(10 Apr 2015, 6:28 pm)aureolin wrote It gets even better. No hot water since York, so hot drinks are off the menu.

You're starting to expect too much now

Any more repaints? Or just still the two full sets?

(14 Apr 2015, 4:38 pm)JoshP wrote Any more repaints? Or just still the two full sets?

The EMT HST is with VTEC, I'm gather that the HSTs/91s that aren't in service will gain Virgin wraps.

I'm surprised to see so many locos still with 'East Coast' branding. Even to put a Virgin vinyl over the logos would take no more than 20-30 minutes at a time. For a company that is as brand concious as Virgin, it really surprises me...

(15 Apr 2015, 7:54 pm)aureolin wrote I'm surprised to see so many locos still with 'East Coast' branding. Even to put a Virgin vinyl over the logos would take no more than 20-30 minutes at a time. For a company that is as brand concious as Virgin, it really surprises me...

Can see the ECML out of my office window and that's exactly what I've been thinking too.

(15 Apr 2015, 8:08 pm)Dan wrote Can see the ECML out of my office window and that's exactly what I've been thinking too.

The Virgin brand was barely visible when I was at Kings Cross last week. A bit like their trolley service really!  not great for what is surely considered the heart of their routes. 

Think of how many HST power cars they have though + The 91's

They're kept at only 2/3 depots as far as I'm aware of and the only depot they own is the one in London

(15 Apr 2015, 8:46 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Think of how many HST power cars they have though + The 91's

They're kept at only 2/3 depots as far as I'm aware of and the only depot they own is the one in London

But Great Northern seem to have managed on the ex-First Capital Connect multiple units? The vast majority are still in the FCC livery, but they've simply stuck a Great Northern vinyl over the FCC logo. They've got a lot more logos to cover up than VTEC have.

Most of VTEC's logo's have been applied. Remember they only use a few powercars each day and they tend to be the same ones. Go to Kings Cross and i would say only about 2/10 don't have VTEC logo

(15 Apr 2015, 10:04 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Most of VTEC's logo's have been applied. Remember they only use a few powercars each day and they tend to be the same ones. Go to Kings Cross and i would say only about 2/10 don't have VTEC logo

I was at Newcastle, about a month after VTEC commenced, and I still thought that it was operated by Directly Operated Railways.

Simply sticking a Virgin logo at the power cars/DVT doesn't do justice for me. NXEC were on stations sticking their logos on trains using their infamous white stripe.

More trains are used in service than you think. I would say a 'few' is a massive understatement.

(16 Apr 2015, 3:27 pm)Robert wrote More trains are used in service than you think. I would say a 'few' is a massive understatement.

Plus add the standby sets that are at various places en route, the Leeds and Yorkshire, Lincoln, Inverness / Aberdeen, Glasgow, Newcastle and London KX.

Probably missed a few just of the top of my head. I believe there is around 4 standby and of course the few that are at Bounds Green/Craigentinny at the moment.

(16 Apr 2015, 3:27 pm)Robert wrote More trains are used in service than you think. I would say a 'few' is a massive understatement.

Fancy working out the ptr?

http://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/tra...imetables/

What I meant was the trains in Heaton... There are only a few there.

Seems as though everything I say is wrong to you

(16 Apr 2015, 4:08 pm)leestransportphotos wrote What I meant was the trains in Heaton... There are only a few there.

Seems as though everything I say is wrong to you

None of your posts indicated that you were on about Heaton depot so it became apparent to me (and probably others) that you were on about the whole fleet. You were the reason i thought you were wrong this time so don't bother trying to start yet another barney because somebody disagreed with you...

Who said I was going to start an argument?

That was in the past and most members have started to accept me. Obviously you still hold a grudge

(16 Apr 2015, 4:21 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Who said I was going to start an argument?

That was in the past and most members have started to accept me. Obviously you still hold a grudge

Ignore/block him.

