Avanti West Coast cancellations

[voyagerdude220]

Hardly any cancellations today nor yesterday - it appears Avanti are in fact capable of running 6 trains an hour from Euston

Even today's 1M11 10:08 Glasgow Central to London Euston, which left Glasgow 16 late due to a door fault and was further delayed by a freight train being allowed to leave Motherwell early (despite the network presumably being much quieter than usual today) making it 47 late at one stage managed to arrive at London Euston 3 minutes early.

No criticism of Avanti on this occasion though.

 

[Dave91131]

Hardly any cancellations today nor yesterday

You won't be saying that again until Boxing Day!

 

[D1537]

So well done to Avanti for running a reduced service for 8 hours without that falling apart as well. Shame they couldn't manage it on Saturday, mind you that one didn't finish at 3.40pm, like today's.

 

[peter166]

Deleted

 

[Jimini]

How are they managing to resource up for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, out of interest? Cutting other services to push the resource towards the West Midlands services? Ta.

 

[Watershed]

How are they managing to resource up for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, out of interest? Cutting other services to push the resource towards the West Midlands services? Ta.

Yes, essentially. Manchester has been cut to 1tph.

 

[D1537]

There's an additional 1B96 2359 BHM-EUS (1B92 2325 on Sunday) for the duration of the Games. Shame it's not a normal service, it'd be useful.

 

[londonmidland]

Yes, essentially. Manchester has been cut to 1tph.

With it going down to 1tph, it won’t be fun if a service is cancelled, with the following service another hour away, as well as extra pax.

 

[jon0844]

However Standard Premium nevertheless means you are effectively paying more than before for a poorer service, as there isn't any complimentary catering at all. I highly doubt that the dual SP/First model can be sustained in the long run; keeping catering crew onboard for only one or two coaches of First is highly wasteful.

The only people who win are those who are now able to take advantage of First Class seating for a reasonable price on weekdays.

On my last two trips with Avanti, I noticed that a) the at-seat service was not in operation for either journey and b) it suggests the at-seat service is now offered only for those in standard premium.

Has b) always been the case? I thought it was for the whole train before? Is that an attempt to make standard premier seem like better value? If so, fine, but then you would surely need to be actually providing the service and not just defaulting to 'go to the cafe shop' like you did before.

 

[AndrewE]

I should be on the 0909 Crewe to Edinburgh on the 6th August... Last Saturday it started at Preston so I have just looked at the NR journey planner for a train the get me to Preson in time in case the same thing happens again and the 0909 is missing. It offers me an 0754 and an 0821 direct and then 0828 and 0911 via Manchester taking 1hr 37.
However RealTime Trains shows the 0909 running throughout, although on a STP schedule. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S53305/2022-08-06/detailed
What should I expect? I really need to be in Edinburgh by 12.45.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There's an additional 1B96 2359 BHM-EUS (1B92 2325 on Sunday) for the duration of the Games. Shame it's not a normal service, it'd be useful.

"Unadvertised express" - perhaps to run if other services are too overcrowded?

 

[D1537]

Yes, essentially. Manchester has been cut to 1tph.

Looking at Avanti's ticket site, it isn't 1tph for most of the day. I picked a random day (Tuesday 2 August) and there is the odd 1-hour gap (3 of them, I think), but there are 28 trains from 0600-2200.

 

[CAF397]

On my last two trips with Avanti, I noticed that a) the at-seat service was not in operation for either journey and b) it suggests the at-seat service is now offered only for those in standard premium.

Has b) always been the case? I thought it was for the whole train before? Is that an attempt to make standard premier seem like better value? If so, fine, but then you would surely need to be actually providing the service and not just defaulting to 'go to the cafe shop' like you did before.

I was in standard premium on the 26th July. Ordered two teas to be delivered. Payment went through, then 10 minutes later got a text saying unable to fulfil order and that I won't be charged. I figured there wasn't sufficient staff to do the deliveries.

 

[Grumpy Git]

Just seen that both the 11:47 & 12:47 departures from Liverpool were both cancelled and the 13:47 was delayed until 14:21.

That's got to be some record even for Avanti, (who should change their name to 'Dietro')

 

[gazzaa2]

With it going down to 1tph, it won’t be fun if a service is cancelled, with the following service another hour away, as well as extra pax.

This is the problem with cutting services. It might be necessary but you need to make sure the trains actually run in the amended timetable, or it becomes a bigger nightmare. But trains are cancelled for a myriad of reasons (there was another emergency services incident on the line this morning).

 

[Bletchleyite]

This is the problem with cutting services. It might be necessary but you need to make sure the trains actually run in the amended timetable, or it becomes a bigger nightmare. But trains are cancelled for a myriad of reasons (there was another emergency services incident on the line this morning).

