East Coast new livery Mk4 set at Doncaster

[jon0844]

I was saying that for the benefit of everyone on here who might not have known who she was!

Still, how would I know what she might have been like after work.

Actually, when I think back - I've got a feeling she may have had a purple/pink (very EC coloured) Motorola V3. I wonder if that's where she got the idea for the colour scheme?!

 

[455driver]

If you've met Elaine Holt, I doubt you'd think she's some sort of Barbie girl that's into pink fluffy things.

Elaine Holt is the Chief Executive of DOR.
Karen Boswell is the MD of East Coast.

 

[jon0844]

I know that! It was DOR that was mentioned, not EC - but remember, Elaine left to head up DOR before she 'took' Karen over.

And, I've never met Karen so I don't know if she's into pink.

Also, I think that this conversation is getting silly (and I am as much to blame as anyone else) and some might even see it is sexist and derogatory!

 

[Dai.]

Also, I think that this conversation is getting silly (and I am as much to blame as anyone else) and some might even see it is sexist and derogatory!

Quite right.

Anyway as my first and only post in this topic -

I think the sets look nice, the line across the carriages although an after thought is meant to be there to link up with the hideous logo.

I do like the grey carriages and the dark grey doors. Suits well.

 

[silentone]

The colour is bland, like undercoat, but I'd understand that given that East Coast is 'temporary', but the stripe just looks totally stupid and wrong. The colours don't mix at all.

Maybe it will look okay in the flesh, but I am doubtful.

Still, the upside must be that nobody will accuse EC of wasting tax payers money now. In fact, they might find some tax payers actually give them some voluntary donations!

I don't know why the tax payer line keeps coming up. The tax payer only had a very small amount to pay to setup East Coast. The East Coast route is self-supporting when it comes to income, the tax payer pays nothing to keep East Coast running and has paid nothing to re-paint these trains. The sets were re-painted as part of the maintenance of the set.

 

[jon0844]

It was mentioned because of how the media would moan about tax payers money being wasted on painting the trains (even though they had to be). I don't care one bit, as there are far bigger things my money is being wasted on than the required overhaul of a train!

Until everyone is given a list of boxes to tick for their money to be spent on, we have no actual say on where our money goes anyway. We elect a Government to do that for us.

 

[the sniper]

I was saying that for the benefit of everyone on here who might not have known who she was!

My apologies, Bittern got my back up (again) then I thought you were having a pop at me too.

...and some might even see it is sexist and derogatory!

Some might, but those would only be people who need to get a grip.

 

[jon0844]

Get a grip of what? fnarr fnarr.

 

[Skimble19]

Would you mind posting a link again as it does not work
it looks alright in the picture with the DVT leading although I thought they would have thought they would have put 91111 on the rear so it at least matches abit. Maybe they will for the launch

I think the stripe would have been better if it stopped after the EC logo on the DVT and didn't go up to the lights

Sure: http://photosbyjohn.photos.us.com/p66252949.html

While I'm here I might as well link you to this gallery which has popped up, it's got a whole load of pictures of it:

http://photosbyiain.fotopic.net/c1878490_1.html

(Not my work). It's growing on me I must admit.. As for the comments about the Pink and First, Elaine Holt and Karen Boswell are both ex-First group, and both ex-FCC for that matter.. but I'd say the pink is probably just a co-incidence!

 

[Darandio]

I am really starting to like it, especially once you weigh up the reasons why it was done.

On a separate note, rather than start a new thread and in the hope of a quick answer.............

A Mark 4 set was in the bay platform at York today (platform 7) with a service awaiting departure to Kings Cross at 15:35 I think. Is this regular or were there problems to cause this being in the bay, I haven't seen it before unless I have been blind to it for a while!

 

[Crossforth]

Sure: http://photosbyjohn.photos.us.com/p66252949.html

While I'm here I might as well link you to this gallery which has popped up, it's got a whole load of pictures of it:

http://photosbyiain.fotopic.net/c1878490_1.html

(Not my work). It's growing on me I must admit.. As for the comments about the Pink and First, Elaine Holt and Karen Boswell are both ex-First group, and both ex-FCC for that matter.. but I'd say the pink is probably just a co-incidence!

I think after seeing those pictures, it is starting to grow on me but will still take time to like it fully

 

[jon0844]

I think it needs to be seen in the flesh for a final and definitive opinion to be made. That's how most people will see it after all.

