Greater Anglia Good and Bad Discussion

[samuelmorris]

Yeah I saw the same poster and thought the same - it's the last few stations on the way to (and including) Peterborough - is this because they're operated by a different TOC or something?

 

[jon0844]

I also saw a big group of revenue inspectors boarding at Tottenham Hale towards Liverpool Street. All wearing yellow hi-vis. First time I've ever seen a group of them blitzing a train in years (literally years).

 

[Johnuk123]

I also saw a big group of revenue inspectors boarding at Tottenham Hale towards Liverpool Street. All wearing yellow hi-vis. First time I've ever seen a group of them blitzing a train in years (literally years).

Just before Christmas I saw about 10 all get on a KX train at Peterborough.

 

[TheEdge]

Yeah I saw the same poster and thought the same - it's the last few stations on the way to (and including) Peterborough - is this because they're operated by a different TOC or something?

I think its probably more to do with the fact that the vast majority of AGA stations are served by AGA only with the only big exception of Ely-Peterborough being operated by AGA, EMT and XC. I assume GTR has a similar increase or Gold Card zone so the Lynn line is less of an issue.

 

[samuelmorris]

I also saw a big group of revenue inspectors boarding at Tottenham Hale towards Liverpool Street. All wearing yellow hi-vis. First time I've ever seen a group of them blitzing a train in years (literally years).

First time I can recall being ticket-checked (or should I say, oyster checked) on the line into Liverpool Street for years earlier this week.

 

[jon0844]

It seemed like an odd place to board, at Tottenham Hale and heading INTO London. There was only one more stop, Hackney Downs, before LST.

Unless they are trying to catch people doing fiddles with Oyster/dumbelling or something I can't immediately think of. After all, LST is gated. Maybe it was just to go back and start over.

It was also a 315, so no first class to enforce (and in any case, it was a Hertford East originating service so wouldn't have had first class in operation anyway).

 

[387star]

Interesting fact... In just over ten years the Stansted Express branding has been altered five times ...

Orange striped trial under 'one'
Class 317/8s being altered from the 317/7 original livery
National Express style Stansted Express branding
Greater Anglia version one branding
Greater Anglia version two branding (not dissimilar to nxea)

Greater Anglia changed their logo part way through to emphasise the abellio brand

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Stansted_Express_Liverpool_Street.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...d_Airport_railway_station,_July_2010_(16).JPG

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70907...qsA-9w17jm-mioSfP-o38uNB-d8Ppuf-qJNMb1-a7W8Ym

 

[iphone76]

Even the main AGA routes have had a few brands/names/operators since the Spring of 2004.

FGE/WAGN/Anglia
ONE
NXEA
GA
AGA

With another change possibly happening next year.

What a waste of money. (IMO)

 

[chubs]

Even the main AGA routes have had a few brands/names/operators since the Spring of 2004.

FGE/WAGN/Anglia
ONE
NXEA
GA
AGA

With another change possibly happening next year.

What a waste of money. (IMO)

And at that point in 2004 some trains were running in silver/green GE livery and some in First Purple! Plus one MK2 rake in Intercity Swallow and a few 15x in Central livery.

Totally agree about the waste of money, would be nice to one day see the entire fleet in the same livery but will never happen.

 

[samuelmorris]

It seemed like an odd place to board, at Tottenham Hale and heading INTO London. There was only one more stop, Hackney Downs, before LST.

Unless they are trying to catch people doing fiddles with Oyster/dumbelling or something I can't immediately think of. After all, LST is gated. Maybe it was just to go back and start over.

It was also a 315, so no first class to enforce (and in any case, it was a Hertford East originating service so wouldn't have had first class in operation anyway).

I was inspected literally on the downhill into Liverpool Street, where the massive green 'welcome to London' banner is. I can only assume as you did that it's mainly oyster sneakiness they're after...

 

[Sleepy]

Evening peak out of Liverpool St. Completely buggered 2 days running by idiot pax trying to open doors on Norwich services that don't stop until Manningtree or Ipswich. :roll: Bet AGA control were having a pink fit. Why do these idiots never look or listen to announcements ??

 

[chubs]

Evening peak out of Liverpool St. Completely buggered 2 days running by idiot pax trying to open doors on Norwich services that don't stop until Manningtree or Ipswich. :roll: Bet AGA control were having a pink fit. Why do these idiots never look or listen to announcements ??

Surely they wouldn't get very far as the doors are locked?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Local rag leading with "No weekend train services from region to London for two months"

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news...rom_region_to_london_for_two_months_1_3923377

 

[TheEdge]

Surely they wouldn't get very far as the doors are locked?

