LNER (Formerly Virgin Trains East Coast & East Coast)
LNER (Formerly Virgin Trains East Coast & East Coast)
I've done that before!
Must have been around 10 years ago. Really heavy snow and I was travelling to York to see my family. Wiper didn't work on the DVT as far as I recall so the decision was made to run it 91 leading around via Gateshead. Think we ended up around 20' late because of it.
(06 Aug 2016, 11:46 am)northern156 I've done that before!
Must have been around 10 years ago. Really heavy snow and I was travelling to York to see my family. Wiper didn't work on the DVT as far as I recall so the decision was made to run it 91 leading around via Gateshead. Think we ended up around 20' late because of it.
Aircraft flown on:
744, 77W, 772, E145, E190, E170, E175, E195, A319, A320, A320NEO, A321, A321NEO, A330-200, A330-300, A340-600 763, 752, 733, 737, 738, CRJ900, CRJ1000
Favourite aircraft: G-STBL/G-ZBKL
(06 Aug 2016, 11:46 am)northern156 I've done that before!
Must have been around 10 years ago. Really heavy snow and I was travelling to York to see my family. Wiper didn't work on the DVT as far as I recall so the decision was made to run it 91 leading around via Gateshead. Think we ended up around 20' late because of it.
Aircraft flown on:
744, 77W, 772, E145, E190, E170, E175, E195, A319, A320, A320NEO, A321, A321NEO, A330-200, A330-300, A340-600 763, 752, 733, 737, 738, CRJ900, CRJ1000
Favourite aircraft: G-STBL/G-ZBKL
(07 Aug 2016, 12:58 pm)Andreos1 99.9% sure I have been over on a 91. Definitely have on a XC set - on numerous occasions.
Pretty sure Adam posted in an outings review about going over the High Level whilst on a EC Reward ticket.
Aircraft flown on:
744, 77W, 772, E145, E190, E170, E175, E195, A319, A320, A320NEO, A321, A321NEO, A330-200, A330-300, A340-600 763, 752, 733, 737, 738, CRJ900, CRJ1000
Favourite aircraft: G-STBL/G-ZBKL
(07 Aug 2016, 12:58 pm)Andreos1 99.9% sure I have been over on a 91. Definitely have on a XC set - on numerous occasions.
Pretty sure Adam posted in an outings review about going over the High Level whilst on a EC Reward ticket.
Aircraft flown on:
744, 77W, 772, E145, E190, E170, E175, E195, A319, A320, A320NEO, A321, A321NEO, A330-200, A330-300, A340-600 763, 752, 733, 737, 738, CRJ900, CRJ1000
Favourite aircraft: G-STBL/G-ZBKL
(07 Aug 2016, 2:57 pm)8222 Yeah - Cross Country often do it and I've seen plenty of VTEC HSTs do it - but never seen a 91 do it. Would quite like to see it happen. I know only one track is fully electrified to complete the loop. Part of the down line is, but not all of it from what I remember.
(07 Aug 2016, 2:57 pm)8222 Yeah - Cross Country often do it and I've seen plenty of VTEC HSTs do it - but never seen a 91 do it. Would quite like to see it happen. I know only one track is fully electrified to complete the loop. Part of the down line is, but not all of it from what I remember.
I've been over that bridge many times on a MetroCentre to Morpeth Northern service, back when they used to reverse the train formation at NCL heading to MPT.
(07 Aug 2016, 8:11 am)8222 That's cool! Yeah - I'm sure the 91s, especially if they're leading 'blunt' cannot get to 125mph because of the aerodynamics of the pantograph.
(08 Aug 2016, 7:49 pm)northern156 IIRC 100 or 110 max blunt end first.
(08 Aug 2016, 7:49 pm)northern156 IIRC 100 or 110 max blunt end first.
VTEC staff (RMT), are amongst the latest to vote for strike action.
Edit:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...e-11724742
(09 Aug 2016, 4:02 pm)Andreos1 VTEC staff (RMT), are amongst the latest to vote for strike action.
Edit:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...e-11724742
(09 Aug 2016, 4:02 pm)Andreos1 VTEC staff (RMT), are amongst the latest to vote for strike action.
Edit:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...e-11724742
(09 Aug 2016, 5:32 pm)Adrian Also : https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-ballot-o...to-strike/
Looks like another example of a private company bidding over the odds for public sector work, and immediately struggling to 'deliver' to their shareholders.
I wonder what the Virgin Group think about Stagecoach dragging their name through the mud with this dispute? They only own 10% of the franchise, yet will be on the end of 100% of the blame.
