Grand Central Discussion

[GNERman]

yeah sunderland route hopefully starting within the next few weeks.

 

[EWS 58038]

To bad we won't see a Nationalised express 180 anymore. (I presume NATEX won't repaint them as the money is simply not there). Buth who knows which TOC will take over the Eastcoast.

Seacontainers.... (Hiding behind the desk)

 

[GNERman]

nah i don't think nxec will even bother getting them in service.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Awesome videos there - especially the interiors. It does look very attractive outside - should bring in some new users and its a great step forward if they keep their reliability up.

 

[GNERman]

yeah, interiors suprisingly good for age

 

[Fudgefrog]

yeah, interiors suprisingly good for age

Is this thanks to how First maintained them or thanks to the "refurbishment" process? First Class looks brilliant though the patterns on the standard class seats make you want to vomit - why does First insist on combining purple and green?

Out of interest are they going to refurbish them? And if so will they use the seat covers used on the HSTs, which in my opinion are slightly too rich! Definitely think something closer to the refurbed WSMR would look better with that livery!



Also, possibly over on the thread in "Traction and Rolling Stock" theres a link that contains an image of the breakfast menu, which includes an HST with the orange stripe..... is this going to happen?



And finally it was reported earlier in this thread that "Grand Northern" are no longer "Grand Northern"... will they be Grand Union or Grand Central? Surely it would be better to use one website and one brand for the services because then, say, if one of the Bradford trains breaks down a 180 could be transferred from the Sunderland route and not be in another company's branding?

 

[GNERman]

Is this thanks to how First maintained them or thanks to the "refurbishment" process? First Class looks brilliant though the patterns on the standard class seats make you want to vomit - why does First insist on combining purple and green?

Out of interest are they going to refurbish them? And if so will they use the seat covers used on the HSTs, which in my opinion are slightly too rich! Definitely think something closer to the refurbed WSMR would look better with that livery!



Also, possibly over on the thread in "Traction and Rolling Stock" theres a link that contains an image of the breakfast menu, which includes an HST with the orange stripe..... is this going to happen?



And finally it was reported earlier in this thread that "Grand Northern" are no longer "Grand Northern"... will they be Grand Union or Grand Central? Surely it would be better to use one website and one brand for the services because then, say, if one of the Bradford trains breaks down a 180 could be transferred from the Sunderland route and not be in another company's branding?

OK

Bradford services to run as GC

HST's may get orange stripe but not in near future

the 180's haven't had a refurb yet but will do very soon

the old seats are fgw

 

[Fudgefrog]

OK

Bradford services to run as GC

HST's may get orange stripe but not in near future

the 180's haven't had a refurb yet but will do very soon

the old seats are fgw

Thanks GNERman!

I'm aware that it's all to FGW specification, thus my complaint at First's purple and green colour choice, but I was wondering if First just regularly cleaned the units to a really high standard while FGW used them or if Grand Central have gone above and beyond in deep cleaning them.

I'm pleased that they're going to be refurbished - I do love GC interiors!

And I think it makes sense for GC to be the brand for both services!

Thanks


EDIT: Btw how is finding stock for the new service coming along? I was under the impression there was only 1 180 left at the moment, if National Express still take on their lease of course, so what's GC planning to do? How many units would they need to run the new service? If they managed to get the spare 180, would they have enough units for both services, with three HSTs and three 180s? Wouldn't leave a spare unit though surely....

Thanks again

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

From the GC Website:
• 180112 is the first of the Grand Central Fleet to be released from Railcare in the new external livery. Work continues on the engineering approval required for installation of all internal modifications including provision of Wi-Fi and at-Seat Sockets. The first unit to be fully refreshed is expected to be 180114 at the end of September 2009.

• In August Grand Central will begin operating an additional two services between Sunderland and London increasing both service frequency and the range of additional journey opportunities available to our customers. Details of the precise start date will be made available soon on this website.

• Timings for the additional services (Monday to Saturday) are:


Depart: Sunderland 09:18, Hartlepool 09:42, Eaglescliffe 10:01, Northallerton 10:19, Thirsk 10:28, York 10:52 and arrive London Kings Cross 12:50.


Depart London Kings Cross 19:18, York 21:21, Thirsk 21:39, Northallerton 21:50, Eaglescliffe 22:10, Hartlepool 22:29 and arrive Sunderland 2254.


• Grand Central operates a fleet of High Speed Trains between London, Yorkshire and the North East. In March of this year Grand Central signed a lease with Angel Trains for two Class 180 trains to cater for new services commencing in August.


