Dont just check the coach/carriage numbers by the doors, also check the seat number info thats on the outside of the train. +1-714-426-9833. You can plan your journey here avantiwestcoast.co.uk Live Train Status | Train Tracking | Avanti West Coast Tailor your train journey to your preferences when you book directly with Avanti West Coast either via our app or website. Enjoy Comfort And Style With First Class On Avanti West Coast Trains. London Euston <> Edinburgh or Glasgow via Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Preston and Carlisle. We all have our favourite seats on the train, whether thats a table with a plug socket to allow you to get on with work, or a seat in the quiet coach so you can sit back and relax. This weekend menu is also available when Mondays and Fridays are national holidays, with the exception that a limited version of the Brunch Menu will also be available. Or maybe something more radical to be introduced? Also the Manchester route often gets the 9 coach trains in my experience. If youre travelling in a group with friends and family, youll be able to select seats that allow you to sit together, or if you need easy access to a toilet, you can opt for a seat thats located in the same carriage as one. I once asked East Coast as it was then about why the guard did nothing when there was disturbance in the quiet coach, and the customer service respond was that there was nothing in the conditions of carriage that would allow the guard to intervene in such circumstances - it was merely a company advisory scheme. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The issue with these trains is there is just not much space at all for suitcases so people start storing them by the chairs which makes it hard to walk through. Look forward to seeing what Avanti does when it gets all it's own trains etc. [27][28] In response, the company appealed for the general public to avoid the railways for non-essential travel on the affected dates, these being 21, 23, and 25 June, as only a minimal service could be run due to the number of staff choosing not to work. When you download the app, you can book cheap train tickets directly from your phone without paying any booking fees. We run your West Coast Main Line. Coach C is usually set aside for travellers who havent made seat reservations, but there is something else worth being aware of if you dont have reservations. For Advance ticket booking, youll automatically be given a seat reservation - all you need to do is enter your preferences during the booking process, such as whether you want a window or aisle seat, need to sit at a table, or easy access to a toilet. Theres no need to wait in queues to buy or print tickets - simply show your app and hop on the train! We then tried to change the seat bookings, which should be possible online, but wasnt, and having held on the phone for two hours we eventually discovered that rather than being seated side by side we were sat one behind the other on the outward journey. The Weekend menu is similar to whats available from the Standard Class catering trolley, but with the key difference being that what you are offered in First Class will be complimentary. These fast trains tilting trains connect London with Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and The Lake District. Sitting between Standard and First, customers will enjoy roomier . Book travel assistance Our new Pendolino Refurb is part of the UK's biggest ever train upgrade - click the link below to find out more: Need some help? One poor mum was sat in the toilet with her daughter on her knee. Were striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements. These Super Voyager trains are used on these four routes: They can also be used on other Avanti West Coast routes at weekends, when the services are having to be diverted from the usual route, due to works on the railway line. | Read 1,421-1,440 Reviews out of 1,552. . Whether you love stretching your legs in an aisle seat, watching the world go by at the window, or getting on with some work at a table, our Seat Picker allows you to choose your favourite railway seat. Want to know how to book train seats online? The departure time and not the length of journey will dictate what you will be provided with, because the menu is usually served between 30 mins and an hour after departure. Type in your search or select an option to browse. Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that operates the West Coast Partnership franchise. [38][39], Unlike services operated by London Northwestern Railway and London Overground, the Oyster contactless payment card are not valid on Avanti West Coast services between London Euston and Watford Junction, as Avanti West Coast services are pick-up only northbound and set-down only southbound at Watford Junction. That means theres no risk of disappointment if you show up for your train and someones already reserved your favourite seat. Except with written permission from an Operator no person on the railway shall, to the annoyance of any person: (i) sing; or (ii) use any instrument, article or equipment for the production or reproduction of sound, it should be absolute that playing any sound from an electronic device such that it is audible by others for the purposes of entertainment is an offence. Download