Grand Central HSTs?

[Techniquest]

Watch this space is all I can say at the moment !!

ps - If you call someone a "Deltic" is it a derogatry term,if so,what does it mean ?? :? If dont want to post it a PM will do !

Watching the space, keeping an eye on it closely!

As for the "Deltic" thing, not sure what you mean. Totally confused quite honestly!
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Followed 064/5 into Heaton on Sunday, it got started whilst still on the loloader! Cough cough is all I can say!! Got a couple of piccys but need to get them off the camera first

You sure about 064?

I'll bet that was a rather interesting sight there though. Can't wait to see the photos.

 

[BOSCH]

Watching the space, keeping an eye on it closely!

As for the "Deltic" thing, not sure what you mean. Totally confused quite honestly!
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You sure about 064?

I'll bet that was a rather interesting sight there though. Can't wait to see the photos.

Its 065 !
The "Deltic" thing was aimed at one of our drivers that appeared on the one life doc,I saw it posted by someone on another forum,they were quite vitriolic about GC to tell you the truth ! :x:x

 

[Techniquest]

A lot of people are really anti-GC, certainly are on WNXX's forum. Best to don protective shields when posting on there.

Thought it was 065. Although I was looking forward to seeing 064 in black on the ECML for a moment.

If you can find out more about this "Deltic" thing, I'm sure someone could inform you what they're on about.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

It's unnumbered (as per 084), hence the slight confusion! It was good to see it clagging well(!!)

 

[Techniquest]

Ah righty, fair enough that.

Bring on the start of services. All this talk of claggy Valentas is getting me excited about getting up north for the 0646 SUN - KGX! Should make a helluva noise leaving Sunderland!

Actually, that kinda reminds me. Is the distance between Sunderland's coach station and the rail station much? I might have to go down to London and then National Express up to Sunderland to get the 0646 back down, but I don't think there was much time to interchange between the two (a mere +11 connection IIRC)!

 

[BOSCH]

Ah righty, fair enough that.

Bring on the start of services. All this talk of claggy Valentas is getting me excited about getting up north for the 0646 SUN - KGX! Should make a helluva noise leaving Sunderland!

Actually, that kinda reminds me. Is the distance between Sunderland's coach station and the rail station much? I might have to go down to London and then National Express up to Sunderland to get the 0646 back down, but I don't think there was much time to interchange between the two (a mere +11 connection IIRC)!

The bus station for Natex buses is at park lane interchange,its a 5 minute walk away from s/land station but if you timed it right it only one stop on metro from park lane to s/land station (about a minutes journey time)

 

[Techniquest]

I'll remember that then!

Ta for the gen!

 

[djw1981]

However, unless it has changed greatly in the past 3 years, the traffic level in Sunderland approach roads can mean that the bus is late into Sunderland Bus Stn, thus narrowing your 11 minute connection.

 

[Techniquest]

True in most places to be fair. Whitecross and Belmont (parts of Hereford before someone asks) are good for traffic pre-0800 on weekday mornings, but as soon as the clocks go to 0801 and beyond the traffic gets insane. Stays that way for at least an hour then, happens from 1201 - 1259 again and then goes mad from 1515 until about 1745. If we had a bypass...But I digress.

Might actually go for Megabus to Newcastle and Metro over instead, as that would appear to be much quicker. We'll see what happens.

As for the latest proposed start date, does anyone else find it prepostorously vague to say 'in the second week of December' for the launch?

 

[djw1981]

True in most places to be fair. Whitecross and Belmont (parts of Hereford before someone asks) are good for traffic pre-0800 on weekday mornings, but as soon as the clocks go to 0801 and beyond the traffic gets insane. Stays that way for at least an hour then, happens from 1201 - 1259 again and then goes mad from 1515 until about 1745. If we had a bypass...But I digress.

Might actually go for Megabus to Newcastle and Metro over instead, as that would appear to be much quicker. We'll see what happens.

As for the latest proposed start date, does anyone else find it prepostorously vague to say 'in the second week of December' for the launch?

