Option/s for Nuneaton to Stafford during Trent Valley spring blockade.

[sn5775]

Hi all,

I'm looking to travel between Nuneaton and Stafford return tomorrow (Thursday, 29th May 2025) and wondering what my options are for travel, considering the engineering blockade between Rugby and Stafford at the moment.

I understand that there is a replacement bus service running between Rugby and Stafford. Am I correct in thinking that this will be calling at all stations along the normal route, or is there a direct replacement bus as well?

I noticed in Nuneaton bus station today (Tue 28th) there was a rail replacement coach in the layover bay which had a notice in the windscreen reading "Nuneaton to Coventry".
Does this mean that there is a rail replacement to Coventry as well?

What route options do I have? I don't mind paying a little bit extra to avoid the replacement bus service, for example, travelling Nuneaton - Birmingham New Street - Wolverhampton - Stafford? Would this be a valid route on the anytime day return ticket?

I noticed on the London North Western Railway app that tomorrow morning the only options they are offering are the replacement bus from Nuneaton to Stafford calling at all intermediate stations or Cross Country Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street, changing at New Street for a Cross Country service to Stafford via Wolverhampton.

Does this mean that tickets for Nuneaton to Stafford are not being accepted on Avanti West Coast, for example Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton?

Finally, would Coventry to Wolverhampton on Avanti be an option (with a valid ticket) therefore avoiding changing trains at Birmingham New Street? Would I need seperate tickets for this route, or would Coventry-Wolverhampton-Stafford be a valid route?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Steve.

 

[jfollows]

Nuneaton-Stafford is ordinarily valid via Birmingham, then Wolverhampton.
Maps BP + BV at https://rgpp.iblocks.co.uk/maps

Not Coventry, though. With a ticket from Nuneaton. However of course a Coventry-Stafford ticket is valid via Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Maps SM + BJ if you want to see details. Of course Coventry-Stafford is valid via Nuneaton and the Trent Valley, normally, just not sensible this week.

No “easements” that I can see.

Avanti have to accept “any permitted” tickets between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, yes. Such as a day return Nuneaton-Stafford.

 

[High Dyke]

Hi all,

I noticed in Nuneaton bus station today (Tue 28th) there was a rail replacement coach in the layover bay which had a notice in the windscreen reading "Nuneaton to Coventry".
Does this mean that there is a rail replacement to Coventry as well?

The usual WMT service is scheduled to operate between Nuneaton to Coventry etc. In large scale blockades such as this then an operator might put additional replacement services on to other nearby stations, on unaffected routes, to allow passengers travel options. E.G. During a blockade on the ECML buses may operate from Stevenage to Luton.

I noticed on the London North Western Railway app that tomorrow morning the only options they are offering are the replacement bus from Nuneaton to Stafford calling at all intermediate stations or Cross Country Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street, changing at New Street for a Cross Country service to Stafford via Wolverhampton.

That could purely be down to the timing connections at Birmingham New Street.