the Avanti West Coast App for quick and easy train bookings, wherever you are. If youre booking an Advance ticket, available up to 12 weeks in advance of your travel date, youll be automatically given a seat reservation when you book online. As long as you check that the alternative seat(s) you want to move to havent been reserved, so will be available for your journey. Non-folding standard bicycles, can be taken on to this train, but must then be placed in the bike spaces. . Advance tickets offer discounts of up to 80% for bookings made well in advance. These tilting Pendolino trains travel at up to 125 miles per hour (200 km/h), the tilting motion can be particularly noticeable when travelling to/from Scotland, the railway line twists and turns as it passes through the more spectacular scenery. . Only if they are annoyed by it. Avanti West Coast has taken over from Virgin as the operator of these trains and as a result all of these trains will be refurbished internally in a program of works, which will last until 2024. That means you dont need to book a ticket for them - but it also means that they wont have a seat reservation. *= Advance tickets can only be used on the departure selected when booking, but the departure info is on the reservation, so it shows the conductor that you are in fact traveling by the departure you selected. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. [37], Avanti West Coast currently operates the same services as Virgin Trains did on the West Coast Main Line. Eventually told to change at Manchester Piccadilly or get to one station in Warrington and walk to the other. If youve booked a seat on one of our trains and need to change it for any reason, you might be wondering can I change my train seat reservation?. No issues with seats. Plan your train journey and book train tickets for any train line in Britain. Rail pass users can either opt to board without reservations, or arrange reservations prior to boarding, either at an Advance Travel desk in a station at least an before departure, or by contacting Avanti's social media channels. Power sockets and USB sockets at seats. Find train times and. Select the train you wish to amend seats on. In partnership FirstGroup and Trenitalia will provide exceptional customer service as standard for our customers. However we found when boarding trains there was multiple unreserved seats to choose from in carriages much quieter then what we had booked. ShowMeTheJourney's recommendation is to click this seat picker button, as you can use it to see the location of your assigned seat and whether is is facing forward. First Trenitalia West Coast Rail Limited 2021. I went second class in the quiet coach on the way out and there was a banana skin on the floor, food strewn everywhere and it was filthy dirty. Running on the West Coast Main Line, Avanti West Coast trains offer plenty of amenities on their First Class carriages, including: Complimentary food and drinks. You can use these plans to check which seats have a limited view, because not all seats in First or Standard class line up with the windows - or to check which seats do have power sockets. Power sockets are only available at all WINDOW seats in both First and Standard Class. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. on ShowMeTheJourney, which will Its services connect six of the largest cities in the UK: London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, which have a combined metropolitan population of over 18 million. [citation needed], The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, expressed his frustration at the operator and explained his intention to ask the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to strip Avanti West Coast of their franchise. Wed, Mar 01 2023. Take advantage of these features and many more when you download the apptoday. All rights reserved. If you will be boarding at a station, where the train will be calling during a journey, there are now usually signs on the platform (track), which will show you where to wait for easy boarding into each coach/carriage. Check the info below regarding whether bike tickets and/or reservations are required pre-boarding. Feb 23 If you're not travelling for the game, we recommend leaving Manchester after 12:00 or setting off from London before 19:00, when journeys are expected to be quieter. A FirstGroup and Trenitalia company. Youre in the right place. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. [12][13], In August 2019, the DfT awarded the franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium with Avanti West Coast to commence operations on 8 December 2019. Skip the queues - just book and . If you wont be making a short-distance journey* complimentary food and drink is served to first class passengers at their seats. A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train. 