(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
I have been lucky to get a HST Cross Country a few times, but for the trips I do, its always a Voyager home. Your right, they stink.
I had to go via Carlisle on a Northern and change onto a Virgin to go north when there were problems on the ECML a month or so back. I was hoping it wouldnt be a Voyager - it was and I was amazed at the difference between the two companies.
However... Not sure on a Virgin diagram, but some of the CrossCountry's start 6ish in the morning in deepest darkest Plymouth and if I jump on it 11 hours later in Glasgow to head south, its got however many gallons of pi** and shi* swimming about in it. The tanks must never get emptied.
However whenever you pull up at Kings Cross, I always notice the toilets being emptied before anything else.
I dont envy you that journey from York mind - 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.
Your right in both instances and two additional reasons why East Coast should be made an example of and why suits in offices down South cant set the terms of a contract re Northern.
Mind, having used some of the ancient stock on South West Trains, its amazing what a refurb can do. Imagine a pacer after a decent refurb?
edit
m.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/18/east-coast-rail-line-taxpayer-subsidy
An interesting read on the success of East Coast