Grand Central HSTs?

[Pathfinder]

The stock is to be stored and serviced at Heaton until the public services commence

From commencement of the public services the stock is to be stabled at :
Ryhope Grange Sidings
Pelow Up Goods Loop
East Bolden Up Loop
Bounds Green
Ferme Parl

From commencement of the public services the stock is to be maintained at :
Tyne Yard
Heaton
Bounds Green

source :
S17 ORR

Note : the public service start date on the S17 is now shown as Tuesday 20 November 2007

Ryhope sidings --- Possibly but work is needed in there.
Pelaw Up Goods Loop --- Doubt it,the loop is in constant use by GBRF to run
the loco round on the coal trains.
East Boldon Up Loop --- There is no crossover from the down to the up,this
would mean running through as far as the old park
lane site at gateshead to swap ends.
Ferme Park ---- Possible as there is a fuelling point there Im led
to believe.
Bounds Green ---- Very much doubt it,currently a GNER depot soon
to be NXEC depot,wouldnt have thought they
offer assistance.

As for maintenance,my friends at heaton tell me that they will be the only ones doing the maintenance,they are currently fitting OTMR as we speak.As for Bounds Green,see above.Tyne Yard,why ?

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Ferme Park is more likely than Bounds Green. In fact, it has been said that Ferme Park would be used to refuel/overnight stock if KGX is out due to Engineering work

 

[rail-britain]

GCR has approved access to all those locations listed
The HSTs will be stabled at those locations overnight
Refuelling and maintenance has already been agreed at the maintenance locations

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

IIRC the last set down will be stabled P1 at KGX until the morning, unless KGX is unaccessible due to engineering, whence it will be stabled at Ferme Park. (I *think*!)

 

[Pathfinder]

GCR has approved access to all those locations listed
The HSTs will be stabled at those locations overnight
Refuelling and maintenance has already been agreed at the maintenance locations

They may have approved access to those locations but they cannot gain access into the loop at east boldon from s/land when they do the "shunt move" for the 12.30 dep ex s/land as I've stated before,there is no crossover from down to up !! there is a need for a stabling point granted but as the 08.04 ex Kx arrives at about 11.55ish,this is the only set that needs a "shunt move". The 11.27 ex Kx arr 14.52 will go to heaton and a fresh set will be already there to make 17.30 ex S/land.
As for Bounds Green,why would GC want to "jump in to bed" with a company that doesn't want them in the first place and was 1 reason for the initial delay to GC starting !!

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Also, East boldon Loop tends to be used by FGBRF to get out of the way of the Metros and Northern services. If NR opened up the old freight sidings at Gateshead...

 

[Pathfinder]

Also, East boldon Loop tends to be used by FGBRF to get out of the way of the Metros and Northern services. If NR opened up the old freight sidings at Gateshead...

As does the up loop at pelaw !

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

I believe FGBRF have said they'd rather we didn't use the sidings at Pelaw for that reason! If NR reinstated the south curve from Tyne Dock to the NCL-SUN line, then there would be no reason to run round at Pelaw. The track is still there, so it might not take too much to do...

 

[Pathfinder]

I believe FGBRF have said they'd rather we didn't use the sidings at Pelaw for that reason! If NR reinstated the south curve from Tyne Dock to the NCL-SUN line, then there would be no reason to run round at Pelaw. The track is still there, so it might not take too much to do...

Its all about cost really,would NR be willing to reinstate a section of track that would only be used once a day,however,if they could persuade FGBRF to use it,it would then eliminate the need to run locos round at pelaw !

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

True, if it's still in the grand scheme of things signalling wise, then it could be very easy to do. If not, then it would have to wait until a resignalling operation in the area, which could be decades away considering it was only done relatively recently with the comming of the Metro system to Sunderland

 

[Pathfinder]

Its not just signalling wise,the track bed does not extend right the way round that bend that you see from the metro,therefore you are probably looking at a good stretch of track that needs replacing,the track that is there now has been unused for several years,pre metro even.IMHO it would be easier to put the Xover back in place from the down to the up at east boldon or use ryhope grange sidings,i found out earlier that some freight still uses this sidings apparently !

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Ah, thanks Pathfinder! Replacing an Xover probably isnt going to happen until a resig scheme either!
Been at Heaton this morning, walked past the power cars... Looks better from a distance!! Two coaches were there, one looked like the cant rail stripe was missing on one side!!

 

[Pathfinder]

Ah, thanks Pathfinder! Replacing an Xover probably isnt going to happen until a resig scheme either!
Been at Heaton this morning, walked past the power cars... Looks better from a distance!! Two coaches were there, one looked like the cant rail stripe was missing on one side!!

Yes,I've heard the paint job on the power cars leaves a lot to be desired as well and as for the cant rail missing am sure heaton will add to their list of things to do(that ESG/MARCROFT et al forgot to do !). Did you share any of m8's wisdom with your managers today then,cos remember,he's connected !
Heard today also that another power car arriving this week shed any light on this clag ?

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

It didnt arrive while I was there this morning! (only there for a short while) We should be back there on Wednesday so if it turns up I will have my camera at the ready!

 

[rail-britain]

There is no problem with NEG taking over GNER,lets hope they keep up the good work,there are areas that need improvement such as the "meet & greet" from the onboard staff because that is appalling,I have seen it first hand at darlington,not a good impression believe me!

