WCML Christmas Engineering Blockade

[SprinterMan]

Travelling home from uni in Bangor to East Anglia on December 23rd, I was expecting the 1217 to be direct through to London as it is timetabled to be, but instead there appears to be an engineering blockade taking possession of all lines south of Milton Keynes. I have been given the following trains as the way home:
http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/schedule?runs_on=Sunday+23rd+December+2012&train_uid=P50636
http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/schedule?runs_on=Sunday+23rd+December+2012&train_uid=P50644
http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/schedule?runs_on=Sunday+23rd+December+2012&train_uid=S89079

This final train appears to be one of the "blockade busters" as it runs down the Chilterns before picking up the GWML at West Ealing then the WCML at Willseden. Does anyone have any idea what this train will be? Double Voyager, Triple Voyager or T&T 57/Pretendolino. I am gonna be controversial here and say that I would prefer a Voyager, as the Pretendolino is the same as a GA IC set (which I have been on lots in the past) with the only difference being interior colour scheme, and I have been stung by 57 unreliability several times in the past. The big windows of the Voyager will be very good for sightseeing in the Chilterns (I am not a masochist :P). I just hope Directly Operated First Virgin West Coast Trains or whatever gets me home in time for christmas :P

Adam

 

[MCR247]

All I can say is that in the past Virgin have used 15 car voyager sets on the Chiltern runs I'd expect maybe a 10 car voyager?

 

[Lrd]

I read on here recently that it is likely to be 15-car Voyagers, like last time. No idea of the source though.

 

[ryan125hst]

Do the 15-car voyagers fit on the platforms?

 

[MCR247]

They do at Euston because the sleeper fits

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I believe they require X stop boards at Coventry (indicating that the train must stop exactly there in order to fit on safely), but they can fit at Euston and Birmingham International fine IIRC.

 

[Eagle]

I believe they require X stop boards at Coventry (indicating that the train must stop exactly there in order to fit on safely), but they can fit at Euston and Birmingham International fine IIRC.

Don't think so, the stop boards at Coventry are just ordinary ones with the legend "14/15". Nuneaton has the same ones.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Don't think so, the stop boards at Coventry are just ordinary ones with the legend "14/15". Nuneaton has the same ones.

Ah, I'm sure it used to, or I may be thinking of Birmingham International...

 

[telstarbox]

I'll be on the 1313 blockade buster from Nuneaton in about an hour so will update from there.

Currently on the 1115 Manchester - Rugby (Pendolino) service. The guard had advised London passengers to travel Nuneaton-Leicester-St Pancras (apparently on advice from his Control). When he checked my ticket/reservations he didn't believe that trains were going that way at first so I showed him my confirmation email! He has now advised passengers to take the blockade buster instead.

---

It's a double Class 221.

 

[embers25]

With the official advice being to avoid to blockade buster and travel via Leicester are XC running voyagers instead of 170's on the Brum-Leicester service to allow for all the extra pax?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Currently on the 1115 Manchester - Rugby (Pendolino) service. The guard had advised London passengers to travel Nuneaton-Leicester-St Pancras (apparently on advice from his Control). When he checked my ticket/reservations he didn't believe that trains were going that way at first so I showed him my confirmation email! He has now advised passengers to take the blockade buster instead.

It's completely baffling that the VT guard would not know about the blockade buster trains, as they are running solely to connect with trains like his and have been planned for months...
Also printed in the holiday alterations leaflet that VT has been dishing out for weeks...

 

[dvboy]

Having looked up the alternatives for anyone travelling from Wolverhampton to London, depending on the time/day, the journey planner will advise all manner of options including connections with the blockade buster trains at Coventry, XC to Leamington then Chiltern, New Street then walk to Moor Street for Chiltern, XC to Oxford then FGW to Paddington, or XC to Leicester and EMT to St Pancras.

 

[telstarbox]

Having looked up the alternatives for anyone travelling from Wolverhampton to London, depending on the time/day, the journey planner will advise all manner of options including connections with the blockade buster trains at Coventry, XC to Leamington then Chiltern, New Street then walk to Moor Street for Chiltern, XC to Oxford then FGW to Paddington, or XC to Leicester and EMT to St Pancras.