(09 Aug 2016, 5:32 pm)Adrian Also : https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-ballot-o...to-strike/
Looks like another example of a private company bidding over the odds for public sector work, and immediately struggling to 'deliver' to their shareholders.
I wonder what the Virgin Group think about Stagecoach dragging their name through the mud with this dispute? They only own 10% of the franchise, yet will be on the end of 100% of the blame.
(11 Aug 2016, 1:04 pm)Andreos1 GNER, NX and now VTEC have all reportedly struggled (or are struggling) on the route and have demonstrated cutting back in several key areas, such as call-centre staff, rewards programmes, complain about open access operators and bids etc. We now see VTEC wanting to cut back on front line staff.
Yet EC somehow managed to operate, make a healthy profit and hit performance targets...
It's like a poisoned chalice to the private sector.
Aircraft flown on:
744, 77W, 772, E145, E190, E170, E175, E195, A319, A320, A320NEO, A321, A321NEO, A330-200, A330-300, A340-600 763, 752, 733, 737, 738, CRJ900, CRJ1000
Favourite aircraft: G-STBL/G-ZBKL
(11 Aug 2016, 1:04 pm)Andreos1 GNER, NX and now VTEC have all reportedly struggled (or are struggling) on the route and have demonstrated cutting back in several key areas, such as call-centre staff, rewards programmes, complain about open access operators and bids etc. We now see VTEC wanting to cut back on front line staff.
Yet EC somehow managed to operate, make a healthy profit and hit performance targets...
It's like a poisoned chalice to the private sector.
Aircraft flown on:
744, 77W, 772, E145, E190, E170, E175, E195, A319, A320, A320NEO, A321, A321NEO, A330-200, A330-300, A340-600 763, 752, 733, 737, 738, CRJ900, CRJ1000
Favourite aircraft: G-STBL/G-ZBKL
(11 Aug 2016, 3:34 pm)8222 It really does make you wonder what is going on. I've regularly seen trains operating in shorter formation (missing one coach) with coach defects and the aircon seems to be playing up more and more frequently. Have a look at the website now:
10:00 Kings Cross - Aberdeen is missing coach E
15:00 Kings Cross - Stirling is 8 coaches rather than 9
16:06 Kings Cross - Leeds has had reservations shifted because of faulty aircon.
Perhaps it's anticipation of the Azumas - who knows...
(11 Aug 2016, 3:34 pm)8222 It really does make you wonder what is going on. I've regularly seen trains operating in shorter formation (missing one coach) with coach defects and the aircon seems to be playing up more and more frequently. Have a look at the website now:
10:00 Kings Cross - Aberdeen is missing coach E
15:00 Kings Cross - Stirling is 8 coaches rather than 9
16:06 Kings Cross - Leeds has had reservations shifted because of faulty aircon.
Perhaps it's anticipation of the Azumas - who knows...
(11 Aug 2016, 1:04 pm)Andreos1 GNER, NX and now VTEC have all reportedly struggled (or are struggling) on the route and have demonstrated cutting back in several key areas, such as call-centre staff, rewards programmes, complain about open access operators and bids etc. We now see VTEC wanting to cut back on front line staff.
Yet EC somehow managed to operate, make a healthy profit and hit performance targets...
It's like a poisoned chalice to the private sector.
(11 Aug 2016, 1:04 pm)Andreos1 GNER, NX and now VTEC have all reportedly struggled (or are struggling) on the route and have demonstrated cutting back in several key areas, such as call-centre staff, rewards programmes, complain about open access operators and bids etc. We now see VTEC wanting to cut back on front line staff.
Yet EC somehow managed to operate, make a healthy profit and hit performance targets...
It's like a poisoned chalice to the private sector.
(11 Aug 2016, 6:15 pm)northern156 Even though part of the franchise for the current private bidder was to introduce brand new rolling stock in vast amounts? That can't have helped financial matters much...!!!
(11 Aug 2016, 6:15 pm)northern156 Even though part of the franchise for the current private bidder was to introduce brand new rolling stock in vast amounts? That can't have helped financial matters much...!!!
(11 Aug 2016, 6:49 pm)Andreos1 Even the most savvy financial director will have financed that in to any contract/bid...
Forecasts will have been planned both on income and expenditure, in addition to passenger numbers way back when they went for the contract - regardless of any new rolling stock.
New rolling stock, will (or should have), been factored in to that bid. It hasn't just sneaked up on them.
(11 Aug 2016, 6:49 pm)Andreos1 Even the most savvy financial director will have financed that in to any contract/bid...
Forecasts will have been planned both on income and expenditure, in addition to passenger numbers way back when they went for the contract - regardless of any new rolling stock.
New rolling stock, will (or should have), been factored in to that bid. It hasn't just sneaked up on them.
