Another fantastic day with Avanti

[high camera]

LNWR should be given at least one of the Avanti MAN - LON routes per hour. Give Avanti some competition to think about.

 

[Bletchleyite]

On the 1111 MAN to EUS. TM has declassified the whole train and said he can't guarantee us getting to EUS, but should be fine to MKC. Wish I went to LDS instead and then LNER to KGX.

Trains are departing towards Euston but you may need to change to LNR. Keep an eye out when you get there.

LNWR should be given at least one of the Avanti MAN - LON routes per hour. Give Avanti some competition to think about.

There is a definite case for extending the LNR Crewe, but I'd be more inclined to send it to Liverpool, giving it a second Euston without Avanti needing to bother. I believe LNR were at one point hoping for Manchester Airport as some sort of kiss-and-ride or easy connection from the centre (not a Parkway, have you seen the price of the parking? ).

Only problem is that it could end up severely overcrowded unless there was a practical way to run it as 12-car (or 10.730). Potentially though that could be countered by being able to knock the price up a little for the improved convenience - at present the fares are so low that they're almost price-dumped.

 

[Nippy]

At present with where the train at Euston is stood, platforms 1-7 are blocked. It is being evacuated and an engine coming to assist.

 

[DarloRich]

LNWR should be given at least one of the Avanti MAN - LON routes per hour. Give Avanti some competition to think about.

Ok: How are they going to provide that service? Extend the Crewe services? Why not give them a Preston run as well? What vehicles are they going to use? how many carriages? etc etc

It sounds easy but I doubt it is!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ok: How are they going to provide that service? Extend the Crewe services? Why not give them a Preston run as well? What vehicles are they going to use?

It sounds easy but I doubt it is!

LNR have actually been pushing to extend the Crewe to Manchester Airport*, so it's not entirely crayonista. Preston has also been considered, and indeed LM did used to run one service a day there if I recall.

* In this context don't think of it as having anything to do with planes, but rather "Manchester South Kiss and Ride & Tram Interchange" or somesuch. Plus the significant number of Southerner students would be happy getting the 43 down from Rusholme/Fallowfield/Withington where most of them live - indeed I think it'd put a bigger dent in NatEx/Megabus than Avanti! It didn't work that well for First North Western when they tried it, but the market has changed massively.

 

[D6130]

Quite a few signalling issues/track circuit failures and broken rail(s) across the WCML this morning, as well as a bigger issue with the OLE being down, affecting some lines in and out of Euston.

Ah yes....the first day of proper freezing winter weather. It seems to happen every year!

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

Also how does this work where the Avanti service is infrequent, as in North Wales?

We opt for off-peak any valid route but that is not usable on the 0448 or 0551 Holyhead departures. Gives us the flexibility to hop on what ever train shows up.

The earliest off-peak (TfW change at Crew and Chester) arrives at Euston around 11:00. --- Of course that assumes you make both connections and the Avanti train from Crewe is running.


Today looks grim for a day return. Cancled: 17:50 Crewe to Bangor 18:10 Euston to Wrexham. This train divides with 1 set continuing to Holyhead. 18:30 Euston to Glasgow 18:43 Euston to Crewe terminates at Wolverhampton


If I had to go to London between now and January, I'd hire a car and drive. Ugh.

 

[800001]

And now sadly, a fatality at Watford involving 1F15.

 

[The Planner]

LNR have actually been pushing to extend the Crewe to Manchester Airport*, so it's not entirely crayonista. Preston has also been considered, and indeed LM did used to run one service a day there if I recall.

* In this context don't think of it as having anything to do with planes, but rather "Manchester South Kiss and Ride & Tram Interchange" or somesuch. Plus the significant number of Southerner students would be happy getting the 43 down from Rusholme/Fallowfield/Withington where most of them live - indeed I think it'd put a bigger dent in NatEx/Megabus than Avanti! It didn't work that well for First North Western when they tried it, but the market has changed massively.

They have put that one back on the shelf.

 

[londonmidland]

Unconfirmed reports that all services are suspended out of Euston until further notice due to severe disruption and congestion.

 

[800001]

Unconfirmed reports that all services are suspended out of Euston until further notice due to severe disruption and congestion.

Fatality at Watford as a result all lines blocked for the last hour.

 

[Class800]

There's not many TOCs I'd trust now in case of disruption. Certainly not Avanti. I'd trust SWR, GWR and CrossCountry as had good experiences with them sorting out arrangements

 

[800001]

Slow lines reopened at 1347 at Watford, however trains will not call until further notice.