Indeed - the blockade buster I was on was caped at Coventry as there was (is?) a broken freight train blocking the line between Cov and Leamington, with passengers advised to head to New Street then take Chiltern from Moor St to Marylebone.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Unfortunately NRES and Real Train times are showing that a few different Blockbuster services have suffered from "train faults".

10:46 Euston to Nuneaton got as far as Leamington Spa (passed 12:43, 3 mins down), and the usual 11 min journey to Coventry took it aprox 2h25 mins.. Train terminated at Coventry.

09:29 Crewe to Euston started its journey 51 mins late at 10:20, arrived into Euston at 13:22, its 12:51 return working to Nuneaton left Euston at 13:56, 65 mins down..

As much as I love Super Voyagers, I'm glad I'm not travelling today.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Indeed - the blockade buster I was on was caped at Coventry as there was (is?) a broken freight train blocking the line between Cov and Leamington, with passengers advised to head to New Street then take Chiltern from Moor St to Marylebone.

Ah, ignore my post then!

 

[Ferret]

Indeed - the blockade buster I was on was caped at Coventry as there was (is?) a broken freight train blocking the line between Cov and Leamington, with passengers advised to head to New Street then take Chiltern from Moor St to Marylebone.

XC reckoned it was the blockbuster itself that failed!

 

[voyagerdude220]

NRES reported on individual Blockbuster services, as it being down to a "train fault".

Real train times also states that some Super Voyagers were delayed due to "A problem with the train", as apposed to being delayed by another train, which is why I was under the impression that one of the VT services was indeed the cause of delays.

 

[telstarbox]

It's not ideal, particularly as there are many 'occasional' Christmas passengers on the network this weekend with big suitcases etc.

On the other hand, there were plenty of staff at Nuneaton to help passengers change between trains so the chaotic scenes forecast by the Guardian didn't materialise there.

 

[Qwerty133]

With the official advice being to avoid to blockade buster and travel via Leicester are XC running voyagers instead of 170's on the Brum-Leicester service to allow for all the extra pax?

Have tweeted VT on more than one occasion telling them why this route wasn't appropriate just to add to this I currently have a (overdue) complaint in with XC about overcrowding on this service on the 9th (a Sunday) VT had no response and were suggesting this as it gave the quickest journey times. Hope there's extra staff at Leicester station and narborough and hinkley to deal with the passengers that wouldn't have been able to board the train

 

[Ferret]

Have tweeted VT on more than one occasion telling them why this route wasn't appropriate just to add to this I currently have a (overdue) complaint in with XC about overcrowding on this service on the 9th (a Sunday) VT had no response and were suggesting this as it gave the quickest journey times. Hope there's extra staff at Leicester station and narborough and hinkley to deal with the passengers that wouldn't have been able to board the train

My friend on the ground tells me that the trains between Leicester and Nuneaton are rammed to the rafters. Just as predicted by the Guardian (oh how I hate to defend that cretinous newspaper), it's chaos there! Not a great deal XC can do about it either - no spare Voyager crews about at the moment so the only option for strengthening the Leicester's would be extra 170s. I believe at the time this blockade was announced, I suggested somebody needed a reality check in the form of a P45... I've not changed my mind.

 

[DarloRich]

My friend on the ground tells me that the trains between Leicester and Nuneaton are rammed to the rafters. Just as predicted by the Guardian (oh how I hate to defend that cretinous newspaper), it's chaos there! Not a great deal XC can do about it either - no spare Voyager crews about at the moment so the only option for strengthening the Leicester's would be extra 170s. I believe at the time this blockade was announced, I suggested somebody needed a reality check in the form of a P45... I've not changed my mind.

So when should the work be done?

 

[Qwerty133]

My friend on the ground tells me that the trains between Leicester and Nuneaton are rammed to the rafters. Just as predicted by the Guardian (oh how I hate to defend that cretinous newspaper), it's chaos there! Not a great deal XC can do about it either - no spare Voyager crews about at the moment so the only option for strengthening the Leicester's would be extra 170s. I believe at the time this blockade was announced, I suggested somebody needed a reality check in the form of a P45... I've not changed my mind.

