North East Buses

(15 Mar 2016, 5:12 pm)NK53 TKT wrote [ -> ]I'd better not go any further

Good idea.

Hi,

I went past Tyne Yard yesterday on a VTEC service to Newcastle and I saw a Cross Country voyager lurking in the back of the yard. Does anyone know if they have some of their Voyagers serviced/stabled there overnight?

(15 Aug 2016, 6:58 am)8222 wrote [ -> ]Hi,

I went past Tyne Yard yesterday on a VTEC service to Newcastle and I saw a Cross Country voyager lurking in the back of the yard. Does anyone know if they have some of their Voyagers serviced/stabled there overnight?

3 sets are booked to stable each weeknight

(15 Aug 2016, 9:10 am)Coppercap40 wrote [ -> ]3 sets are booked to stable each weeknight

Cheers! I just thought they would have gone to Heaton.

(15 Aug 2016, 9:38 am)8222 wrote [ -> ]Cheers! I just thought they would have gone to Heaton.

Heaton stable Northern, Grand Central, VTEC and TPE. CrossCountry have always used Arriva TrainCare in Tyne Yard.

(15 Aug 2016, 9:54 am)northern156 wrote [ -> ]Heaton stable Northern, Grand Central, VTEC and TPE. CrossCountry have always used Arriva TrainCare in Tyne Yard.

That in the weird world of the railways, was just a trading name of a company totally independent of Arriva and was owned by music mogul Pete Waterman!

(15 Aug 2016, 11:09 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]That in the weird world of the railways, was just a trading name of a company totally independent of Arriva and was owned by music mogul Pete Waterman!

http://www.arrivatc.com

Still Arriva TrainCare...

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(15 Aug 2016, 11:11 am)northern156 wrote [ -> ]http://www.arrivatc.com

Still Arriva TrainCare...

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Think you read my post wrong...

My apologies, best not read and reply to posts when you've just woken up haha...

Contract extended for additional 3 years.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passe...zc.twitter

https://www.theguardian.com/business/201...CMP=twt_gu

(29 Sep 2016, 9:47 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Contract extended for additional 3 years.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passe...zc.twitter

https://www.theguardian.com/business/201...CMP=twt_gu

I want to know what the new stock will be.

(03 Oct 2016, 8:33 pm)8222 wrote [ -> ]I want to know what the new stock will be.

There is no 'new' stock - this is just a contract extension.

All that is happening is 221144 is to be reformed with two of the 5 car sets reduced to 4 car

(03 Oct 2016, 8:50 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]There is no 'new' stock - this is just a contract extension.

All that is happening is 221144 is to be reformed with two of the 5 car sets reduced to 4 car

https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2016/09/...irmed.html

"The DfT has also referred to a '£20 million Government investment in more modern trains', but no details have yet been revealed."

Furthermore:

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/abo...ain-travel

• 35 per cent increase in seating capacity in critical evening peak on principal routes
  
  
• at-seat catering on all routes for all passengers and not just First Class
  
  
• radical improvements in ticketing and reservation booking, including home printing of tickets and tickets by mobile phone, with discounted tickets available much closer to the start of travel
  
  
• investment in improved rolling stock, with all other trains refurbished to the standard of the popular Voyagers
  
  
• the reintroduction of HSTs to provide 550-seat trains on busy routes
  
  
• Wi-Fi available to all Voyager and HST passengers, free in First Class
  
  

(04 Oct 2016, 3:51 pm)8222 wrote [ -> ]https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2016/09/...irmed.html

"The DfT has also referred to a '£20 million Government investment in more modern trains', but no details have yet been revealed."

Furthermore:

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/abo...ain-travel

• 35 per cent increase in seating capacity in critical evening peak on principal routes
  
  
• at-seat catering on all routes for all passengers and not just First Class
  
  
• radical improvements in ticketing and reservation booking, including home printing of tickets and tickets by mobile phone, with discounted tickets available much closer to the start of travel
  
  
• investment in improved rolling stock, with all other trains refurbished to the standard of the popular Voyagers
  
  
• the reintroduction of HSTs to provide 550-seat trains on busy routes
  
  
• Wi-Fi available to all Voyager and HST passengers, free in First Class
  
  

£20m isn't going to get much new stock.
The link I shared initially, said that:

• £20m of government funding to modernise CrossCountry's HST fleet, with the fitting of retention toilets and accessibility improvements including powered doors;
  
  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-37839189

Train 'splits' just after leaving Temple Meads.

Interesting consultation regarding the utilisation of stock.

Hopefully it doesnt have a negative effect elsewhere on the network.

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/abo...nsultation

(05 Dec 2016, 2:45 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Interesting consultation regarding the utilisation of stock.

Hopefully it doesnt have a negative effect elsewhere on the network.

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/abo...nsultation

Interesting it mentions Leeds-Sheffield when the Leeds-York section has always been more of a nightmare in my opinion from when I've used them between Derby and Newcastle.

