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. Contact Centre Opening Hours Monday: 10:00 - 16:00 Tuesday: 10:00 - 16:00 Wednesday: 10:00 - 16:00 Thursday: 10:00 - 16:00 Friday: 10:00 - 14:00 Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed Contact us: 0344 873 0051 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. So if for any reason you want to travel in a different seat, you can do so. Read our FAQs. London Euston <> Shrewsbury via Birmingham and Telford. 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. Download the Avanti West Coast App for quick and easy train bookings, wherever you are. [10][11] Stagecoach disputed its disqualification and launched a legal challenge to have it overturned; however, on 17 June 2020, the High Court ruled against the company and that the decision had been lawful. The general guide to travelling in Britain by train, Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes. . Then when the refurbishment program begins in November 2021, on the trains which will be awaiting their new interiors, this situation will persist. 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. [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. A one way ticket for around 25 with a rail card, not bad. There is no charge to rail pass users for booking an optional reservation. I have the impression loud phone calls aren't the problem they once were - perhaps people have adjusted more to talking at a normal volume. Absolutely hate it when I realise I've ended up in there. You can simply board the train and find an available seat, but these may be in short supply during peak times. A lunch menu is available in the middle of the day, while a more extensive choice of multiple hot food options is available in the evenings. 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. 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. more. I then went to Preston and the first class carriage was again disgustingly dirty, the staff were rude, the coffee was served in a paper cup and the carriage was absolutely freezing and when I complained to the train manager I was told that I could sit somewhere else, as everybody still had their hats and coats on I do not see how this would have helped. On early morning Mon-Friday departures breakfast is available, but later in the mornings the 'Rest Of The Day' menu becomes available along with a selection of sandwiches and snacks. 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. Weekends experience in the lounge has always been poor. 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. A catering trolley with hot and cold drinks and snacks should be taken through the train at some point during its journey. Overall, I've found it hard with Avanti also in the past regarding not having tickets available fir purchase until a week or 2 before rather than as it used to be. [29] On 29 June 2022, Avanti West Coast's staff voted in favour of further strikes. These items can then be consumed in the bar car or taken back to your seats. All rights reserved. If you wont be making a short-distance journey* complimentary food and drink is served to first class passengers at their seats. A conductor will be present on board the train, their role includes making announcements and responding to passenger queries. When you book an Advance ticket for an Avanti train, seat reservations come as standard. Weve also included features that can be found at each seat, so you can choose a seat thats close to the toilet or one with a plug socket to suit your needs. 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. Our Seat Picker allows you to ensure you get your train seat preference for your journey. make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. 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. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Whats more, you can download mobile tickets directly onto your phone, so you dont need to print or carry paper tickets. Luckily, we found two seats together in the quiet coach, but this was an unpleasant start . The 'Rest Of The Day menu is then available for lunch and for evening meals, but between these offerings an 'afternoon tea' will also be available. Or if you want to subsequently book a bike reservation after you have booked your travel ticket, you can do so by calling 0345 528 0253. As If you wont be making a short-distance journey* complimentary food and drink is served to first class passengers at their seats. Originally, the franchise was initially scheduled to run until March 2030, and had also been set to operate the initial High Speed 2 services from 2026. make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. When you book in advance on the Avanti West Coast app, you can book a seat reservation for free. The switch over between these two menus seems to occur between 08:30 and 09:00. West Coast Academy Long Beach CA Team Coordinator: Pattie Davidson (714) 801-1811 pattiedavidson@verizon.net. We run your West Coast Main Line. Contacted Avanti very late at night to make sure my tickets were still valid and got a pleasant reply straight away at 1am!! Though what you can access via this portal is more limited than on the Pendolino trains - the movies and TV shows aren't available on a Super Voyager, but you can access news, online magazines and games. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you. When trains I had booked ran,they ran on time to the absolute minute. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. 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. In all honesty, apart from the name change, everything else was the same as previous journeys with Virgin. We got to the train station early to speak to an Avanti team member who just confirmed the same as I'd seen online but that my tickets would be made valid due to their cancellation. London Euston <> Holyhead via Chester, Llandudno Junction and Bangor. This queue had absolutely 0 signage, and so we had no clue what it was there for. on ShowMeTheJourney, which will It may not display this or other websites correctly. WestCoastMain 23 Nov 2021 Not open for further replies. This is one of more than [5][6], During June 2017, the DfT announced that three consortia had been shortlisted to bid for the franchise:[7][8], In December 2018, the Spanish state-owned company Renfe Operadora joined the MTR-led bid. The First Class coach on an Avanti Super Voyager train - the Virgin branding has now been removed, so the images will be updated once they have the new colour scheme applied. Avanti is using what had been First Class coaches for its new Standard Premium service, so the info on the exterior of the trains and on departure boards, doesn't yet use the 'Standard Premuim' branding. Get rid. [47], In June 2022, two Avanti West Coast Class 221 "Super Voyagers", units 221142 and 221143, went off lease. You must have booked direct with us via our website or app. This weekend menu is also available when Mondays and Fridays are national holidays. 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. . People need to stay in touch. You are using an out of date browser. We are working to make sure this feature is available as soon as possible. I think it should be enforced more as the thought of being stuck in a very noisy coach (suffer with sensory problems and can sometimes get distressed) for hours would be awful. Complimentary Wi-Fi access is available throughout the train. Avanti West Coast tickets are open for bookings 90 days in advance. Alternatively, enjoy a little more luxury with Standard Premium, offering roomier seats and a guaranteed table. That means you dont need to book a ticket for them - but it also means that they wont have a seat reservation. Worth knowing is that for your travel ticket to be valid, you dont have to occupy the seat(s) you will be assigned* when booking online. