Grand Central Discussion

[williamn]

I would say the worst offender against GC's passengers is the company itself. The company is woeful and if NR took action against I could entirely understand why, though of course in my heart I want the company to succeed.

 

[BOSCH]

I would say the worst offender against GC's passengers is the company itself. The company is woeful and if NR took action against I could entirely understand why, though of course in my heart I want the company to succeed.

Bit of a contradiction in terms there I thought,on the one hand we're woeful but on the other you want us to succeed ?????:-?:-?:-?
ps-I work on the "coalface" for GC so I may not have your intelligence,

 

[williamn]

I'd like any train company to do well, and especially a new one trying to develop demand. But it would have to be admitted that GC are letting customers down badly in terms of reliability and also information (the website carries no updates on day to day train running). I'm sure the staff on the ground are trying hard though, maybe they have been let down by poor planning.

 

[mealybar]

Here's to hoping for a good week, 80 & 123 continue in the same vain as yesterday (minus the oil!), and two PC's and a new website immerge from Brush! Or am I dreaming!!

Someone told me it was a problem with a lack of availability of parts at Brush which was holding things up? Website, parts are there, let's see when we get an update

 

[theblackwatch]

I do agree about the website - it wouldn't be difficult to do an update with what is running each day. When I needed to know, as I was planning on travelling that day, I had to resort to phoning them up to find out. That really shouldn't be necessary in this day and age!

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

why this obsession with websites that work? However did we manage before the internet took off? Ive had a look at the new site, and it looks promising!
And as to letting passengers down, we try our best NOT to leave them in the lurch and stranded.

 

[williamn]

Because the website is a vital way of commuicating with customers and possibly the first time a potential customer will come into contact with the company - they'll gain their first impressions from it. Compare GC to Wrexham and Shropshire...

 

[37402]

HST not out again this morning...

 

[andylloyd]

Don't speak too soon. Sounds like the oil from the engine of 43080 now adorns the side of the coaches.

That was what it was like when the train arrived on Thursday afternoon into Newcastle on its way back to Heaton for attention regarding the oil issue.

Regards

Andy

 

[voyagerdude220]

HST not out again this morning...

Sorry... My fault! :roll: :???:

 

[gingerheid]

How long do GC have before they need to apply for the extension of their access agreement? I hope they have enough time to get things in order, and demonstrate that they have.

 

[Mojo]

Why do most trains operated by GC on the online LDBs show as 'No report?' Is it up to the operators to notify someone when the train is cancelled, otherwise the system thinks it's running, and GC are not doing this?

The 1832 arrival at KGX is saying it expected a 1620 report and the 1345 departure from KGX is saying it is overdue a report.

 

[20's TILL I DIE!]

47s may apparently work back north from York tonight instead of the HST, lets hope its the same case tomorrow so i can catch them home

cheers

Paul

 

[Techniquest]

Is what I hear about the 1650 true? In that it is using the Peterborough - Doncaster Joint Line?

 

[1D53]

Why do most trains operated by GC on the online LDBs show as 'No report?' Is it up to the operators to notify someone when the train is cancelled, otherwise the system thinks it's running, and GC are not doing this?

The 1832 arrival at KGX is saying it expected a 1620 report and the 1345 departure from KGX is saying it is overdue a report.

Pretty much Mojo, up to the TOC to inform if its not going otherwise it just shows 'no report'

They've run nothing out of the Cross today.

What has run so far:

1Z25 1124 York to Sunderland
1Z61 1358 Sunderland to York
1Z26 1556 York to Sunderland - 8 early at Ferryhill.

Is what I hear about the 1650 true? In that it is using the Peterborough - Doncaster Joint Line?

There is no 1650 today.

 

[Techniquest]

Aye, but is it booked to run via the Join Line when it does run?

 

[Nick W]

Why do most trains operated by GC on the online LDBs show as 'No report?' Is it up to the operators to notify someone when the train is cancelled, otherwise the system thinks it's running, and GC are not doing this?

The 1832 arrival at KGX is saying it expected a 1620 report and the 1345 departure from KGX is saying it is overdue a report.

Many train companies are similarly bad. Sometimes you get a report a few hours later containing about 20 cancelled trains which should have been reported earlier.

 

[1D53]

Aye, but is it booked to run via the Join Line when it does run?

1650 only runs Mon-Sat. Last service on a Sunday is 1928 which is booked:

London Kings Cross [KGX] 1928
KNGXBEL Pass 1930
Finsbury Park [FPK] Pass 1931
Alexandra Palace [AAP] Pass 1933
Potters Bar [PBR] Pass 1938
Welwyn Garden City [WGC] Pass 1942
WLMRGRN Pass 1944
Stevenage [SVG] Pass 1945
Hitchin [HIT] Pass 1948
Sandy [SDY] Pass 1954
Huntingdon [HUN] Pass 2001
HOLME Pass 2006
Peterborough [PBO] Pass 2010
TALNGTN Pass 2014
SOKEJN Pass 2025
Grantham [GRA] Pass 2028
CLPLLP Pass 2033 Pass
Newark North Gate [NNG] Pass 2038
NWRKFC Pass 2038 Pass
Retford [RET] Pass 2047
DONCLCJ Pass 2059
Doncaster [DON] Pass 2103
SHFTHLJ Pass 2107
TEMPLHJ Pass 2115
HAMBLNJ Pass 2118
COLTONJ Pass 2122
York [YRK] 2126 2129
SKELTON Pass 2131
TOLERTN Pass 2136
Thirsk [THI] 2148 2149
LNGLNDJ Pass 2157
Northallerton [NTR] 2159 2201
Darlington [DAR] Pass 2210
FYHLSJN Pass 2217
TURSDLJ Pass 2219
Durham [DHM] Pass 2226
BRTLYJN Pass 2235
KEBGSJN Pass 2238
KEBGEJN Pass 2239
GRNSFDJ Pass 2240
PKLNJN Pass 2246
PELAW Pass 2251
Brockley Whins [BNR] Pass 2259
Sunderland [SUN] 2306


Probably will be in a few weeks as IIRC there is a block on.

 

[Techniquest]

Ah right, thanks for that. Was starting to think I was missing out!

 

[devon_metro]

Set out today.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

The next four weekends the ECML is blocked Newark-Peterborough, hence the diversion...

 

[djw1981]

Are Durham Coast signal boxes closed on Sunday nights then, given the diversion via Gateshead?

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

engineering works the past two Sundays. usually we are the last train along the coast on a Sunday evening.

 

[Techniquest]

The next four weekends the ECML is blocked Newark-Peterborough, hence the diversion...

Ah, thanks for the gen. Worth a visit then!

 

[adambro]

The next four weekends the ECML is blocked Newark-Peterborough, hence the diversion...

I think it is Newark to Grantham.

 

[Craig]

yet more problems. I've been sat on the 47s at Hartlepool for an hour due to cable theft. We're now going back north to Newcastle to terminate with onward transport on NXEC. I think I'll just go home
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just arrived at Newcastle, it's now running in service through to York.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Not Grand Central's fault that one!

 

[Craig]

sounds like NX are being awkward and not accepting GC tickets to KX, so any permited ones are having to be issued. Hopefully GC can pass the costs on for this one.

It's turning out to be quite a trip, 3 hours later and we haven't even got to Northallerton

 

[yorkie]

Is it running back in service as the (heavily delayed) 1444 back to Sunderland and will it still work the 1730 back?

 

[Craig]

Not sure. It was going to run empty to york from Newcastle, so presumably it'll run back north.