Avanti West Coast Cancellations

[andyjhatton]

I've it on good authority having been caught up in the mess on Friday 24th and today that the following characters have been promoted to senior positions within the railway as being more competent than their predecessors.

 

[Krokodil]

Looking at today's cancellations I'm beginning to wonder if Avanti have any drivers based in Holyhead any more. Nothing at all running this morning.

 

[dk1]

Looking at today's cancellations I'm beginning to wonder if Avanti have any drivers based in Holyhead any more. Nothing at all running this morning.

I thought it was only train managers. Avanti & Virgin before them taxied drivers to Holyhead.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 May 2024 ==

*UPDATE* Just noticed a thread from 2020 that I even commented on Avanti opening a small drivers depot at Holyhead. I’d forgotten all about it.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has said that Avanti West Coast could be stripped of its contract by October 2026 if Labour is elected on 4th July, possibly sooner if Avanti is found to have breached the contract.

Asked about Labour’s plan to bring train services into public ownership, Ms Haigh said the parties' commitment is "to bring in those contracts as they expire or when they are breached.

"I anticipate I will be seeking advice early on whether Avanti has been in breach of its contract given the woeful service that it’s been providing to passengers down the West Coast Main Line."She added: "No ifs, no buts, October 2026 will be the last date Avanti will have notice of that contract (ending) but I will ask for early advice about whether they have already breached their contract and whether it can be brought in any earlier."A spokesperson at Avanti West Coast said: "Recently we have introduced our new Evero fleet on the West Coast Main Line which has boosted capacity on the network.

"This combined with our refurbishment of our Pendolino trains, the introduction of standard premium and our Superfare ticket has significantly improved customer experience on our services."

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-06-12/labour-could-strip-avanti-west-coasts-rail-contract-over-woeful-service

 

[Benjwri]

Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has said that Avanti West Coast could be stripped of its contract by October 2026 if Labour is elected on 4th July, possibly sooner if Avanti is found to have breached the contract.

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-06-12/labour-could-strip-avanti-west-coasts-rail-contract-over-woeful-service

Which will change precisely nothing for at least a good year or two after, in fact if anything it will stifle change because FirstGroup will see it as pointless.

However the 5th of July will be an absolutely terrible day to be a director or shareholder of FirstGroup.

 

[dk1]

Which will change precisely nothing for at least a good year or two after, in fact if anything it will stifle change because FirstGroup will see it as pointless.

However the 5th of July will be an absolutely terrible day to be a director or shareholder of FirstGroup.

I noticed my FGP shares had dropped today.

 

[victormildrew]

New trains and referbs for the cancellations porkies me thinks. Cancelled due to train crew, our one and only service from Shrewsbury to Euston cancelled more times than it run, reason the train was hardly used not surprising when it terminated at New Street or Wolverhampton, really unreliable. So service was stopped December timetable.

 

[RGM654]

In August I will be heading from London to Edinburgh for a few days of the Fringe. I usually use the ECML. I would like to use the WCML for a change and I'm not bothered about it being a bit slower, but I'm wary of the many cancellations. Would I be foolish to book with Avanti West Coast?

 

[jfollows]

In August I will be heading from London to Edinburgh for a few days of the Fringe. I usually use the ECML. I would like to use the WCML for a change and I'm not bothered about it being a bit slower, but I'm wary of the many cancellations. Would I be foolish to book with Avanti West Coast?

https://www.journeycheck.com/avantiwestcoast/ shows many fewer cancellations these days than there used to be.
WCML isn’t as slow if you take the Glasgow service from London and avoid the trundle via Birmingham, then change onto the Edinburgh service behind it at some point, but that depends on your preference for a through service over potential complication.

 

[JamieL]

Would I be foolish to book with Avanti West Coast?

Not at all. Given how late their trains often are, there is a fair chance of getting a significant refund on your ticket price!

 

[Toby268]

In August I will be heading from London to Edinburgh for a few days of the Fringe. I usually use the ECML. I would like to use the WCML for a change and I'm not bothered about it being a bit slower, but I'm wary of the many cancellations. Would I be foolish to book with Avanti West Coast?

No you wouldn’t be foolish. You’ll be fine.

 

[Merseysider]

They’re better than they used to be. My last 5 journeys or so with Avanti have all been on time.

 

[Moonshot]

In August I will be heading from London to Edinburgh for a few days of the Fringe. I usually use the ECML. I would like to use the WCML for a change and I'm not bothered about it being a bit slower, but I'm wary of the many cancellations. Would I be foolish to book with Avanti West Coast?

I wouldn't bother...... flying would be the better option......or drive if you have the stamina for it.

 

[dk1]

In August I will be heading from London to Edinburgh for a few days of the Fringe. I usually use the ECML. I would like to use the WCML for a change and I'm not bothered about it being a bit slower, but I'm wary of the many cancellations. Would I be foolish to book with Avanti West Coast?

