Great Western Coffee Shop

After a bit of work in Milton Keynes this morning I decided to do a bit of West Midlands Day Ranger-ing. With the requisite Milton Keynes to Rugby Day Return to allow a lengthy bit of running with Avanti West Coast to Crewe.

On arrival at Crewe I was pleased to be see an InterCity Electric railtour in the station. The set looked resplendent in IC Swallow livery on the Class 90 loco and Class 82 DVT, sandwiching a rake of equally resplendent IC Executive Mk3 carriages.

Whilst the set was in the station I witnessed the Locomotive Services Ltd staff turning away many folk who thought this was a scheduled service to London. 40+ year old Mk3s in a BR livery still look like 'normal' rather than heritage rolling stock to me too!

(https://i.ibb.co/Hq1y6hr/IMG-20220902-141616.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/jrBTPCn/IMG-20220902-142814.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/pzQPCYZ/IMG-20220902-142515.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/R6tLTQR/IMG-20220902-141822.jpg)

That’s the FO service to EUS you saw there. All 1st class. One fare - £75.

Unfortunately, they are having problems marketing it & very underused. No one wants to go to London for the day on a Friday, although the return leg to Crewe is busier, it still isn’t breaking any records nor even even(!) I suspect. Good idea, needs tweaking

Finn looks confused too. "Aren't we getting this one?"

*Slaps forehead*

I should've realised it was the FO LS Ltd speculative service. I still wouldn't have caught it though. I very much doubt they would have excessed my West Midlands Day Ranger AND added a fare from Rugby to Euston.

I did notice that it was very lightly loaded and heavily staffed. Can't be making money.

The Friday only Locomotive InterCity Ltd charters, Crewe to Euston in the afternoon and Euston to Manchester via Birmingham, are now continuing until 9th December 2022.

Booking online: https://inter-city.co.uk/

Geoff Marshall has taken a trip on this service. Here’s his report:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcMd8DLlPJY

Another good example of what USED to be the norm for intercity trains, but is now considered unreasonable, unaffordable, or no longer required.
Loco hauled, now very last century and considered old fashioned.
Buffet, totally unreasonable, a trolley is better, and no trolley even better !
Padded seats, no way.

Watching that was what actually prompted me to update this thread!

He bumped into another favourite YouTuber of mine. Wingin' It! Paul Lucas. I suspect there may be a vlog from him in the coming days too.

Now hired by Avanti to provide extra services on the WCML until Tuesday

.

Avanti are, I believe, hiring LSLs blue HST set for additional services between Manchester and London.

EDIT: Although today it appears that 90002 with loco hauled MK3s was used.

......I was wondering how long it would take!  ;D

I used to think 2 hours Crewe to London ...