470 seats - is that a coupled up Voyager?
What is the obsession with direct trains in this country? I find it terrifying that people may not consider going back till the Monday lest they have to change trains at Manchester or Chester. :x
EMT loaning an HST to Virgin?
Those old clapped out trains that have no place in the 21st century.
I wonder what virgin presence there will be? Emt train, driver and gaurd. Will virgin just give a few CSA over.
Why are you assuming everyone going has Liverpool Lime Street station as their final destination?
Surely this is the reason for this extra service...?
What is the obsession with direct trains in this country? I find it terrifying that people may not consider going back till the Monday lest they have to change trains at Manchester or Chester. :x
So in your opinion no-one would be planning to do Formby-London via Liverpool, Bootle-London via Liverpool, Brunswick-London via Liverpool, etc. on cup final day?
What's that got to do with anything? The press release still talks about the first direct train to Liverpool. Passengers for Merseyrail stations could still change at Chester or Manchester.
The train will be an EMT HST, declassified throughout and running non-stop Liverpool to London and return. The Pretendolino isn't cleared through the Hope Valley.
So in your opinion no-one would be planning to do Formby-London via Liverpool, Bootle-London via Liverpool, Brunswick-London via Liverpool, etc. on cup final day?
Huh? What I mean is the suggestion that people will accept no less than a direct train to Liverpool (for connections onwards perhaps), their alternative being staying in London until Monday when they can get one.
Stupid question but mk3s are, why would the pretendolino not be? I am sure 67s have ran charters on the route.
Perhaps there is an issue with the DVT not being cleared? Not that I know either way, but the HST makes more sense anyway as EMT crew are trained on them and the route.
If you're going to read my reply to a quoted message at least read the quoted message before replying.
Does anyone know the details for the HST getting to Liverpool and also for the return trip and return movement from Liverpool?
I did. Most people are used to getting onto the Merseyrail network once they reach Liverpool. I still don't see why we need a direct service just because there is one (or two) more changes once we've reached Liverpool.
I am shocked that Chiltern and ATW have not come up with a footex, it's simple - loco hauled set from Wembley direct to Chester the Merseyrail to Liverpool, or even direct to Crewe and then LM. 2 loco hauled sets could be utilsed or even 8 car 168/2's both of which are cleared to Crewe and Chester
Train is timed as loco hauled (455 tonnes) on the outward and HST on the return.
When you think about it.
HST. Easy life EMT have, train, route knowledge etc
Mk3s and loco? Who drives it EWS? Route knowledge? Probably ok.
Seating about the same. I just can't see why a HSt would not be used. We have ruled out the 222 - but can it operate via Newton me willows or is it only cleared via Warrington?
http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/S40000/2012/5/5
The times match the Virgin announcement, but the details say it is loco hauled and 95mph.
Runs via Chat Moss, Piccadilly, Romiley, Hope Valley and Derby.
When the line via Warrington Central is closed, TPE divert via Newton-le-Willows while EMT always terminate short, which suggests EMT don't have route knowledge via Newton-le-Willows.
That probably means the outward journey won't be a EMT crew on a HST but the return journey can be.