EssexCommuter
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Greater Anglia Good and Bad Discussion
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It's the only area that is spending money on fitting tanks to stock which is going to be replaced within the next 10 years. Everywhere else is lumbered with their muck spreaders until they get replaced (or previously had been booked in for a major refurb / rebuild).
The way the local press go on about the subject, you'd think the entire rest of the world had fitted tanks, and the GEML's tight fisted Dutch owners are just standing in the way and refusing to fix the problem.
Trainfan344
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I had a negative experience of Greater Anglia yesterday, my 15:50 service from Lowestoft to Norwich was held outside Norwich due to a disturbance in the station (football fans) rather than sending us in on platform 4 so as to avoid the football crowds, we were routed into platform 6. This meant that we were then held up by the police and ended up being merged into the away supporters, this was not a pleasant place to be, and I don't know why we weren't routed into Platform 4 so they could avoid this problem.
dk1
Veteran Member
There where additional trains to Ipswich 16:20, Lowestoft 16:25 & Thetford 16:30. Add this to the distubances going on which the police where trying to contain, delaying departures & all normal services that where running along with these specials & I think you where lucky to get in any platform & only 2min late.
This service is booked into 6 anyway as the 16:40 arrival from Sheringham runs into 4.
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samuelmorris
Established Member
So far in 2015 my average delay with AGA is 3 minutes and my average is 2 minutes, not exactly a huge difference. The bigger grievance is the difference in fares and it's not even me that's paying for them. Punctuality is still IMO the most important thing to get right but things have improved slightly. That difference in the average though comes from the fact that the couple of 'incidents " there have been on c2x have been slightly worse than those I've had on AGA (e.g. 15 minutes versus 10) and once you're late, you're late.
Compared to Thameslink where with a slowly increasing sample size my average delay is in double figures both TOCs seem quite reasonable. Doesn't change the fact that people commuting from much further afield than me suffer far more and that the trains themselves on AGA are in a pretty unpleasant state in SOME cases.
Compared to Thameslink where with a slowly increasing sample size my average delay is in double figures both TOCs seem quite reasonable. Doesn't change the fact that people commuting from much further afield than me suffer far more and that the trains themselves on AGA are in a pretty unpleasant state in SOME cases.
Buy a portable battery charger (they're very cheap) and don't be on O2 or Vodafone. EE and Three are pretty good in East Anglia.
Then you can spend time on your phone or tablet! You can even Tweet as much as you like about the delays on the move (or lack of).
samuelmorris
Established Member
This. Between two phones, a portable 3G dongle and a portable charger I simply have no need for WiFi on trains most of the time. Plug sockets, however, are useful and I'll often make use of them whenever I can.
EssexCommuter
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They are only fitting tanks to the I/Cs. I/Cs make up a tiny proportion of the trains AGA run, so we will have to wait until they are replaced.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
So, because AGA trains (not entirely AGA's fault) are behind the times, I should spend money in excess of my season ticket to buy a portable charger? Or change my network?
FYI I would far rather read a book. I'm also on EE.
I know you all get fed up with people who just moan. That isn't me. I do not want to spend any time on tweeting about delays. I will continue to do what I believe is at least semi productive, whilst you lot continue to find the slightest fault in people who want to see improvements. You say you do, but you find any excuse not to. It's boring and I have no more time for any negativity.
Good luck to all of you, whatever your aims.
The 'Old Farm' derby.
I carry a portable charger for my own convenience, and I think you're getting a little desperate if you are now arguing you shouldn't have to get one for when a train is delayed.
I have mine so I can charge my phone when the battery runs low, wherever that might be. It's for my own convenience and peace of mind. If it's on a delayed train, so be it. If it's on a plane so I can watch another film, all the better. If I've been heavily using a game or whatever, it's all good.
My comment about networks was merely pointing out that some offer better data service in those areas. If you're on EE, you should enjoy a pretty good service with 4G for some of it - which on EE is blisteringly fast (I've had 90Mbps, which I think is okay for a phone!).
But if you think buying a charger is ridiculous then don't. I wasn't forcing you to, or to change network.