I wouldn’t worry too much. Anything can go wrong with any form of transport it’s just one of those things. Personally it’s train every time for me.

 

[danbarjon]

In August I will be heading from London to Edinburgh for a few days of the Fringe. I usually use the ECML. I would like to use the WCML for a change and I'm not bothered about it being a bit slower, but I'm wary of the many cancellations. Would I be foolish to book with Avanti West Coast?

I've just booked a Glasgow Central to Warrington ticket for August so if your foolish then so am I.

 

[Benjwri]

I wouldn't bother...... flying would be the better option......or drive if you have the stamina for it.

I think the idea the driving to Edinburgh fringe from (presumably) London rather than a train, which will almost definitely cost significantly more when parking and fuel from motorway stations are taken into account, is ridiculous. I'd be surprised if flying was cheaper than the train during fringe.

 

[AndrewE]

In August I will be heading from London to Edinburgh for a few days of the Fringe. I usually use the ECML. I would like to use the WCML for a change and I'm not bothered about it being a bit slower, but I'm wary of the many cancellations. Would I be foolish to book with Avanti West Coast?

"when it's good it's very, very good, but when it's bad..." As far as I am concerned the WCML beats the East Coast hands down for scenery too, apart from Newcastle itself and just north of Berwick!

In my experience (travelling WCML to Edinburgh several times a year, and using those same "class 9" trains to get north to the Lake District too) the Edinburgh services are the most reliable - suicides excepted, which affect all trains. Don't know about the direct Euston Glasgows, but they seem to connect into both the Avanti services and the TPE Edinburgh trains as has been mentioned above. You might want a break for lunch at Carlisle, or you might just want to get the journey over with!

 

[Bald Rick]

You might want a break for lunch at Carlisle

Has that sentence ever been written before? Tip of the hat to you Sir!

 

[Tester]

Has that sentence ever been written before? Tip of the hat to you Sir!

To be fair, I remember a Greggs outlet shop near Carlisle station, with 50p pies.

A while back, and may no longer be there, but it's the thought that counts!

 

[1D54]

Listening to shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh the other morning on Sky News Avanti will be around for not much longer. Contract expires in October 26 but the government elect will be going after them the minute they hit problems with punctuality, cancellations etc.

 

[Mag_seven]

Listening to shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh the other morning on Sky News Avanti will be around for not much longer. Contract expires in October 26 but the government elect will be going after them the minute they hit problems with punctuality, cancellations etc.

Unfortunately "state ownership" is not the magic bullet it claims to be - take a look at Northern.

 

[Moonshot]

Unfortunately "state ownership" is not the magic bullet it claims to be - take a look at Northern.

Indeed.....the Northern service nowadays is shocking, state ownership is definitely not the answer.

 

[Skiddaw]

To be fair, I remember a Greggs outlet shop near Carlisle station, with 50p pies.

A while back, and may no longer be there, but it's the thought that counts!

I can recommend two lovely independent cafes within easy reach of the station. Expresso Hub (St Albans Row, next to the Tourist Info) and Cakes & Ale Cafe at the back of Bookends (Castle Street). Perfect for lunch. Or there are two Weatherspoons on Botchergate.

 

[800001]

Not at all. Given how late their trains often are, there is a fair chance of getting a significant refund on your ticket price!

What percentage of trains per day are lay enough to get a significant refund?

 

[dk1]

Unfortunately "state ownership" is not the magic bullet it claims to be - take a look at Northern.

You can add LNER to that too. Both have a shocking record with industrial relations.

 

[richardderby]

think the Spanish model is the answer, several private 'open access' operators running alongside the state operator Renfe.
Fares have reduced, and services are more frequent and better on board service.

 

[geoffk]

think the Spanish model is the answer, several private 'open access' operators running alongside the state operator Renfe.
Fares have reduced, and services are more frequent and better on board service.

But where will the paths come from? This idea might have worked if HS2 was built in full.

 

[Toby268]

You can add LNER to that too. Both have a shocking record with industrial relations.

Whilst this is true for LNER and northern, it’s clear that they are being directed by the DFT. I am not hopeful, but maybe a change in government will change this.

 

[dk1]

Whilst this is true for LNER and northern, it’s clear that they are being directed by the DFT. I am not hopeful, but maybe a change in government will change this.

I would like to think so mate. Time will tell.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Whilst this is true for LNER and northern, it’s clear that they are being directed by the DFT. I am not hopeful, but maybe a change in government will change this.

I think there's a chance it might. It's pretty clear that rail workers are Sunak's coal miners.

I suspect that is why we haven't seen any more strikes declared for a bit - they're waiting to see the outcome of the election (though I may of course just have jinxed it! )