Virgin Trains allocating a 5-car Voyager to a Liverpool service

[fowler9]

There was a Voyager on the 17:47 Lime Street to Euston this evening. I think it ran in empty from Crewe before hand. Anyone know why? I presume a Pendo failed or got stuck somewhere without a replacement available.

 

[bb21]

1F19 power issues and failed on leaving Euston.

 

[fowler9]

1F19 power issues and failed on leaving Euston.

Cheers mate.

 

[diffident]

How often to Voyagers get up to Lime Street?? I'm guessing not often with the exception of Aintree specials by East Midlands using their 222's? (I know technically they are Meridians too).

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I can't think of any recent uses of Voyagers between Crewe and Liverpool.
Some will be spare from Scottish services because of the blockade at Acton Grange.
Liverpool crews do operate them on Chester/Holyhead services.
Occasionally they are worked Warrington-Crewe via Chester, but that's not possible at the moment because of the same blockade.

 

[jamesst]

Ouch, I imagine a 5 coach voyager as opposed to an 11 coach pendolino was rather cozy!

 

[fowler9]

How often to Voyagers get up to Lime Street?? I'm guessing not often with the exception of Aintree specials by East Midlands using their 222's? (I know technically they are Meridians too).

pretty much never apart from today. Ha ha.

 

[507 001]

Last time a Voyager got to LIV would have been circa 2003 when XC pulled out.

This one had apparently been detached from a Chester/Holyhead service.

 

[Grid56005]

A 10 car worked in from Euston, in May 2015 in conjunction with the Three Queens Cruise Liner event

 

[8J]

Im pretty sure a 221 ran into Lime St 2-3 years ago due to a failed 390 at Euston.

Like has been said, there is no reason why they can't. (most) Liverpool and Euston traincrew sign them and they are route cleared.

 

[driver_m]

Rare as rocking horse crap here. They don’t come here very often though there was a 10 car last year as a one off. Can’t remember why. There are a few spare though at the minute with the Acton Grange block so if there is one about, then it could be used, however you’ve also got to bear in mind that the majority of caterers don’t touch voyagers at Lime St so you can’t offer any food n drink. Normally they’re fully utilised on unwired routes and Brum services so there’s little reason for them to visit Lime St (or Manchester where the TM’s don’t sign them)

 

[Mag_seven]

Voyages from Lime Street.

I didn't realise ships could dock there!

 

[southn]

Yesterday (Tuesday), Virgin Trains substituted a 5-car 221 to operate the 17.47 Liverpool to Euston.

This week and next, a coupled 10-car 221 is operating the 18.30 Euston to Glasgow via Wilmslow and Manchester. This is the 18.40 to Manchester, amended to accommodate engineering works around Warrington.

Is this the first time Super Voyagers have operated Euston to Manchester / Liverpool services since Pendolinos were fully introduced?

 

[Mordac]

XC sends theirs to Manchester on the daily.

 

[gazthomas]

Diversions via Manchester have occurred in the past.

XC doesn't go to London Euston of course.

 

[Mordac]

Diversions via Manchester have occurred in the past.

XC doesn't go to London Euston of course.

Apologies, I misunderstood the OP.

 

[fowler9]

I didn't realise ships could dock there!

Ha ha. Yeah, sorry mate. Fortunately someone in admin seems to have now corrected my mistake.

 

[irish_rail]

Had one on a Sunday few years ago on a shuttle to and from Crewe.

 

[Jamesrob637]

A Euston to Manchester is currently running as 8 instead of 9? Pendolino shed one carriage due to a fault?

 

[Royston Vasey]

A Euston to Manchester is currently running as 8 instead of 9? Pendolino shed one carriage due to a fault?

Will be locked out car. Failed air con perhaps, broken window possibly

 

[scotrail158713]

Ouch, I imagine a 5 coach voyager as opposed to an 11 coach pendolino was rather cozy!

That was my first thought! A 3-car instead of 4-car train is cozy enough for me.

 

[E6007]

That was my first thought! A 3-car instead of 4-car train is cozy enough for me.

But isn't this better than no train at all due to the earlier failure?

 

[scotrail158713]

But isn't this better than no train at all due to the earlier failure?

It is but I was just surprised that only one other person had picked up on what seemed like a big issue - taking 6 carriages off a trains allocated length.

 

[Ianno87]

It is but I was just surprised that only one other person had picked up on what seemed like a big issue - taking 6 carriages off a trains allocated length.

Perhaps Virgin know what the loading is typically like on the 1747 and allocated a Voyager accordingly?

 

[scotrail158713]

Perhaps Virgin know what the loading is typically like on the 1747 and allocated a Voyager accordingly?

I know what you mean but a peak time service on a route with 9 or 11 coaches off peak is unlikely to be quiet enough to warrant just 5 coaches

 

[Ianno87]

I know what you mean but a peak time service on a route with 9 or 11 coaches off peak is unlikely to be quiet enough to warrant just 5 coaches

I've been on southbound trains that time of the afternoon from Liverpool, and they're really not that heavily loaded.

 

[scotrail158713]

I've been on southbound trains that time of the afternoon from Liverpool, and they're really not that heavily loaded.

Sorry, you’re right - I’ve just realised we’ve been talking about 17.47 from Liverpool not 17.47 from Euston.

 

[driver_m]

Again, crewing issues can play a part in allocating at very short notice. Lost track of what issues happened on Tuesday, but that particular train would be worked by a Euston driver, they have a couple of links that don’t sign 221s

One thing I would say though, can we leave the loadings issue for other forums please, not only is it covered elsewhere on here, it’s also not the quiet backwater in comparison to other VT routes that some make it out to be.

 

[Ianno87]

One thing I would say though, can we leave the loadings issue for other forums please, not only is it covered elsewhere on here, it’s also not the quiet backwater in comparison to other VT routes that some make it out to be.

...uhhhh, why? It's entirely relevant to the discussion about why 'only' a 5 car may have been deemed adequate as a substitute.

I have been on Liverpool starters that time of day, and they are not exactly full and standing, so was entirely reasonable in my view.

It was about the specifics of the 1747 train, not Liverpool services in general...

 

[HotelNovember]

...uhhhh, why? It's entirely relevant to the discussion about why 'only' a 5 car may have been deemed adequate as a substitute.

Because that’s all that was available?!

No conspiracy theories here....Failed 390, only available spare a 221. So rather than a cancellation, that’s what was provided. Easy.