Grand Central Discussion

[williamn]

Why would you want to move FC to the end coach?

SO its quieter and you don't get people walking through?

Why do GC *STILL* have declassified 1st class coaches? Nice enough for standard passengers, but totally devalues their first class offering.

 

[GNERman]

SO its quieter and you don't get people walking through?

Why do GC *STILL* have declassified 1st class coaches? Nice enough for standard passengers, but totally devalues their first class offering.

because they increase capacity at the busiest times of the year, namely for the york christmas markets, their further standard class coaches are getting done as we speak I believe, or their still in store at Long Marston...

as for the first class dilemma, they would lose capacity for first class and their would be no room for the small preparing area at the end, behind the cab is space for quite a few bikes and supplies which is why it is smaller...

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

behind the cab is space for quite a few bikes

3 bikes in each end, 6 in total... poor considering what you can get in the van end of an HST power car!! I've had 7 bikes AND a Chello in one before!!

 

[Aictos]

Here's one for Grand Central, the 1730 ex Sunderland to Kings Cross comes though Hertford North on Saturday nights about 2106, what are the chances of one of the 180s working it rather then a HST?
I've seen enough of the HSTs go though, just waiting to see any 180s go though,

Still, I can't wait for GC to go to Bradford Interchange/Halifax - will certainly be doing a run out with them, like I will be doing York to Sunderland sometime, hopefully with some luck of Bosch as driver and or Sir Clagalot as guard.

 

[GNERman]

Here's one for Grand Central, the 1730 ex Sunderland to Kings Cross comes though Hertford North on Saturday nights about 2106, what are the chances of one of the 180s working it rather then a HST?
I've seen enough of the HSTs go though, just waiting to see any 180s go though,

180105 has been working quite a lot recently as it has been working one of the HST duties whilst there was only one HST set working. It is now back up at Heaton as we saw it head up ECS on the 28th December.

Still, I can't wait for GC to go to Bradford Interchange/Halifax - will certainly be doing a run out with them, like I will be doing York to Sunderland sometime, hopefully with some luck of Bosch as driver and or Sir Clagalot as guard.

I had BOSCH givme an excellent departure southbound on Monday, most GC drivers aren't scared pf giving them lots of power when departing.

 

[Aictos]

I had BOSCH givme an excellent departure southbound on Monday, most GC drivers aren't scared pf giving them lots of power when departing.

Tell me about it, the rear powercar on the service I mentioned above was clagging quite nicely as it pass though my station.

Always a pleasure to see them though,

 

[devon_metro]

180105 has been working quite a lot recently as it has been working one of the HST duties whilst there was only one HST set working. It is now back up at Heaton as we saw it head up ECS on the 28th December.



I had BOSCH givme an excellent departure southbound on Monday, most GC drivers aren't scared pf giving them lots of power when departing.

Is it any wonder their HST fleet is such a liability.

 

[87015]

Is it any wonder their HST fleet is such a liability.

Still got a better MPC than XCs fleet though!

 

[richa2002]

Is it any wonder their HST fleet is such a liability.

43007, 43104, 43166, 43178 & 43184 were frequently given a lot of welly departure wise under Arriva Cross Country and they seemed reliable enough. Does more enthusiastic driving within reason really do that much damage?

 

[GNERman]

Is it any wonder their HST fleet is such a liability.

A very stereotypical view.

Then again, EC drivers will give their PC's quite a lot of power when leaving but wdn't notice it as much as they are quieter, they don't clag and accellerate a lot slower than a shorter GC set.

 

[devon_metro]

A very stereotypical view.

Then again, EC drivers will give their PC's quite a lot of power when leaving but wdn't notice it as much as they are quieter, they don't clag and accellerate a lot slower than a shorter GC set.

Its not a stereotypical view at all. I rather suspect the Grand Central drivers are quite careful when driving, just because some veg might think it was notch 5 thirty thousand tones the truth is it probably wasn't. I would imagine Mr Bosch does not go straight for notch 5.

