Grand Central Staff Train

[Pathfinder]

It appears that the charter train GC were intending to use for the next 2 weeks for staff training hasnt got off to a good start,todays run was caped !!

 

[Daniel]

Any idea why?

 

[Pathfinder]

Any idea why?

Dont know,the person I spoke to wouldnt go into detail but they hope to have it running tomorrow,m8internets the one with all the answers,maybe he can tell us !!

 

[rail-britain]

I've not heard anything, I was working with GNER in Edinburgh today!

 

[me123]

Maybe Sir Clagalot'll know? (I hope I've got the right person...)

 

[Pathfinder]

Maybe Sir Clagalot'll know? (I hope I've got the right person...)

yeah clagalot works for them so does the other poster maybe_idontknow,any info please folks ?

 

[rail-britain]

I can't find anything for GC re-hiring the Mk3 DRS charter set
There isn't even an update on the ORR website for it
The previous use of Class 47 and Mk3 expired on 30 September and has not been renewed
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/s22-Grnd_Cntrl_2sa_contract.pdf

The only things current for GC are :
A HST for ECS duties between York and Leeds (Neville Hill)

If there is to be a new or replacement amendment it will appear here :
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.212
I'm also watching this page for any amendment from Hull Trains, so far nothing

 

[Pathfinder]

I can't find anything for GC re-hiring the Mk3 DRS charter set
There isn't even an update on the ORR website for it
The previous use of Class 47 and Mk3 expired on 30 September and has not been renewed
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/s22-Grnd_Cntrl_2sa_contract.pdf

The only things current for GC are :
A HST for ECS duties between York and Leeds (Neville Hill)

If there is to be a new or replacement amendment it will appear here :
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.212
I'm also watching this page for any amendment from Hull Trains, so far nothing

Well they must have something running tomorrow !!! :-?

 

[rail-britain]

GC currently only have permission to operate HSTs and Class 37s on their routes, until 09 December 2007

 

[B37425]

Grand Central have been cursed since the dawn of time. This is just another spanner in the works for them.

 

[Pathfinder]

GC currently only have permission to operate HSTs and Class 37s on their routes, until 09 December 2007

They ran a DRS charter with a West Coast Railways 47 as traction from s/land to york,it must have left s/land about 07.15ish,I passed en route to newcastle and had saw a lot of GC staff on the platform at s/land !! :razz:

 

[rail-britain]

If it was from WCRC then GC do not need to apply to the ORR as it is then classified as a Charter Train (and includes ECS)
Quite a clever way to get round that requirement
Strange that DRS never suggested that in the past!

 

[37402]

If it was from WCRC then GC do not need to apply to the ORR as it is then classified as a Charter Train (and includes ECS)
Quite a clever way to get round that requirement
Strange that DRS never suggested that in the past!

Because to become Class 1 trained, you need to be 'trained' (I say this loosely as most if not all of the GC staff are likely to already be quailfied traincrew) on official Class 1 trains.

Also running as Class 1 may have been the only way of guaranteeing a path down the ECML right into Kings X during weekdays. This latest 'trainer' only goes as far as York.

 

[Pathfinder]

If it was from WCRC then GC do not need to apply to the ORR as it is then classified as a Charter Train (and includes ECS)
Quite a clever way to get round that requirement
Strange that DRS never suggested that in the past!

Method in the madness eh !!

 

[rail-britain]

Given most of the staff have "transferred" over from other train companies, most of the training will be refreshers on specific sections of route
It therefore makes sense that there have been more training runs between Sunderland and York

A bit like when I worked for ICEC and was routed for Aberdeen to Newcastle
I was then offered a job on the Aberdeen - Plymouth, and so all I needed was the routing for Edinburgh - Carlisle
I did one training run, then it was cancelled, and I was put back on ICEC
Great run in a HST both ways though!

 

[Pathfinder]

Given most of the staff have "transferred" over from other train companies, most of the training will be refreshers on specific sections of route
It therefore makes sense that there have been more training runs between Sunderland and York

A bit like when I worked for ICEC and was routed for Aberdeen to Newcastle
I was then offered a job on the Aberdeen - Plymouth, and so all I needed was the routing for Edinburgh - Carlisle
I did one training run, then it was cancelled, and I was put back on ICEC
Great run in a HST both ways though!

If you ever saw the photo by paul bigland of GC's 1st arrival into KX with the DRS train and the two people hanging out of the window on arrival,the guy that worked it as the Snr Conductor is ex InterCity/InterCity East Coast and GNER,so if he dont know the route,nobody will !!! :grin:

 

[rail-britain]

At least it is easier taking on employees from another company, even if there is only a few months until their certificates expire
Had GC taken on a complete workforce of "new to industry" people, then Network Rail would have had to have sourced people with route knowledge, and this bill would then be passed on to GC
I also assume that Network Rail had a representative on the first train, just to make sure everything was "in order"

I remember when we were setting up Stagecoach RAIL for the Aberdeen - London service, and BR wanted four route inspectors even though two of the staff employed already had valid PTS
After some negotiation, BR put the inspectors on the northbound service and all the experienced staff worked on that train...
The southbound train was full of press, company directors, and VIPs, and no BR inspectors!

 

[turbo mick]

anyone remember the cleveland executive

Sunderland is my home city where i was born untill i moved 2 reading in 1989 i travelled on the hst via the durham coast a few times,it will be nice to see the service up and running,since the metro was extended 2 sunderland the rail service has gone apart from services to middlesborough to and from newcastle,i always wondered why Gner never took advantage as sunderland is a big city bigger than reading i would say

cheers
mick

 

[djw1981]

I think the reason was the slow speed up the Durham coast and pathing issues if they went via Heworth with teh metro and Northern to contend with. Plus as only HST's could go that way (Metro is 1500V DC, not 25kV AC like normal OHLE) their service would be starnge as teh HST's are required for Aberdeen & Inverness, as well as Skipton services.

Personally I would have thought a XC route Sunderland to Pompey etc would have been a good one, but alas XC franchises wasn;lt really able to develop new paths in that way.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Not all of us have come from other TOCs. Most of the Conductors havent, most of the Senior Conductors have, and the drivers, er, well, yes they all have!! I didn't come from another TOC, though I have helped out on occasion on the Wensleydale Railway as a crossing keeper when there has been a tour up the line.

 

[andylloyd]

I saw the wcrc 47 with DRS stock yesterday @ Newcastle. As it left for Heaton it was clagging well.

Cheers

Andy

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Aye, t'was clagging well this morning too. until it broke :cry: They were sending a fitter to heaton to have a look, so the afternoon/evening run has been caped. Wonder if tomorrow morning's run will be too... just hope Im not halfway to sunderland when they tell me!! hock:

 

[37402]

These latest training runs are running under GC's safety case. Sector 22 for those with access to TRUST.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

See HST thread for a reply. Im not repeating myself!!