ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:45 am

What's happened with Avanti this weekend? Believe there have been loads of train cancellations.

They have announced a reduced timetable from 14th August due to staff shortages, staff sickness and also the impact on them of the industrial action

All I knew was that one of my friends was due to return on Saturday on Avanti following the Watford game and he's had to make alternative arrangements.

I've only travelled once with Avanti and that was to Chelsea in Jan 2020 and I'd booked the tickets with Virgin. They've priced me out now in any case but the sooner they are banished, the better.

Just had an email from Trainline offering a digital Railcard for £20 apparently you can get savings of up to a third on fares ,maybe worth looking at .

joey13 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 10, 2022 1:21 pm

Just had an email from Trainline offering a digital Railcard for £20 apparently you can get savings of up to a third on fares ,maybe worth looking at .

I get my Railcard through Tesco - costs me £10 though the Club Card Points.

I second that.. I work on the railways too and they've worsened the service, charge more but blame staff shortages!
But during covid they were running the best service I had witnessed in years

I've never had a problem travelling the 150 miles with Avanti from Edinburgh to Preston,the problem for me was always with Northern Trains and the 20 mile onward journey to Burnley that service is the worst I have have experienced

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:45 am

What's happened with Avanti this weekend? Believe there have been loads of train cancellations.

No trains whatsoever on Saturday due to strike action by ASLEF (The drivers union), and fewer services on Sunday as drivers, in the main, are choosing not to work Sundays (which they are entitled to do as it's a rest day), along with other staff shortages.
Been an enormous backlog for Train Manager and Train Driver training too because of COVID.

Company really needs to try and address problems around pay/Ts&Cs otherwise this'll drag on for a long time.

Seems that MiltonKeynesClaret tried to do a good turn for his fellow supporters and got shot down in flames.
What’s that saying - “ no good turn goes unpunished “

Starting a thread with Avanti is I am afraid going to lead to some emotive responses.

I'm not really bothered what people think, and I'd anticipated this kind of response - The state of the service is embarrassing and the tickets are, in the main, way too expensive, and a lot needs to change.
The people that do continue to use the trains for going to/from games however, could benefit from the scheme and get a little extra out of the money they already spend. It doesn't make any difference to me, but if I can help a few fellow supporters get a free journey or two out of their travel plans, then great.

I booked my rail tickets for Wigan today. I'm going from my sister's house in Lytham.
The journey will take longer than usual because I'm having to use Northern Trains only. Avanti have suspended ticket sales because they cannot guarantee they can run trains.
They're a shambles and unless they get their act together I can see them having their franchise taken off them.

Fingers crossed….

Looks like Avanti could be on the brink

Papabendi wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 06, 2022 12:20 pm

Looks like Avanti could be on the brink

Well I doubt many will shed many tears if that is indeed the case. Although I do hope the staff don't suffer due to the gross mismanagement by the top brass.

Is it something like 80% of the population support rail nationalisation?

Never had any issues with Virgin. Been a shambles since Avanti took over. Fares have increased massively and getting an inferior service.

Hi Does anyone know how you book tickets for weekend travel when the dates are blocked out on the website?

Thinking QPR.

steve1264b wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 30, 2022 1:09 pm

Hi Does anyone know how you book tickets for weekend travel when the dates are blocked out on the website?

Thinking QPR.

Avanti aren't releasing weekend timetables until a week before.

steve1264b wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 30, 2022 1:09 pm

Hi Does anyone know how you book tickets for weekend travel when the dates are blocked out on the website?

Thinking QPR.

Working to short-term planning at the moment meaning that train times aren't confirmed until a week or so before.
Should be returning to a full pre-Covid timetable when the December timetable comes in. This'll mean 8 trains an hour out of Euston at peak and 7 the rest of the time. Basically double the trains+.
Will mean trains can be booked far further in advance and far cheaper fares should be available too. Will try and keep this thread updated for anyone interested.

claret2018 wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 11, 2022 3:47 pm

Completely agree. In central Europe this journey would cost 40-50 euros

Aye but Europe's broken and we're not, apparently.

I’m travelling to London at the back end of November. We’ve decided to drive to Oxford then get the train in from there as we simply don’t want to be relying on Avanti. Terrible state of affairs when commuters are thinking like this.

steve1264b wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 30, 2022 1:09 pm

Hi Does anyone know how you book tickets for weekend travel when the dates are blocked out on the website?

Thinking QPR.

If you can then look at going down the East Coast via Leeds. It takes a similar amount of time from Burnley and the trains turn up (mainly).