Goodbye GNER, Hello NX East Coast

[Max]

Suprised nobody has mentioned the imminent ending of GNER. They have been far from perfect, but I think that during their franchise period, GNER have helped to put a bit of class and old-fashioned style back into the railways. I'm certainly going to miss them! ad:
But it's also time to move on into a new era for ECML, with a number of changes on the cards!

The last GNER service will be the 2030 London Kings Cross-Newcastle, arriving at 2346. The first National Express East Coast service will be the 0758 Newcastle-London Kings Cross, arriving at 1128. The NX website will be live tomorrow at www.nationalexpresseastcoast.co.uk.

So, what is everyone going to miss most about GNER, and what is everyone looking forward to about NX East Coast?

 

[me123]

I saw two NXEC trains at Glasgow today, looking dreadful with their white stripe, but at least the GNER branding has been removed quickly. Looking forward to seeing the new livery in all it's glory!

Also intersting to note that the boards at GLC showed nothing where the name of the operator usually lies.

 

[rail-britain]

91101 has now had the "National Express" and "East Coast" branding applied to the white stripes
Personally, no need for a new livery, looks very good like that

 

[me123]

91101 has now had the "National Express" and "East Coast" branding applied to the white stripes
Personally, no need for a new livery, looks very good like that

And this unit formed the 0900 GLC-KGX this morning.

 

[91101]

Am on the last GNER train right now, using the WiFi. In first class, had a good laugh with all of the crew, excellent service as always, John Gleeson, PR manager was on board.

David Franks is taking direct control of the franchise.

 

[cliffocco]

...

So, what is everyone going to miss most about GNER, and what is everyone looking forward to about NX East Coast?

The classiest livery of any TOC - the body side stripe saying 'The Route of the Flying Scotsman' A coat of arms instead of a logo.

What I'm not looking forward to are trains in a livery 'like National Express Coaches' At least they've decided to drop the lunacy of 'One'

 

[devon_metro]

The last ever GNER service is currently 24 minutes late having left Durham.

 

[Smudger]

expected in newcastle at 12:01am

 

[Gizmogle]

I was going to do this last train! Unfortunately my train to Peterborough was cancelled!

I heard that they were handing out chocolate money for it

 

[Smudger]

now changed to 12:00am 2 mins to go
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
there we go the end of GNER

 

[devon_metro]

Arrived at 00:00

14 late.

 

[Smudger]

what a fitting end change over was at midnight and the last ever gner train gets to newcastle at midnight

 

[Metroland]

I really don't get why National Express have gone for the bus livery look all round. Coach travel has never been a pull for business travellers or many rail travellers for that matter (unless you count the weekends - don't we love that!). I just don't see how the brand is relevant...

According to one magazine each carriage is costing £100,000 to rebrand...is this really money well spent considering that GNER was a respected brand, who was kicked out because they didn't deliver enough premium payments to HM Government?

Lets get down to what the railway really needs: Longer trains, better signalling, some re-openings and electrification. The constant re-brandings are a farce as is a distraction from much more pressing wider issues. Smacks of New Labour all over....

 

[Demps]

I think i will miss GNER a bit, a one off franchise, giving 'class' to the railways, and in my oppinion, better than their virgin rivals.

But change is always good, however, im not sure on the tacky livery.

At least they've decided to drop the lunacy of 'One'

One is one of my favourite liveries, definately one of the best; new and encouraging.

 

[W14Fishbourne]

what a fitting end change over was at midnight and the last ever gner train gets to newcastle at midnight

All franchise handovers are at 0200.

However, the arrivals board at KGX was showing the final GNER arrivals this evening as National Express!

Sadly the last southbound Anglo-Scottish service, the 1451 from Aberdeen to King Cross, on which I travelled from Berwick to Kings Cross, was formed of a rather poor quality, unrefurbished HST set, which looked as though it had been thrown together from everyone's cast-offs, and with one heatless First Class coach and one standard class coach with intermittent lighting! Plus power car 43099 laying down a dense blue haze at every station stop. Its only saving grace was that one side of the train had retained the GNER red stripe, unlike most trains in use today.

Apparently there was no special send-off at Aberdeen - it was left to the train manager to make a poignant announcement.

It's a pity, because it was GNER above all that showed that there could be something positive in privatisation, with a superb, restrained image that paid homage to all that was good about the past, excellent customer service, real crockery, and such like. Sadly, it went downhill in the last few months of its existence, not surprisingly.