100 train travel guides available UK Railway Discussion Avanti planning to scrap the quiet carriage? All that's good to know about seeing the best of beautiful Wales by train, including round Wales itineraries, plus ideal locations for making day trips. The lounge at Euston had been modernised and was very comfortable albeit the food options were quite limited. Advance tickets offer discounts of up to 80% for bookings made well in advance. For Anytime and Off-Peak tickets, youll be given the option to reserve a ticket. We had originally booked an advance weekend first class with Virgin Trains last year several months before Avanti was given the franchise. Ask roy2842018 about Avanti West Coast. Particularly if you will be travelling long-distance, prior to making a booking, ShowMeTheJourney recommends looking at the seating plans, which can be downloaded from the Avanti West Coast website. Monday to Sunday - 08:00 - 22:00 (Closed 25 and 26 December) Lost Property Phone 03455280253 Address First Customer Contact Ltd The Class 805 units are to be used for services to Shrewsbury, Chester, Gobowen and North Wales and the Class 807 units are to be used for services to Birmingham New Street, Blackpool North and Liverpool Lime Street (alongside the Pendolinos). No, it requires someone to hear it, e.g. People need to stay in touch. *=this service is always available when traveling to/from London. This will signal the start of a race to board the train, join the throng if you have luggage, the space for storing luggage isnt particularly generous, especially in Standard Class. Welcome to the guide featuring the key things worth knowing when travelling by these trains which connect London and the West Midlands to North Wales. In some rural and quiet areas of the UK, there won't be ticket machines. I then complained to Avanti waited a month for a response which was one where they had no interest whatsoever. [30][31], Between 14 August and 18 September 2022, Avanti West Coast reduced its timetable, citing unofficial strike action from its employees. If you dont have heavy luggage, after departure it can be worth having a walk through the train, to see what seats are available in other coaches. Travels with Avanti Tuesday 5th July 2022 I'm still trying to get the hang of Avanti West Coast's Standard Premium class. Help keep us advertising and paywall free! You can make seat reservations on the app, whether you're planning a trip in advance or taking a spontaneous journey. Your tickets are still valid without a reservation and you can sit in any free seat in First or Standard class, depending on your ticket type. Seat reservations are available, but not mandatory when travelling on Avanti Super Voyager services: When booking tickets, including any journey using Advance tickets, reservations will also be issued which show specific coach and seat numbers. Its easy to reserve a train seat online when you book your tickets through either our website or the Avanti app. On early morning Mon-Friday departures breakfast is available, but later in the mornings the brunch menu is served. If you wont be making a short-distance journey* complimentary food and drink is served to first class passengers at their seats *this service is always available when traveling to/from London. What attractions are near Avanti West Coast? The switch over between these two menus seems to occur between 08:30 and 09:00. It was a hospital visit day, and the comfortable, pleasant train journeys really eased what might have been a very difficult day. Avanti West Coast's First Class service offers power sockets at every window seat as well as free wifi. You dont have to occupy the seat(s) you will assigned when booking online, so if for any reason you want to travel in a different seat, you can do so. 24 May 2021. Download our train seat booking app to choose your seat - with the added bonus of simply showing your ticket on the app to board the train with ease, rather than printing off physical tickets. Then you simply need to let us know whether you prefer a forward or backward facing seat, whether you require a plug socket and other preferences such as whether youd like a window or aisle seat. Avanti West Coast trains offer an excellent First Class service with large, comfortable seats, generous legroom and tables. After 2 hours stuck at Preston we were advised to get on a special service that would go as far as Carlisle but not up to Glasgow, amazingly got back on the same train that had sat there for 2 hours, must have realised that the train could get to Carlisle and Incident was in Scotland. Facilities onboard Avanti West Coast WiFi Join the 1,679 people who've already reviewed Avanti West Coast. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. On virtually all departures at some point during the journey a catering trolley will be taken through the train, from which you can order hot/cold drinks, snacks and sandwiches at your seat. This info will show which of the coaches on the train will be busy, because most of its seats have been reserved, and which will be relatively empty. All children up to the age of 15 benefit from discounted tickets, so youll still be getting a great rate on your little ones train travel, whilst also taking away the stress of looking for a seat when you board the train. When you book an Advance ticket for an Avanti train, seat reservations come as standard. At London Euston and the stations in Edinburgh, Glasgow Liverpool and Manchester where these Avanti Pendolino trains commence their journeys, the number of the platform (track) that a specific departure will be leaving from, normally appears on the information screens 10 -15 minutes prior to departure. Once youve entered your preferences, well allocate you a seat that best