Severe delays east coast

[rmt-driver]

Due to steam trains causing fires spreading from DONCASTER ALL THE WAY TO YORK... According to our guard on the 1405 ex kings cross.

All trains at a stand
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Anyone know what is happening, getting no info over the tannoy here and still not another drink !!! F****** steam trains, there just a nuisance ... Ban them from the mainline

 

[northwichcat]

Your train and the 14:30 are expected up to 60 minutes late by York, subsequent services are expected to be delayed by up to 25 minutes.

I had a 125 minute delay with Virgin and no free refreshments. They were still selling them though, so hadn't run out.

 

[HST Power]

From the EC site:

A lineside fire is causing disruption near Doncaster.
Because of this, there are delays of up to 25 minutes between Retford and York. These delays are expected to last until approximately 17:00.

 

[4SRKT]

Brilliant. Will the Steam train operator be liable for the delay costs incurred? Not to mention any damage caused to infrastructure.

 

[rmt-driver]

Your train and the 14:30 are expected up to 60 minutes late by York, subsequent services are expected to be delayed by up to 25 minutes.

I had a 125 minute delay with Virgin and no free refreshments. They were still selling them though, so hadn't run out.

It terminates at Leeds !!

 

[HST Power]

It terminates at Leeds !!

I know the feeling, it's a pain. But I imagine you will be able to use your ticket on any reasonable route (blah blah blah) via other TOC's to get you back home.

 

[rmt-driver]

Brilliant. Will the Steam train operator be liable for the delay costs incurred? Not to mention any damage caused to infrastructure.

It's about time these steam engines were banned of the mainline really..i mean they are lovely and nostalgic yes, but when causing this much delay to 1000s of commuters it simply is not on!! If you want to go on a steam train head to the NYMR or RHDR etc etc... I just wanna get to my destination

 

[rmt-driver]

Just started moving , after about a half hour stand just south of Newark ( I think, any way to find out?)

 

[northwichcat]

It terminates at Leeds !!
Just started moving , after about a half hour stand just south of Newark ( I think, any way to find out?)

Oh that one. It's showing 16:33 as an expected time for being in Doncaster (exp 15:41.)

The Aberdeen train will probably terminate at York as they've added in a 15:56 York-Aberdeen service.

 

[4SRKT]

The delay repay alone could bankrupt the steam operator if he had to pick it up. Which steam operator has done this BTW? Bloody kettle veg: banish them and their silly proclivities to the ends of the Earth!

My wife is on the 15:45 Leeds > London, still sitting in platform 6 at Leeds as I type this.

 

[rmt-driver]

Btw on a totally separate note.... Does anyone know if east coast 225 sets REALLY have smoke detectors in the loos?

 

[AlterEgo]

I had a 125 minute delay with Virgin and no free refreshments. They were still selling them though, so hadn't run out.

Virgin won't give out free refreshments unless there is enough for every single passenger aboard, and it is practical to do so.

 

[HST Power]

Btw on a totally separate note.... Does anyone know if east coast 225 sets REALLY have smoke detectors in the loos?

I wouldn't risk it. Last month, the pilot on my flight to South Africa threatened to execute anybody who was caught smoking.

 

[northwichcat]

Virgin won't give out free refreshments unless there is enough for every single passenger aboard, and it is practical to do so.

TPE did when they still had the 158s and the air conditioning failed during a heatwave. It was 1 x bottle of free Harrogate water for anyone who wanted it.

 

[Furrball]

Virgin won't give out free refreshments unless there is enough for every single passenger aboard, and it is practical to do so.

That is not what their passenger charter states:

If you have already joined our train and it is delayed for more
than 30 minutes we will provide complimentary non-alcoholic
drinks until stocks are exhausted

http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/assets/pdf/global/passengers-charter.pdf

 

[YorkshireRider]

Btw on a totally separate note.... Does anyone know if east coast 225 sets REALLY have smoke detectors in the loos?