Obviously, it is necessary to cut to a level you can actually run. If you don't cut enough, the concept fails.

 

[gazzaa2]

A fatality this morning between MKC and Euston which blocked the lines. A fire this evening blocking the lines.

HS2 can't come soon enough. Even staffing issues aside the line has had a nightmare month.

 

[_toommm_]

Last service from Manchester cancelled this evening, with passengers being sent on a tour of the West Midlands. Original service due to arrive at 23:48, the alternative arriving at 01:42. I don’t envy them…

 

[londonmidland]

Whilst some of these things are out of Avanti's control, I can't help but think that there has been almost daily disruption with their services? No doubt tomorrow will bring more fun of some sort.

 

[_toommm_]

Whilst some of these things are out of Avanti's control, I can't help but think that there has been almost daily disruption with their services? No doubt tomorrow will bring more fun of some sort.

Today has been a bad day, what with the fatality very early this morning. Whilst it’s nice to discuss these things, especially the cancellation of last trains, I didn’t want to solely pin the blame on AWC incase the crew are still being displaced by that.

(Not that you’re solely blaming AWC I know).

 

[D1537]

Last service from Manchester cancelled this evening, with passengers being sent on a tour of the West Midlands. Original service due to arrive at 23:48, the alternative arriving at 01:42. I don’t envy them…

At least (a) they didn't have to suffer a coach, and (b) they get full Delay Repay.

I was going to say that 9M62 EDB-EUS quite often runs early into Euston (as it's set down only at MKC and Watford), but then I note that it's running half an hour late anyway...

 

[_toommm_]

At least (a) they didn't have to suffer a coach, and (b) they get full Delay Repay.

I was going to say that 9M62 EDB-EUS quite often runs early into Euston (as it's set down only at MKC and Watford), but then I note that it's running half an hour late anyway...

Sadly I don’t think it will, as the freight it’s booked to follow as far as Wembley is running.

 

[D1537]

Sadly I don’t think it will, as the freight it’s booked to follow as far as Wembley is running.

Ah, yes. That was a strange decision during the Commonwealth games - to retime it 17 minutes later from Birmingham (thus putting it behind 6O16 and making it 30 mins later at EUS) when they're running a later additional back from Brum anyway.

Edit: it's running 50 late now anyway.

 

[The_Van]

Football season kicking off this weekend will add to the weekend problems

 

[dk1]

Football season kicking off this weekend will add to the weekend problems

I think that’s the whole point.

 

[Statto]

Ah, yes. That was a strange decision during the Commonwealth games - to retime it 17 minutes later from Birmingham (thus putting it behind 6O16 and making it 30 mins later at EUS) when they're running a later additional back from Brum anyway.

Edit: it's running 50 late now anyway.

Last service from Manchester cancelled this evening, with passengers being sent on a tour of the West Midlands. Original service due to arrive at 23:48, the alternative arriving at 01:42. I don’t envy them…

They might have been able to catch the 20.48 Liverpool - Euston (1A74) which was 82 late leaving Liverpool, & departed Crewe 22.45

 

[D1537]

They might have been able to catch the 20.48 Liverpool - Euston (1A74) which was 82 late leaving Liverpool, & departed Crewe 22.45

Pax are put onto 1G91 2127 MAN-BHM, which goes via Stoke, but both that and 1A74 stop at Stafford, so if someone was on the ball ...

 

[_toommm_]

Pax are put onto 1G91 2127 MAN-BHM, which goes via Stoke, but both that and 1A74 stop at Stafford, so if someone was on the ball ...

Indeed, although at Piccadilly they were advised via the PIS to change at Birmingham so I imagine most of the unfortunate saps will be in for a long night.

 

[172101]

There's an additional 1B96 2359 BHM-EUS (1B92 2325 on Sunday) for the duration of the Games. Shame it's not a normal service, it'd be useful.

But 1B96 won't be running today (The first day!) as it's cancelled together with about 20 others already.

 

[D1537]

But 1B96 won't be running today (The first day!) as it's cancelled together with about 20 others already.

(Thursday's) 1B96 is en route to Euston right now, running 12 early as it went via Weedon rather than the booked Northampton.

It may cause an issue if it doesn't run tomorrow, because 9M62 (last train BHM-EUS) is being caped at Preston.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2022 ==

Indeed, although at Piccadilly they were advised via the PIS to change at Birmingham so I imagine most of the unfortunate saps will be in for a long night.

Wouldn't have made much difference in the end. IA74 got into some farce near Roade and ended up 113 late, whilst 9M62 made 38 minutes back (no standing time at WVH or BHM, not hampered by 6O16) and rolled in 19 minutes later at 0156.