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Avanti West Coast issues

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LancasterRed

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Had no issues myself apart from overcrowding which can't be solved immediately.

The reservation system not having grouped reservations isn't much of an issue imo, Avanti tried something different, and will no doubt fix it when they can.

As far as recent TOCs go, AWC has been one of the best starters.
 
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route101

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Trolleys are a rare beast on Glasgow to Euston services. Virgin trialled them for a short while but not seen one since the summer.

Find it strange that you get a trolley on Euston to Birmingham but nothing on the Anglo Scottish

Had a trolley on the morning services from Glasgow , few times , trolley is brought aboard at Carlisle . Not sure if it comes off at Preston. Not sure if its planned or ad hoc ?
 

route101

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I usually just go to coach u if its 11 car set , now. Dont need tow worry about reservations. Sometimes you will sit in your reserved seat and someone else is sat next to you but rest of coach is quiet. So you either move or wait till they move.

I have noticed a few times , fro example reservations not showing from origin eg from Glasgow but ones fro Carlisle are.
 

ainsworth74

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With regards to the trolley I've been told by an informed source that the appearance of the trolley is entirely dependent on the presence of the extra member of staff to run it. At the moment there aren't very many extra catering crew available hence the trolley is very hit and miss!
 

Signal Head

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Slightly OT, but in XC it seems people don't care about reservations so I usually have to shove them off politely off my seat.
Probably because seats can become reserved en-route, so could well have been showing as 'Available' when they occupied it. Not everyone is going to get out of their seat to recheck the reservation status every time the train calls at a station.
 

The_alchemist

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Avanti has no seating chart, but LO & BEHOLD, THERE IS ONE THAT WORKS on www.trainscanbecheaper.info! Just booked Coventry-Edinburgh fo 13 Jan, full display of all seating is visible, bypassing Avanti. Reviews for Avanti service to date make dire reading, but for all its annoyances of "Talking Toilets" & sad "1st class" meals from up north, Virgin is being missed already.
 

yorkie

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Scotrail314209

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There seem to be some issues on Avanti today, 4 trains cancelled because of "More trains needing repairs than usual", as well as several full and standing services. Plus just a lot of heavy delays in general.
 

Bungle965

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There seem to be some issues on Avanti today, 4 trains cancelled because of "More trains needing repairs than usual", as well as several full and standing services. Plus just a lot of heavy delays in general.
2 failed on depot & one unit was still at Nuneaton waiting to be moved.
Unfortunately as a result lots of set swaps and stepping up as a result, but there's only so much that can be done.
Add that to some disruption & it being the day after Boxing Day resulting in some very heavy loadings means it wasn't a good day.
 

Audioguy

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My family traveled Preston to London at 9.58 yesterday in first. One drink, no food and no tickets checked.
 

Scotrail314209

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2 failed on depot & one unit was still at Nuneaton waiting to be moved.
Unfortunately as a result lots of set swaps and stepping up as a result, but there's only so much that can be done.
Add that to some disruption & it being the day after Boxing Day resulting in some very heavy loadings means it wasn't a good day.

the loadings seemed to be insane yesterday, particularly on the mid-morning Glasgow services.
 

RealTrains07

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Anyone noticed how the luggage always seem to overspill from the racks onto the floors on the pendos? :lol:

its packed enough as it is
 

6Gman

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personally I think there aren’t enough luggage racks, to actually get a chance you need to board at the origin station

All railway design is compromise.

On a Euston - Glasgow Pendolino: "It's ridiculous - take out a couple of seats and put in a luggage rack"
On a Euston - Birmingham Pendolino: "It's ridiculous - a luggage rack in the middle of the coach but people just have a briefcase or a shopping bag. You could put in a couple of extra seats to save people standing"

:s
 

totally

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I am no computer expert but having just tried to log on to Avanti website, this is what I get from my Security Soft wear. (McAfee)

'Website Status' Slightly Risky, are you sure you want to go there?

Well as this is a site dealing with Financial information I certainly will not be proceeding with an intended booking.

I have never seen this before, can anybody enlighten me?
 

Scotrail314209

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All railway design is compromise.

On a Euston - Glasgow Pendolino: "It's ridiculous - take out a couple of seats and put in a luggage rack"
On a Euston - Birmingham Pendolino: "It's ridiculous - a luggage rack in the middle of the coach but people just have a briefcase or a shopping bag. You could put in a couple of extra seats to save people standing"

:s

that’s the thing about pendolinos. The luggage racks are fine on some routes, but aren’t on another route
 

Mathew S

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I am no computer expert but having just tried to log on to Avanti website, this is what I get from my Security Soft wear. (McAfee)

'Website Status' Slightly Risky, are you sure you want to go there?

Well as this is a site dealing with Financial information I certainly will not be proceeding with an intended booking.

I have never seen this before, can anybody enlighten me?
Most likely it's just because it's new.
All of these (not especially helpful, or accurate) website rating systems work to some extent on the basis of a site building a reputation, ie. being used by many people over a period of time with no issues. Avanti isn't going to have that yet. So, if I were you, I would ignore it.

As a sidenote, assuming you're using an up to date operating system and web browser (and if you're not, doing something about that should be a priority), you really don't need McAfee, Norton, or any other paid anti-malware solution. The free products built in to all the major OSes are perfectly adequate for almost all home users.
 

yorkie

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I am no computer expert but having just tried to log on to Avanti website, this is what I get from my Security Soft wear. (McAfee)

'Website Status' Slightly Risky, are you sure you want to go there?

Well as this is a site dealing with Financial information I certainly will not be proceeding with an intended booking.

I have never seen this before, can anybody enlighten me?
It's safe to override that warning if you wish to book on Avanti's site, but if you have concerns, or if you simply want a seat selector to pick a good seat (see https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/why-has-avanti-west-coast-got-rid-of-the-seat-selector.196410 ) you may wish to book elsewhere.
 

gazzaa2

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Hopefully teething problems with the website/reservations etc, but it does feel like an initial step down because Virgin were good by and large. Avanti will be judged more on how they operate future timetable changes with extra services.

WCML hasn't had a great year anyway though. There seems to be more regular problems with the line with things going wrong, particularly the southern half.
 

Scotrail314209

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Hopefully teething problems with the website/reservations etc, but it does feel like an initial step down because Virgin were good by and large. Avanti will be judged more on how they operate future timetable changes with extra services.

WCML hasn't had a great year anyway though. There seems to be more regular problems with the line with things going wrong, particularly the southern half.

Pendolinos seem to be losing a bit of reliability too, seems to be more under avanti. Noticed recently a fair few have been breaking down
 

sufian123

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Pendolinos seem to be losing a bit of reliability too, seems to be more under avanti. Noticed recently a fair few have been breaking down

same was happening with under VT. Pendos have reached their midlife and needs of maintenance. I believe they will be doing soon.
 

Energy

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Soon they will be in for their mid life overhaul, hopefully they bring it forward if there are more issues
 

47271

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Maybe it's just me, but it's funny how the Pendolinos have suddenly started looking their age inside now that the Virgin branding has been whipped away.
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Taking working trains out of service to paint/unpaint them in pretty colours doesn't do a lot for fleet availability.
 
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