If you time your arrival in Newcastle correctly, you can go to Sunderland by Pacer..or sprinter... but IMO the metro wins, especially the flying junction just after Pelaw - not that exciting in the national scale of things, but quite fun for the metro!

 

[paul1609]

True in most places to be fair. Whitecross and Belmont (parts of Hereford before someone asks) are good for traffic pre-0800 on weekday mornings, but as soon as the clocks go to 0801 and beyond the traffic gets insane. Stays that way for at least an hour then, happens from 1201 - 1259 again and then goes mad from 1515 until about 1745.

Tractor Jams?

 

[schmoo_smith]

so then any news as to when they will be starting services for definite?

 

[rail-britain]

http://www.grandcentralrail.co.uk/timetable.html
One train a day, due to commence shortly

M-F
06:46 Sunderland - KX
14:10 York - KX
11:27 KX- York
16:50 KX - Sunderland

Sat
06:53 Sunderland - KX
14:05 York - KX
11:27 KX- York
16:50 KX - Sunderland

Sun
13:42 Sunderland - KX
18:20 KX - Sunderland

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

That information has been there and in the open for some time now m8internet.

 

[djw1981]

Also M8 what does that have to do with rolling stock, other than the fact that one set will shortly be available for mainline services, a fact which BOSCH, Sir Clag and others have stated before.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Someone isnt seeing the whole picture here... The cure?
Remove blinkers, read the information correctly, then post sensible comments!

 

[Techniquest]

December 2nd anyone...? :grin::grin:

That's the gen according to the issue of RAIL out today. Mind, according to them there's still more than double the numbers of Valentas still out than there actually is...

 

[Jord]

So i take it they didn't start yesterday? (Dec 2nd)

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

er, Correct!
Still some training runs to complete first.

 

[Techniquest]

16th December then I'm wagering...

(and if they do, I'm happy as it'll start the same day I turn 23!)

 

[rail-britain]

Still some training runs to complete first.

More training!?!
Grand Central Trains management should apply for an Investors In People award, they would win it by a farm mile!

 

[Tom]

But m8, you should be training for your wi-fi demos, no?

 

[rail-britain]

I am still waiting for an update on the VIP-invited Press launch date
The last time I phoned, which at the beginning of November, I was advised it had been put back indefinitely and they would contact me when they knew otherwise
A contact I have at the BBC also is in the same position, and may not be able to cover the story either now

 

[Tom]

So - what's the latest on the ORR extension?

 

[djw1981]

Surely the BBC coverage of the launch will be down to the regional news teams at Leeds / Newcastle - they have already had a 40 minute documentary on the BBC which is more than Hull Trains got when they launched. The state broadcaster must be careful not to interfere in commercial markets with biased coverage / advertising.

 

[rail-britain]

Surely the BBC coverage of the launch will be down to the regional news teams at Leeds / Newcastle - they have already had a 40 minute documentary on the BBC which is more than Hull Trains got when they launched. The state broadcaster must be careful not to interfere in commercial markets with biased coverage / advertising.

There are five people in the BBC covering this at the moment
With the original service launch it was be covered by three teams, one at York, one in London (on the VIP-invite launch), and one other
Francesca Unsworth is currently covering it, and she too is still waiting details

 

[Tom]

Why would, and I quote, "Head of BBC Newsgathering" be covering a story that could be quite easily be done by a lower down journo?

 

[rail-britain]

So - what's the latest on the ORR extension?

Contacted the ORR at 10:00 this morning
Still no change, the Application remains open until 08 December 2007
Grand Central have not submitted an extension or renewal, unless it has arrived in the post within the last 2 days n which case it may still be being processed
The only recent changes have been the approval on 20 November for a change of route for overnight stabling to/from York
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Why would, and I quote, "Head of BBC Newsgathering" be covering a story that could be quite easily be done by a lower down journo?

She is covering it for all departments
All that will happen is she will forward it to the five people covering it

 

[Tom]

The BBC saving money? hock:

 

[rail-britain]

Not really when you think about it...
They are going to have three teams covering the launch, never mind all the local BBC coverage on top of that!