(11 Aug 2016, 6:56 pm)northern156 The fact they're losing money hand over fist (at a figure of about £1m per month that I heard!) and it being announced after the big unveiling of the new Azumas seems too much of a coincidence to me Andreos?
Call me cynical like...
(11 Aug 2016, 6:56 pm)northern156 The fact they're losing money hand over fist (at a figure of about £1m per month that I heard!) and it being announced after the big unveiling of the new Azumas seems too much of a coincidence to me Andreos?
Call me cynical like...
My point regarding it being a coincidence was that I heard about this loss of money after the units had been ordered.
This may well have simply been me not hearing anything other stories about it previously mind.
Short-formed sets are a fact of the railway, it's nothing to do with how well off a company is. You're talking about HSTs and Mk4 sets which have been in service several decades now - they're bound to develop issues with the likes of maintenance! I'd rather cut a coach out than cancel a full set!
IMO, if ECML had remained under government ownership there would have been a lot less growth and improvements to service than present - ie huge refurb of rolling stock, free Wifi for advance ticket holders, advertising campaigns etc etc. - the sort of stuff Virgin excel at.
(11 Aug 2016, 7:14 pm)northern156 My point regarding it being a coincidence was that I heard about this loss of money after the units had been ordered.
This may well have simply been me not hearing anything other stories about it previously mind.
Short-formed sets are a fact of the railway, it's nothing to do with how well off a company is. You're talking about HSTs and Mk4 sets which have been in service several decades now - they're bound to develop issues with the likes of maintenance! I'd rather cut a coach out than cancel a full set!
IMO, if ECML had remained under government ownership there would have been a lot less growth and improvements to service than present - ie huge refurb of rolling stock, free Wifi for advance ticket holders, advertising campaigns etc etc. - the sort of stuff Virgin excel at.
Joint ventures – share of (loss)/profit after tax
2016 2015
£m £m
Virgin Rail Group 24.2 22.3
Citylink 1.4 1.1
Twin America (0.8) 2.0
The profit of Virgin Trains East Coast has been less than that forecast by the Group at the time of its bid for the franchise. As a result, management has carried out an onerous contract review of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise and concluded that the contract will earn a profit for the remaining term of its franchise.
(11 Aug 2016, 7:14 pm)northern156 My point regarding it being a coincidence was that I heard about this loss of money after the units had been ordered.
This may well have simply been me not hearing anything other stories about it previously mind.
Short-formed sets are a fact of the railway, it's nothing to do with how well off a company is. You're talking about HSTs and Mk4 sets which have been in service several decades now - they're bound to develop issues with the likes of maintenance! I'd rather cut a coach out than cancel a full set!
IMO, if ECML had remained under government ownership there would have been a lot less growth and improvements to service than present - ie huge refurb of rolling stock, free Wifi for advance ticket holders, advertising campaigns etc etc. - the sort of stuff Virgin excel at.
Joint ventures – share of (loss)/profit after tax
2016 2015
£m £m
Virgin Rail Group 24.2 22.3
Citylink 1.4 1.1
Twin America (0.8) 2.0
The profit of Virgin Trains East Coast has been less than that forecast by the Group at the time of its bid for the franchise. As a result, management has carried out an onerous contract review of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise and concluded that the contract will earn a profit for the remaining term of its franchise.
(11 Aug 2016, 7:27 pm)Andreos1 http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/marke...g-5-4.html
Published 14th March. Relating to events on 13th according to article.
https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/ne...ouncement/
Published 18th March. Relating to events on 18th March.
It is worth noting that in the weeks following the financial reports, both TSSA and RMT were predicting job losses
http://www.transport-network.co.uk/East-...tion/12837
Who knows what would have happened to the stock on the ECML. We can surmise and guess. The new stock was always going to happen though (we know it had been announced/planned prior to the handover).
What we do know, is that they're paying almost twice the contract value GNER and NX did.
(11 Aug 2016, 7:27 pm)Andreos1 http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/marke...g-5-4.html
Published 14th March. Relating to events on 13th according to article.
https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/ne...ouncement/
Published 18th March. Relating to events on 18th March.
It is worth noting that in the weeks following the financial reports, both TSSA and RMT were predicting job losses
http://www.transport-network.co.uk/East-...tion/12837
Who knows what would have happened to the stock on the ECML. We can surmise and guess. The new stock was always going to happen though (we know it had been announced/planned prior to the handover).
What we do know, is that they're paying almost twice the contract value GNER and NX did.
![[Image: 0a85ed5b4e97324e338555472f222830.png]](https://public.railmiles.me/signatures/0a85ed5b4e97324e338555472f222830.png)
