Fantasy: If you owned a TOC, what would it be?

[lancededcena]

This my TOC.

,
Operating in the GEML
Route(s): GEML (1996-2004) GEML and WAML (2004 - 2008) LTS, GEML and WAML (2008 - 2012) LTS,GEML,WAML and Thameslink (2012 - 2014)
Rolling Stock:
Class 380 (used mainly in the GEML)
Class 360 (used in the London to Clacton Route)
Class 150 (used in the Braintree Branch)

Class 379 (used in any route from\to Stansted Airport)

Class 379 (used in any route from\to Cambridge)
Class 377 (used in the Brighton - Bedford Route)
Class 319 (used in other routes)

Class 357 (used in all routes)

 

[D365]

Straight in with British Rail

 

[anti-pacer]

NorthernConnect

Operating all local services in the North of England.

333's and new build EMU's
172's, 185's and new build DMU's

All former TPE and long distance services would be under

NorthernCitylink

with 185's running on non-electrified lines, and new build EMU's on those that are.

 

[Domh245]

Mine would be "Mendacium Railways" operating the ECML, WCML, and GWML (ie. MREC, MRWC, MRGW). It would operate these services on a not for profit basis, and any profit would be used in re-investment. Passengers would be treated to frequent services, on a simple to follow and lost cost ticketing scheme. The trains would be fast and have enough seats for the peaks. All staff would receive handsome pay packages and there would be no-such thing as management bonuses...

("mendacium" is the latin for "lies")

 

[harry42]

NorthernConnect

Operating all local services in the North of England.

333's and new build EMU's
172's, 185's and new build DMU's

Like that idea!

 

[asylumxl]

Can I operate a FOC?

CanLiner

I would operate locomotive convoys with tracks leading straight in to an industrial crusher.

 

[SS4]

Can I operate a FOC?

CanLiner

I would operate locomotive convoys with tracks leading straight in to an industrial crusher.

Now with that horrible colour scheme you can't!

Because I am lazy I would own the metro routes around the West Midlands and call it MidlandLink

 

[AndyLandy]

Ahh, that would have to be

Network
Northern

It would consist of the Northern and TPE franchises, with possibly a bit of negotiation around the fringes of the likes of ATW.

The goal would be to acquire a bunch of cheap old diesel locomotives and coaching stock and do them up for use on core inter-regional routes, freeing up 158s for internal cascading to replace Pacers and to strengthen other services. The rest of the stock would continue to be made up of Sprinter-family trains and redundant London EMUs, but they'd be internally refurbished to a reasonable standard and kept clean and tidy.

We would look to introduce reasonable First Class provision and catering on longer inter-regional services, including the TPE, which would all be managed under the brand of:

Network
Northern Express

The overall policy would be to do the best that we can with existing rolling stock as electrification progresses across the North. As core routes are electrified, a simple stopgap measure is to replace the diesel locos on our beautifully refurbished coaching stock with electric locos instead. Then, when we come towards the end of CP6, a big-bang splashout on a cohesive fleet of new trains for the region.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, I'm sure we'll see PRM-TSI-compatible Pacers, still dirty as hell, running around the North in CP7.

 

[ollyrogers]

I would start in 1850 with some 4-2-2 Iron Dukes on London to Oxford runs, branching out to Slough and Gloucester later on, using some 4-2-0 Prussias on cargo services (grain to the Oxford bakery, wool to the Slough textile mills, then take the food/ goods cars on to London!) and produce trains around Portsmouth and Southampton, building up my empire as I go on.

Disclaimer: I may have been playing Railroad Tycoon today...

 

[nathanclass323]

MidlandNorthern Railway

My idea of an open access operator who will also take other a couple of routes from Northern using Turbostars and Electrostars based at a new build depot near Etches Park and Longsight in Manchester. All services will have Fast, Semi-fast and Stopper services.

Services
- Derby <> Manchester via Stoke on Trent using Turbos. 1tph. One train every two hours will extend to Liverpool.
- Leicester <> Leeds via Derby, Sheffield and Wakefield using Turbos until complete electrification of the route. Obviously that will be quite a while. 1tph - 2tph in the peak
- Manchester to Hadfield/Glossop (taken over from Northern) using 377/379 or equivalent. 2tph.

As you can see, it would be a relatively small operation but I'd expand where possible in the future. I'm too tired to think of more

 

[asylumxl]

Now with that horrible colour scheme you can't!