Does he know that this is caused by the WCML blockade r if its just the normal passengers and anyway not as though XC haven't had enough notice to get extra voyager crews in as they should be cleared to at least Leicester due to recent diversions

 

[Goatboy]

Does he know that this is caused by the WCML blockade r if its just the normal passengers

What do you want him to, conduct a survey of each individual passenger to find out why they are there?

 

[Ferret]

So when should the work be done?

Not just before Christmas, that's for sure.

I think I understand what you're saying in that there's never a good time, but don't do it in the immediate run up to Christmas for Christ's sake. My point at the time was based on my experience over the last decade of working trains, whereby everyone leaves it until the last minute to get where they are going for Christmas, and then spread out over the few days afterwards to make their way home between Christmas and New Year. The gamble taken was that everyone would travel on Friday afternoon when everything was still open. Got that one wrong, didn't we oh wise planners......!

 

[Qwerty133]

What do you want him to, conduct a survey of each individual passenger to find out why they are there?

No but how many of the passengers have actually boarded/alighted at NUneaton rather than being on the service the whole way or alighting/boarding at narborough hinkley coeshill south wigston and water Orion

 

[Ferret]

Does he know that this is caused by the WCML blockade r if its just the normal passengers and anyway not as though XC haven't had enough notice to get extra voyager crews in as they should be cleared to at least Leicester due to recent diversions

Voyagers to LEI was never going to happen. There aren't even the crews to run the booked Voyager service right now, let alone get the extras in. And even then, you're assuming that there are spare Voyagers in the first place. In any case, standard class capacity wise, there aint much difference between a 4 car Voyager (maximum for platform length on that line) and a 3 car 170. What's the point in that case? You're barking up the wrong tree with aiming your ire here I'm afraid.

 

[DarloRich]

Not just before Christmas, that's for sure.

I think I understand what you're saying in that there's never a good time, but don't do it in the immediate run up to Christmas for Christ's sake. My point at the time was based on my experience over the last decade of working trains, whereby everyone leaves it until the last minute to get where they are going for Christmas, and then spread out over the few days afterwards to make their way home between Christmas and New Year. The gamble taken was that everyone would travel on Friday afternoon when everything was still open. Got that one wrong, didn't we oh wise planners......!

But it is the only time when the work can be done that is the problem! The job at Bletchley is massive and Xmas allows for a longer possession period than you could ever hope to get normally. This is the only time all the work could be done in one go.

Easter could be used but it isn't long enough meaning two or more blockages so it is a case of one big blockage now or one big (ish) blockage followed by several small blockages. So pain now and then done ( god willing!) or pain now and more pain later then a bit more pain.

I dont disagree that everyone wants to travel last minute. I have been affected by this today coming back home from the North East. It aint great but it has to be done at some point.

 

[Qwerty133]

Voyagers to LEI was never going to happen. There aren't even the crews to run the booked Voyager service right now, let alone get the extras in. And even then, you're assuming that there are spare Voyagers in the first place. In any case, standard class capacity wise, there aint much difference between a 4 car Voyager (maximum for platform length on that line) and a 3 car 170. What's the point in that case? You're barking up the wrong tree with aiming your ire here I'm afraid.

A 5 car 170 is used daily on this line with SDO does cause problems though as some guards seem to think platform length is 3 cars. Also as we'll as not enough voyager crews there's also not enough customer service staff by the looks of things as I have an overdue complaint. And if they still haven't got enough crews after the number they took from LM they did something seriously wrong.

 

[MCR247]

I don't think 220/221s have SDO

 

[DarloRich]

The other thing that concerns me is the inability of the privitaised railway companies, and train operating companies in particular, to work together to collaborate to offer alternative services to their passengers to find a way around this issue.

 

[Ferret]

A 5 car 170 is used daily on this line with SDO does cause problems though as some guards seem to think platform length is 3 cars

Getting double 170s working today would be a better option than Voyagers for sure!!!!

Darlo Rich - I do wonder whether the infamous Rugby overrun has had something to do with this. I've no problem with shutting it down between Christmas and New Year - as you say, that's the ideal time to do it. I just wonder whether past experience has swayed them into taking extra days as an insurance policy......