Virgin Trains West Coast - Blackpool North to London Euston train withdrawn?

[All Line Rover]

The Virgin Trains service from Blackpool North to London Euston (arriving 08:34) appears to have been withdrawn. It now commences at Preston, as used to be the case. When did this change occur? Why?

The 16:33 departure from London Euston to Blackpool North continues to operate.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Virgin Trains service from Blackpool North to London Euston (arriving 08:34) appears to have been withdrawn. It now commences at Preston, as used to be the case. When did this change occur? Why?

The 16:33 departure from London Euston to Blackpool North continues to operate.

Overnight engineering works during electrification prevent the morning working (and some late/early Northern workings).
It will be back next March, after the winter blockade.
Whether it will go electric is another story.

 

[All Line Rover]

Whether it will go electric is another story.

Difficult to see how that could happen when the train connects with a 5-car Voyager from Holyhead at Crewe.

 

[dk1]

The future appears to be very bright for the Blackpool North branch. Looking forward to future possibilities with the future WCML & open access operators as well as the local/inter urban enhancements.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Difficult to see how that could happen when the train connects with a 5-car Voyager from Holyhead at Crewe.

They could start it from Crewe where it currently starts the day ECS, but only if there is a spare 390 somewhere for a dedicated Blackpool service.

 

[6Gman]

The future appears to be very bright for the Blackpool North branch. Looking forward to future possibilities with the future WCML & open access operators as well as the local/inter urban enhancements.

Is there really the market for Blackpool - Euston?

(Never used the morning train, but the 1633 Down is very thin north of Stafford in my experience.)

 

[swt_passenger]

The future appears to be very bright for the Blackpool North branch. Looking forward to future possibilities with the future WCML & open access operators as well as the local/inter urban enhancements.

Is that the open access operator that needs brand new Pendolinos, but never seems to get round to ordering any?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Wish they would as the DAFT might piggyback a 6 car variant onto the order for voyager replacement although TBH Id rather they extended all the current Pendos to 11 car, bought another half duzzon 11's and allocated them to the Anglo Scott via W Mids leaving the only punters to be voyagerised
those for Wales/shropshire.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Probs the wrong place to ask but how long is the winter Blackpool Block and is it to both North and South or just North? Also start/finish dates etc if known?

 

[dk1]

Is there really the market for Blackpool - Euston?

(Never used the morning train, but the 1633 Down is very thin north of Stafford in my experience.)

I think that's mainly down to the timing of the service & lack of cheap advance tickets.

 

[dk1]

Is that the open access operator that needs brand new Pendolinos, but never seems to get round to ordering any?

Yeah that's the one, Alliance I think. Planning 6-car units that I don't think have been ordered yet & may have to terminate at Queens Park due to HS2 construction works at Euston. Don't think I'd bother.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Probs the wrong place to ask but how long is the winter Blackpool Block and is it to both North and South or just North? Also start/finish dates etc if known?

It's November 2017 to March 2018.
Full closure to North and South until February, when the Preston-South line reopens.
North stays closed until March.
Will reopen as a diesel line until May.
The specific dates have been published, but I can't lay my hands on them for the moment.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Cheers, entering a tender process for some work in the area over the winter and just realised this may affect things!