Besides, it is simple mechanics, an old engine can not be battered about by "thrashing it", they need to be looked after more carefully. If I drove my car on the red line all the time it wouldn't take long before the engine needed a service.

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

43007, 43104, 43166, 43178 & 43184 were frequently given a lot of welly departure wise under Arriva Cross Country and they seemed reliable enough. Does more enthusiastic driving within reason really do that much damage?

From my limited knowledge, it can do. It all depends on the condition of the power unit. Seals + governors play a key role, I believe. New seals and yes I suppose you could be more enthusiastic, a good governor and no over fuelling occurs when notching.
The Valentas aren't brand new nowadays and even when overhauled I suppose they're still not in 100% brand spanking new condition. Some GC Powercars have a habit of eating power units though...

 

[BOSCH]

Its not a stereotypical view at all. I rather suspect the Grand Central drivers are quite careful when driving, just because some veg might think it was notch 5 thirty thousand tones the truth is it probably wasn't. I would imagine Mr Bosch does not go straight for notch 5.

That is quite correct,I DO NOT go straight to notch 5,it all depends on the engine,infact on N26 on saturday after pulling away from York after pulling away on notch 1 I moved it up to 2 and 43065 really went mental,same again in notch 3 yet I was only doing 20mph,great for the enthusiasts but not for the Valenta methinks !!!

 

[Techniquest]

Anyone able to fill me in on the current status of the GC HST fleet? Strongly considering getting another GC trip in soon, but I don't want to be bowled out by a 180 again. Apparently one worked the 1127 off the Cross on Saturday and I was glad I stayed in bed...

If the Valenta's acting up that much on low notches it sounds like it's a little f**ked and due to go out of action again soon. Hope not though.

 

[s'land]

Anyone able to fill me in on the current status of the GC HST fleet? Strongly considering getting another GC trip in soon, but I don't want to be bowled out by a 180 again. Apparently one worked the 1127 off the Cross on Saturday and I was glad I stayed in bed...

If the Valenta's acting up that much on low notches it sounds like it's a little f**ked and due to go out of action again soon. Hope not though.

i was at sunderland today and the 12.30 kings cross was a 180, as far as I know that should have been a hst. Saying that in the summer I went to london on 9.18 on a 180 and it was a nice train, it just hadn't had the grand central interior refurb

 

[BOSCH]

Apparently one worked the 1127 off the Cross on Saturday and I was glad I stayed in bed

If you mean the 1127 on saturday gone(02/01/10) it was not a 180,it was 43065 at north end(with a declassified TF behind it) and 43068 at the rear.You should have come along,several members of the HST Forum/125 Group on board for ride to sunderland and yours truly at the controls !!

 

[Techniquest]

Was it late then? Mate of mine who was at KGX didn't see it somehow, any platform gen at all? There were Adelants about apparently, but no numbers known.

Still, wish I had been there, still need 065 and would have probably cleared 068 for the magical thousand if I'd been on it :cry:

Might be a job for YouTube then, see if anyone filmed your excellent driving

 

[317666]

Yesterday 180105 was standing in for an HST on the afternoon London-bound run.

 

[s'land]

Yesterday 180105 was standing in for an HST on the afternoon London-bound run.

so whats wrong with the gc's hst's

 

[142094]

Saw a 180 this morning around 9.15 making its way from Heaton to Sunderland. Looked quite nice, a good contrast between the orange and black and the white of the snow.

 

[BOSCH]

Was it late then? Mate of mine who was at KGX didn't see it somehow, any platform gen at all? There were Adelants about apparently, but no numbers known.