Because I am lazy I would own the metro routes around the West Midlands and call it MidlandLink

Don't blame me, blame Freightliner .

 

[317666]

This my TOC.
WAML (2004 - 2008) LTS, GEML and WAML (2008 - present)
Rolling Stock: Class 90 with MK3 stock (used in the London to Norwich Line) Class 170 (used in the London Routes served by the TOC)
Class 360 (used in any route from\to Colchester or Clacton)
Class 379 (used in any route from\to Cambridge, Stansted Airport or Ipswich)
Class 357 (used in any route from\to London Fenchurch Street or Shoeburyness)
Class 158 (used in other routes)

I hate your TOC

That said I am liking the 158s!

 

[JamesRowden]

JYM RAIL

The trains would have gym carriages where passengers can earn back part of their fare by producing energy through doing fitness training during their journey. The fares would be implemented on PAYG smart cards and one would put their card in the fitness machine to register the earnt credit.

I think that the prototype battery powered 379 would make good stock to be converted for use. An electrodiesel version could be used on routes that do not have enough electrification.

If there was a power cut affecting a non-diesel service, the passengers could do a work out to get to their destination.

Perhaps I could get a subsidy from the government for encouraging healthy living.

 

[Llanigraham]

Any, and I'd ban all train spotters and "walts".

 

[43074]

The Midland & Anglian Railway Company would be my TOC, operating a series of open access services on the following routes:

• Cambridge to Nottingham, calling at Ely, March, Peterborough, Stamford, Oakham, Melton Mowbray, Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway and Nottingham (~ 4 tpd)
• Ipswich to Birmingham, calling at Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Peterborough, Leicester, Nuneaton & Birmingham New Street, roughly every 2 hours.
• Norwich to Birmingham, calling at Thetford, Ely, March, Peterborough, Leicester, Nuneaton & Birmingham New Street, roughly every 2 hours. (this and the Ipswich service would mean an hourly service between Ely and Birmingham.)

I would want to expand to West from Birmingham and North from Nottingham (perhaps to Blackpool or farther afield) at a later date.

In addition, there would be an hourly service between Nottingham and Birmingham calling at Coleshill Parkway, Nuneaton, Leicester, Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway and Nottingham to fill the North Leicestershire/South Nottinghamshire to Birmingham market. I would want to expand this East of Nottingham and West of Birmingham at a later date as well.

Stock would be a tarted up 172 variant from Derby Litchurch Lane, or Siemens 380 if electrification starts.

 

[NightStar]

I would operate a modified version of Nightstar.

Robert

 

[D365]

I would want to expand to West from Birmingham and North from Nottingham (perhaps to Blackpool or farther afield) at a later date.

I know this is fantasy, and those routes sound interesting (not sure about the demand) but I did want to remind you that there is a good 1tph 170-operated XC service from Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street (formerly Liverpool).

The additional platforms at Peterborough should be able to handle more services, though I am keen for full electrification of Felixstowe-Birmingham.

Stock would be a tarted up 172 variant from Derby Litchurch Lane, or Siemens 380 if electrification starts.

I'd rather like a trolley-capable 379 if XC's 170 routes get done (ditto for GA) - with updated push buttons of course
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

JYM RAIL

Sounds like great stuff, though you may end up looking like you've hiked to work

 

[43074]

I know this is fantasy, and those routes sound interesting (not sure about the demand) but I did want to remind you that there is a good 1tph 170-operated XC service from Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street (formerly Liverpool).

I think the demand is there, judging by the number of passengers who change at Ely or Peterborough between Norwich/Ipswich and the Leicester line. Also Cambridge is amongst the most popular destinations for travel to/from Loughborough.

I'd rather like a trolley-capable 379 if XC's 170 routes get done (ditto for GA) - with updated push buttons of course

I suppose they'd be cheaper than the 380. Although I suspect the dodgy buttons have something to do with it.

 

[rmt4ever]

I would call it Virgin Trains. And let it run ECML WCML and GWML with Virgin Pendolinos after electrification of all those routes.

I would change weekend first to be the same as Mon to Fri, and move the shop so it is between 1st and 2nd class.

Also they would have a First class restaurant car if passengers want to upgrade to "fine dining" for an extra fee.

They would run the sleeper services too with brand new purpose built rolling stock that has en suite rooms, a restaurant for sleeper birth passengers and buffet car for bargain passengers. Also wifi of course and plugs througout
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Any, and I'd ban all train spotters and "walts".