 

[Kite159]

Also how does this work where the Avanti service is infrequent, as in North Wales?
If the 0551 Holyhead-Euston is cancelled, as sometimes happens, knowing you could have caught the previous 0448 as far as Crewe is of little help, unless you've got up at 4.30am to check!
As for the Avanti following 3 hours later - the 0855 from Holyhead - are you officially supposed to wait 3 hours for that?
On one occasion when this happened, I advised my wife to travel on the next TfW service to Crewe, explain the situation to the conductor and rely on his/her kindness, but be prepared to have to pay the extra to Crewe. As it happened, the conductor simply looked at her Avanti Only ticket - said wearily "Oh, is Avanti cancelled again?" and passed-on.
It would be less stressful if on the occasion of the 0551 being cancelled, Avanti said you could not only travel on the next Avanti service, but that ticket acceptance was also in place with TfW to Crewe, rather than hoping TfW will be kind.
But that means their considering their passengers' welfare.

It's the same when LNER cancel one of their token daily services (Skipton/Middlesbrough etc), the wording is "to catch the next available LNER service" but when that is the following day is a bit hard to follow

 

[800001]

It's the same when LNER cancel one of their token daily services (Skipton/Middlesbrough etc), the wording is "to catch the next available LNER service" but when that is the following day is a bit hard to follow

Funny that, as when ever I see it cancelled it gives specific advice on rail replacement bus or which other tocs services people can use.

 

[TheBigD]

It's the same when LNER cancel one of their token daily services (Skipton/Middlesbrough etc), the wording is "to catch the next available LNER service" but when that is the following day is a bit hard to follow

LNER tend to be quite specific in their advice and often put in place arrangements with Northern etc.

For example today...

 

[paul1609]

In all fairness if the Avanti 05.51 is cancelled from Holyhead it would be a rail replacement taxi and only a 4 seater would be required.

 

[A0]

Avanti managed to strand me at Euston after cancelling the last train to Lime Street (which I was booked on and also the last train to Preston) on Saturday 19 November with of course the Sunday service starting late the next day. Eventually they ran a train to Crewe only, not exceeding 35mph until north of Wolverton.

They just can’t conceive that people might actually need to get connections home from the InterCity station, e.g. to Southport. There were also passengers trying to get to Wem who could get a taxi, a couple trying to get to West Kirby who were told by a taxi driver that he would not be paying the tunnel toll and an exhausted mum with children who lived in Cockermouth and would have needed either Carlisle or Penrith, but no Avanti just dumps you at Crewe after midnight with no onward travel provided.

In January I want to travel to Falkirk Grahamston and intend to return on the last train from Motherwell to Preston or Wigan North Western. If it was cancelled could I bank on being able to use the sleeper a few hours later? It is of course the next train and at least from Preston there is an early enough bus I could get home on without having to wait around all night like last time?

Bit in bold - in Avanti's defence I think late in the day they are restricted to the slow lines due to engineering works. Certainly a lot of the late Avantis (and even when it was Virgin) were given very generous timings to Milton Keynes because of this as they were basically following in the wake of other traffic.

 

[A0]

Given up with Avanti and suddenly discovered the cheaper LNR service, which didn't take as long as they were expecting it to.

I agree with @Bletchleyite maybe LNR should make Milton Keynes a pickup only call on those Crewe trains, just to prevent the Milton Keynes passengers from crowding it out due to being non-stop. Also, it should improve when London - Birmingham goes back to 2tph, as the current timetable where the Birmingham train departs Euston a short time after the Crewe train meant passengers for Birmingham could take the Crewe train to Rugby to change for the Northampton - Birmingham train [when it ran] to get to Coventry & beyond 30-odd minutes earlier.

It won't change a thing - basically if you look at the new timetable on a weekday:

The Euston - Birmingham's leave at xx.23 and xx.56
The Euston - Crewe leaves at xx.46

So you can leave on the Crewe 23 mins later than the xx.23 Birmingham you'll arrive at Rugby at xx.42 and the xx.23 Birmingham will arrive in Rugby at xx.04, so you're still 20 mins up.

Doesn't work for the xx.56 Birmingham service though.

You need to remember those Birmingham services sit at Northampton for 15 mins which makes them an incredibly slow way to get from Euston - Rugby, Coventry or Birmingham. They're not exactly quick getting to Northampton.

 

[Jamesrob637]

On the 1111 MAN to EUS. TM has declassified the whole train and said he can't guarantee us getting to EUS, but should be fine to MKC. Wish I went to LDS instead and then LNER to KGX.

It's just arrived in London not ten minutes ago.

 

[Uzair]

It's just arrived in London not ten minutes ago.

