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Author Topic: Avanti West Coast  (Read 5716 times)
IndustryInsider
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« Reply #30 on: September 10, 2022, 09:46:39 »

I have to travel to Manchester soon.   Given the stories I have heard on services out of Euston, I have opted not to go via London and booked a through Cross Country Voyager from Reading.  Probably the least worst option!

Actually quite a good option these days.  Usually an 8-car, sometimes a 9-car or even a 10.  Some start at Reading so finding an unreserved seat is easy and it’s still an hourly service to Manchester…I assume you’ll have a sear reservation anyway though?  And the one good thing about XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) continued running of a very decimated service is that cancellations due to crew shortages are very low.

CrossCountry continue to offer up a very poor service on many of their routes, but Reading to Manchester is probably the best it’s ever been.  Just avoid the 17:27 back on a weekday as that is only booked for a 4-car!
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grahame
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« Reply #31 on: October 07, 2022, 22:43:25 »

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-10-07/avanti-contract-extension-a-slap-in-the-face

Quote
The decision to renew Avanti West Coast's contract short term is a "slap in the face", the train drivers' union has said.

The Government extended the train provider's contract by six months, giving them the deadline to improve after saying it had provided an "unacceptable" service to rail users.

and many more reports such as https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63169383

Quote
Rail firm Avanti West Coast has been warned it needs to "drastically improve services" after its contract to run the London to Glasgow route was extended by just six months.

The decision means it will continue to run services until next April, the Department for Transport said.

Avanti has come under fire after slashing its timetables in August, with trains between London and Manchester the worst affected.
It had apologised for the problems.

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said services on Avanti have been "unacceptable".

"While the company has taken positive steps to get more trains moving, it must do more to deliver certainty of service to its passengers," she said.

"We have agreed a six-month extension to Avanti to assess whether it is capable of running this crucial route to a standard passengers deserve and expect."
« Last Edit: October 07, 2022, 22:51:42 by grahame » Logged

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ChrisB
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« Reply #32 on: March 20, 2023, 10:13:59 »

Contract extended by another 6 months to October 15th, plus new MD (another ex-GWR (Great Western Railway))

From The BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Quote
Rail operator Avanti West Coast has had its contract extended for another six months after making improvements, the government has said.

The firm has previously been heavily criticised over reliability and punctuality, with calls for it to lose the franchise.

Avanti cut services and ticket sales last summer amid a staffing crunch.

The Department of Transport said its contract would now run until 15 October.

Avanti's current contract was due to finish at the end of this month after it was given a temporary six-month extension last October and told to urgently improve.

The operator, which runs trains to Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, north Wales, Glasgow and Edinburgh, slashed its timetable last summer after drivers stopped doing overtime and passengers suffered widespread disruption.

The government had warned the firm that its contract could have been withdrawn.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper said: "The routes Avanti West Coast run are absolutely vital, and I fully understand the frustrations passengers felt at the completely unacceptable services seen last autumn.

"Following our intervention, Rail Minister Huw Merriman and I have worked closely with local leaders to put a robust plan in place, which I'm glad to see is working."

Avanti's parent company First Group said the current arrangements had been extended "under broadly the same terms and conditions".

Chief Executive Graham Sutherland said: "We are working closely with government and our partners across the industry to deliver a successful railway for our customers and communities.

"Performance at Avanti is steadily improving and, since the introduction of the new timetable in mid-December, the number of services has increased by more than 40% compared to last summer, with more seats and better frequencies."

It introduced a new fuller timetable in December. Earlier this month the transport secretary said Avanti had been delivering a better service on weekdays.

More than 5% of Avanti's services were cancelled in the four weeks to 3 March, down from 10.5% in the four weeks to 4 February and 18.9% in the four weeks to 7 January.

First Group also said a new managing director for Avanti had also been appointed, Andy Mellors.

The previous boss left last September.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #33 on: June 10, 2023, 16:54:38 »

Got one of their trains from Euston-Manchester and back Mon/Thurs this week - was quite impressed - both trains on time - OK I was in First class both ways which probably helped but on the return journey especially the train was spotless and I got a decent lunch on board too.

They seem to be back to pretty much a full service now although Euston is as grotty as ever.
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Oxonhutch
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« Reply #34 on: June 10, 2023, 17:04:08 »

Got one of their trains from Euston-Manchester and back Mon/Thurs this week - was quite impressed - both trains on time - OK I was in First class both ways which probably helped but on the return journey especially the train was spotless and I got a decent lunch on board too.

They seem to be back to pretty much a full service now although Euston is as grotty as ever.

Good to hear, as I have been avoiding them because of their grotty service and trains. Might attempt them again next time up to the Red Rose county.
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johnneyw
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« Reply #35 on: January 16, 2024, 22:22:07 »

Avanti say sorry after leaked memo cheers "free money "

Bit of a PR (Public Relations) own goal reported on the Beeb here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67997916
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stuving
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« Reply #36 on: January 16, 2024, 23:24:49 »

Avanti say sorry after leaked memo cheers "free money "

Bit of a PR (Public Relations) own goal reported on the Beeb here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67997916

I can't see how an internal presentation counts as PR. And if it's accidentally become de facto PR, reading the quotes I'm baffled that it's seen as bad or in some way unacceptable. It's using a bit of irony to make the point to management that the so-called incentive regime is too lax, so the payments should not be taken as evidence of good or even adequate performance.
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