20:10 Glasgow to Crewe/Euston

[xtradj]

I notice on national rail departures today the usual service to Crewe is showing as to Euston via New Street however it's showing as cancelled but also again as running but late?

Have virgin now extended this service to Euston or is it an error?

 

[robbeale]

It was timed to leave at 2115. This train doesn't exist in any timetable though. The peculiar thing is that I fired off a load of emails to Virgin last week because they have a train timetabled M-Th which leaves Glasgow around that time for Preston and runs empty. It would be handy if they have seen sense!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65424/2017/01/19/advanced

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--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Unfortunately it seems the departures from Glasgow Central at 1840 (for Euston) and 2010 (for Crewe) were both cancelled so this train combines the two. Shame, I do hope it becomes regular.
When TP got the contract last April they mentioned more and later services once the new trains arrive.
They've gone strangely quiet about those extra services. Hopefully when the new trains come, that'll change.

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[xtradj]

It was timed to leave at 2115. This train doesn't exist in any timetable though. The peculiar thing is that I fired off a load of emails to Virgin last week because they have a train timetabled M-Th which leaves Glasgow around that time for Preston and runs empty. It would be handy if they have seen sense!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65424/2017/01/19/advanced

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--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Unfortunately it seems the departures from Glasgow Central at 1840 (for Euston) and 2010 (for Crewe) were both cancelled so this train combines the two. Shame, I do hope it becomes regular.
When TP got the contract last April they mentioned more and later services once the new trains arrive.
They've gone strangely quiet about those extra services. Hopefully when the new trains come, that'll change.

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Thanks for the info did think it was strange. Makes sense now.

I always wondered why the usual only goes to Crewe (suspect for workings the next day)

Would a later service to London or even New Street be viable with passenger loads?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I bet those who are about 4 hours late at Euston won't be impressed, though! At least they will get a full refund of their return journey.

 

[dk1]

I bet those who are about 4 hours late at Euston won't be impressed, though! At least they will get a full refund of their return journey.

If the ticket is bought for them by their employer they often can be bothered with the hastle especially if they are being paid the overtime anyway. It's also odd how many others who maybe annoyed on the day soon give up & also can't be bothered. Suppose it's better if you book through VT & get it automatically for AP tickets.

 

[PHILIPE]

The schedule quoted here from RTT was for last night (19/01) only. This may have been due to disruption earlier due to freight train failure at Tebay stitching the job up Traincrews stock and passengers displaced. If you look at the schedule for any other date it is shown to run to Crewe for the duration of the Timetable

 

[gordonthemoron]

there were scotland trains being held at Crewe last night until 19:30 so there must have been far worse delays further north

 

[Blindtraveler]

I doubt this train would be viable running on Southwards after Crewe. Its usually pritty empty. If it were to extend then the only viable one would be non stop to BHM.

 

[PHILIPE]

Thanks for the info did think it was strange. Makes sense now.

I always wondered why the usual only goes to Crewe (suspect for workings the next day)

Would a later service to London or even New Street be viable with passenger loads?

After arrival at Crewe stock runs ECS to Pendolino Depot at Longsight

 

[robbeale]

Is there any reason why the empty train which leaves Glasgow Mon-Thur each week to Preston at 2133 doesn't take passengers. It would be handy, and if it's going anyway.....
It has run for a few years already, always empty coaching stock.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P52227/2017/01/23/advanced

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[dk1]

Is there any reason why the empty train which leaves Glasgow Mon-Thur each week to Preston at 2133 doesn't take passengers. It would be handy, and if it's going anyway.....
It has run for a few years already, always empty coaching stock.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P52227/2017/01/23/advanced

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Would it require another TM?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Would it require another TM?

I suspect that is the case, possibly caterers too as I believe they have to be provided on every service. I just can't imagine there would be enough demand to justify it.

 

[robbeale]

No, there wouldn't be the demand for a full train but often there's 10-15 people like me on the 2113 for the full journey from Glasgow to Carlisle (via Kilmarnock) which takes 2.5 hours. I just thought if the train was going anyway it would he handy.

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[Starmill]

Manchester Piccadilly would be a considerably more useful destination for it than Birmingham New Street if it could continue beyond Crewe somewhere. It already (usually) offers a connection for Manchester at Preston though, which a fair few people do use. I think the same applies to Liverpool Lime Street.

 

[route101]

Always think there should be a later TPE train from Manchester to Glasgow maybe just after 7 .

 

[All Line Rover]

There isn't demand at the moment for late evening VTWC services from Glasgow and Edinburgh, but that is hardly surprising when the service all but ceases around 7pm. Extending the 20:10 from Glasgow through to Birmingham, and operating a 21:30 (ish) from Glasgow and a 20:52 from Edinburgh to Crewe or Manchester would be a considerable improvement over the long term.

 

[Class 170101]

Why must catering be provided on every Virgin Train? Whilst its a nice to have I don't think it should be mandatory if it means an extra service can be provided.

06:00, 06:25 and 07:00 from Liverpool Street to Norwich have no catering yet operate.

 

[robbeale]

There isn't demand at the moment for late evening VTWC services from Glasgow and Edinburgh, but that is hardly surprising when the service all but ceases around 7pm. Extending the 20:10 from Glasgow through to Birmingham, and operating a 21:30 (ish) from Glasgow and a 20:52 from Edinburgh to Crewe or Manchester would be a considerable improvement over the long term.

Agreed, especially so with the Glasgow service as a unit head south anyway at that time.

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[All Line Rover]

Why must catering be provided on every Virgin Train? Whilst its a nice to have I don't think it should be mandatory if it means an extra service can be provided.