Oh dear. In the end I shared an Uber from MKC to Bedford, where we got the 14:19 Thameslink to STP, arriving at 15:18 (painfully slow!).

 

[800001]

Oh dear. In the end I shared an Uber from MKC to Bedford, where we got the 14:19 Thameslink to STP, arriving at 15:18 (painfully slow!).

But you got where you needed to, all be it slower and longer.

Someone hasn’t gone home tonight!

 

[Uzair]

But you got where you needed to, all be it slower and longer.

Someone hasn’t gone home tonight!

I wasn't complaining about any of it and am not trying to take away from the sad news from WFJ today. My thoughts are - without a doubt - with the driver and the family of the individual involved.

My comment referred to today being the first time I've travelled on Thameslink on the MML and having no idea it took almost an hour to get to STP from Bedford.

 

[A0]

I wasn't complaining about any of it and am not trying to take away from the sad news from WFJ today. My thoughts are - without a doubt - with the driver and the family of the individual involved.

My comment referred to today being the first time I've travelled on Thameslink on the MML and having no idea it took almost an hour to get to STP from Bedford.

TL services make 8 or 9 stops enroute (some stop at West Hampstead) - the equivalent LNW stoppers from MKC also take an hour to get to Euston, it's just that MKC also gets tge LNW Crewe's which only stop at Watford or the Northampton's which stop at Bletchley and Leighton Buzzard before running fast.

The equivalent to those are the 2toh EMR services from Corby which get to St P in 42 mins.

 

[londonmidland]

Tomorrow’s Avanti cancellations and alterations are starting to be rolled out internally. I expect these will be advertised publicly shortly if not done so already.

 

[All Line Rover]

Euston is a disgrace tonight. I have never seen the station so tense. Half the trains listed in the "emergency timetable" - advertised online and in apps earlier this afternoon - aren't listed on the main concourse departure boards at all; the other half are listed as cancelled. There are hordes of angry (potential) passengers on the platforms. A very angry, argumentative atmosphere. I pity the staff, some will be assaulted at this rate. Few police officers to be seen.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Tomorrow’s Avanti cancellations and alterations are starting to be rolled out internally. I expect these will be advertised publicly shortly if not done so already.

Still at least next Monday we will have the full timetable back...........

 

[800001]

Euston is a disgrace tonight. I have never seen the station so tense. Half the trains listed in the "emergency timetable" - advertised online and in apps earlier this afternoon - aren't listed on the main concourse departure boards at all; the other half are listed as cancelled. There are hordes of angry (potential) passengers on the platforms. A very angry, argumentative atmosphere. I pity the staff, some will be assaulted at this rate. Few police officers to be seen.

Fatality, platforms 1-7 at Euston Blocked, multiple broken rails across their route, failed freights blocking the route……….the list of disruption today will of had a massive impact on what they can run today.

 

[Tezza1978]

Euston is a disgrace tonight. I have never seen the station so tense. Half the trains listed in the "emergency timetable" - advertised online and in apps earlier this afternoon - aren't listed on the main concourse departure boards at all; the other half are listed as cancelled. There are hordes of angry (potential) passengers on the platforms. A very angry, argumentative atmosphere. I pity the staff, some will be assaulted at this rate. Few police officers to be seen.

I'm at Euston now waiting to go to WBQ, due to get 2110 on an advance but am sat with a beer in the Doric Arch not knowing if it will run. Showing on RTT but not on the departure boards. 2030 which I was here in time for was cancelled. If a Manc train runs I will be getting it and then invoicing Avanti for a £60 taxi home, their alternative is to pay me back £250 for a short notice central London hotel!

 

[All Line Rover]

Fatality, platforms 1-7 at Euston Blocked, multiple broken rails across their route, failed freights blocking the route……….the list of disruption today will of had a massive impact on what they can run today.

Thank you for telling me what I already know.

None of that excuses pretending that trains don't exist. Re-advertising "phantom" trains long after their supposed departure time (e.g. re-advertising the 19.40 around 20.30, minutes before it departed). Allowing passengers to crowd around the southern ends of platforms, next to Coach K of pendolinos, with staff telling angry passengers "we have no idea where this train is going, but watch the departure board at the front of the platforn". Followed by these hordes rushing to board the southern half of the train as soon as the guard shouts "it's a Manchester train, definitely a Manchester train" (leaving within 1 minute, perhaps? Nobody knows), resulting in passengers being stuck in the rear carriages, with the front carriages - according to the guard looking at the CCTV - having plenty of seats available!! Utter shambles by the management of Euston station.