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. To ensure your child gets a seat on the train, its a good idea to arrive early. Each train varies in design, so be sure to check the correct Pendolino seating plan or take a look at our Super Voyager train seating maps to make the right choice for your journey. [45] Although the units will have the same top speed, they will not tilt like the Class 390 Pendolinos nor the Class 221 "Super Voyager" units they will replace. Your ticket reservation will outline your carriage and seat number. [22] Occasionally, services had to be cancelled at short notice due to a lack of staff. iPhone. On arrival at one of the stations the train will call at, often Chester or Wolverhampton, the train at the front can leave the other behind, in order to travel on to more distant and therefore less popular destinations. Also the Manchester route often gets the 9 coach trains in my experience. We offer three different ways to travel, so theres something to suit everyone on Avanti West Coast trains. Need a seat thats suitable for wheelchairs? The power sockets on this train are compatible with the standard 3-point plugs as typically used in the UK. 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. It was from London Euston back to the midlands. Two Super Voyager trains can be joined together on departure, particularly when heading north from London. Youre in the right place. Avanti West Coast has introduced a new feature on its app giving customers the choice to select their ideal seat for their journey when booking tickets. Plan your train journey and book train tickets for any train line in Britain. 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. Which they might not be. 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. . Trains are falling apart and filthy Inside, smell wafting through compartments from toilets is unbearable, Overcrowded due to other services getting cancelled so confrontation due to others sitting in reserved seats. The answer is yes - its easy to change train seat reservations with Avanti. Refund your ticket During November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the InterCity West Coast franchise would be replaced by the West Coast Partnership (WCP). That means theres no risk of disappointment if you show up for your train and someones already reserved your favourite seat. so can't fault that part. How exactly are you able to conduct a Zoom meeting without sound* being played from an electronc** device, then? 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. It was anticipated that, from December 2022, an additional 263 train services would be run every week. ago There are 22 Pendolinos with 9 coaches and 35 with 11 coaches. more, Birmingham City Centre Daily Walking Tour, Fun, Flexible Treasure Hunt Around Birmingham with Cryptic Clues & Hidden Gems, National Motorcycle Museum Admission Ticket, Birmingham Slogging Gangs Walking Tour with Edward Shelby, Oxford Harry Potter Insights - PUBLIC tour entry to Divinity School (90 minutes), Traditional Afternoon Tea Experience and Baking Class in Stratford-upon-Avon, Tour of the Cotswolds from Stratford-upon-Avon, MANCHESTER: Lake District Adventure - Sightseeing Day Trip Tour, Oxford University Walking Tour With University Alumni Guide, Fun, Flexible Treasure Hunt Around Oxford with Cryptic Clues & Hidden Gems, Riva Blu Italian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, Birmingham. We have a friendly UK Customer Service Contact Centre, open Monday-Friday. All the Class 221 Super Voyager units will be replaced by 23 new trains from the Hitachi A-train family with maintenance taking place at Alstom's Oxley TRSMD depot in Wolverhampton. Take advantage of these features and many more when you download the apptoday. Join the 1,679 people who've already reviewed Avanti West Coast. When using the Avanti West Coast ticket booking system you can choose a type of seat preference, window or aisle etc, but two screens later, after you have chosen a delivery option, you will see a screen which shows the allocated seat numbers and also has a 'seat picker' button. Research, browse, save, and share from 25 A3 models in Bremerton, WA. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 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. 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. Only if they are annoyed by it. However, if you dont have luggage, but do have a reservation, you can take your time as your seat(s) will be waiting for you to occupy them. We'll be delivering a better travel experience, more services, simpler ticketing and sustainable intercity travel. What restaurants are near Avanti West Coast? *= 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. When you download the app, you can book cheap train tickets directly from your phone without paying any booking fees. If you will be boarding at a large 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. 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. You dont have to occupy the seat(s) you will assigned when booking online, so you check that the alternative seat(s) you want to move to havent been reserved, so will be available for your journey. Opening hours of the Customer Resolutions Centre. A First Class seating saloon, note the 1 + 2 formation across the aisle, The seats in Standard Premier are also used in First Class, Standard Premium also has the same additional luggage space as First Class, A train with the full exterior Avanti branding has arrived in Penrith, An Avanti West Coast Pendolino at Euston station, The new Avanti West Coast colour scheme which has been applied to the exterior of most of the trains, In all coaches of the train, these displays above the windows show whether a seat is reserved or available, The info by the doors shows the coach number and which seat numbers can be easily accessed, The general guide to travelling in Britain by train, Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes, European Daytime Trains: A Beginner's Guide, the on board facilities of more than 70 European train services; check the catering, whether you can take bikes and whats available in 1st class. 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. 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? 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. 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 trains are dirty and smelly and Avanti has no shame to charge more than Virgin for train tickets. 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. All coaches will have two doors, one at each end, and the other door may be nearer to your seat. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. On later Mon-Friday departures, a lunch menu with no hot food options is available in the middle of the day, while a more extensive choice with multiple hot food options is available in the late afternoon and evenings. 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. 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.