The Friday morning peak restrictions have been removed by Avanti West Coast for journeys to and from London Euston starting today.
The trial will run into 2021 and means passengers can take advantage of Off-Peak and Advance tickets throughout the day.
The current morning peak restrictions mean passengers must wait until after 09:30 to use an off-peak ticket.
For example, passengers with an Off-Peak ticket travelling from Manchester to London need to use the 09:35 service, which arrives into the capital just before midday. However, with the new trial, passengers can use any morning train, from as early as 05:05.
Afternoon peak restrictions on a Friday were already removed by Avanti West Coast, and this move makes the entire Friday “off peak”.
Sarah Copley, Executive Director, Commercial at Avanti West Coast said: “Removing the Friday morning restrictions gives customers more freedom to choose when they travel and when lockdown measures ease make the most of their extended weekends and days out.
“Just as importantly, it allows us to spread demand and maintain social distancing onboard our services. This will help our customers who decide to travel, to travel with confidence.”
David Sidebottom, Director, Transport Focus added: “Passengers will welcome this trial. Any move that helps save money and maintain social distancing should prove popular, and when the time is right, encourage more people to use rail services again.”
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Responses
Avanti West Coast could allow for some of the Class 390s to stop at Northampton. If they are to introduce a new timetable to allow some of the Pendolinos to pause at Northampton including when operating from London Euston to Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, Glasgow Central, Blackpool North and Wolverhampton. If it’s to happen next year.
Could Avanti West Coast do morning and evening peak services once the Class 805 and Class 807 AT300 IETs have been built and to run those peak services from London Euston to Shrewsbury, Chester, Wrexham, Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley Stoke-on-Trent, Llandudno, Bangor, Holyhead, Llandudno Junction and Runcorn.