Avanti to Walsall

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Avanti West Coast promised direct trains to Walsall from December 2020.

Now of course, like many things, I assume once again we shall hear the railway bleating: “because of Covid because of Covid” and then tell us these plans have been pushed back, like most other things. But has there actually been any indication that this will still go ahead at some point?

Oh, and if so, will they be sticking a diesel Voyager under the wires or wasting a nice long Pendolino while a Voyager heads off to Edinburgh? Both undesirable options, of course, but I assume that’ll be fixed with the introduction of the Hitachi units.

 

[Bald Rick]

Well the December 20 timetable has been published, so if they are shown as running from Monday 14th December they are running; if they’re not they’re not!

The original plan was voyagers, splitting / joining at New St in one direction and Wolverhampton in the other. Quite why anyone from Walsall would want to catch it is beyond me. The business case must have been pretty marginal in normal times, so in the ‘new world’ I guess it will look shaky.

 

[The Planner]

Good luck fitting a Pendo at Walsall...

 

[pdeaves]

The original plan was voyagers, splitting / joining at New St in one direction and Wolverhampton in the other. Quite why anyone from Walsall would want to catch it is beyond me. The business case must have been pretty marginal in normal times, so in the ‘new world’ I guess it will look shaky.

I always viewed it as somewhere to reverse a unit without blocking Birmingham New Street. That may or may not be the real reason!

 

[Gathursty]

The original plan was voyagers, splitting / joining at New St in one direction and Wolverhampton in the other.

A chance to grab some rare track (Wolverhampton - Walsall direct)?

 

[the sniper]

A chance to grab some rare track (Wolverhampton - Walsall direct)?

Not if the front was going to Wolverhampton direct and the rear to Walsall. Wolverhampton - Walsall should become a regular thing under WMT in a few years.

 

[Gathursty]

Not if the front was going to Wolverhampton direct and the rear to Walsall. Wolverhampton - Walsall should become a regular thing under WMT in a few years.

Oh that way round. I see. Thanks.

 

[Bald Rick]

Oh that way round. I see. Thanks.

You were right first time. In one direction (I forget which) the split / join was at Wolverhampton, ie the unit would travel between there and Walsall.

 

[Whistler40145]

Will there be sufficient passenger numbers to operate extend to/from Birmingham New Street?

 

[Bald Rick]

Will there be sufficient passenger numbers to operate extend to/from Birmingham New Street?

Very unlikely IMO