Avanti Trains - Easter Bank Holiday

[Wiganlad]

I have gone to book my Easter pilgrimage from Wigan to Birmingham international on the 19th April, when I have checked I need to get the Avanti Train to Stafford then change onto Cross Country to Birmingham International. This is the same for the return on the 21st April. The thing I do not understand is if Cross Country can operate from Stafford to Birmingham international then why cannot Avanti?

 

[Bletchleyite]

On Easter weekend Avanti are operating a reduced service because they are not operating between Milton Keynes Central and Euston. This reduced service does not include any Birmingham services, curiously, just 3tph, one to Liverpool, one to Manchester and one to Carlisle via the Trent Valley. I'm not totally sure why this is as they have operated them in the past - I guess just low demand given that WMT is so much cheaper and still operating half hourly, and those going from London will just use Chiltern.

 

[The Planner]

On Easter weekend Avanti are operating a reduced service because they are not operating between Milton Keynes Central and Euston. This reduced service does not include any Birmingham services, curiously, just 3tph, one to Liverpool, one to Manchester and one to Carlisle via the Trent Valley. I'm not totally sure why this is as they have operated them in the past - I guess just low demand given that WMT is so much cheaper and still operating half hourly, and those going from London will just use Chiltern.

Birmingham services are running as Wolves Rugby.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Birmingham services are running as Wolves Rugby.

Thanks (I just looked at MKC departures). Seems barely any point bothering with that - I reckon a 5-car 805 will offer a coach per passenger.

 

[The Planner]

Thanks (I just looked at MKC departures). Seems barely any point bothering with that - I reckon a 5-car 805 will offer a coach per passenger.

Especially when they don't connect into anything, apart from the LNWR New St to MK service behind it!

 

[Wiganlad]

Thanks (I just looked at MKC departures). Seems barely any point bothering with that - I reckon a 5-car 805 will offer a coach per passenger.

That would serve me better as a PRE to RUG

 

[Efini92]

Especially when they don't connect into anything, apart from the LNWR New St to MK service behind it!

Does seem odd there’s no Preston to MK via the West Midlands.

 

[Bevan Price]

Does seem odd there’s no Preston to MK via the West Midlands.

And nothing from Carlisle to Glasgow or Edinburgh apart from buses from 19 to 21 April. Even the Scotrail service only runs between Dumfries & Glasgow....

 

[Mugby]

Will the fact that Avanti are not operating between Euston and Milton Keynes be likely to put more passengers on EMR's services out of STP during the weekend?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Will the fact that Avanti are not operating between Euston and Milton Keynes be likely to put more passengers on EMR's services out of STP during the weekend?

There was a handwritten board at Manchester Picc suggesting that route a week or two ago, so I suspect so. The Hope Valley will be packed. And the M6 of course.

 

[Bald Rick]

Will the fact that Avanti are not operating between Euston and Milton Keynes be likely to put more passengers on EMR's services out of STP during the weekend?

There was a handwritten board at Manchester Picc suggesting that route a week or two ago, so I suspect so. The Hope Valley will be packed. And the M6 of course.

Avanti are operating out of Euston on Friday, which is when the Easter getaway tends to wind down (it has already started last weekend, with more tonight and tomorrow).

Easter Saturday / Sunday are two of the quietest days on the long distance network (rail and road). Yes some people will be travelling, and will use Chiltern for the West Mids and the MML for the North West. However the services will cope. Also there’s no major football fixtures that would see use of the WCML or MML from London happening except for Forest at Spurs late Monday.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Avanti are operating out of Euston on Friday, which is when the Easter getaway tends to wind down (it has already started last weekend, with more tonight and tomorrow).

Easter Saturday / Sunday are two of the quietest days on the long distance network (rail and road). Yes some people will be travelling, and will use Chiltern for the West Mids and the MML for the North West. However the services will cope. Also there’s no major football fixtures that would see use of the WCML or MML from London happening except for Forest at Spurs late Monday.

They are also not operating out of Euston on Easter Monday, which means a lot of people who might go via the WCML for an Easter break away will either drive or choose different routes including the MML. With Advances increasingly the default, though, they can travel the usual way on Friday and back a different way, though, so the effect may not be as bad both ways - one of the key advantages of single fare pricing.

I'm not sure why you think everyone goes away for Easter the week before. I would expect it to be spread between the two (a week either side - only not that when Easter is very early or very late) as far as school families go, but for people without kids (me included) often they go away for just the 4 days.

 

[The Planner]

And nothing from Carlisle to Glasgow or Edinburgh apart from buses from 19 to 21 April. Even the Scotrail service only runs between Dumfries & Glasgow....

Kingmoor resignalling work.

 

[Bald Rick]

I'm not sure why you think everyone goes away for Easter the week before.

It’s long been a thing. Passenger numbers are well down this week. Late Easter this year makes it even more so.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It’s long been a thing. Passenger numbers are well down this week. Late Easter this year makes it even more so.

Has it? I'd have thought it would be fairly evenly distributed between the two weeks. Certainly commuting is down this week (probably going to go into the office tomorrow to enjoy the quiet) but I'd expect it to be next week too.

 

[IrishDave]

I'm not sure why you think everyone goes away for Easter the week before. I would expect it to be spread between the two (a week either side - only not that when Easter is very early or very late) as far as school families go, but for people without kids (me included) often they go away for just the 4 days.

This year *is* one of those where Easter is very late, though - most schools are on holiday for the two weeks before Easter and go back on Tuesday 22nd.

 

[Bald Rick]

Has it? I'd have thought it would be fairly evenly distributed between the two weeks. Certainly commuting is down this week (probably going to go into the office tomorrow to enjoy the quiet) but I'd expect it to be next week too.

Schools back next week.

 

[Bungle]

Not everywhere. Our kids are off either side of Easter and are not back until 28th. Depends on the area (we’re Birmingham.)

 

[syorksdeano]

There was a handwritten board at Manchester Picc suggesting that route a week or two ago, so I suspect so. The Hope Valley will be packed. And the M6 of course.

And with nothing going via Stockport from Sheffield, you just know that the inevitable signal fault/points failure/broken down train/lack of train crew is going to happen.