Things have been going from poor to absolutely awful on long distance train services from Euston station on Avanti West Coast (previously run by Virgin West Coast) since Avanti removed up to 3/4 of its services. The root cause is mostly the refusal of the governing body to allow the rail companies to come to a settlement with the unions. Because the staff have declined to work overtime Avati says they have to create a timetable with huge gaps.
Into the breech, according to the partial article in The Guardian reproduced for you below, has come a charter company running nice trains on the same route to Manchester and Crewe.
For your viewing pleasure:
quoted below:
Heritage railway takes on Avanti with first class west coast service
Helen Pidd North of England editor - Yesterday 19:22
There has rarely been a worse time to travel by rail in the UK, particularly on the delay-prone west coast mainline, where services have been slashed and passengers are now expected to fork out £365 for a walk-up return peak fare from Manchester to London.
The operator, Avanti, may think it has passengers over a barrel as it has a monopoly on the line.
Not any more. On Friday afternoon a new charter train service operated by a heritage railway company takes its first journey down the west coast, promising cheaper tickets, comfier seats and air-conditioned carriages.
Operating only on Fridays, Locomotive Intercity will run one return service between London and Crewe or Manchester, promising to take passengers to the capital “in comfort and style without the stress of normal rail services”.
With tickets costing just £75, this special charter service will run at 110 mph using electric locomotives and all first-class, air-conditioned coaches. All passengers are guaranteed not just a seat – a luxury on some Avanti services – but tables and 240V power points, as well as decent leg room. Two buffet cars are available on board, serving teas, coffees, snacks and alcoholic beverages.
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