 

[ObservationCar]

http://jaybee.fotopic.net/p65832288.html

If you look in the bottom left hand corner, there is an EC MK4

(Not my picture)

That ex virgin mkIII looks like one of the the "shortie" fake mkIII Hornby models, esplacially with the fading grey paint.

The silver livery is plain, but as someone else said, would look great with a red stripe and Intercity underneath.

Why not put a Blue Stripe on East Coast Services, Red Stripe on West Coast, Green Stripe on Great Western. And a Black Red and Yellow Stripe on Wrexham and Shropshire!

 

[YorkshireBear]

On a separate note, rather than start a new thread and in the hope of a quick answer.............

A Mark 4 set was in the bay platform at York today (platform 7) with a service awaiting departure to Kings Cross at 15:35 I think. Is this regular or were there problems to cause this being in the bay, I haven't seen it before unless I have been blind to it for a while!

There were problems with overhead wires just south of westgate, leeds services terminated at york buses replaced locals and all southbound trains to sheffield rerouted via barnsley (to my surprise when a voyager came flying through chapeltown ) Northbound sheffield leeds (via westgate) services ran normal route with delays. Caused havoc at meadowhall.

hope that clears it up for you.

 

[Darandio]

It has mate, thanks for that.

 

[FlyingScot]

http://orange33009.fotopic.net/p66238181.html Reminds me of the WSMR livery

Snazzy! Not purple as I previously guessed. But it could get quite dirty.

 

[Goldfish62]

Snazzy! Not purple as I previously guessed. But it could get quite dirty.

Silver is the best colour for hiding dirt. I should know - my car's silver.

Looks quite striking and returns East Coast to a head-turning livery after the grim times of NXEC.

 

[Aictos]

Just had it heading northbound though Hertford North as 5G02, a test trip from Bounds Green to Bounds Green via Peterborough and as luck would have it diagrammed to use thw Hertford Loop on both outbound and inbound legs.

Still that new livery looks smashing, looks very impressive and given time I reckon these who loved the GNER livery will love this one but I still say the BR era liveries were the best.

 

[silentone]

I'm sure I've read on here or somewhere similar that they planned a press launch of this set.... which might be connected to something else they seem to be buzzing about.

They've given no hints about exactly what it is and just told us to expect a big announcement, I think next week it said. It said very little but mentioned airline passengers and tempting them to the train. Even me putting that is more than they stated.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Yes, I seem to recall hearing a date of 31st July but maybe its this month now.
Well what variables are there? The timetable is known, the paintwork is becoming visible, and surely staff would know about changes to service levels or the pricing structure.
So that can only leave: baggage carousels at stations, minimum check-in times of 30mins, seat belts, new uniforms (again), or . . . . a new range of pre-packged snacks.

Hmm. I hope its better ticket pricing.
Or better still, the return of the restaurant & chef on more EC services.

 

[jon0844]

- Booking fees when buying tickets.
- Check-in fees, £5 in advance, £40 on the day.
- Hand baggage only, or you pay £40 per bag.
- £1 to use a toilet
- Tickets must be paid for using Acme Bank pre-paid MasterCard or else there's an additional £5 charge per passenger.

That would definitely get them ready to compete with the airlines.

 

[silentone]

Yes, I seem to recall hearing a date of 31st July but maybe its this month now.
Well what variables are there? The timetable is known, the paintwork is becoming visible, and surely staff would know about changes to service levels or the pricing structure.
So that can only leave: baggage carousels at stations, minimum check-in times of 30mins, seat belts, new uniforms (again), or . . . . a new range of pre-packged snacks.

Hmm. I hope its better ticket pricing.
Or better still, the return of the restaurant & chef on more EC services.

It is going to revolutionize East Coast apparantly. It's something to do with onboard - it's going through the various channels now with briefings set for the next few weeks.

Whatever it is it's been rushed through in secrecy, which is incredibly difficult to do! It looks like whatever it is will be happening within the next few weeks. It's all being done to tempt more people off the plane and on the train. It could be one of the railways best kept secrets!

 

[jon0844]

Sounds intriguing!

Meanwhile these are their latest deals...

 

[DaveNewcastle]

The nterior of that newly painted set has been mysteriously "hidden" for a while, so there's every reason to guess that there's something new on board.