Still, wish I had been there, still need 065 and would have probably cleared 068 for the magical thousand if I'd been on it :cry:

Might be a job for YouTube then, see if anyone filmed your excellent driving

Arrived late into Pl3 at 1130,departed at 1150 after having had my pnb !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

so whats wrong with the gc's hst's

The set that should have worked that run 43067/43123 had cdl failure due to possible water ingress,yours truly brought it up from york as ecs to heaton and then picked up 180105 to work A62 the 1230 SUN - KGX

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Arrived late into Pl3 at 1130,departed at 1150 after having had my pnb !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


The set that should have worked that run 43067/43123 had cdl failure due to possible water ingress,yours truly brought it up from york as ecs to heaton and then picked up 180105 to work A62 the 1230 SUN - KGX

So im guessing you were the driver who brought it through Hartlepool at around 12:35? Saw it go over and was pretty amazed at its timings. I was waiting for my lunch at this time, along with the rest of the school near the bridge! (Saw it just north of Hartlepool station, going over the bridge)

 

[Techniquest]

Arrived late into Pl3 at 1130,departed at 1150 after having had my pnb !

Ahhh, that'll be why he didn't see it then, must have seen the 180 prior to 1130 and left again. Shall let him know he missed it. Gutted I missed out now though!

Rather late though that, 1130 into KGX. Booked in much earlier than that IIRC!

 

[BOSCH]

Rather late though that, 1130 into KGX. Booked in much earlier than that IIRC!

Late arrival in Kx due to points failure at skelton bidge junction,booked to go up slow on saturdays from thirsk and unable to get points back for us to get onto up fast therefore 45 mins late from york !!

 

[Techniquest]

Fair enough, must have been bloody annoying!

Looking forward to getting on a GC set again soon though, hopefully you'll be driving Bosch!

 

[BOSCH]

The latest 180 to join the GC fleet,180114,made a test run from heaton to york and return yesterday(saturday) and if no problems encountered then it could possibly make its passenger debut at some point this week !

 

[s'land]

what does the article in the sunderland echo about lord adonis's statement about the east coast mean reguarding grand central. Are they protecting them, or are talking about east coast taking over the paths in the longer term.

 

[yorkie]

what does the article in the sunderland echo about lord adonis's statement about the east coast mean reguarding grand central. Are they protecting them, or are talking about east coast taking over the paths in the longer term.

Row over Sunderland-London rail times
Journey could take 30 minutes longer
22 January 2010
By James Johnston
Wearside rail passengers travelling to London could see up to half an hour added to their journey under a new timetable shake-up, train bosses claimed today.

Operator Grand Central, which runs trains from Sunderland to London, is ready to take legal action to challenge the overhaul of the East Coast Mainline timetable amid fears it will delay its services.

As an "open access" operator, the firm neither receives a subsidy from the Government nor does it pay a premium to the Treasury.

In return, it accepts the full commercial risk without any prospect of a safety net should it fail.

Bosses at Grand Central say that its services will suffer because of the Government's plans to cut the journey time between London and Edinburgh to less than four hours by recasting the timetable to give priority to trains on the main East Coast route.

However, it means journeys between Sunderland and London will take an estimated 24 minutes longer.

Grand Central, which only won the right to run trains on the East Coast Mainline after a fierce battle with GNER, claims the Government's blueprint will also hit its expansion plans.

Under its plans, the new franchisee on the line between London and Edinburgh will be allowed to operate additional services to York.

Grand Central claims the proposed changes will mean it will be denied slots which it believes could be used to open up new direct routes from London to other North East destinations including Middlesbrough, Redcar and Harrogate.

The company currently operates services to Hartlepool and within a few months will also run trains to Bradford and Halifax.

Giles Fearnley, Grand Central's chairman, said that the new services had already led to an increase in the number of people travelling by train.

"The majority of the revenue we have brought in is new to the industry," he added.

 

[Techniquest]

I can't honestly see it making a huge difference, since the service GC provides is superior to EC in every way. Surely passengers will recognise this, unless they're more fickle than we normally assume they are.

Can see why though they're cheesed off, hardly fair to make the GC journey time slower and take away future growth opportunities just to shave a few minutes off the Anglo-Scottish times.

Should be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[jon0844]

10 minutes would be fine. 20 is pushing it. 30 minutes will quite likely have people reconsidering their options.

Maybe they need a path where they can run a really fast service and quote that in advertising, like Virgin does! Then people might not notice the extra time!