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Hst 29th may

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eddygrim

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Hello i was planning to get a hst stoke-on-trent to stafford does anywhon no the times for the east coast set and does it run on saturdays? :)
 
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37401

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No EC set being hired in this year, and the summer sat services dont start yet so it will be a vomitar
 

pemma

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No EC set being hired in this year, and the summer sat services dont start yet so it will be a vomitar

What they're putting Pacers on XC routes now? :D

But seriously if four hours on a Voyager makes you feel sick than 40 minutes on a Pacer would make you actually sick, nevermind 2 hours+ on a Pacer.
 

Techniquest

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It SHOULD be HST this Saturday, as it's the Bank Holiday weekend, which XC usually put HSTs out for. After this weekend, it reverts to Voyager operation until about 17th July when the schools are out.

Got no times for it, nor any confirmed gen on EC sets producing or whatever.
 

323235

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The 0758 Manchester Piccadilly - Paignton will be an XC HST set this Saturday and next Saturday, Before reverting to Voyager operation until July.

0844 Stoke
0902 Stafford

1800 Stafford
1818 Stoke

No EC hire ins this year as there will only be 4 x HST diagrams in Peak Summer. The Man-Newquay will be a Voyager all Summer, unless they change there minds at some point.
 
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Pumbaa

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No EC hire ins this year as there will only be 4 x HST diagrams in Peak Summer. The Man-Newquay will be a Voyager all Summer, unless they change there minds at some point.

Last I knew they had. Someone somewhere in middle management drew the short straw to remind the big cheeses that to meet capacity arrangements as per franchise detail, they would have to hire in HSTs despite not having the dosh to do so.
 

323235

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Last I knew they had. Someone somewhere in middle management drew the short straw to remind the big cheeses that to meet capacity arrangements as per franchise detail, they would have to hire in HSTs despite not having the dosh to do so.

well they'd better hurry up and tell the people in charge of the website so they can update the booking system then.

As for there financial problems, I'm sure XC could help themselves, if they released more of their lower tiered advances.
 

Max

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I'd be surprised if HSTs aren't hired in - surely there isn't enough stock? And single voyagers on many summer services would simply cause chronic overcrowding.
 

37401

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I'd be surprised if HSTs aren't hired in - surely there isn't enough stock? And single voyagers on many summer services would simply cause chronic overcrowding.

And voyagers can get very hot too, not good in summer not good in winter either trust me on that I saw on one New street-Leamington spa and it was like a sauna because the heating was broke
 

crazydave1988

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am booked on the 0942 Bham N Street to Paignton, and the seat reservation system is showing it as a HST (unless there is a voyager out there somewhere with six coaches).
 

37401

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am booked on the 0942 Bham N Street to Paignton, and the seat reservation system is showing it as a HST (unless there is a voyager out there somewhere with six coaches).

Could be 2x Voyagers? but im sure that one IS a HST, ill have a check on the HST forum

EDIT: this is last years booked HST summer sat service

1V47
MANCR PIC 08:00
STOCKPORT 08:07 08:09
MACCLSFLD 08:23 08:25
STOKE 08:43 08:45
WOLVHMPTN 09:16 09:18
BHAMNEWST 09:38 09:42
CHELTENHM 10:24 10:26
BRISPKWAY 10:57 10:59
BRISTOLTM 11:10 11:13
WESTON SM 11:31 11:40
TAUNTON 12:01 12:03
TIVERTNPW 12:14 12:15
EXETSTDAV 12:31 12:34
DAWLISH 12:45 12:47
TEIGNMTH 12:52 12:54
NEWTONABT 13:00 13:02
TORQUAY 13:11 13:14
PAIGNTON 13:22

So there is some hope
 

crazydave1988

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Could be 2x Voyagers? but im sure that one IS a HST, ill have a check on the HST forum

unless they plan on locking one unit out, think it will be a HST as this service calls at Dawlish and Teignmouth, where double voyagers cant be accommodated.
 

37401

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unless they plan on locking one unit out, think it will be a HST as this service calls at Dawlish and Teignmouth, where double voyagers cant be accommodated.

