7am Avanti West Coast Manchester-London Service Saved Amid Timetable Shake-Up
The 7am Avanti West Coast Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston service via Stockport was initially slated for removal in a regulator timetable shake-up by the Office of Rail and Road. The regulator recommended axing this and four other Avanti services to minimize risks of disruption, including a plan for a "ghost train." However, following backlash from passengers and officials, including rail minister Peter Hendy and transport secretary Heidi Alexander, the service was officially saved.
On Wednesday morning, the saved 7am service was fully booked. Liam, a passenger service specialist aboard the train, noted it was busy; the onboard cafe reopened after a brief delay due to a card-reader issue and a broken microwave. Passengers such as Mike, aged 55, and Alex, aged 32, expressed that the 7am service is essential and questioned the proposed cancellation.
Analysis of the last 11 runs of the 7am train showed only one on-time arrival, with a cumulative delay totaling 119 minutes. On the day the service was saved, it arrived in London eight minutes late, completing the journey in two hours and seven minutes. While the service is currently profitable due to a recent travel boom, its long-term future remains uncertain.