• Negotiations are underway with Angel Trains (who own the Class 180 fleet) for Grand Central to lease a further three trains for next year’s “West Riding” expansion of routes to link Bradford, Halifax, Brighouse, Wakefield, Pontefract and Doncaster with London.


http://www.grandcentralrail.com/jamesherriot < The new article

 

[GNERman]

Basically as just said, 180112 has been reliveried and 180105 is still at heaton on training runs. Newly leased 180114 will be first to be refurbed then when all are done one unit will start Bradford training runs. By this time 2 other units may have been leased and then the Bradford services can start.

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

Awesome videos there - especially the interiors. It does look very attractive outside - should bring in some new users and its a great step forward if they keep their reliability up.

They won't

 

[GNERman]

they will

 

[devon_metro]

they will

Oh, you are qualified to certify that the 180s will remain reliable?

I am sending your details over to Hull Trains as we speak...

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

Oh, you are qualified to certify that the 180s will remain reliable?

I am sending your details over to Hull Trains as we speak...

Quality retort!

Basically my reply would've been along the line of DM, so I won't reply.

 

[anthony263]

Oh, you are qualified to certify that the 180s will remain reliable?

I am sending your details over to Hull Trains as we speak...

I wouldnt be to surpirsed if:

grand centrals class 180s play up

something amazing happens and grand centrals class 180s perform with no problems just to upset hull trains lol.

 

[Darandio]

Saw 180112 at Darlington today still running the same path as before, 15:50 Durham, wait at Darlington etc etc. I thought this had been handed to 180105??
Sorry for the quality, camera phone is all that was at hand.

 

[Techniquest]

Quality retort!

Basically my reply would've been along the line of DM, so I won't reply.

I agree, that was easily the funniest post I've read this week!

The 180s will not stay reliable. Unless they've found some SuperFitter in the North East who can make the fleet behave...:roll:

If the fleet was at all reliable, FGW would not have gotten rid of them!

 

[prd101]

is there a special offer on with Grand Central for august?

I've done a search on their 'print at home' mobitix page for some journeys in august between York and Kings Cross and prices like £20.33 appear alot, which looks like a 3rd off.

Is this a mistake, because there's no anouncement on the main webpage

 

[yorkie]

They often do promotions and it is not uncommon for the tickets to be available before it's announced.

They also have the 'departure' time from York as 0817 on weekdays but it's 0822 (0817 being the arrival time) and this has been the case for as long as I can recall.

Thanks for the tip-off, I would have paid 20 quid for a single but I already have NXEC 8 quid tickets. I am happy to pay 12 quid extra for more comfort, a Valenta, and a more friendly company, but sadly GC do not give much notice with their fares so the choice is 8 quid on NXEC or miss out and hope that GC come up with an offer when you want to travel. I wish GC would sell tickets as far in advance as NXEC, as then I could do a direct comparison on price, and I would be happy to pay the extra as long as it's not a huge amount.

 

[GNERman]

Oh, you are qualified to certify that the 180s will remain reliable?

I am sending your details over to Hull Trains as we speak...

i was trying to start another continuous argument

 

[MCR247]

why?

 

[yorkie]

i was trying to start another continuous argument

Keep digging

Seriously though, why post if that was the case?! (Rhetorical question - no need to answer!)

 

[GNERman]

I just have a gut feeling that they might do ok, anyway 112 worked perfectly on the trip

 

[BOSCH]

I just have a gut feeling that they might do ok, anyway fourth path should start on the 10th...

Not looking likely !!!

 

[andylloyd]

Not looking likely !!!

Problems at the helm in Heaton then?

 

[BOSCH]

Problems at the helm in Heaton then?

180112 involved with "Incident" at Grantham earlier today,dont know of any damage as of yet !!! 180112 is on proving runs this week ahead of next weeks 4th path launch on monday,however,180105 is also still at heaton as back up and 180114 is not too far away !!!

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

180112 involved with "Incident" at Grantham earlier today,dont know of any damage as of yet !!! 180112 is on proving runs this week ahead of next weeks 4th path launch on monday,however,180105 is also still at heaton as back up and 180114 is not too far away !!!

What incident would that be? I didn't hear of any.

 

[Fuzzy Logic]

What incident would that be? I didn't hear of any.

Jumper at Grantham apparently

 

[andylloyd]

180112 involved with "Incident" at Grantham earlier today,dont know of any damage as of yet !!! 180112 is on proving runs this week ahead of next weeks 4th path launch on monday,however,180105 is also still at heaton as back up and 180114 is not too far away !!!

Sorry to hear that fella.
Thoughts goto all those involved

 

[BOSCH]

Sorry to hear that fella.
Thoughts goto all those involved

Obviously know the guy involved but on wnxx someone has made "Light" of it joking that something fell off the 180 and injured the person involved !! Myself and 1 or 2 others retorted and now the thread has been removed at mods discretion !!