10 Apr 2019, 8:22 am
30 Apr 2019, 8:03 am
01 May 2019, 6:42 am
(30 Apr 2019, 8:03 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert...5056b64545
Changes ahead at Sunderland?
Hopefully, the whole top floor needs a major makeover (like where burger king etc is)
23 Jul 2019, 5:09 pm
29 Aug 2019, 7:05 pm
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/two-i...rail-fares
Changes to ticketing, including section between Newcastle and Edinburgh
29 Aug 2019, 10:47 pm
Wow its cheaper to drive to Edinburgh instead if hopping on the train (obv not in advance that bad).
Will never get cars off the road at this rate.
Will never get cars off the road at this rate.
12 Oct 2019, 10:27 am
Few train contracts coming up for renewal in the next year or so...
CrossCounty - 18th October 2020
GWR - 31st March 2020
Southeastern - 31st March 2020
First Trenitalia to take over West Coast Main Line rail services from 8 December 2019. (as we knew)
Anyone got any information, on who's bid for what?
CrossCounty - 18th October 2020
GWR - 31st March 2020
Southeastern - 31st March 2020
First Trenitalia to take over West Coast Main Line rail services from 8 December 2019. (as we knew)
Anyone got any information, on who's bid for what?
12 Oct 2019, 12:07 pm
(12 Oct 2019, 10:27 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]Few train contracts coming up for renewal in the next year or so...
CrossCounty - 18th October 2020
GWR - 31st March 2020
Southeastern - 31st March 2020
First Trenitalia to take over West Coast Main Line rail services from 8 December 2019. (as we knew)
Anyone got any information, on who's bid for what?
https://www.gov.uk/government/collection...agreements
Here's a starting point for you.
On a connected note, rumours abound that Northern franchise may become available soon.
12 Oct 2019, 12:19 pm
(12 Oct 2019, 12:07 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]
https://www.gov.uk/government/collection...agreements
Here's a starting point for you.
On a connected note, rumours abound that Northern franchise may become available soon.
Thanks, be interesting if Northern becomes available early.
16 Oct 2019, 2:51 pm
(12 Oct 2019, 12:19 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Thanks, be interesting if Northern becomes available early.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-...ssion=true
Media seem to be picking up on comments made by Grant Shapps and drawing their own conclusions.
21 Sep 2020, 10:06 am
21 Sep 2020, 10:38 am
(21 Sep 2020, 10:06 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54232015
Changes to the way franchising works.
This comment is very interesting:
"In a statement, Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said: "The model of privatisation adopted 25 years ago has seen significant rises in passenger numbers, but this pandemic has proven that it is no longer working."
He said the move to a new system would end "uncertainty and confusion about whether you are using the right ticket or the right train company"."
as is this:
"Meanwhile, train companies who operated franchises that were losing money before the pandemic, still owe money to the Department for Transport from those contracts. Although that thorny issue has been kicked down the road and the negotiations over past payments now need to be resolved by December."
I can't see any of these TOCs that owed money being in a position to pay it back, so I think once the support ends, we'll see a lot of contracts handed back. Covid aside, the franchise model just doesn't work.
21 Sep 2020, 12:20 pm
(21 Sep 2020, 10:38 am)Adrian wrote [ -> ]This comment is very interesting:
"In a statement, Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said: "The model of privatisation adopted 25 years ago has seen significant rises in passenger numbers, but this pandemic has proven that it is no longer working."
He said the move to a new system would end "uncertainty and confusion about whether you are using the right ticket or the right train company"."
as is this:
"Meanwhile, train companies who operated franchises that were losing money before the pandemic, still owe money to the Department for Transport from those contracts. Although that thorny issue has been kicked down the road and the negotiations over past payments now need to be resolved by December."
I can't see any of these TOCs that owed money being in a position to pay it back, so I think once the support ends, we'll see a lot of contracts handed back. Covid aside, the franchise model just doesn't work.
Yes, some interesting comments. It will be interesting to see what emerges over the next few months. Particularly from a vfm/taxpayer perspective
18 Oct 2020, 5:24 pm
Quite a good write up from Roger French - Rail rhetoric -v- rail reality
https://busandtrainuser.com/2020/10/05/r...AZvFj-iYFs
https://busandtrainuser.com/2020/10/05/r...AZvFj-iYFs
28 Jun 2021, 2:34 pm
28 Jun 2021, 2:57 pm
(28 Jun 2021, 2:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-57642027
Fire and explosion at Elephant and Castle.
Hope everyone is safe.
Presently being reported that "The cause of the fire is currently unknown but the Met said it was "not believed to be terror related"."
02 Jul 2021, 8:40 pm
02 Jul 2021, 11:34 pm
(02 Jul 2021, 8:40 pm)idiot wrote [ -> ]https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/loca...r-20940155
Just read this!
Delay Repay will have a big play in that aswell, I know it's not mentioned there. There's quite a few train routes which are timetabled longer than they need to be to avoid having to pay out especially when it involves potential bottlenecks like Leeds station. Crosscountry is really bad for it, it's amazing how much time they can catch up when they're allowed to do their full speed. One I was on awhile back made up around 30 mins from Sheffield to Newcastle.
03 Jul 2021, 6:44 am
(02 Jul 2021, 8:40 pm)idiot wrote [ -> ]https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/loca...r-20940155I made a point to the top man in LNER that the 'acceleration' of Azuma services to Newcastle actually fell three minutes below the fastest timed run a Deltic achieved in 1978....
Just read this!
02 Sep 2021, 8:32 pm
Does anyone with a knowledge of trains know if it would be possible to have a train go from Newcastle to London via Oxford.
Just curious as I was thinking of going to Oxford in a few weeks but LNER seems to suggest going into King's Cross then across to Paddington Station and get on the GWR to Oxford which seems a bit of chore to get there.
Just curious as I was thinking of going to Oxford in a few weeks but LNER seems to suggest going into King's Cross then across to Paddington Station and get on the GWR to Oxford which seems a bit of chore to get there.