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I am travelling from Banbury to Paddington via Reading. We are a group of 4 or 5, looking on Trainline it offers us a Groupsave ticket but I thought these weren’t accepted on CrossCountry

Ever since they were first introduced I have always had a profound dislike for the class 150. Everything about it was and still is terrible. when introduced the pacers were really not much better (apart form the Class 141, I liked those). But the refurbishments to the class 144 made them quite...

I personally don’t really have a problem with changing trains but I would think it would be very off putting if you are elderly, have any mobility issues or are travelling with children or luggage. What I really dislike though is changing trains with cross country trains as when you board the...

Due to the closure of the Oxford- Didcot line XC services between Manchester Pic and Oxford are now 2 hourly as are services between Didcot and Bournemouth (I won’t ask why) but is there a reason why they don’t connect up with each other and leaves you with an hour wait at either Oxford or...

I have encountered occasional 10 car services on the Manchester - Reading / Bournemouth route. I still see quite a few 4 car services on this route. I know diagramming is complex but I really wish that XC would try to ensure all single voyager services are formed of 5 car units, surely that must...

Are any improvements to CrossCountry timetables expected from May 2023?

A few times I have seen trains in platform 5 at Lancaster been given a green signal but unable to depart as there are no one to dispatch them. I have even seen train crew have to go to the station manager office on platform 4 looking for someone to dispatch them. This does seem to cause quite a...

What are the rules at Lancaster? I have been on a few Northern services that have been delayed (always from Platform 5) waiting for dispatch from platform staff.

So here it is, another thread about overcrowding on XC. We all know the solutions are very simple and relatively inexpensive (compared to investment in other areas of the network). So I am sure that this thread will soon be locked (or worse consigned to speculative ideas). I can kind of...

The Reading / Southampton to Newcastle XC services used to have long dwell times at Birmingham, Derby and Sheffield (and then wait outside Doncaster). All due to pathing

I have always had a soft spot for the voyagers. I really think they are a good train but with a few flaws. Their performance is very good and pretty reliable. I am sure any carers, or anyone with young children really appreciate the large toilets. The seats are comfortable (compared to most...

Any news on when XC are thinking of going back to a full timetable?

I realise this is probably the wrong place to ask but what is the cheapest price for doing Aberdeen to Penzance direct. I don’t mind doing it in standard class. This is definitely on my bucket list

That has always been my experience too. Changing trains XC trains at Birmingham New St is always a nightmare with connections missed, lots of stairs and the hassle of boarding an already overcrowded train (and having to kick other passengers out of your reserved seats).

I really, really couldn’t agree more. I am a regular long distance user of XC and I am fed up with being treated as a second class passenger who is being unreasonable in expecting an intercity service between major cities in this country. Despite what is said on these forums people do travel...

Sorry, just joining in with what appears to be the general consensus in this forum

I think it is time people realised that the railways are not there to move people around the country. People in the south west need to realise they should not be travelling to the midlands, the north or Scotland. People in the northwest should not be travelling to the south coast. People should...

Strangely enough I was thinking about this the other day. Class 158s are certainly faster and more comfortable than the class 156, but I do really think the class 156 are very overlooked and are very much the under appreciated workhorses of the network. They really really do the job they were...

There again XC could just keep the current timetable and then they wouldn’t need the Avanti 221s. considering the conflicts between XC and other TOCs all over the network I do seriously worry that many XC services may never be restored.

Speaking personally I always thought the best solution was to have the driver release/open the doors as they are in the best position to know if the train has come to a stop in the correct position at the platform. Also the guard / train manager maybe busy dealing with other issues. Then have...