I'm being told that there is currently 2 sets (HST/225 unknown) in for exams and the new livery. 43299 hasn't been reported in service and the set it was attached to now has a different power car.

The EMT HST will be able to keep the smooth running if the network without the need of withdrawn sets.

VTEC have 2 main depots, Bounds Green (London/Alexandra Palace) and Edinburgh (Craigentinny). BD maintains 91/MkIV sets whereas CT maintains HSTs - mostly for East Coast but also for CrossCountry and Grand Central (the odd powercar ends up there every now and then for major exams/overhauls).

Newcastle is used for storage and presentation of VTEC sets. It's owned by Northern but services Grand Central's trains also.

I don't think it is a major task to apply vinyls (hell, East Coast got them all branded pretty much in a couple of weeks from NXEC) but even with failures and unsuccessful planning to get to the right locations, it's not brilliant that, as aureolin said, such a brand-conscious company cannot complete this.

One fully-branded HST set is due in traffic in May so I imagine it'll have been taken from service for a wee while now.

91108 is in VTEC livery, coupled to 82214. Set BN15.

4x electric sets in Kings Cross at the moment... All in East coast logos.

Well were getting there... Trolley service on the 1800, but it doesn't accept cards due to a 'technical fault'...

Well this is sharp becoming a running joke. Yet again no trolley service. This time on the 1830 Edinburgh to Kings Cross. It can't just be me...

(30 Apr 2015, 7:49 pm)aureolin wrote Well this is sharp becoming a running joke. Yet again no trolley service. This time on the 1830 Edinburgh to Kings Cross. It can't just be me...

You sure they just don't like you?

(01 May 2015, 7:32 pm)northern156 wrote You sure they just don't like you?

It's starting to feel that way!

Both journeys at the weekend I used had a trolley service

(05 May 2015, 9:15 am)idiot wrote Both journeys at the weekend I used had a trolley service

I think a profile photo that aurelion had has upset Souter, hence no trolley service...! 

Mrs Constantopolous was on the 1257 EC service from Newcastle to London yesterday, using up Rewards tickets for 1st.

I know it was a diesel, started in Inverness, but her description was that is was an 'old carriage'.
As I was driving North, for the majority of her journey South, I was unable to get more detail from her, other than the usual selfies etc, taken on a train.
It looked like 1st had leather seats. Doesn't look like the Mallard interior at all.

Having not used an EM HST set, I have no idea whether she was on one of those or something else.

Anyone have any idea was running 1E13 yesterday?

1E13 is booked HST. Looks like you were on EC64 set which was EMT but then repainted into the new EC grey livery. That or the current temporary hire-in from EMT.

(16 May 2015, 11:11 am)Andreos1 wrote Mrs Constantopolous was on the  1257 EC service from Newcastle to London yesterday, using up Rewards tickets for 1st.

I know it was a diesel, started in Inverness, but her description was that is was an 'old carriage'.
As I was driving North, for the majority of her journey South, I was unable to get more detail from her, other than the usual selfies etc, taken on a train.
It looked like 1st had leather seats. Doesn't look like the Mallard interior at all.

Having not used an EM HST set, I have no idea whether she was on one of those or something else.

Anyone have any idea was running 1E13 yesterday?

A quick Google images of East Midlands Trains 1st class would suggest that? Not 100% like! 

(16 May 2015, 12:07 pm)northern156 wrote 1E13 is booked HST. Looks like you were on EC64 set which was EMT but then repainted into the new EC grey livery. That or the current temporary hire-in from EMT.

(16 May 2015, 12:09 pm)aureolin wrote A quick Google images of East Midlands Trains 1st class would suggest that? Not 100% like!

My first guess was an EM HST (or the ex) but wasn't sure if anything else had arrived on loan, like (heaven forbid), a Voyager set. Or, something from another TOC.

Was hoping (and still am), that someone would be able to confirm the allocated set.
Ended up on a Hull and then back to Neville Hill by my reckoning, if that is of any help.
No idea where it has ended up today.