LNW Trent Valley services

[evergreenadam]

Are the Trent Valley services from London still overcrowded or have they sorted that now? Is the hourly xx46 service from Euston on Saturdays formed of 8 coaches?

 

[AJDesiro]

It’s still currently 8 cars, 12 cars should be starting on Saturdays from December if all goes to plan.

 

[Purple Train]

Wasn't the Trent Valley stopping service normally four coaches before COVID, or am I getting mixed up with the Birminghams?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Wasn't the Trent Valley stopping service normally four coaches before COVID, or am I getting mixed up with the Birminghams?

They've been mostly 8 for a long time, as have the Birminghams, though when they first ran they were 4.

 

[Purple Train]

They've been mostly 8 for a long time, as have the Birminghams, though when they first ran they were 4.

Thanks

 

[Kite159]

It’s still currently 8 cars, 12 cars should be starting on Saturdays from December if all goes to plan.

Could do with going 12 coaches on certain Sunday services as well as some of those trains can get rather busy.

-----

As for boarding at the London end, walk forward. The train can be F&S in the rear coaches but be lightly loaded at the front.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Todays 1513 Ex Crewe was 4 car only
Rather full as a result...

 

[JonathanH]

Wasn't the Trent Valley stopping service normally four coaches before COVID, or am I getting mixed up with the Birminghams?

It was typically four coaches until they routed it direct between Stafford and Crewe.

Birmingham services were typically four coaches until the timetable changes to reduce them to 2tph rather than 3tph.

As for overcrowding, it is more of an issue with the morning flow towards London and afternoon / evening flow away from London than in the other direction.

 

[KK2109]

Todays 1513 Ex Crewe was 4 car only
Rather full as a result...

Previous working 1245 Ex Euston, packed all the way until Rugby even in the front carriage…

 

[AndrewE]

It’s still currently 8 cars, 12 cars should be starting on Saturdays from December if all goes to plan.

Where will they be platformed at Crewe? The 8-cars fill P7 currently, their timings clash with the class 9s on P11 and P12 would be a lot less convenient...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Where will they be platformed at Crewe? The 8-cars fill P7 currently, their timings clash with the class 9s on P11 and P12 would be a lot less convenient...

If you're enjoying a very cheap journey I am sure you can cope with heading over to P12 for it.

 

[87015]

Where will they be platformed at Crewe? The 8-cars fill P7 currently, their timings clash with the class 9s on P11 and P12 would be a lot less convenient...

All booked off 7

Realtime Trains | Departures from Crewe between 0200 and 0159 on 30/12/2023

Train information at Crewe between 0200 and 0159 on 30/12/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Bletchleyite]

All booked off 7

Realtime Trains | Departures from Crewe between 0200 and 0159 on 30/12/2023

Train information at Crewe between 0200 and 0159 on 30/12/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

12 cars won't go off 7, they won't fit.

 

[AndrewE]

If you're enjoying a very cheap journey I am sure you can cope with heading over to P12 for it.

It's the same price as all my other journeys, I just have no choice if I'm going to change at Nuneaton (as one example.) I was actually thinking about all the other passengers, a surprising number of them change onto other services at Crewe - in reality, not very surprising really.

All booked off 7

Realtime Trains | Departures from Crewe between 0200 and 0159 on 30/12/2023

Train information at Crewe between 0200 and 0159 on 30/12/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

That will be interesting to see...

 

[The Planner]

It's the same price as all my other journeys, I just have no choice if I'm going to change at Nuneaton (as one example.) I was actually thinking about all the other passengers, a surprising number of them change onto other services at Crewe - in reality, not very surprising really.

That will be interesting to see...

They will just get tweaked. At the time of the Dec offer the 12 car diagrams weren't confirmed. The class 9 can go on 12 or the LNWR can, its not the end of the world.

 

[Russel]

So, what platform will be used at Crewe?

 

[The Planner]

So, what platform will be used at Crewe?

I would suspect 12.

