direct London/Fleetwood trains? *What's the latest news on that??

Be handy for Premiership football fans in a few years !!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Another possible morning service would be to move the 0658 ex Lancaster. This used to be a Voyager service to Birmingham but was switched to a Pendolino when extended to Euston last December.

What are the loadings like at Lancaster on the 0658 stated above ?

 

[dannypye9999]

Have you not heard

So far ive heard there wiring up Preston to Blackpool in the next five year but I will believe it when I see it.

 

[The Planner]

Best wait then because its happening.

 

[snail]

What are the loadings like at Lancaster on the 0658 stated above ?

Pretty quiet based on my limited observations at Preston. Even leaving Preston it's not that busy. But it is an 11 car Pendolino. I suspect it will get much busier at Wolverhampton & Birmingham.