(16 Jan 2016, 9:12 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote A few Evening Edinburgh Diagrams tonight were formed of 91s and Mk4s with 67008 dragging the 1655 departure from York



220s are Compatible not sure about 221s though with the different bogie type might affect the route availability, Back in the days of Virgin Crosscountry in 2003 a 220 had to make a emergency diversion over the Durham Coast.

220/1 are cleared for the DCL.

(16 Jan 2016, 9:13 pm)DanPicken wrote 220/1 are cleared for the DCL.

Thanks for clarifying.

91128 is now red.

Currently onboard the1S18 (the refurbished VTEC HST) and I will go round the Durham Coast Line shortly, most trains are terminating at Darlington just in case anyone wants a shot of 43307 and something else you can catch it going on the metro line.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y8...3/advanced

(23 Jan 2016, 2:24 am)GX03 SVC wrote 91128 is now red.

Good job I got a photograph of it in #Claus91 colours at KGX earlier this week!

Virgin Trains East Coast: 91128 by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Uh oh.

Passenger satisfaction on VTEC has plummeted since privatisation
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/pol...41381.html

(30 Jan 2016, 10:46 am)Andreos1 wrote Uh oh.

Passenger satisfaction on VTEC has plummeted since privatisation
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/pol...41381.html

I think it was always inevitable, and I've certainly found that corners have been cut since privatisation. I think that plummeted is a bit of a strong word though, as these surveys aren't worth the paper they're written on in my opinion.

Discounted tickets!
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/14244653...s/?ref=rss

And, of course, husband is supposed to be going to Glasgow, tomorrow. Anyone's guess as to whether his train will run on time due to the disruption between Darlo and Northallerton, which is now set to run into tomorrow.

Are any of our singletons making a trip on VTEC soon?

Love could be in the air!

43300 now carries a revised version of the '100 years of Craigentinny' livery:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steam60163/24795991275/

(08 Feb 2016, 10:03 pm)S813 FVK wrote 43300 now carries a revised version of the '100 years of Craigentinny' livery:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steam60163/24795991275/

I miss the East Coast liveries. And East Coast in general.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-sc...s-35576875

VTEC to increase frequency north of Newcastle.

(15 Feb 2016, 10:05 am)Andreos1 wrote http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-sc...s-35576875

VTEC to increase frequency north of Newcastle.

This is the extension of the Newcastle Semi-Fasts with a 3rd Newcastle Semi-Fast terminator to follow in the Future.

(15 Feb 2016, 1:00 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote This is the extension of the Newcastle Semi-Fasts with a 3rd Newcastle Semi-Fast terminator to follow in the Future.

They have said there are four additional services north and four south. Not two or three.

Apparently they are the 06:15, 10:30, 13:30 and 17:30 services out of KX. All semi-fasts.

Looking quickly at the timetable, the only bottom of the hour trains to extend north of Newcastle currently are the:
0730, 0930, 1130, 1530 (GLC), 1630, 1830 and 1930.

This extension fills quite a few of those gaps. Particularly in the PM.

(15 Feb 2016, 10:05 am)Andreos1 wrote VTEC to increase frequency north of Newcastle.

From VTEC website....

https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/ne...don-route/

(15 Feb 2016, 3:52 pm)Andreos1 wrote They have said there are four additional services north and four south. Not two or three.

Apparently they are the 06:15, 10:30, 13:30 and 17:30 services out of KX. All semi-fasts.

Looking quickly at the timetable, the only bottom of the hour trains to extend north of Newcastle currently are the:
0730, 0930, 1130, 1530 (GLC), 1630, 1830 and 1930.

This extension fills quite a few of those gaps. Particularly in the PM.

No I meant the 2nd train per hour to Edinburgh is the Newcastle Terminator extended to Edinburgh.
And VTEC as part of their franchise commitment have to introduce 3tph between Newcastle - London and Leeds - London and 2tph between London - Edinburgh by 2017

(15 Feb 2016, 7:07 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote No I meant the 2nd train per hour to Edinburgh is the Newcastle Terminator extended to Edinburgh.
And VTEC as part of their franchise commitment have to introduce 3tph between Newcastle - London and Leeds - London and 2tph between London - Edinburgh by 2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...-agreement

All of the documents relating to the franchise agreement.
Including stations and min number of calls.

(15 Feb 2016, 7:29 pm)Andreos1 wrote https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...-agreement

All of the documents relating to the franchise agreement.
Including stations and min number of calls.