What is a walt

 

[YorkshireBear]

Cross Country (keeping it the same name)

Would start with the deciding what the future routes should be and possibly look at expanding the network. Re aligning some routes, especially calling patterns. (Does Darlington need 2tph or could it be Darlington 1tph and Northallerton 1tph) etc.

Then once this is decided rolling stock plans would be developed looking at as many EMUs as possible. All this influenced by electrification decisions. Particularly regarding Derby-Bristol. All EMUs 125mph capable to have a standard fleet across network. As 125 is definitely required for the NE SW corridor.

Ultimately I think the current network would form the spine of the future network. With EMUs running Edinburgh-Bristol semi-fast, Newcastle-Southampton Fast Newcastle. Diesel would run Leeds-Plymouth very fast to Bristol (Wakefield Westgate-Sheffield-Derby-Birmingham New Street-(Cheltenham?)-Bristol Parkway-Bristol Temple Meads then as now). Liverpool would gain services to Bristol as EMUs.

Further reviews would take place post HS2. Such as extending back to Lincoln, NE to East Anglia. What are the opportunists from Manchester? Any station capacity released through Birmingham. Can we develop routes that avoid Birmingham? Create extra hub points across the network. Places like Sheffield, Bristol, Reading, Stafford all becoming external hub points.

Not sure ive put the point across properly but still!

I think XC has the most potential for improvement and if they can get connections right, the network could be expanded and attract several new revenue streams.

 

[anti-pacer]

LondonNorthEastern

Replacement for East Coast, Grand Central and Hull Trains

West Yorkshire

1tph KX-Doncaster-Wakefield W-Leeds
1tph KX-Peterborough-Grantham-Newark-Doncaster-Leeds-Bradford FS (via Hambleton curve)
1tph KX-Stevenage-Retford-Wakefield W-Leeds

North East and Scotland

1tph KX-York-Newcastle-Edinburgh (3tpd extending to Aberdeen, and 2tpd extending to Inverness)
1tph KX-Peterborough-Doncaster-York-Darlington-Durham-Newcastle-Alnmouth/Berwick (alternate hours)-Edinburgh
1tph KX-Peterborough-Newark-Retford-Doncaster-York-Darlington-Durham-Newcastle

Others

2 hourly service splitting at Doncaster (odd hours)

KX-Peterborough-Doncaster-Pontefract-Wakefield K-Huddersfield/Selby-Brough-Hull

2 hourly service splitting at York (even hours)

KX-York-Harrogate/Northallerton-Thornaby-Stockton-Billingham-Hartlepool-Sunderland

Of course, for such an operation I presume it would need to be 4 track all the way from KX to at least Doncaster, but in my dreams.

 

[Beveridges]

Beveridges North Western

Operating all services in the North West.

Rolling stock

All diesel services to be 37-hauled.
All electric services to be 86 or 87 hauled.
All freight to be hauled by a 56.

Bellowing Trainspotters will also be banned from all diesel hauled services. We don't want a repeat of last Sundays episode with the DRS 37's from Crewe.

 

[YorkshireBear]

LondonNorthEastern

Replacement for East Coast, Grand Central and Hull Trains

West Yorkshire

1tph KX-Doncaster-Wakefield W-Leeds
1tph KX-Peterborough-Grantham-Newark-Doncaster-Leeds-Bradford FS (via Hambleton curve)
1tph KX-Stevenage-Retford-Wakefield W-Leeds

North East and Scotland

1tph KX-York-Newcastle-Edinburgh (3tpd extending to Aberdeen, and 2tpd extending to Inverness)
1tph KX-Peterborough-Doncaster-York-Darlington-Durham-Newcastle-Alnmouth/Berwick (alternate hours)-Edinburgh
1tph KX-Peterborough-Newark-Retford-Doncaster-York-Darlington-Durham-Newcastle

Others

2 hourly service splitting at Doncaster (odd hours)

KX-Peterborough-Doncaster-Pontefract-Wakefield K-Huddersfield/Selby-Brough-Hull

2 hourly service splitting at York (even hours)

KX-York-Harrogate/Northallerton-Thornaby-Stockton-Billingham-Hartlepool-Sunderland

Of course, for such an operation I presume it would need to be 4 track all the way from KX to at least Doncaster, but in my dreams.