Who's to say that being routed into platform 4, or any other platform for that matter, would have avoided the disturbance and football fans?
dk1
Veteran Member
Anyone would think the franchise was up for grabs next year.
Apparently the 05.14 Ipswich to Liverpool St and 07.00 Liverpool St to Norwich gets a buffet service as well from this week.
I stand corrected mate. Ipswich staff where spot on. Some catering staff who live along the A140 are trialling the 05:14/07:00 too keep the 1st class happy on the busy 'up' train.
306024
Established Member
Ah thanks, was beginning to think it was me that had a bump to the head 
Trainfan344
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The reason I said P4 was because the away fans were being held at the top of P5 the only access from P6, whereas had we gone in on P4, the train load of customers wouldn't have added to an already large crowd, especially when a lot of people had connections to make at Norwich. I wouldn't usually mind, but being treated like football fans who had been to the match by BTP was not very good.
dk1
Veteran Member
First FO nearly ready for traffic. Looking good in my humble opinion.ChiefPlanner
Established Member
OK - I have free travel and am on leave - but got the 1030 Norwich yesterday - the 1240 to Cambridge (and back to KX via TSGN) - in all respects a very decent pair of journeys with excellent , friendly staff. Stations in good order.
(and I finally got to ride the Pretendalino)
Quite impressed with the overall cleanliness of the trains - particularly the Norwich area 156 sets. Regular , non leisure freeloaders may have a different view.
(and I finally got to ride the Pretendalino)
Quite impressed with the overall cleanliness of the trains - particularly the Norwich area 156 sets. Regular , non leisure freeloaders may have a different view.
dk1
Veteran Member
Lots of good out their on AGA. Shame it's not PC to say so on ****ter unless you are very brave. Bring it on is my attitude 
samuelmorris
Established Member
That's more like it - looks like more of a change when compared to the standard class jobs. Don't get me wrong, they'll suffice for the next few years until replacement but they're nothing special compared to other TOCs' refurbs really. The first class carriage looks pretty good. That being said, when you compare it to other long-distance first class accommodation...
AGA and c2c are actually equal for punctuality so far in 2015 for me for average delay, at 2m46 apiece. 79% of AGA services used have been on time, 37% right-time. For c2c it's 83% and 39% - not a lot in it, it has to be said. I'm sure I remember c2c being better before I was logging stuff, perhaps 2015 hasn't been a good year for them so far. Disappointing to say the least.
Thameslink bringing up the rear with 55% on time, 11% RT and an average delay of 9m18 - but a sample size of only 9 journeys so far, so make of that what you will.
That's more like it - looks like more of a change when compared to the standard class jobs. Don't get me wrong, they'll suffice for the next few years until replacement but they're nothing special compared to other TOCs' refurbs really. The first class carriage looks pretty good. That being said, when you compare it to other long-distance first class accommodation...
If they are replaced in the next franchise there is no reason for them to be replaced with intercity stock. So I think it should be a case of be happy with the hauled sets or have the same stock the rest of GEML has.
That's more like it - looks like more of a change when compared to the standard class jobs. Don't get me wrong, they'll suffice for the next few years until replacement but they're nothing special compared to other TOCs' refurbs really. The first class carriage looks pretty good. That being said, when you compare it to other long-distance first class accommodation...
Agree. The current first class is so dull and tired looking. Overall lighting improves whilst getting rid of the table lamps.
47513 Severn
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Looks like the recliner buttons have been removed from the seats, presumably because so many of them didn't work. Would have been nice if they had been repaired instead, how complicated can the reclining mechanism be?
47513
47513
There is an "East Anglia Passenger Voice" Twitter account that seems to tweet similar things to the Delayed Again account.
https://twitter.com/passengervoice
https://twitter.com/passengervoice
Looks like they spend most of the time just retweeting the Delayed Again account. It's just more of the same, and none of the valid criticisms of their tactics have been listened to.
Although, this tweet is just a little bit special...
https://twitter.com/PassengerVoice/status/573811924669980672
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