matches what youre looking for, and youre ready to ride in comfort! I used Avanti West Coast to go from Warrington Bank Quay to London Euston earlier this week. You're just spelling out that a staff member can act without a passenger making a complaint. The trains are dirty and smelly and Avanti has no shame to charge more than Virgin for train tickets. According to the time of day of travel, passengers will be able to choose from a menu of catering options, which will then be served at their seats. These trains operate all Avanti West Coast services on these routes: They also operate most of the services on this route: This info will show which of the coaches on the train will be busy, because most of its seats have been reserved, and which will be relatively empty. Change your journey I'm all for keeping a quiet coach, last thing I want is to end up in a coach filled with screaming kids for example. Birmingham New Street Station Grand Central, Birmingham B2 4QA England, $$ - $$$ Mediterranean European Spanish, Italian Neapolitan Campania Southern-Italian, $$ - $$$ British Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $ Asian Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $$$$ European British Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ Lebanese Grill Vegetarian Friendly, Points of Interest & Landmarks Historic Walking Areas. You can make a train seat booking when you book your tickets, either on our app or on our website, including your preferences like whether youd like to sit at a table, in a window or aisle seat, and whether you want to sit in a window or aisle seat. Your bike will have to travel with you on the specific departure that you're booked on to, but you won't be able to exchange your travel tickets to a different departure if you subsequently discover that no bike spaces are available on that train. As I have travelled quite regularly between Manchester and London for the last 20 years and the train service has gone completely downhill since Avanti took over. The Weekend is similar to whats available from the Standard Class catering trolley, but with the key difference being that what you are offered in First Class will be complimentary. You can use these plans to check which seats have a limited view, because not all seats in First or Standard class line up with the windows - or to check which seats do have power sockets. A catering trolley with hot and cold drinks and snacks should be taken through the train at some point during its journey. The 'Seat Picker' feature is available on Avanti's app, and allows them to choose where they want to sit onboard and to see how busy trains are when booking journeys. The "annoyance" bit is a higher bar and effectively requires a passenger to complain and state their annoyance, which could result in them receiving abuse once the member of staff went away and thus being reluctant to complain even though they are annoyed. Up to two dogs can travel for free with an individual, or group of travellers. On 8 December 2019, Avanti West Coast took over operations from the prior operating company Virgin Trains, which had run the franchise since 1997. We originally booked our trip from London to Carlisle for February, but because of the storms the train was cancelled, so we transferred our booking to April. Book direct with the FREE Avanti West Coast App for no booking fees and unbeatable prices. This weekend menu is also available when Mondays and Fridays are national holidays. Standard comes as excellence on our trains, meaning with our Standard tickets you'll enjoy free WiFi and plug sockets at every table and winter seat. As of December 2022, Avanti West Coast intercity routes are shown below: Avanti West Coast commenced operations having inherited the existing Super Voyager and Pendolino fleets from Virgin Trains. This train operates on routes within Great Britain. In the lounges complimentary drinks and snacks will be available. [14][15] The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a merger inquiry into the award of the franchise following a referral from the European Commission. You can also choose a quiet coach if youd like peace and quiet on your journey. These include choosing the direction youd like to face in, whether it be an aisle or window seat or the choice of wanting a plug socket, table seat or easy access to a toilet. Its easy to reserve a train seat online when you book your tickets through either our website or the Avanti app. Avanti West Coast: 4 bike spaces: Encouraged: LNER: 3-5 bike spaces: Mandatory: CrossCountry: 3 bike spaces: Encouraged: . I think the point being made is that Zoom meetings are rarely entertaining. I think noisy people are a fairly small minority. It may not display this or other websites correctly. ). So take care when boarding, although the on board information and train conductor will help ensure that youre travelling in the correct part of the train. I took a return journey from Euston to Blackpool in January and I could not believe how poor the service was. The service can be excellent value for money, although what youll receive depends on the day of the week - and on Mon-Friday, it also matters at which time youll be travelling. All coaches offer a mix of seats grouped around a table and airline style seats (though in First and Standard Premier class, the airline-style seats have proper tables for individual use) and you can specify a preference for being sat at a table seat(s) when booking tickets. A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train. Picking a seat means you get to sit exactly where you want on the train - perfect if youre going on a long journey. You can take advantage of the Grand Central First Class Lounge on Avanti West Coast trains if you have First Class tickets. