Avanti West Coast are a headache

 My journey next week includes 17 trains with reservable seats. These are spread across 8 Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and all but one of these have permitted me to reserve a seat without a hitch.

However, Avanti West Coast (ex Virgin Trains) don't appear to have enough train drivers on their books to cover for the inevitable summer holidays.  They have decided, in their wisdom, to cut early morning and late night services and run what amounts to a Sunday service until 11 September. Presumably this is when all schools are back.  On top of this, most reservations may only be made the day before the service.

I have three Avanti West Coast trains to catch, the first from Euston.  There are alternatives avoiding Avanti (e.g Kings Cross - York - Liverpool Lime Street) but these take longer and have no food. They also require an earlier start from home. The other two Avanti trains I may be able to reserve three or four days ahead.

I'll just have to see how this plans out over the next few days.

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