NXEC - Newcastle - Wembley

[Bayum]

For one day only, NXEC are to offer services to Wembley, for England's world Qualifier against Kazakhstan.

BUT, the train will leave Newcastle and Call at Darlington, York, Doncaster and Stevenage, before pasengers can catch a coach which will take them onto Wembley Stadium.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Express-coast-service-heads-to.4579305.jp

 

[yorkie]

So they are not actually running services to Wembley.

Indeed, there is no special train service at all. It's just that the train in question calls additionally at Stevenage. I hardly think many people are going to get a coach from Stevenage instead of changing at King's Cross St Pancras for the Met!

Perhaps this should be in the bus section!!!

 

[Bayum]

Did the article sound like they were??

 

[yorkie]

Did the article sound like they were??

You said they were in the title and first sentence.

The article title hints that they are, but the text admits this is not the case, although it does say that by going by coach instead of London Underground they are travelling "in style" which I find very misleading. The deep sprung comfy seats of the Met, in traditional facing style lining up with windows, and the widest trains in the UK vs a claustrophobic coach?! No contest!!

 

[me123]

Not really news-worthy, is it? I presume that the train continues to King's Cross?

 

[Darandio]

Not really news-worthy, is it? I presume that the train continues to King's Cross?

Yep, then unusually it will then return north after a brief break.

 

[yorkie]

Not really news-worthy, is it? I presume that the train continues to King's Cross?

It's a normal train. It ran last week, it runs the week after next, at exactly the same times. It's a non-story. The prices on offer are AP fares at almost walk-on levels!

Stevenage-King's Cross = 20 mins
King's Cross-Wembley = 18 mins

Total, including time to change = no more than 50 mins, max.

The coach will take at least an hour (asuming no traffic jams), and that's excluding walking from Stevenage station to wherever the coaches are parked, plus time to wait while everyone boards. Coaches offer less space and comfort.

Where's the benefit?

Are they mad?

Oh, wait, it's Nat Ex - a bus company

 

[spoony]

Yep, then unusually it will then return north after a brief break.

Dear God

 

[djw1981]

If it encourages people to use the train instead of driving / taking the coach for even part of the route, I would view it as a good idea. Sadly, getting an HST into Wembley from the ECML could easily take as long as a coach from Stevenage (in terms of total journey time)!

 

[heart-of-wessex]

to be honest when I read the title of this thread, I thought they were going to provide a HST or something to Wembley. Was thinking blimey, till I read the coach part

Instead lets all start wondering what coach will be used for these...I guess NatEx Plaxton Paragons :-P

 

[yorkie]

If it encourages people to use the train instead of driving / taking the coach for even part of the route

But they will be taking the coach for part of the route if they take up NXEC's 'offer'.

It's a pro-coach move, and anti-train, which takes longer and is really just a way for Nat Ex to use their rail franchise to get them business for the coach division and a bit of free advertising.

I don't see how a coach connection instead is going to encourage people to go by train. If people want to go by train they generally don't want to get a coach when a train is available. The unpopularity of rail replacement road transport demonstrates that.

 

[Max]

I don't see how a coach connection instead is going to encourage people to go by train. If people want to go by train they generally don't want to get a coach when a train is available. The unpopularity of rail replacement road transport demonstrates that.

This is a bit like when the ECML was closed. NXEC ran buses, but Hull Trains diverted, and were the only company running direct trains between Kings Cross and Doncaster. Everybody avoided the rail replacement buses and crammed onto Hull Trains services, resulting in terrible overcrowding. The same could happen on 8th/9th November - from what I can see, Hull Trains are again diverting, but NXEC are only diverting Scottish services, none of which will be calling at Doncaster.

 

[djw1981]

But they will be taking the coach for part of the route if they take up NXEC's 'offer'.

I disagree, they will be taking a coach for a short part of the journey. I doubt there are the paths to go direct to Wembley, and many people from outside London hate the underground - confusing, unfamiliar etc. This idea of a train then a short coach trip direct to the stadium will strike many as ideal. Effectively NXEC are looking after your whole journey on a multimodal integrated basis right the way to the ground. no having to cope with Oyster / LU restrictions and fares and make your own way out to Wembley.

 

[andylloyd]

This is a bit like when the ECML was closed. NXEC ran buses, but Hull Trains diverted, and were the only company running direct trains between Kings Cross and Doncaster. Everybody avoided the rail replacement buses and crammed onto Hull Trains services, resulting in terrible overcrowding. The same could happen on 8th/9th November - from what I can see, Hull Trains are again diverting, but NXEC are only diverting Scottish services, none of which will be calling at Doncaster.

Some information that may shed some light on this matter:

NXEC are diverting services between Peterborough and York on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th November. Not sure which route, but believed to be via Spalding, Sleaford, Lincoln, Gainsborough and Doncaster to York.

More info.......
Yes indeed, the NXEC diversions are definitely via Peterborough, Werrington Jn, Spalding, Sleaford, Lincoln, Gainsborough Lea Road, Bessacar Jn, Doncaster. The up trains may use the Sleaford avoiding line, the down trains may not because the down avoider is completely overgrown! Trains will be worked by NXEC crews who are learning / refreshing the route at the moment using a combination of service trains and NXEC class 67 thunderbirds. Believe the possession is for relaying the up line through Peascliffe tunnel.

The timetable for 8th and 9th November is not bad at all. On the Sunday there are hourly HSTs between York and KX but note the lack of Doncaster calls, this combined with set down and pick up restrictions at Peterborough prevents Leeds passengers from benefitting, they will be funnelled via the Newark-Grantham bus. But then trying to cram all passengers from Leeds, the North East and Scotland into one train an hour would not be a wise move.


Cheers

Andy