On 29 Nov, 16:28, "Toby" wrote:

I've done this route many times, albeit from London to Crewe. Going down,
there are 3 Pendolinos that arrive into Euston before 9 - the
05:59/06:25/07:05 from Crewe (all call at Stafford). I always travel First
Class but you're always likely to get a seat at Stafford as the first train
(05:20 from Manchester) always fills up from the Trent Valley stations and
Rugby. You can always reserve a seat though. Returning back, I routinely
get the 17:21 Holyhead service, which calls at Stafford. Since this calls
at Rugby, I've heard PA announcements of it regularly being full and
standing in Standard - First is always almost full. This service is
notorious for not being on time.

In the December 2008 timetable, the morning trains from Stafford a
06.21 (calls MKC , arrives Euston 07.47); 06.53 (Lichfield and
Tamworth, 08.22) and 07.36 (nonstop, 08.52). The first two originate
at Lime Street, the last from Manchester Piccadilly (so presumably
pretty busy).

Coming back there's a 17.07 to Lime street, first stop Stafford
(18.23), followed by the 17.33 Lime street, calling at Rugby, arriving
Stafford at 18.53. If you work late, the pattern repeats an hour
later, followed by a 19.07 that calls at Rugby (arrives Stafford
20.26).