(05 Dec 2016, 8:22 pm)8222 wrote [ -> ]Interesting it mentions Leeds-Sheffield when the Leeds-York section has always been more of a nightmare in my opinion from when I've used them between Derby and Newcastle.

I try and stay away from the via Wakefield routes if I can help it, but the Sheffield - Donny section is always bad.
The Sheffield - Leeds section was picked up in the reports regarding DB/Arriva monopolies. Am I being too cynical?

(05 Dec 2016, 8:47 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]I try and stay away from the via Wakefield routes if I can help it, but the Sheffield - Donny section is always bad.
The Sheffield - Leeds section was picked up in the reports regarding DB/Arriva monopolies. Am I being too cynical?

Not really much Arriva presence between Wakefield and Sheffield mind, Though I see what you mean between Wakefield and Leeds, Bar VTEC and some EMT trips nearly all services on Bus or Train is ran by them.

(05 Dec 2016, 9:03 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote [ -> ]Not really much Arriva presence between Wakefield and Sheffield mind, Though I see what you mean between Wakefield and Leeds, Bar VTEC and some EMT trips nearly all services on Bus or Train is ran by them.

Unless you go to Donny, the majority of trains between Leeds and Sheffield go via Wakefield (Kirkgate or Westgate) are either Northern or Crosscountry.
I can't remember which thread the report is in (maybe the Northern one), but there were specific comments about the Sheffield - Leeds route.

Although part of the contract, I wonder if it would be better to concentrate on the Northern network, rather than muck around with existing fleet disposition. There is overcrowding outside of what they call their core network and I have a fear it could get worse if efforts are concentrated elsewhere. The 16:55 off Glasgow is generally quiet until Edinburgh. Beyond there (peak commuter time), you have people using it to go to the likes of Dunbar and the carriages are jam-packed. Long distance punters end up suffering as a result of short distance commuters squeezing on that. A prime example to be extended with a 5th carriage, but unlikely to happen as it is out of the core.

Hello all,

When I've been commuting to London, I've noticed there's been a few XC mark 3 coaches in the yard at Doncaster. Are they the original ones XC got a few years back or have they acquired more coaching stock?

(29 May 2017, 9:11 am)8222 wrote [ -> ]Hello all,

When I've been commuting to London, I've noticed there's been a few XC mark 3 coaches in the yard at Doncaster. Are they the original ones XC got a few years back or have they acquired more coaching stock?

Original ones, I believe they were spare. Being used for the plug-door conversion along with a handful of GWR ones also.

Does anyone know the diversionary route? https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/tra...signalling

(06 Jun 2018, 8:49 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Does anyone know the diversionary route? https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/tra...signalling

Via Toton I believe

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(06 Jun 2018, 8:49 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Does anyone know the diversionary route? https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/tra...signalling

Has anyone seen a timetable for the Derby-Nottingham buses? 

The only timetable provided asks users to refer to as separate booklet for road transport which does't seem to be available anywhere?

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/med...eb-pdf.pdf

(17 Jul 2018, 12:16 pm)James101 wrote [ -> ]Has anyone seen a timetable for the Derby-Nottingham buses? 

The only timetable provided asks users to refer to as separate booklet for road transport which does't seem to be available anywhere?

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/med...eb-pdf.pdf

Found this out if anybody's interested in catching what will be quite an intensive operation.

Looks like 4 core routes throughout August:

Derby - Burton Operating every 15 minutes from front entrance of Derby Station. Scheduled to take 40 mins each way. 

Derby - Chesterfield Operating every 15 minutes from rear entrance of Derby Station. Scheduled to take 50 mins each way. 

Derby - Nottingham Operation every 15 mins from rear entrance of Derby Station. Scheduled to take 30 mins each way.  

Derby - Uttoxeter Hourly from front entrance of Derby Station. Scheduled to take around 45 mins each way.

There's also an hourly Derby-Long Eaton shuttle. 



 

(19 Jul 2018, 9:53 pm)James101 wrote [ -> ]Found this out if anybody's interested in catching what will be quite an intensive operation.

Looks like 4 core routes throughout August:

Derby - Burton Operating every 15 minutes from front entrance of Derby Station. Scheduled to take 40 mins each way. 

Derby - Chesterfield Operating every 15 minutes from rear entrance of Derby Station. Scheduled to take 50 mins each way. 

Derby - Nottingham Operation every 15 mins from rear entrance of Derby Station. Scheduled to take 30 mins each way.  

Derby - Uttoxeter Hourly from front entrance of Derby Station. Scheduled to take around 45 mins each way.

There's also an hourly Derby-Long Eaton shuttle. 



 

You also have the block south of Banbury, with buses connecting towards Reading.

https://twitter.com/sufian54321/status/1...25248?s=19

Ooooh!

Worth keeping an eye on which have been done and which haven't, but Cross-country are implementing 'auto-shutdown' on their class 220 and 221 sets, to reduce idling at stations.

The Crosscountry contract is due to run out on the 18th October 2020, any news on an extension or a take over of the franchise?