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. An email in the early hours of our day of return travel informed me that our booked train was now cancelled with no further advice than to check online for the next available train. This was filmed on Saturday 18th December while I was . Therefore the difference between First Class and Standard Premium Class is often: Avanti West Coast has released a video of newly refurbished First Class seating saloons which are now entering service. *this service is always available when traveling to/from London. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. What youll receive depends on the day of the week - and on Mon-Friday, it also matters at which time youll be travelling. Refund your ticket Bright spacious apartment with secure parking and a Balcony located in the, Haus Apartments Arcadian 1 Bed Balcony & Parking, Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre (New St Station) hotel, View all hotels near Avanti West Coast on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Avanti West Coast on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Avanti West Coast on Tripadvisor, InterContinental (IHG) Hotels in Birmingham, Hotels near National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham, Hotels near Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Hotels near Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, Hotels near Birmingham New Street Railway Station, Hotels near Birmingham Moor Street Station, Hotels near Birmingham Intl Airport (BHX), Motels near Birmingham Intl Airport (BHX), Game & Entertainment Centers in Birmingham, Birmingham Back to Backs: Tickets & Tours, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery: Tickets & Tours, National Motorcycle Museum: Tickets & Tours, Winterbourne House and Garden: Tickets & Tours, West Midlands Police Museum: Tickets & Tours, Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham: Tickets & Tours, National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham: Tickets & Tours, Batesville Community Center & Aquatics Park, Full-Day Private tour: Chinchero, Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo, Pisac Market, Double Decker Austin Single Loop Sightseeing Tour, San Gimignano Wine Tasting Experience with Food, World Golf Hall of Fame and Museum General Admission in St. Augustine, Tulum Ruins, ATV Extreme, and Cenotes Tour from Riviera Maya, Surabaya - Mount Bromo Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Ijen Bluefire Tour - Bali 4d3n. However, over the course of the franchise, several timetable changes are expected to be made. [4] Accordingly, the DfT required that bidders have experience in operating high-speed trains and the associated infrastructure, which led to all tendering parties either being, or partnering with, an existing high-speed operator. In Glasgow, there was a very long queue in front of platform 1, where my train was departing (this was not shown on the departure board, I had to check on Trainline). Personally I've always found them more trouble than they are worth. . For Advance ticket booking, youll automatically be given a seat reservation - all you need to do is enter your preferences during the booking process, such as whether you want a window or aisle seat, need to sit at a table, or easy access to a toilet. always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney. There's an extensive bus and coach network in Scotland which makes reaching the most remote and unique locations possible, . ShowMeTheJourney has made multiple journeys by Pendolino trains, on which the coach in which our reserved seats were allocated was busy, while coach C was comparatively quiet. [citation needed] In February 2021, Avanti West Coast launched smartcard ticketing as a more convenient and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional paper tickets.[40]. You must have booked direct with us via our website or app. I went second class in the quiet coach on the way out and there was a banana skin on the floor, food strewn everywhere and it was filthy dirty. Refund your ticket [2] However, during December 2020, it was announced that First Trenitalia and the DfT had agreed to terminate the WCP franchise at the earlier date of 31 March 2026 as part of the abolition of the franchise system.[3]. [24][25], Avanti West Coast is amongst those operators impacted by the 20222023 United Kingdom railway strikes, which are the first national rail strike in the UK for three decades. Coach A is usually found at the very front of trains heading north from Euston, so you will have to walk the length of the platform to access it. Avanti Super Voyager trains have both wheelchair spaces and seats with additional leg-room, the Assisted Travel page on the Avanti West Coast website includes the booking information. This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.