 

[Merle Haggard]

At present there are two early morning Northampton - Crewe trains that feed into the Crewe - Euston circuit, and one evening Crewe - Northampton one returning. Are 12 cars authorised between Northampton and Rugby?

 

[The Planner]

At present there are two early morning Northampton - Crewe trains that feed into the Crewe - Euston circuit, and one evening Crewe - Northampton one returning. Are 12 cars authorised between Northampton and Rugby?

You can run a 12 car if you want. You just have to lock a set out when stopping as its only an 8 car platform at Buckby.

 

[Merle Haggard]

You can run a 12 car if you want. You just have to lock a set out when stopping as its only an 8 car platform at Buckby.

Thanks - it was Buckby of the curved platform and big step down I was thinking of.

 

[DaveHarries]

I presume it won't be all that long until the Class 730s come into play on the LNWR routes? I am enjoying riding the 350s when, and while, I get the chance.

Dave

 

[DarloRich]

These services have been a great success. Starting as 4 car flyers they quite quickly moved to 8 cars and to hear they are going to 12 is fantastic. It is also wonderful they miss out the dullardy of Northampton and speed up the fast line.

Even in these times when we are told no one travels by train the 8 car trains on the TV route can be very busy. The numbers changing at Tamworth seem to grow every time I use the train.

I presume it won't be all that long until the Class 730s come into play on the LNWR routes? I am enjoying riding the 350s when, and while, I get the chance.

Dave

IRC it is only the 350/2's going. The others ( thankfully) remain

 

[Bletchleyite]

One side of these services demonstrates quite strongly what the leisure passenger wants - lots of capacity, reasonable comfort, decent speed, flexibility and a very good price. I don't doubt that if these services ran to Liverpool, Manchester etc that they'd be far more popular than Avanti.

 

[Russel]

It is also wonderful they miss out the dullardy of Northampton and speed up the fast line.

I remember using the London Midland Trent Valley services frequently as a cheaper way of getting to Euston, going via Northampton always seemed painful and if I remember correctly, added about 30 minutes to the journey time.

It's been such an improvement missing out Northampton!

 

[DarloRich]

I remember using the London Midland Trent Valley services frequently as a cheaper way of getting to Euston, going via Northampton always seemed painful and if I remember correctly, added about 30 minutes to the journey time.

It's been such an improvement missing out Northampton!

the worst thing was the sitting at Northampton for 10/15 minutes to make the timetable work. Maddening!

 

[geoffk]

It's been such an improvement missing out Northampton!

But it may not be for those wanting to travel to or from Northampton.......

 

[185]

Poor use of units running 12 to Crewe. No need north of Rugby. I'm guessing they are looking at (the mega, ultra supa-dupa-reliable) ASDO for this.

The overloaded section is Rugby to Euston, as passengers are getting off the slow Birmingham - Londons.

Passenger numbers warrant one of the Birmingham Londons running fast from Rugby - MK - London missing out Northampton.

Northampton services need a full re-cast.

Both the Birmingham and Crewe fast services could be made permanently set down south / pick up north only at MK.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Paasenger numbers warrant one of the Birmingham Londons running fast from Rugby - MK - London missing out Northampton.

There is such a service, operated by Avanti.

 

[185]

There is such a service, operated by Avanti.

And there's a market for those who don't want to pay those fares, so the DfT should either remove the bargain Birmingham £19 fares or run a service to cater for them.

 

[The Planner]

the worst thing was the sitting at Northampton for 10/15 minutes to make the timetable work. Maddening!

That is because its effectively two services bolted together, file under Avanti Scotland services via Brum etc..

Poor use of units running 12 to Crewe. No need north of Rugby. I'm guessing they are looking at (the mega, ultra supa-dupa-reliable) ASDO for this.

The overloaded section is Rugby to Euston, as passengers are getting off the slow Birmingham - Londons.

Passenger numbers warrant one of the Birmingham Londons running fast from Rugby - MK - London missing out Northampton.

Northampton services need a full re-cast.

Both the Birmingham and Crewe fast services could be made permanently set down south / pick up north only at MK.

No one is re-writing the WCML for at least 8-9 years.