I was going by the Network Rail 2020 ECML Capacity Timetable Assessment.  http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file...c-2014.pdf
York to Newcastle is from Page 43 downwards and includes the desired amount of services down that section of the ECML from/by 2020.
It quotes :

It includes 3 VTEC IEP Paths an hour and 1 Open Accsess path timed for Alliance Rails Class 390 Pendolino Proposal = 3tph VTEC LDN - NCL and 1tph OAC LDN - NCL

Newcastle to Edinburgh is from Page 49 and includes 2 VTEC paths an hour and 1 Open Accsess path a hour timed for Alliances 390 proposal.
It also includes the Scottish Govermants Proposal for a Berwick or Newcastle to Edinburgh Stopping Service and other things.

1 Thing is that the TPE Paths are out of date as TPE are ordering 125 mph at the least capable Multiple Units instead of 100 Mph EMUs

There are other interesting things in there that would take ages to write in here but the link is above if you want to read it.

(16 Feb 2016, 10:10 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote I was going by the Network Rail 2020 ECML Capacity Timetable Assessment.  http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file...c-2014.pdf
York to Newcastle is from Page 43 downwards and includes the desired amount of services down that section of the ECML from/by 2020.
It quotes :

It includes 3 VTEC IEP Paths an hour and 1 Open Accsess path timed for Alliance Rails Class 390 Pendolino Proposal = 3tph VTEC LDN - NCL and 1tph OAC LDN - NCL

Newcastle to Edinburgh is from Page 49 and includes 2 VTEC paths an hour and 1 Open Accsess path a hour timed for Alliances 390 proposal.
It also includes the Scottish Govermants Proposal for a Berwick or Newcastle to Edinburgh Stopping Service and other things.

1 Thing is that the TPE Paths are out of date as TPE are ordering 125 mph at the least capable Multiple Units instead of 100 Mph EMUs

There are other interesting things in there that would take ages to write in here but the link is above if you want to read it.

Those documents make interesting reading, but is just an assessment to scope out what may happen.
There are several scenarios in the document - including additional track between Birtley and Ouston Jcts (removed during electrification if I remember correctly), new/lengthened loops, new platforms, infrastructure improvements on Durham Coast and Stillington lines, power issues north of Doncaster, concerns relating to the Newark Crossing, opening disused tunnels at Kings Cross and platform capacity concerns at Newcastle and Edinburgh.

My own thoughts are that the plans aren't likely to happen - particularly those south of the region (regardless of costs), due to the Governments obsession with HS2.
Services from the north east will be directed towards the Yorkshire hub in order to justify the vanity of HS2.
I can't see the costs in improving the ECML, being justifiable in light of HS2 and the current state of the treasury.

I haven't compared franchise agreements with the scenarios suggested in the capability analysis. It would take far too long and I can't be bothered - and cos I have seen enough reports today to last a lifetime! 

Have all train sets been fully repainted in VTEC livery? Is every train set due an internal refurb, even the ones due to be replaced in 2 years?

(29 Feb 2016, 9:48 am)JoshP wrote Have all train sets been fully repainted in VTEC livery? Is every train set due an internal refurb, even the ones due to be replaced in 2 years?

I'm sure most if not all are now in VTEC livery, all trains are being refurbished, yes.

Some sort of press conference this morning at Kings Cross.....Introducing Virgin Amuza

https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/azuma

(18 Mar 2016, 9:55 am)citaro5284 wrote Some sort of press conference this morning at Kings Cross.....Introducing Virgin Amuza

https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/azuma

They love taking credit for things that were well in motion before their involvement...

(18 Mar 2016, 9:55 am)citaro5284 wrote Some sort of press conference this morning at Kings Cross.....Introducing Virgin Amuza

https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/azuma

I really don't like that variant of the livery. I hope they stick with the present variant they use. The grey doesn't seem right.

Heworth heading 'East'?

http://saveecrewards.co.uk/blog/virgin-azuma-heworth

(20 Mar 2016, 8:52 pm)Andreos1 wrote Heworth heading 'East'?

http://saveecrewards.co.uk/blog/virgin-azuma-heworth

I don't agree with that one mind. Mainline trains should stick to being of an express nature. Stations like Heworth should be served by regional rail, and of course we have the Metro every couple of minutes too.

(20 Mar 2016, 8:58 pm)Adrian wrote I don't agree with that one mind. Mainline trains should stick to being of an express nature. Stations like Heworth should be served by regional rail, and of course we have the Metro every couple of minutes too.

The station is wide enough but the is enough transport to newcastle so not sure

(21 Mar 2016, 8:15 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote The station is wide enough but the is enough transport to newcastle so not sure

Not sure I understand what you're saying?

(21 Mar 2016, 8:15 pm)Adrian wrote Not sure I understand what you're saying?

There is enough trains stopping at heworth if you count the metro