No they haven't but the smoke goes straight into the air con system and can be smelt quickley

 

[rmt-driver]

No they haven't but the smoke goes straight into the air con system and can be smelt quickley

It's ok panic over were now at a stand at Newark and the guard opened the doors for anyone who wants to, to get out and have a ciggie here

 

[sprinterguy]

I thought it might be Ollie Cromwell on the "Scarborough Flyer" from Crewe that would be the main culprit for causing mischeif here, but the times (and the route) don't check out: I wonder what other "kettles" are kicking about the vicinity of the ECML in Yorkshire today?

 

[rmt-driver]

Yes Oliver Cromwell is the culprit

Currently parked up along side us at Newark. The guard even told us to look out of the window on the right to see the cause of our delay. Apparently talking to a spotter on my ciggie break, it's awaiting a diesel to rescue it .. Dam train grr

 

[Max]

Chaos at Doncaster. Pretty much every train showing delayed. Hundreds of people on the station. Total lack of information.

 

[All Line Rover]

Virgin won't give out free refreshments unless there is enough for every single passenger aboard, and it is practical to do so.

As has already been said, that's not what the Passenger Charter states. Not everyone will want refreshments either - it should be first come, first served.

I've never been delayed extremely seriously in Standard Class on a Virgin train, but if it ever happened, I would not be happy if I couldn't have free refreshments just because "we don't have enough refreshments for everyone." On a busy train, there are never enough refreshments in the shop for every passenger! Just get some from First Class!

 

[4SRKT]

Who was operating it?
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Chaos at Doncaster. Pretty much every train showing delayed. Hundreds of people on the station. Total lack of information.

Same at Leeds. 15:45 still hasn't left. Three trainloads on it. No info. No refreshments being doled out.

 

[Mike395]

Chaos at Doncaster. Pretty much every train showing delayed. Hundreds of people on the station. Total lack of information.

The evening peak at KGX is going to be fun tonight - especially as its a Friday so lots of people will be getting away earlier in the evening!

 

[gazthomas]

Usual lack of staff and info when you need it. 16.48 GC to Sunderland starting from Welwyn GC so the 16.52 Cambridge is full to the rafters.
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Unusual

 

[rmt-driver]

On the move from Newark 1721

 

[4SRKT]

Is it the Railway Touring Company to blame?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Is it the Railway Touring Company to blame?

No, simple Chemistry is to blame. Hot spark + dry overgrown lineside = lineside fire. You can mitigate against it, but these things happen when running kettles.

 

[Yorkswatcher]

Im at kings x waiting for the 18.03. Everything is delayed or cancelled. 1547 train to hull is top of the list of delayed trains. Im off to the lincoln for a pint

 

[Smethwickian]

As has already been said, that's not what the Passenger Charter states. Not everyone will want refreshments either - it should be first come, first served.

I've never been delayed extremely seriously in Standard Class on a Virgin train, but if it ever happened, I would not be happy if I couldn't have free refreshments just because "we don't have enough refreshments for everyone." On a busy train, there are never enough refreshments in the shop for every passenger! Just get some from First Class!

Some time ago, during the WCML works and the Chiltern route diversion, I was on a pair of VT Voyagers from Euston to BHM where they hadn't got staff to open both shops, so the train manager in my set got the hot drink machine going for half an hour or so to serve at least one free drink to everyone who wanted one and also gave away all the first class snack packs to everyone on a first-come basis.

Contrast to the last long delay I had on an XC Voyager, of over 90 minutes, where there was no information, no sign of any trolley and certainly no offer of any refreshment whatsoever.

 

[4SRKT]

No, simple Chemistry is to blame. Hot spark + dry overgrown lineside = lineside fire. You can mitigate against it, but these things happen when running kettles.

<sigh> OK, I'll rephrase. Was the RTC running the tour? Why will nobody answer this question?