Jim Martin Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I recently spent several days staying at my mother's house, which is very close to the WCML at Berkhamsted. Among the Pendos and London Midland and Southern units, I was surprised to see quite a few Voyagers. I assume that these go into Euston, but whereabouts is the other end of the line? Do they go to Holyhead? Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Pannier Tank Posted August 2, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 2, 2010 I recently spent several days staying at my mother's house, which is very close to the WCML at Berkhamsted. Among the Pendos and London Midland and Southern units, I was surprised to see quite a few Voyagers. I assume that these go into Euston, but whereabouts is the other end of the line? Do they go to Holyhead? Jim Euston to Holyhead services. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWT442 Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 They do go further than Holyhead. I was at Carlisle, Holme and Warrington Bank Quay a few weeks ago (on a bit of a trip! ) and we had a fair few Voyagers through those places. For the life of me I can't remember where they were heading. Andy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomag Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 They do go further than Holyhead. I was at Carlisle, Holme and Warrington Bank Quay a few weeks ago (on a bit of a trip! ) and we had a fair few Voyagers through those places. For the life of me I can't remember where they were heading. Andy. These are the New Street to Glasgow/Edinburgh service not the Euston to N Wales trains. Occasionally, particularly for engineering works, they do work other services out of Euston. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 These are the New Street to Glasgow/Edinburgh service not the Euston to N Wales trains. Occasionally, particularly for engineering works, they do work other services out of Euston. New Street to Glasgow/Edinburgh service - a quite bizarre situation of not having enough electric units to serve all your fully under the wires services. I wonder if Virgin had the option to purchase their own trains if they would still be running diesels to Scotland. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWT442 Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 These are the New Street to Glasgow/Edinburgh service not the Euston to N Wales trains. Occasionally, particularly for engineering works, they do work other services out of Euston. Ah, thanks for that! Couldn't remember what their destinations were! Andy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted August 2, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 2, 2010 There was a Euston - Lancaster, & return, working in the timetable last year but I don't know if that still runs. Supposedly booked for 2x221 it seemed to run as frequently with one set as with two. Well worth a trip if it's still running - goes like bat out of whatsit on the Up journey in particular Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted August 2, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 2, 2010 Euston to Lancaster is now a Pendo StationMaster. The Voyagers are on Euston - Chester/Bangor/Holyhead/Wrexham (and return) services, or occasionally they substitute for other services. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted August 3, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 3, 2010 Voyagers working through Cheddington during the afternoon of 19 July 2010 Because of the Grayrigg write off, substitutions occur, sometimes the Pretending lino and sometimes Voyagers, sadly, for me, this day it was Voyagers. 221108, Sir Ernest Shackleton, on 1A33, 12:35, Chester - London Euston 221115 on 1S77, 13:43, London Euston - Glasgow Central 221103 on 1B50, 13:30, Birmingham New Street - London Euston 221107, Sir Martin Frobisher, on 1D88, 14:10, London Euston - Chester 221105, William Baffin, on 1C75, 14:30, London Euston - Lancaster 221110, James Cook, on 1A38, 12:24, Bangor - London Euston 221108, Sir Ernest Shackleton, on 1D89, 15:10, London Euston - Chester 221103, Christopher Columbus, on 1G29, 15:23, London Euston - Wolverhampton 221143, Auguste Picard, and 221142, Matthew Flinders, on 1A43, 14:35, Chester - London Euston 221110, James Cook, on 1D90, 16:10, London Euston - Bangor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Martin Posted August 3, 2010 Author Share Posted August 3, 2010 Thanks to everyone for this info. I did see a couple of trains made up of a pair of voyagers coupled together, although the great majority were single units. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted August 3, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 3, 2010 1A43 is always* a pair, it's formed of a Holyhead - Chester working which joins with a Euston - Chester working - at Chester, an opportunity to see a Voyager shunting ! * barring failures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 They do go further than Holyhead. Hope not unless they have flotation tanks and waterproof doors !!! Sorry Andy - couldn't resist !!!! AIUI The Virgin voyagers work Euston-Chester-Holyhead services, sometimes as pairs to Chester, where the trailing unit from Euston is detached. I recently caught a pair from Crewe where this happened and the Virgin Train Manager went to great lengths to establish that passengers in the trailing unit were not travelling beyond Chester. The other VV service is Birmingham - Glasgow / Edinburgh. Some weekends see VVs being used over unwired / deenergised routes as diversions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted August 5, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 5, 2010 *Cough* - I've already answered Phil. I forgot Birmingham, that well known Southerly station on the WCML Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 *Cough* - I've already answered Phil. I forgot Birmingham, that well known Southerly station on the WCML Oops sorry Beast. Musta been late to the party !!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmustu Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 New Street to Glasgow/Edinburgh service - a quite bizarre situation of not having enough electric units to serve all your fully under the wires services. I wonder if Virgin had the option to purchase their own trains if they would still be running diesels to Scotland. The Birmingham to Glasgow/Edinburgh via the west coast service was run by Cross Country until the November 2007 franchise change which saw the Cross Country franchise change hands form Virgin to Arriva. As part of the new franchise, the above mentioned services were passed to Virgin West Coast to operate, along with a fleet of ex Cross Country 221s, on the orders of the DFT. I cannot see the 221s being replaced by electric units any time soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Voyagers are in use through the summer on Euston-Birmingham diagrams in order to free up a couple of Pendolinos to provide more seats for Birmingham-Edinburgh. There is also a programme to replace the noses on Pendos, which may affect availability, and Pendo4 is currently down to 8 coaches (when did I become a Pendo foamer...?). It's a pity they couldn't use the Pretendalino more often, to ensure 100% under the wires services aren't worked by Voyagers. And it's not as if crew knowledge is an issue, as they are diagrammed over the southern half of the WCML anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted August 7, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 7, 2010 From personal experience the voyagers are useful for diversions via the Settle and Carlisle when +Shap is closed for egineering works. It gives a chance for a ride over the hellifield Blackburn line. Buses are used for the intermediate stations on the WCML between Carlisle and Preston with pedolino's doing Glasgow carlisle and Preston onwards and Voyagers providing the through service. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D6975 Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 The Birmingham to Glasgow/Edinburgh via the west coast service was run by Cross Country until the November 2007 franchise change which saw the Cross Country franchise change hands form Virgin to Arriva. As part of the new franchise, the above mentioned services were passed to Virgin West Coast to operate, along with a fleet of ex Cross Country 221s, on the orders of the DFT. I cannot see the 221s being replaced by electric units any time soon. Is the Manchester - WCML (Newton le Willows) electrification link still going ahead? If so, IIRC this was going to lead to Manchester - Scotland services being operated by a 350 variant vice the current 185s. These would be the most likely replacement for the Voyagers on Brum-Scotland services if it all goes ahead. edit - just had a horrible thought - this could see the two services joined together. Brum-Scotland via Manchester airport anybody? Different franchises at the moment I know but... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 Nobody seems very sure whether any of the English electrification schemes are going ahead or not (see other thread a week or so back on Great Western). Presumably awaiting the spending review. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vc-10 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 I guess this means I'm on a Voyager next Wednesday on the 12:24 Bangor-Euston service. Oh joy... When did they stop the drags? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWT442 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Hope not unless they have flotation tanks and waterproof doors !!! Sorry Andy - couldn't resist !!!! Haha! That's alright Phil! Maybe Virgin have some upcoming plans... Andy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted August 18, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 18, 2010 I guess this means I'm on a Voyager next Wednesday on the 12:24 Bangor-Euston service. Oh joy... When did they stop the drags? Yes. Ages ago, except Saturdays Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vc-10 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Fun.... At least a Pendo doesn't have a nasty shaking engine under the floor. I'm not a DMU fan on long journeys, compared to the HST or electric stuff! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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