Even as a car owner, I travel by FSR, VT, and GNER quite often
The majority of my journeys on VT and GNER are by First Class, but I am not sure what the "meet and greet" is that you expect from onboard staff, I've certainly never seen it
VT withdrew their "dedicated" staff not long after they were awarded the franchise

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

m8internet: Huh? Doesn't mean they want more office staff, just IF a vacancy came up.
We find the Managment Team very approachable and friendly, which is how they should be IMHO!
Meet & Greet;- On arrival at certain stations (ie, York), Train Crew to stand on platform in FULL uniform to welcome and assist passengers with lugguage/seat finding. It's what we will be doing at ALL stations on our route. Also do NOT stand with hands in pockets/arms folded, it gives out the wrong impression and the body language says "Cant be bothered/dont talk to me". Very unwelcoming

Ian: Good Luck & I might see you at work sometime!!

 

[Pathfinder]

Even as a car owner, I travel by FSR, VT, and GNER quite often
The majority of my journeys on VT and GNER are by First Class, but I am not sure what the "meet and greet" is that you expect from onboard staff, I've certainly never seen it
VT withdrew their "dedicated" staff not long after they were awarded the franchise

You have just made my point,the meet and greet that you have never seen is because they dont do it,stand at the train door on arrival at a station to "meet and greet" new passengers i.e "good morning sir,how are you" ! Its the basics,no meet and greet automatically gives the wrong impression of your company,first impressions are formed(and dont quote me on this)in the first 10 - 15 seconds !!

 

[rail-britain]

When Virgin Trains first took over the West Coast franchise, they had one member of staff per two coaches in standard and one member of staff per coach in First Class
This was trimmed back about half way through the franchise and when the Mark 3 sets were rebalanced with less standard coaches / more first class coaches
There are now no dedicated staff for standard, and one member of staff per two coaches in First Class
Prior to departure now it is very rare to see a member of onboard staff performing a "meet and greet" at Glasgow Central, and it is not until south of Preston that this is performed

The same is almost true of GNER
A complete lack of "visible" onboard staff at Glasgow Central prior to departure
On some occasions there isn't even an attempt made for one round of hot drinks between Glasgow and Edinburgh!
However, the "meet and greet" at Edinburgh (southbound) is usually enthusiastic, shame about northbound!

 

[djw1981]

Meet and greet staff would say to me as a passenger that I was over paying!!! One dispatch on a platform,, with a second if a ramp is needed for assistance. If is is a starting station, then the train crew can be on board circulating and helping passengers.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

43067 moved under its own power this morning, Great to see! Also, we now have three coaches at Heaton, and hopefully another power car shouldnt be far away!

I Know some of the reasons for you leaving, and I understand them, as I myself have considered it, but I have decided to stay at GC, as I feel that there are some exciting and interesting developments still to come, and I'm enjoying it! There may well come a time where I decide that a change is due, but right now, that is many many years away!

Meet and Greet is important part of the "experience" of train travel. Get it right and passengers will remember and come back, get it wrong and they won't. Pathfinder is right, first impressions count, and if that first impression is of a professional and smart looking employee, then it reflects well on the company as a whole, where as a badly dressed (ie, shirt hanging out at the back) and sullen looking employee then it reflects badly on the company.

We hear too many "horror stories" about when the railways get it wrong, but how many journeys happen without incident? How many times does a member of Train Crew help someone out on a daily basis? How often does this get reported in the media? Not often, it at all, as something working properly doesn't sell papers in the same way as something going wrong.

 

[rail-britain]

Apparently, National Express have written to all current and former (employed within the last 2 years and were known to have left for another rail-related company) employees advising them about the chngeover from GNER to Your East Coast
The website is due to be update towards the end of the month, including a mock livery, map, and timetable

 

[djw1981]

how does a mock map differ to a real map, like the one they issued as part of franchise bid? http://www.youreastcoast.co.uk/content/east_coast_map.gif The only change I can see will be the inclusion of Lincoln services, but that's not until ??2009??, and thus wouldn't be accurate on the franchise map from the start.

 

[rail-britain]

The mock map will include the type face and company logos, as per the Your East Coast branding
The current map is just a simple map outlining the main routes

 

[First ScotRail]

Do we know what the NX East Coast logo will be like? I would presume it will be the same for NX East Anglia?

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Pathfinder: ROLFLMAO!
Spent the day at Heaton, did some coupling/uncoupling of air hoses, also emergency evac. Coaches look good in a rake...

 

[Max]

Keep it nice guys.

 

[rail-britain]

Do we know what the NX East Coast logo will be like? I would presume it will be the same for NX East Anglia?

I don't even think NatEx know what their branding in going to be yet
www.youreastcoast.co.uk
They have 18 months in which to relivery their trains and until 2010 to rebrand all their assets
Early indications are that they are making a request to the DfT to use the existing GNER livery, but with the red (claret) stripe painted a different colour

 

[First ScotRail]

Ive heard that one of the mallard HST's will come out of wabtec in time for the launch of NXEC in its official livery. I like the dot2dot wording, it would make the trains a bit different to the buses!

 

[Tom]

That's the branding sorted.

c2c = capital to coast
c2c = capital to chavland ('one')

Variants of c2c. I'll think of one for GNER in a minute ...

 

[rail-britain]

There used to be commuter / passenger website about GNER and its complaints, using the logo
"God Knows if it Ever Runs"