A short term timetable change to allow essential work on the West Coast Main Line to be completed means that Avanti West Coast is providing more services.
Avanti West Coast has worked with Network Rail and Alstom to take advantage of upgrade work near Wolverhampton to increase connectivity between the North West and London.
Five Avanti West Coast services scheduled to run between London Euston and Wolverhampton have been extended to run to Crewe and Blackpool North.
Network Rail are carrying out work at Oxley Depot where the trains are stabled.
With restricted access to the depot, trains could not be stabled at the depot until they were required later in the day, so an effort has been made to operate these trains longer.
Once the work is complete the resilience of the overhead power lines will be improved for hot weather conditions.
Between Monday 26th and Wednesday 28 April, the following services will be extended:
Southbound:
- 11:45 Wolverhampton – London Euston starts from Crewe at 11:02
- 17:45 Wolverhampton – London Euston starts from Crewe at 17:01
- 19:45 Wolverhampton – London Euston starts from Blackpool North at 17:47
Northbound:
- 11:34 London Euston – Wolverhampton extended to Blackpool North
- 13:34 London Euston – Wolverhampton extended to Crewe
Gus Dunster, Executive Director of Operations and Safety at Avanti West Coast, said: “We are pleased to have worked with Alstom and Network Rail to utilise our trains to provide more connections between the North West, the Midlands and London, while these essential works take place.
“Facilitating the repairs to the overhead wires near Wolverhampton is the latest example of how the industry has collaborated to minimise the impact to people's journeys, and on this occasion offer additional connectivity for our customers.”
Dave Penney, Network Rail's Central route director, said: “We've worked closely with Avanti West Coast and Alstom so these services can continue to run with the added bonus for passengers of a direct connection to Blackpool from the West Midlands during the work. Maintenance like this is carefully planned with our partners and is key to keeping trains moving in the future.”
Peter Broadley, MD Services UK & Ireland at Alstom, said: “Collaboration and teamwork are vital to ensure passenger service is not disrupted. I am delighted we have been able to work closely with our friends at Avanti West Coast and Network Rail to extend services to minimise the impact of the essential works at Oxley.”
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Which means that it will still be going via Birmingham New Street. With some avoiding Birmingham New Street and going via Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent instead.