Rugby to Euston train

[ian_uk1975]

Moving to the Daventry area soon and will be taking the Virgin fast service from Rugby to Euston. How busy does standard class get in the morning peak at Rugby? Are seats always available, or is it packed? Not sure if there's a direct service or if it always stops at Northampton or MKC.

[Podie]

MKC and WFJ for some services in the morning, others stop at NMP, other just at MKC - your best bet is to look at National Rail Enquries. Some services are just under an hour, others are a bit longer.

If it starts at Rugby, then you have a decent chance of getting a seat. If it starts elsewhere, you may need to be quick.

I assume you've seen the price of a season ticket

[gpb1]

I get the 06:41 Virgin train from Northampton direct to Euston (getting in about 07:30) I believe it starts at Rugby and there is usually very few people on board (actually more often than not no-one on it at all) when it gets to Northampton. It can get busy at Northampton but as it's usually a 10 carriage train it doesn't normally fill up. Occasionally it only has 5 carriages and it can get a bit crowded then, but you'll already have a seat anyway.

[ian_uk1975]

Podie said:

MKC and WFJ for some services in the morning, others stop at NMP, other just at MKC - your best bet is to look at National Rail Enquries. Some services are just under an hour, others are a bit longer.

If it starts at Rugby, then you have a decent chance of getting a seat. If it starts elsewhere, you may need to be quick.

I assume you've seen the price of a season ticket

Ok, good, so they all have intermediate stops. Should always get a seat then. Thanks.

Yes, season ticket is very expensive and it would be considerably cheaper to travel from Long Buckby, but having used London Midland for 3 years from Northampton, I'd rather pay for the considerable extra comfort of the Virgin service. Also, travelling from RUG will save me about 30 mins a day in travelling time.

[ian_uk1975]

gpb1 said:

I get the 06:41 Virgin train from Northampton direct to Euston (getting in about 07:30) I believe it starts at Rugby and there is usually very few people on board (actually more often than not no-one on it at all) when it gets to Northampton. It can get busy at Northampton but as it's usually a 10 carriage train it doesn't normally fill up. Occasionally it only has 5 carriages and it can get a bit crowded then, but you'll already have a seat anyway.

Ah, yes, I used to get that service when I was travelling from Northampton, but gave-up after having to stand all the way due to a 5-car Voyager service randomly replacing the, much longer, Pendolino. There was never any rhyme or reason to it and even Virgin Customer Services couldn't provide any rational explanation. So, I took the 07:13 LM service instead. Horrible trains though (the green seat ones).

[Podie]

The Voyagers turn up becuase the Pendo fleet were having work. Sometimes you get a "Super Voyager" (2 stuck together!) as well. Historically LM owned that route, but it was serviced by VT.

As for the LM green seats - well things are complicated now

• Mk1 - blue seats
• Mk2 - green seats
• Mk3 - green seats, in the same orientation as Mk1 blue seats

Fun eh?

[ian_uk1975]

Podie said:

The Voyagers turn up becuase the Pendo fleet were having work. Sometimes you get a "Super Voyager" (2 stuck together!) as well. Historically LM owned that route, but it was serviced by VT.

As for the LM green seats - well things are complicated now

• Mk1 - blue seats
• Mk2 - green seats
• Mk3 - green seats, in the same orientation as Mk1 blue seats

Fun eh?

The Mk1's are fine, but the Mk2's are awful during rush hour... everyone squashed together like sardines, no arm rests, no seat-back tables and knocking knees/feet with passengers facing you in the 3-a-breast seats.

[Podie]

ian_uk1975 said:

The Mk1's are fine, but the Mk2's are awful.

Edited for accuracy


The Mk3s are fine too. I've been known to be at the "wrong" end of the train to get a blue seat and then move at NMP.

[mattdaniels]

ian_uk1975 said:

Ah, yes, I used to get that service when I was travelling from Northampton, but gave-up after having to stand all the way due to a 5-car Voyager service randomly replacing the, much longer, Pendolino. There was never any rhyme or reason to it and even Virgin Customer Services couldn't provide any rational explanation. So, I took the 07:13 LM service instead. Horrible trains though (the green seat ones).

What I was told was that there's a week long engineering works by the depot repeated monthly early in the morning which means they can't get the first Pendolino of the day out in time so they use a Voyager for that first service.

[Podie]

mattdaniels said:

ian_uk1975 said:

Ah, yes, I used to get that service when I was travelling from Northampton, but gave-up after having to stand all the way due to a 5-car Voyager service randomly replacing the, much longer, Pendolino. There was never any rhyme or reason to it and even Virgin Customer Services couldn't provide any rational explanation. So, I took the 07:13 LM service instead. Horrible trains though (the green seat ones).

What I was told was that there's a week long engineering works by the depot repeated monthly early in the morning which means they can't get the first Pendolino of the day out in time so they use a Voyager for that first service.

Hmm...

It's been a "Super Voyager" (two stuck together) of late.

[Targarama]

I've used the Rugby to Euston route quite a lot. There are quite a few non-stop trains which take 50 minutes or so. Get one of those. I never had a problem getting a seat in the morning, but the evening rush can get busy. You'll work out how to avoid standing after a few weeks though.

Oh, Virgin Trains are expensive. I hope your employer is funding your travel.

Mobile signal is rubbish for most of the route by the way. Signal then no signal all the way down.

P.S. Midland Trains run the same route, some faster trains. Crap uncomfortable carriages and always packed because they're cheaper. Avoid.