Why are Voyagers working under the wires this weekend?

[Bletchleyite]

This weekend Avanti have been operating a service to/from MKC only, with probably about a third of the usual service operating - basically just anything that would normally call at MKC plus a fast MKC-Warrington-North West-Carlisle. Yet there are double Voyagers out under the wires, which seems odd particularly in the context of high fuel prices. Anyone any ideas why?

Apparently they have even been making rare appearances at Manchester Picc due to interworking between Preston-Brum-MKC and Manchester-MKC services.

 

[Balders]

The last couple of weekends engineering at Washford Heath regarding HS2, nothing North of Rugby via Coventry and Birmingham-Birmingham International was a shuttle service. There is a complete block due to bridge replacement on the Stechford-Aston line over the main line at Washford Heath due to line clearances for HS2. A massive new steel bridge is going up. Its been fairly chaotic. XC are running from Coleshill Parkway on their Eastern services with a bus service from BNS. Avanti was mostly Voyager service.

No idea this weekend mind as pendos have been working services. The bridge replacement is still ongoing.

Cheers

Guy

 

[Geezertronic]

XC are running from Coleshill Parkway on their Eastern services with a bus service from BNS

I presume you mean Birmingham New Street (BHM) and not Barnes (BNS)?

 

[Some guy]

This weekend Avanti have been operating a service to/from MKC only, with probably about a third of the usual service operating - basically just anything that would normally call at MKC plus a fast MKC-Warrington-North West-Carlisle. Yet there are double Voyagers out under the wires, which seems odd particularly in the context of high fuel prices. Anyone any ideas why?

Apparently they have even been making rare appearances at Manchester Picc due to interworking between Preston-Brum-MKC and Manchester-MKC services.

That’s strange as Manchester staff aren’t trained on 221’s

 

[CJ]

Can confirm Avanti 221s made it to Manchester yesterday, saw 221105 and 221106 coupled together operating a 10-coach service to Milton Keynes (departing Manchester around 4pm).

 

[craigybagel]

That’s strange as Manchester staff aren’t trained on 221’s

Some Manchester drivers are - until recently they worked Holyhead services. Also some Euston crews sign both Voyagers and Manchester. It's difficult but not impossible to do.

 

[Efini92]

That’s strange as Manchester staff aren’t trained on 221’s

Link one are. Plus euston sign them.

 

[Carlisle]

This weekend Avanti have been operating a service to/from MKC only, with probably about a third of the usual service operating - basically just anything that would normally call at MKC plus a fast MKC-Warrington-North West-Carlisle. Yet there are double Voyagers out under the wires, which seems odd particularly in the context of high fuel prices. Anyone any ideas why?

They ran a few over the weekend on the MKC-Glasgow via Dumfries route .

 

[Some guy]

They ran a few over the weekend on the MKC-Glasgow via Dumfries route .

And from Carlisle southbound they’ve been running the train in the 19:08 path despite the 19:08 not been running since pre Covid

 

[dk1]

And from Carlisle southbound they’ve been running the train in the 19:08 path despite the 19:08 not been running since pre Covid

I like quirky things like that.

 

[Some guy]

I like quirky things like that.

It’s very nice. It still has the same stops of being an express to Lancaster like pre Covid. Hopefully these services return soon

 

[DarloRich]

first time in a LONG time i had a pleasant voyager journey from Brum back to MKC. It had a whole carriage to myself. bliss.

Was/is the use of Voyagers on days like these to allow for, say, a Brum>London >Glasgow ( Via kilmarnock) > Brum Service pattern?

 

[Bletchleyite]

first time in a LONG time i had a pleasant voyager journey from Brum back to MKC. It had a whole carriage to myself. bliss.

Was/is the use of Voyagers on days like these to allow for, say, a Brum>London >Glasgow ( Via kilmarnock) > Brum Service pattern?

I think this could well be the answer, and if these are interworked with Manchesters on those days then they end up there too.

 

[Geezertronic]

Sure I saw an Avanti 2 x 221 set at Wolves on Wednesday afternoon/evening with Edinburgh as the destination

 

[Some guy]

Sure I saw an Avanti 2 x 221 set at Wolves on Wednesday afternoon/evening with Edinburgh as the destination

That’s the 18:37 service thats always been a voyager service