They could quite easily have a single member of catering crew alternating between the standard class buffet ("The Shop") and first class on very quiet services, as is sometimes the case at weekends. One member of catering crew for the buffet plus at least two members for first class would be excessive. I wouldn't support allowing services without any catering, however - not at the prices VTWC charge. Passengers have certain expectations.

 

[route101]

Edinburgh has a 2010 to Manchester mon to fri and has 2 tpe services after the last Glasgow Nortbound service .

 

[Starmill]

Reporting February Modern Railways that TP would like to take over the 1900 from Manchester Airport for a Glasgow service, it currently terminates at Preston having been curtailled from a Barrow-in-Furness service last May (I think). There is also a report that they would like to have a train around 1900 from Glasgow, as there is currently a large gap here too (although there is the 1840 to London Euston, so around 1910 would be best). More speculatively there is the report that they are looking at 2100 Manchester Airport to Scotland and a return at around the same time. As was pointed out here, there are already popular services at 2000 from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh and 2014 from Edinburgh to Manchester Airport.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Another solution would be if the empties that run South from Glasgow to Preston ran in service they could have a booked Carstairs call for picup only and collect pax from Edinburgh brought there by a new 20:52 Waverley Carstairs. The stock from this would come off the 14:52 Euston Edinburgh which arrives 20:21 and works x back down the branch anyway so again its a case of why not run it in service?

TPE could have a unit at Preston to form a late night Manchester connection if they wanted but I dont know if theres demand for this, or indeed their proposed extra trains as it it is. Outwith the summer I have often had a coach to myself on the last Northbound x Carlisle to Scotland as to be honest by the time that train gets in theres nothing to connect with it. By contrast Virgins Edinburgh and Glasgow departures between 21:00 and 21:47 from Carlisle and Scotland do good business throughout for this reason.

 

[route101]

Another solution would be if the empties that run South from Glasgow to Preston ran in service they could have a booked Carstairs call for picup only and collect pax from Edinburgh brought there by a new 20:52 Waverley Carstairs. The stock from this would come off the 14:52 Euston Edinburgh which arrives 20:21 and works x back down the branch anyway so again its a case of why not run it in service?

TPE could have a unit at Preston to form a late night Manchester connection if they wanted but I dont know if theres demand for this, or indeed their proposed extra trains as it it is. Outwith the summer I have often had a coach to myself on the last Northbound x Carlisle to Scotland as to be honest by the time that train gets in theres nothing to connect with it. By contrast Virgins Edinburgh and Glasgow departures between 21:00 and 21:47 from Carlisle and Scotland do good business throughout for this reason.

The 1500 Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central arrives at 1900. This could form a 1900 service back to Manchester and a new 1900 MAN to Glasgow could be the 2nd overnighter

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The 1500 Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central arrives at 1900. This could form a 1900 service back to Manchester

That's a bit of a tight turnaround?

 

[route101]

That's a bit of a tight turnaround?

Yeah i suppose , no reason why it couldnt depart at 730.

 

[PHILIPE]

The 1500 Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central arrives at 1900. This could form a 1900 service back to Manchester and a new 1900 MAN to Glasgow could be the 2nd overnighter

According to RTT it arrives Glasgow Central at 1830. If you start trying to run trains over and above you're in the business of having to create additional traincrews which, I don't think, would not really be viable at that time of night.
Also might throw Maintenance out if you ran one from Manchester to Glasgow as the unit could be required at it's home depot.

 

[robbeale]

I got this as a reply from Virgin when I asked about a later service. It does seem a bit "stock reply" to me!

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email.

Thank you for your comments about our current timetable. As you can imagine, the last thing we want to do is make travel more difficult for our customers.

As an operator we have to accept that the timetable isn’t just created around our services, but every operator that uses and connects into the West Coast mainline.

Our timetable is developed to maximise our strengths as a long distance operator as the vast majority of our customers either begin or end their journey in London.

With the exception of the Birmingham to Scotland route, our principal business function is to link London with major cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow with both high-speed and frequent train services.

This means that some customers who make shorter journeys unfortunately may not be able to find a Virgin service to get them to where they want to go. This doesn’t mean that your travel needs have been forgotten, but are served by other train companies – or require you to change trains.

No timetable can get it right for everyone, but your feedback will make a difference. When we receive suggestions on what customers feel are not working, we make sure our business and timetable planning teams know all about them. This will help us, the rest of the rail industry and the Department for Transport with future timetable planning.

Thank you for getting in touch. We look forward to seeing you on Virgin Trains again soon.

Yours sincerely

James Marson
Senior Customer Resolutions Advisor

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[All Line Rover]

It does seem a bit "stock reply" to me!

You don't say...

 

[All Line Rover]

I got this as a reply from Virgin when I asked about a later service.

The entire reply is typical of the abysmally poor first instance responses (if received in the first place) from VTWC.

You are asking about one of their core routes (Scotland to Birmingham), as the stock reply later acknowledges!

Later direct services from Scotland to Birmingham would make travel easier for passengers.

Finally, you are not asking for additional intermediate calls (although even for a passenger criticising the lack of calls at - e.g. Rugby - the explanation "the vast majority of our customers either begin or end their journey in London" would hardly be convincing when it might be considered that it is precisely the lack of intermediate calls which skews the statistics in favour of the vast majority of customers beginning or ending their journey in London).

To "make sure our business and timetable planning teams know all about them" isn't reassuring when it is clear that no attempt has been made to understand your suggestion.

 

[Mag_seven]

re lack of intermediate calls on the WCML I really do feel for people in places like Rugby and Nuneaton who suffered years of disruption and blockades while the WCML was upgraded only to end up with a worse intercity service than they had previously.