Southeastern Question? Being removed?

[atomicdanny]

I've heard on the radio and on the television that apparently MPs and the RMT Unions want Southeastern to be stripped of its franchise. I'm just wondering if any of that was actually true? (since i know the media twists everything!)

As far as I know south eastern haven't been that bad? (I know that you'll get people that say when a couple of trains are late that all trains are late! or if one guard has an off day and is rude - all conductors are rude... - I've actually heard that latter)

 

[scotsman]

MPs like a convenient scapegoat, RMT want a nationalised railway and stripping SE of the franchise would mean it would be renationalised for a few months at least. Non-story really.

 

[jopsuk]

There's 650 MPs. It is usually possible to find a handful who'll answer in the affirmative if you ask "Should TOC X be stripped of its franchise?" over even the most trivial matter.

RMT policy calls for full renationalisation.

None of this means that it will happen. The government is pro-privatisation.

Other than HS1 services SE have by most accounts, been very very badly hit though. Whether this is the fault of the way the TOC is run is another matter.

 

[atomicdanny]

Sorry to bump up an old topic but thought that this was relevant!

Since southeastern have been shown on BBC South East Today (even though half of the pictures show mostly First Capital Connect trains at orpington!). It seems that the passengers and the MPs are against south eastern at the moment for the cancellations and the fair increases.

Not that I'm defending south eastern, but isn't the track the responsibility of Network Rail? Since they own it rather than South Eastern? but then is this a case of the media hating the railways?

but then again if what has been said is true I doubt that Govia will have Southeastern for much longer (after hearing the above, but then again what would that change since all the staff would be the same?)

*Note: I'm not saying that the staff should be sacked I would never imply that! If connex failed and now South Eastern are failing (apparently) whats going to stop the next company from failing?

 

[Failed Unit]

I don't know how much influence that SouthEastern had themselves over the timetable but the rip off service (hs1) hasnt helped. Many peoples journeys have got slower since it came along. Or people are paying more for a worse journey to a terminal they don't want to be at. The knives will always be sharpened because of that so I think it is any excuse to beat them. My journey is worse to Victoria now has my blood boiling - but they can't be punished for that - cancelling trains they can be.

 

[466.networkers]

Sorry to bump up an old topic but thought that this was relevant!

Since southeastern have been shown on BBC South East Today (even though half of the pictures show mostly First Capital Connect trains at orpington!). It seems that the passengers and the MPs are against south eastern at the moment for the cancellations and the fair increases.

Not that I'm defending south eastern, but isn't the track the responsibility of Network Rail? Since they own it rather than South Eastern? but then is this a case of the media hating the railways?

but then again if what has been said is true I doubt that Govia will have Southeastern for much longer (after hearing the above, but then again what would that change since all the staff would be the same?)

*Note: I'm not saying that the staff should be sacked I would never imply that! If connex failed and now South Eastern are failing (apparently) whats going to stop the next company from failing?

The trains at Orpington with the purple doors are reliveried Class 465s, not FCC trains.

 

[atomicdanny]

The trains at Orpington with the purple doors are reliveried Class 465s, not FCC trains.

and the 319s? (I can tell the difference between a Networker and a 319! other than the fact that South Eastern Networkers are mostly white with yellow or purple doors which is very different to the first capital connect 319s that I saw!)

(although I meant to say at least half rather than mostly)

edit - yes I do know that they were running joint services between South Eastern / FCC.

As for southeastern I'm not going to defend them over the fares since they've overcharged me a couple of times and so far haven't got anything back for that but thats another story! but I think that the government should also take responsibility as well (of the problem with snow - not taking over southeastern!!

 

[swt_passenger]

SO when the DfT ran Southeastern, after Connex failed, there were never any snow problems? That will almost certainly be because there was little or no snow in those particular years.

Changing a franchisee doesn't change any of the TOC operational staff, the people who make decisions on an hour by hour basis, and politicians are pretty naive to think it would make the slightest difference.

Look at ECML Co - it's basically run by the same people who managed FCC when they last made a total fiasco of winter operations and staff numbers; so transfer to state control might even make it worse...

 

[moonrakerz]

so transfer to state control might even make it worse...

Surely that is a no brainer ?

When the railways were privatised all the senior management went off to the various TOCs at much higher salaries that they ever dreamt of with BR.
There is no one left in the public sector who has ever had any experience of "running a railway" (to coin a phrase !)................. but, I suppose they could always re-employ the management of the TOC that has just lost its franchise :roll::roll:

 

[fgwrich]

Not that I'm defending south eastern, but isn't the track the responsibility of Network Rail? Since they own it rather than South Eastern? but then is this a case of the media hating the railways?
failing?

In all fairness though, NR can take some flak for this...

Network Rail has 4 GLV's on its books for De-Icing duties. Now, out of season, 3 are stored in Tonbridge Yard while the fourth has become the fleets 'Christmas Tree'...Think about this, The de-icing season is late November/December to February...It's mid November 2010, and it's already getting rather cold...What does Network Rail do?

Time for an Overhaul me thinks!

So off to Eastleigh they go for an overhaul by Arlington Fleet Services...Irony is, that they they've had the best part of 7 months to give the fleet an overhaul, yet as usual, they leave it until the last possible moment and Oh Look, it's Snowed!

Clever planning on behalf of Network Rail there!

http://carl-watson.fotopic.net/p68287381.html

And before anyone ask's, Yes, the GLV's are still down in Eastleigh - Theyve just been mooved to another part of the site! :roll:

 

[Skimble19]

ook at ECML Co - it's basically run by the same people who managed FCC when they last made a total fiasco of winter operations and staff numbers; so transfer to state control might even make it worse...

To be fair, the problems at FCC were after Elaine had left, and a fair while after at that.. Jim Morgan (Whatever happened to him?!) was in control and left shortly afterwards..

 

[yorkie]

As far as I know south eastern haven't been that bad?

We've had an increasing number of people here with complaints about SET, many of them to do with the disgraceful way HS1 was implemented and the appalling way some people are treated for travelling on this supposedly gold-plated line. So, yeah, it wouldn't bother me to see them lose it. I very much doubt it would happen though.