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Have Virgin West Coast services ever run into a different London Terminal during disruption?

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Muzer

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My colleague who used to commute on Virgin Trains West Coast remembers one weekend when they (either Voyagers or Pendos; he's not thinking of the older loco-hauled stock) were being diverted into a different terminal other than Euston (though he doesn't remember which one). He also admits he could just be completely imagining it. He doesn't think he was getting confused with Virgin CrossCountry Voyagers out of Paddington as he thinks it was more recent than this. Did this ever happen or is he imagining it?
 
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Whistler40145

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Although not Pendolinos or Voyager, there was the Manchester Piccadilly to London St Pancras HSTs that ran during major engineering work on the WCML.
 

strimmer

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My colleague who used to commute on Virgin Trains West Coast remembers one weekend when they (either Voyagers or Pendos; he's not thinking of the older loco-hauled stock) were being diverted into a different terminal other than Euston (though he doesn't remember which one). He also admits he could just be completely imagining it. He doesn't think he was getting confused with Virgin CrossCountry Voyagers out of Paddington as he thinks it was more recent than this. Did this ever happen or is he imagining it?
In October 1991 West Coast services were diverted to St Pancras due to engineering work.
 

Muzer

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I'm pretty sure Voyagers have operated into Marylebone in the not too distant past.
I thought they might have done too, but I can't find any photos. They've certainly operated along the Chiltern lines as mentioned by @Bletchleyite above but that seems to be all from the photographic evidence I've been able to find.
 

driver_m

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In short. No. The one offs as mentioned above, but I’ve never signed anything other than Euston and the only other service I can think of was the XC services into Paddington pre op-princess and the 15 car voyagers which still went into Euston via the chiltern route.
 

yorkie

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My colleague who used to commute on Virgin Trains West Coast remembers one weekend when they (either Voyagers or Pendos; he's not thinking of the older loco-hauled stock) were being diverted into a different terminal other than Euston (though he doesn't remember which one). He also admits he could just be completely imagining it. He doesn't think he was getting confused with Virgin CrossCountry Voyagers out of Paddington as he thinks it was more recent than this. Did this ever happen or is he imagining it?
If they are not getting confused with Virgin XC, MML or other operators , and are not refering to the early '90s St Pancras diversions then I can only conclude they imagined it!
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Voyagers did appear in places like Ruislip and Ealing Broadway on their WCML Chiltern diversions.
The casual observer might have thought they were heading for Marylebone and Paddington respectively, but we know different. ;)
 

diffident

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Voyagers did appear in places like Ruislip and Ealing Broadway on their WCML Chiltern diversions.
The casual observer might have thought they were heading for Marylebone and Paddington respectively, but we know different. ;)

That most likely explains it.... there is still something niggling at the back of my mind though about a Voyager at Marylebone!!!
 

Jamiescott1

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Great western operated to marylebone last year for a weekend.
My house backs onto the chiltern mainline and I've seen virgin and great western trains, but apart from the above I know they operate to euston and paddington
 

pt_mad

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I'm fairly sure it's wasn't too long ago (2014) when the south West Coast was shut for engineering that they ran 1 X hourly or by-hourly triple Voyager down the Chiltern line in each direction. I think they ran into Marylebone bit can anyone confirm?
 
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I'm fairly sure it's wasn't too long ago (2014) when the south West Coast was shut for engineering that they ran 1 X hourly oroby-hourly triple Voyager down the Chiltern line in each direction. I think they ran into Marylebone bit can anyone confirm?

They ran into Euston. I worked one of the 3x221. Managed to sit with the driver from Coventry all the way through to coming back on the west coast just south of Wembley.
 

pt_mad

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They ran into Euston. I worked one of the 3x221. Managed to sit with the driver from Coventry all the way through to coming back on the west coast just south of Wembley.
Ahh ok is it West London Junction where you join the WCML from the Chiltern Line?
 

yorkie

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I'm fairly sure it's wasn't too long ago (2014) when the south West Coast was shut for engineering that they ran 1 X hourly or by-hourly triple Voyager down the Chiltern line in each direction. I think they ran into Marylebone bit can anyone confirm?
They didn't.
 
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Ruislip, Greenford, West Ealing, Acton, Willesden South West sidings then West London Jn.
I remember after Acton we turned left (on the up ) into a freight yard, through a single track section at 5 mph then back out south of Sudbury jn. Think not long after n/r made it freight only to stop the diversion
 

Ianno87

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I'm fairly sure it's wasn't too long ago (2014) when the south West Coast was shut for engineering that they ran 1 X hourly or by-hourly triple Voyager down the Chiltern line in each direction. I think they ran into Marylebone bit can anyone confirm?

They ran into Euston. I worked one of the 3x221. Managed to sit with the driver from Coventry all the way through to coming back on the west coast just south of Wembley.

They didn't.

*GWR* have diverted into Marylebone in recent years, which may be the source of some of the confusion...
 

Wirewiper

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Yes, GWR have operated into Marylebone over a couple of weekends in recent years whilst Paddington was blockaded during Crossrail-related works. Route was via Didcot West Curve, Oxford (station call) then the Chiltern route into Marylebone. There was generally an hourly service, alternating between South Wales and Bristol Temple Meads/The South West. Other services started/terminated at Reading.

Back on topic - if Virgin were able to divert into other London terminals, this would be the weekend to do it!
 

Ianno87

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Yes, GWR have operated into Marylebone over a couple of weekends in recent years whilst Paddington was blockaded during Crossrail-related works. Route was via Didcot West Curve, Oxford (station call) then the Chiltern route into Marylebone. There was generally an hourly service, alternating between South Wales and Bristol Temple Meads/The South West. Other services started/terminated at Reading.

Back on topic - if Virgin were able to divert into other London terminals, this would be the weekend to do it!

But before the Chiltern route to Oxford opened, they went via Banbury and reversed (where a new semaphore was specifically installed for the purpose!)
 

Mag_seven

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I'm fairly sure it's wasn't too long ago (2014) when the south West Coast was shut for engineering that they ran 1 X hourly or by-hourly triple Voyager down the Chiltern line in each direction. I think they ran into Marylebone bit can anyone confirm?

I'm pretty sure Voyagers have operated into Marylebone in the not too distant past.

For the avoidance of doubt it should be pointed out that Voyagers (Classes 220/221) are not route cleared into Marylebone so that scenario can be ruled out.
 
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