Very few photographers about. You'll appreciate, therefore, if I do not post my pictures. They're going off to the magazines!

 

[Coxster]

However, the arrivals board at KGX was showing the final GNER arrivals this evening as National Express!

Not as bad (in terms of date) as the Lincoln specials on LDB. They showed up as CT!

 

[Smudger]

what killed GNER was that their parent company went into money troubles

 

[Donny Dave]

I'm sad to see the demise of GNER. Everytime I've used one of their services, the proffesionalism of the staff was in another league compared to every other TOC.

Everything about GNER was simple, yet elegant. I hope that NXEC can carry on the good work that GNER have done for the railway.

 

[mrcheek]

I only travelled on GNER twice, both times from Kings Cross, heading north, once to Edinburgh, the other time to York. I really enjoyed both journeys, so can have no complaints about GNER. Best of luck to National Express, hopefully all will be well by next September when I embark on another all line rover...

 

[adambro]

The website changeover appears to be currently ongoing. The tickets section of the hompage has gone from "unavailable" to now simply not working and clicking "Sign in" on the right I've got a message saying the security certificate belongs to tickets.nationalexpresseastcoast.com.

 

[Zamracene749]

Living in the thier area, have used GNER regularly. Loved the trad livery and interior style, much classier than the wanabee airline marketing of other TOCs.

Have found their staff to be superb on all journeys, the only very minor whinge being the buffet girl who once looked down her nose at me and asked if I knew I was sitting in first class-and did I know I needed a first class ticket to sit there-my answer was a polite "of course" although my thoughts were unspeakable! Needless to say she was from the southern end of the route....

 

[crewmeal]

Metroland - you have hit the nail on the head. Well done. Sadly most people seem to spend their time, effort and money on colour schemes instead of the real issues like a quality service.

That is the one thing GNER stood for. It remains to be seen if NX will deliver their promises.

 

[rail-britain]

The website changeover appears to be currently ongoing. The tickets section of the hompage has gone from "unavailable" to now simply not working and clicking "Sign in" on the right I've got a message saying the security certificate belongs to tickets.nationalexpresseastcoast.com.

Traffic from gner.co.uk is redirecting to nationalexpresseastcoast.com
nationalexpresseastcoast.co.uk is the alternative, and it looks like the redirect for that has been overlooked

Try this link as well :
http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.co.uk/en/Our-Destinations/Station-Maps/?station=37120

 

[me123]

I'm sad to see the demise of GNER. Everytime I've used one of their services, the proffesionalism of the staff was in another league compared to every other TOC.

I would say that, approximately half the time I travelled on GNER, the staff were ignorant, rude and appeared to resent my presence somewhat. That's me and the other Motherwell/Glasgow passengers. I hope NXEC tackle this opinion amongst their staff, which is probably only existent in some.

 

[rail-britain]

I've made quite a lot of First Class rail journeys

On Virgin Trains most have been by Class 390 between Glasgow, Crewe, and London
Their service is excellent between London and Preston
Between Preston and Glasgow their service is pretty basic, and seems to be depending on how the staff feel that day!
However, on my most recent journey I was served two hot meals; one on passing Milton Keynes and another shortly after leaving Preston!

On GNER the service was really inconsistent
I've made two journey between Glasgow and Darlington, and on both the Conductor didn't check my ticket between Glasgow and Edinburgh, walked right past, but checked everyone elses!
On the first a hot drink was not served until the train was passing Dunbar
On the second a hot drink was served before even leaving Glasgow, but again there was no further service until after Edinburgh!

 

[Jordy]

Am on the last GNER train right now, using the WiFi. In first class

Was that you bellowing at me at Doncaster by any chance?

 

[Metroland]

http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/en/

hmn, isn't that the GNER site with bits changed?

 

[Smudger]

http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/en/

hmn, isn't that the GNER site with bits changed?

they cant afford a new website, they spent all the money on re panting the trains

 

[me123]

I particularly like: "SIGN UP to be notified when your travel dates are available for booking."

But I have a feeling this was doable before hand?

 

[Jordy]

http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/en/

hmn, isn't that the GNER site with bits changed?

Yes, but the GNER site was only updated to look like that last week, so i'd imagine it was done with NX in mind.

I particularly like: "SIGN UP to be notified when your travel dates are available for booking."

But I have a feeling this was doable before hand?

Yes, it was

Jordy