Aye well ive edited my post, last year the 0942 was a HST so theres a rather high chance it will be
 

Failed Unit

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well they'd better hurry up and tell the people in charge of the website so they can update the booking system then.

As for there financial problems, I'm sure XC could help themselves, if they released more of their lower tiered advances.

How would that help. If the trains are full you should be charging more not less. On a recent trip on virgin all the AP quota had gone and the train left Edinburgh empty. It didn't really fill until preston. Someone must have decided that was the way to maximise revenue. I guess one person paying £100 for a Preston to Birmingham ticket must be better than 10 people paying £10 for Edinburgh to birmingham.

Likewise if they only have voyager xc could just not realease ap tickets on Saturdays. Price people off the route and maximise the revenue. I am not saying this is a goodthing just an old way of managing capacity. Remember br and the white saver only on summer Saturdays policy?
 

323235

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If all the trains were full, then they surely wouldn't be in any financial distress as there passenger numbers and growth would be far higher.

Whilst there are a lot of XC trains that are overcrowded, particularly during the peaks, there are also many of there trains that arn't overflowing with pax where extra advances would help attract passengers,fill the seats and might help there revenue situation just a little bit.

For example I was on a Stoke-Birmingham service on a Saturday afternoon not too long ago and it was no more than 50% full.

Therefore if XC had attempted to fill some of the seats with cheaper advances on the service (less than the £15 Tier 5 Advance) which up until a few weeks ago was the norm, making it higher than the price of a SVR for returning passengers, then it would have increased revenue on that service.

Presumibly XC have picked up on this and realised as prices have recently reduced on the Man-BHM corridor with cheaper £5.50 (Tier 1) /£10.50 (Tier 3) tickets appearing more frequently, which is a welcome step in the right direction to helping there finances , even if it still doesn't go far enough to help them achieve the passenger growth and passenger numbers they originally forecast to achieve, and which there whole franchise is based upon.
 
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Failed Unit

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All I can say is I am glad I don't try and work those things out. Have a cheaper ap may just move someone who was going to travel anyway at full fare to a cheaper service so you loses as a franchise. I understand that a lot of xcs problem is operators have got wise to keeping money via orcats. Back in Gner day the had operator specific York to Scotland tickets
I have noticed recently that 2 Ap singles and many routes are more or the same as a return. Can catch you out if you are booking one leg before the other is open for reservations. I guess it is the summer.
As for the franchise profile I guess they really wanted more people on higher priced tickets. I am sure the mega cheap Edinburgh to Glasgow tickets help fill seats but don't make them much money. But as the train is empty every penny helps. Again they get more money out of them compared to full fare as most of the revenue is scotrails.
 

Techniquest

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So is the Man Picc to Paignton and back to be an EC HST or not? Seems odd that just a day before they start we have no 100% confirmed gen!
 

oliverj8

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So is the Man Picc to Paignton and back to be an EC HST or not? Seems odd that just a day before they start we have no 100% confirmed gen!

No it wont be an EC HST as XC aren't hiring one this year. From an e-mail they sent me a few days ago it looks like it wont be an HST at all.
29th May HSTs:

09:27 Newquay - Dundee
07:00 Glasgow C - Newquay

These will be the same every saturday until the 10th July.

HSTs don't go to Manchester until the 17th July and will carry on every saturday until the 4th September.

Hope this helps and makes sense.
 

323235

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No it wont be an EC HST as XC aren't hiring one this year. From an e-mail they sent me a few days ago it looks like it wont be an HST at all.
29th May HSTs:

09:27 Newquay - Dundee
07:00 Glasgow C - Newquay

These will be the same every saturday until the 10th July.

HSTs don't go to Manchester until the 17th July and will carry on every saturday until the 4th September.

Hope this helps and makes sense.

To further confuse things, The inbound working assosiated with the top service is currently producing a Voyager seating plan on the XC JourneyPlanner.

It will be interesting to see what does happen tomorrow, as XC seem to have left an air of mystery.
 
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