We might disagree on Pacers But that is exactly what I would do! Wouldn't serve Pontefract, they weren't bothered by Grand Central and time penalty isn't worth it IMHO. Just straight to Huddersfield from Hare Park calling at Kirkgate. I would also stop the Sunderland at Thirsk. Finally I would add in an every 2 hr 5 car service not split London Stevenage Peterborough Grantham Newark Lincoln.

Would also pay for Newark Fly Over

But i like your thinking.

 

[Pride Of Crewe]

Celtic Carriers

Operating services from Swansea, Cardiff, Hollyhead and Manchester on the Marches, and to Devon and Cornwall. I would use class 47s on Manchester to Devon and Cornwall services and class 158 and 175s on Hollyhead to Cardiff and Swansea services and use 150s and 153s for valleys services and extra capacity.

So the services are as follows:

2 tph Hollyhead - Chester - Shrewsbury - Hereford - Newport - Cardiff - Swansea.

2 tph Hollyhead - Crewe - Shrewsbury - Hereford - Newport - Cardifff - Swansea.

1 tph Manchester - Stockport - Crewe - Shrewsbury - Hereford - Bristol TM - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot - Paignton.

1 tph Manchester - Stockport - Crewe - Shrewsbury - Hereford - Bristol TM - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot - Totnes - Plymouth.

3 tph Cardiff to the valleys.

 

[anti-pacer]

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

We might disagree on Pacers But that is exactly what I would do! Wouldn't serve Pontefract, they weren't bothered by Grand Central and time penalty isn't worth it IMHO. Just straight to Huddersfield from Hare Park calling at Kirkgate. I would also stop the Sunderland at Thirsk. Finally I would add in an every 2 hr 5 car service not split London Stevenage Peterborough Grantham Newark Lincoln.

Would also pay for Newark Fly Over

But i like your thinking.

Fair point about Pontefract, and as it would serve Huddersfield I'd miss out Mirfield. It would also mean Halifax losing a service to London, but hey ho, Huddersfield is much bigger.

In terms of Lincoln, I did give that some thought, as well as Grimsby. How about the viability of running that via Sleaford and Spalding to Peterborough, and then down the ECML?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

 

[lancededcena]

My franchise will end in 1\2\2014 and the final bidder will be unveiled in 4\9\2013! Who should win?

Angila Thamesway Franchise

First Angila and Thamesway
Stagecoach Angila Trains
MTR East Angila and Thamesway Railway
Govia Angila Thamesway Link
National Express Angila Thamesway (NXAT)
Arriva Trains Angila
Abellio Angila Thamesway
CharlesRail Angila Railway\Thamesway Railway\Hertfordshire Railway

And when will your franchise end?

 

[315804]

I would win the Crossrail franchise and re-brand it 'East West Trains'

 

[Lincoln]

Mine would be TransLinc operating decent connecting services throughout Lincolnshire... oh wait the name has already been taken by a local company

 

[GatwickDepress]

London & South Eastern

Formed of the consolidation of Southern, Southeastern, and Thameslink, the London & South Eastern would operate all the previous services with extensions to some. ITSO smartcards would be implemented across the entire network, with 10% discounts on singles/returns as compared to paper tickets.
The HS1 premium will be removed and first class accommodation added to the 395s. Existing first class accommodation on other units would be improved. Wi-Fi would become a network standard.
Gatwick Express would no longer exist, instead tickets marked "Gatwick Airport - London" with no route restrictions would be issued.

443/1 and /2 - A five car unit with a similar build to the 444s, with doors designed for speedy loading and unloading even in busy conditions. /1 units include a buffet with seating, while /2s have cycle space and luggage racks where the buffet would be. Units would ideally work in 10 car formations; each formed of a /1 and a /2.

Yes, there would be "Jaffa Cake" livery.

Bellowing Trainspotters will also be banned from all diesel hauled services. We don't want a repeat of last Sundays episode with the DRS 37's from Crewe.

I don't even dare to ask what happened!

What is a walt

Slang for a "Walter Mitty"; the title character of James Thurber's story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". He was a poor chap who indulged in fantasies of his own (fictional) triumphs. The term is applied to people who believe or wish others to believe that they're something they're not. Like say, a particularly seedy enthusiast who wants others to believe he's an ex-FGW train manager, when the only FGW train he's managed has been on his model railway.
Very sad individuals indeed.

 

[mister-sparky]

Whatever routes I ran, I would ban first class. It's outdated and doesn't belong in a modern society.

Other than that, some of the other ideas are great!