Is travelling from London to Birmingham a no-no this Sunday?

[thomasheywood]

I need to be in Sutton Coldfield this weekend but when looking for tickets I’ve noticed that there’s a strike on Avanti and engineering works on Chiltern, will London Northwestern trains be packed? Am I better off just driving up the M40, thanks…

 

[Merseysider]

The coach looks like a decent option - NatEx have several coaches in the morning up, afternoon back, timed at 3h and priced at £8.90.

 

[30907]

You do also have the option of an approximately hourly Avanti service.

 

[Belperpete]

You do also have the option of an approximately hourly Avanti service.

Avanti seem to have blocked all their trains this Sunday - all the journey planners I have tried come up with something like "no fare available". I don't recall them doing this for previous strike weekends.

 

[Hadders]

In my experience strike days (my experience is more GTR than Avanti, to be fair) are quieter than normal. Thsi is because all of the messaging is designed to put people off travelling such that the few who do decide to travel often find quieter trains.

I can't say that will be the case with Avanti but I'd say it's likely if purchasing tickets ahead is difficult.

 

[paul1609]

The coach looks like a decent option - NatEx have several coaches in the morning up, afternoon back, timed at 3h and priced at £8.90.

If you go from Finchley Rd (Flixbus) or Golders Green (Nat Exp) it brings the time down to around 2hr 30 m which is competitive with the slow train options (Chiltern/ LNWR) in my experience, normally arrives a few mins early at destination.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Avanti seem to have blocked all their trains this Sunday - all the journey planners I have tried come up with something like "no fare available". I don't recall them doing this for previous strike weekends.

I suspect incompetence rather than conspiracy, i.e. they haven't opened it yet.

If you do want to get an interavailable walk up fare just select a WMT train and change the ticket type.

 

[Tilting007]

Avanti seem to have blocked all their trains this Sunday - all the journey planners I have tried come up with something like "no fare available". I don't recall them doing this for previous strike weekends.

Might be linked to the engineering works on the Trent Valley. All services scheduled to run via Coventry and the West Mids diversionary routes.
Might be that route knowledge for contingency staff is being worked through still.

 

[Sunil_P]

Last night, managed to book Avanti website for a trip today from Euston to/from Stafford, even had seats booked too (1040 out, 1415 back).