(02 Apr 2013, 8:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote As for privatisation, if CrossCountry and Northern are anything to go by, lets nationalise the lot!

(02 Apr 2013, 8:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote I use East Coast pretty regular and despite having issues with their call centre/customer service team, I do think they are an excellent example of how nationalisation can work.

They are flying high in satisfaction surveys and have made the government millions. I cant understand the need to sell them off, espec when the ECML is going to fall further down the pecking order behind the WCML and HS2 when that is built.

As for privatisation, if CrossCountry and Northern are anything to go by, lets nationalise the lot!

(02 Apr 2013, 8:29 pm)aureolin wrote

(02 Apr 2013, 8:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote As for privatisation, if CrossCountry and Northern are anything to go by, lets nationalise the lot!

Hear, hear!

CrossCountry are generally all right punctuality wise for me, but I refuse to get on one of their trains if it's not a HST working. The Voyagers smell worse than public toilets.

Northern Rail... where do I start? I dread the days I have to get the York - Blackpool North (not) express. Best part of 3 hours spent on a Class 156 or 158. Not pleasant at all

(02 Apr 2013, 8:34 pm)Kuyoyo wrote

(02 Apr 2013, 8:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote I use East Coast pretty regular and despite having issues with their call centre/customer service team, I do think they are an excellent example of how nationalisation can work.

They are flying high in satisfaction surveys and have made the government millions. I cant understand the need to sell them off, espec when the ECML is going to fall further down the pecking order behind the WCML and HS2 when that is built.

As for privatisation, if CrossCountry and Northern are anything to go by, lets nationalise the lot!

Because it was only ever meant to be short-term until the DfT could sort out a new agreement.

As for Northern Rail, a franchise the SFA got wrong by letting it with no growth and look at it now.

(02 Mar 2013, 6:28 pm)Brandon wrote Almost forgot I saw two East Coast trains on the Durham Coast Line through Sunderland this afternoon, one in each direction. Don't think I've ever seen it happen myself before but I guess it might happen more times than I've realised!

Photos by Graeme Phillips - http://www.flickr.com/photos/66289212@N07/8522131000/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66289212@N07/8521931968/

Diversion is in place until tomorrow -

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/

"Engineering work between Darlington and Newcastle from 13:30 on Saturday 2 until 12:30 on Sunday 3 March 2013"

"An hourly diverted train service will run between York and Newcastle, not calling at Darlington and Durham"

There's also some travel information for trains by other operators.

(28 Jul 2013, 10:18 pm)fozzovmurton wrote

(02 Mar 2013, 6:28 pm)Brandon wrote Almost forgot I saw two East Coast trains on the Durham Coast Line through Sunderland this afternoon, one in each direction. Don't think I've ever seen it happen myself before but I guess it might happen more times than I've realised!

Photos by Graeme Phillips - http://www.flickr.com/photos/66289212@N07/8522131000/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66289212@N07/8521931968/

Diversion is in place until tomorrow -

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/

"Engineering work between Darlington and Newcastle from 13:30 on Saturday 2 until 12:30 on Sunday 3 March 2013"

"An hourly diverted train service will run between York and Newcastle, not calling at Darlington and Durham"

There's also some travel information for trains by other operators.

I remember back in the 90's GNER would often divert onto the Durham Coast, I have been in both directions on a diverted NCL-LKX Service, it was amusing because it once came to a standstill in Sunderland coming down from London, there was a bloke demanding the guard open a door to let him off the train in Sunderland, why, becaise he lived in Hendon, he was not amused at being taking against his will to Newcastle, even though his ticket to there. These days I don't know if it is still a common diversion as the 91's are out of gauge going through S'land i think.

Other diversions I have been on with GNER locally is Nothallerton-Picton onto the Stillington Line to Durham

(28 Jul 2013, 10:27 pm)Kuyoyo wrote

(28 Jul 2013, 10:18 pm)fozzovmurton wrote

(02 Mar 2013, 6:28 pm)Brandon wrote Almost forgot I saw two East Coast trains on the Durham Coast Line through Sunderland this afternoon, one in each direction. Don't think I've ever seen it happen myself before but I guess it might happen more times than I've realised!

Photos by Graeme Phillips - http://www.flickr.com/photos/66289212@N07/8522131000/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66289212@N07/8521931968/

Diversion is in place until tomorrow -

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/

"Engineering work between Darlington and Newcastle from 13:30 on Saturday 2 until 12:30 on Sunday 3 March 2013"

"An hourly diverted train service will run between York and Newcastle, not calling at Darlington and Durham"

There's also some travel information for trains by other operators.

I remember back in the 90's GNER would often divert onto the Durham Coast, I have been in both directions on a diverted NCL-LKX Service, it was amusing because it once came to a standstill in Sunderland coming down from London, there was a bloke demanding the guard open a door to let him off the train in Sunderland, why, becaise he lived in Hendon, he was not amused at being taking against his will to Newcastle, even though his ticket to there. These days I don't know if it is still a common diversion as the 91's are out of gauge going through S'land i think.

Other diversions I have been on with GNER locally is Nothallerton-Picton onto the Stillington Line to Durham

HSTs still run up the Durham Coast Line, but all 225s (91s and Mark 4 sets) normally run Kings Cross-Darlington and Newcastle-Edinburgh.

(04 Sep 2013, 5:59 am)aureolin wrote Stood at Newcastle station at half 6 this morning, and I noticed one of the HSTs was running with what looked like a new set of coaches. I'd originally thought this was just a repaint to a new livery, but the interior is completely different too. (Bad) iPhone pics below.

(28 Jul 2013, 11:06 pm)fozzovmurton wrote Do Grand Central run HSTs sure I got one down to York about 6 years ago

(26 Oct 2013, 8:37 am)fozzovmurton wrote The brochure for the ECMLbidding is out now...attached

Why are we refranchising East Coast?
Since 1995 the Government’s policy has been to allow the private sector to run
public rail services. State control of rail services is considered to represent poorer
value for money, restrict investment and therefore growth and to import risk to the
taxpayer. The introduction of competition has been proven to drive improvements
for the passenger and leave a lower level of inancial and technical risk with the
Government. When taking over East Coast, a new private sector operator will be
incentivised to improve system performance and grow revenues.

(28 Nov 2013, 7:30 pm)citaro5284 wrote Currently on a train from Scotland back to Newcastle and there is not one piece of hot food on the train and there is a problem with the heating and everyone is sitting with their coats on.....not what I would class a good service by any stretch of the imagination.

I have never been on a Virgin train when they have 'ran out' of hot food, lets hope the new private Operator brings some improves to the line.

(28 Nov 2013, 7:36 pm)andreos1 wrote Sounds like some sort of power issue.

I have been on a CrossCountry train several times when they haven't even been able to organise the cold food trolley!
Hungry and smelling of sh!t - definately a shot in the face of privatisation.

They won't even serve owt North or West of Edinburgh.

(28 Nov 2013, 7:42 pm)aureolin wrote I can't stand train food, but that's pretty shoddy not having any available. M&S jobby for me every time.

(28 Nov 2013, 7:36 pm)andreos1 wrote Sounds like some sort of power issue.