It is going to revolutionize East Coast apparantly. It's something to do with onboard -

Yes, that's whats troubling me.

And nothing to do with improved offerings from on-board catering. (I wish it was).

I'm beginning to feel a sinking and despondent worry that its exactly that. Some sort of on-board infrastructure for, er, "entertainment". Using the established Wi-Fi (perhaps enhanced), and the new cabling and hub installed when CCTV went in, we might see some at-seat live TV or DVD?
Reminds me of the Virgin at-seat headphone sockets - how long did that last?
Or long distance coaches with TV screens.

Geez, I really do hope I'm wrong.

It could be one of the railways best kept secrets!

Yes, but if anyone hears anything, they could post it on here.
We'll not tell anyone. Honest.

 

[jon0844]

Well, First have already put screens on FGW and at least one of the sleeper services. FCC wants to do the same.. so I'm seeing a theme here. Okay, EC isn't First - but Elaine Holt and Karen Boswell worked for First and at least one, maybe both, may have had something to do with the push to install on FCC (which hasn't happened yet, but I think is still set to). So, that seems like a good guess given very little information.

I am not sure what else you can do on a train that is so revolutionary if it isn't catering related.

The Wi-Fi service is limited by the way it works, and there's no way it could have changed over to the system used by HEX, Southern etc - as that uses ground stations and not satellite. There's no way EC managed to get the whole ECML set up for faster Wi-Fi. If they did, the company doing so would hardly have been able to keep quiet (and people might just have noticed the infrastructure going up!).

But, what confuses me is that most short flights (which EC would compete with) probably wouldn't have an in-flight entertainment system. So, now that suddenly becomes less likely.

D'oh!

 

[Lee_Again]

What about the introduction of a non-stop Edinburgh>Kings Cross service (crew change at Newcastle but no passengers boarding/alighting)

 

[jon0844]

That would be nice!

As would having secured paths to enable later running, so you could actually come back to London without having to leave Scotland at around 7.30pm.

Of course, a newly painted/liveried train doesn't really have much to do with getting such paths.

 

[LE Greys]

What about the introduction of a non-stop Edinburgh>Kings Cross service (crew change at Newcastle but no passengers boarding/alighting)

It's just possible with the 10:00 Flying Scotsman in the down direction, but only by holding the 11:45 XC departure from York until 11:55 and the 12:13 EC departure from Darlington until 12:23. That clears a path for the Scotsman to run non-stop to Newcastle in a projected time of 2hrs 40. I'm not sure if a 1hr 20 run from Newcastle to Edinburgh is possible within reasonable recovery margins, but that would give 4 hours dead. I also tried the 15:00 from King's Cross, but that would end up stuck behind two XCs. Holding the 16:17 at Doncaster (or possibly as the 16:43 at York) and the 17:37 at Newcastle would be the only answer there.

Going the other way, the obvious candidates is the 05:50 from Edinburgh (let's call it the Elizabethan) rather than the return Flying Scotsman. Removing the Berwick stop and advancing the departure to 05:40 might enable the Elizabethan) to arrive at Newcastle at 07:00. That arrangement allows it to take over the path of the 07:00 from Newcastle (Tees-Tyne Pullman as was), allowing an 09:55 arrival for the Elizabethan into King's Cross. The TTP would depart at 07:20 instead, and ignore the booked Grantham stop for that diagram, but would have to absorb more passengers from the Elizabethan's omitted York stop. The only answer there would be to run an additional semi-fast from York ahead of both expresses as an advertised relief, covering both the Elizabethan's stops at York and Grantham.

Yes, it's possible, but only with the cooperation of XC and the timetable planners. I haven't even mentioned freight.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

That would be nice!

Of course, a newly painted/liveried train doesn't really have much to do with getting such paths.

Yep, in the absence of facts, we can only eliminate the possibilities that we know it cannot be.

And (unless we're missing something), that just leaves "entertainment". Ahwww, how excrutiatingly awful.

[Can't I have wood-panelled compartments with sliding doors, framed paintings above the seats and wall lights please, with the option to visit a restaurant car at any time for full service catering, please?]

 

[jon0844]

Once the train gets to 125mph, it will take off and fly to Edinburgh? That purple stripe is where the wings come out.

On the way back, passengers wishing to get off at Stevenage will have to alight by parachute.