No, but they will pull them onto the safety catch and that necessitates the train be stopped on the safety catch. Due to the specific dispatch process at Liverpool Street there then has to be so toing and froing between platform staff, guard and driver before the train can get moving. Then chuck all this in among the height of the evening peak and chaos ensues!

 

[samuelmorris]

Completely buggered? Even the Norwich services themselves were delayed by mostly 15-20 minutes, no more. The smattering of other services I checked were only 10-15 minutes behind schedule, which isn't a great deal different to a normal peak service. Frustrating, but hardly dramatic in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Alfie1014]

Not a good night on the GEML tonight. Loco on the 18:00 up Norwich failed at Manningtree rescued by following freight. Consequence the 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30 down all cancelled, 22:30 starting from Colchester passengers on the 22:18 Clacton. Not sure if it's weather related, but we did have some snow late afternoon in the area?

 

[86246]

Not a good night on the GEML tonight. Loco on the 18:00 up Norwich failed at Manningtree rescued by following freight. Consequence the 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30 down all cancelled, 22:30 starting from Colchester passengers on the 22:18 Clacton. Not sure if it's weather related, but we did have some snow late afternoon in the area?

90001 on the Prentendolino. A Freightliner 66 came to the rescue of 90002 at Needham Market last night.

 

[EssexCommuter]

Not a good night on the GEML tonight. Loco on the 18:00 up Norwich failed at Manningtree rescued by following freight. Consequence the 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30 down all cancelled, 22:30 starting from Colchester passengers on the 22:18 Clacton. Not sure if it's weather related, but we did have some snow late afternoon in the area?

Incredibly light snow, no excuse whatsoever. I suspect the continuing poor maintenance was to blame. The coaches were from the Pretendolino; it was a very sad sight to see it broken at Colchester (locos were old AGA ones).

The resulting cancellation and delays were the worst I have known for a long time with regards to a failed train. It wasn't even peak time in that direction. Diabolical.

 

[Z12XE]

The resulting cancellation and delays were the worst I have known for a long time with regards to a failed train. It wasn't even peak time in that direction. Diabolical.

The problem was how to rescue it - a light loco at Parkeston had no driver, and the train immediately behind was a 12 car 321, (which had a freight train immediately behind as well.)

The plan was to shunt the 321s to the Down platforn (which couldn't happen instantly) but then the points at the London end subsequently failed so it went cars to Ipswich to get out of the way.

Once this was clear the following freight could attach, to push the lot to Colchester, which takes time.

 

[dk1]

Not a good night on the GEML tonight. Loco on the 18:00 up Norwich failed at Manningtree rescued by following freight. Consequence the 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30 down all cancelled, 22:30 starting from Colchester passengers on the 22:18 Clacton. Not sure if it's weather related, but we did have some snow late afternoon in the area?

Power problems. Doesn't appear to be weather related.

 

[Dave1987]

Incredibly light snow, no excuse whatsoever. I suspect the continuing poor maintenance was to blame. The coaches were from the Pretendolino; it was a very sad sight to see it broken at Colchester (locos were old AGA ones).

The resulting cancellation and delays were the worst I have known for a long time with regards to a failed train. It wasn't even peak time in that direction. Diabolical.

I know you were probably delayed and inconvenienced but since when does that excuse you finding out the facts before having a rant and making assumptions?

Passengers have been demanding massive investment in the infrastructure on GEML for a while. Network Rail announces the biggest investment ever with a very high tech bit of kit being used i.e the high output ballast cleaner. Then people complain about the lack of trains late at night and weekends while the work is taking place. The railway just cannot win either way.

 

[TheEdge]

The problem was how to rescue it - a light loco at Parkeston had no driver, and the train immediately behind was a 12 car 321, (which had a freight train immediately behind as well.)

The plan was to shunt the 321s to the Down platforn (which couldn't happen instantly) but then the points at the London end subsequently failed so it went cars to Ipswich to get out of the way.

Once this was clear the following freight could attach, to push the lot to Colchester, which takes time.

All the above and I believe there were further problems with the assisting loco have power problems.

 

[dk1]

All the above and I believe there were further problems with the assisting loco have power problems.

Your turn to couple will come eventually? Hold on in there mate

 

[TheEdge]

Your turn to couple will come eventually? Hold on in there mate

NO! Although I work the short set enough...

 

[91104]

Do Greater Anglia not have a thunderbird loco on standby? I'm sure I used to see a class 47 stabled at Colchester or Shenfield.

 

[dk1]

Do Greater Anglia not have a thunderbird loco on standby? I'm sure I used to see a class 47 stabled at Colchester or Shenfield.

Not anymore. Loco & drivers are used a part of short hauled set on locals. The group funding from NR also stopped I think.

 

[EssexCommuter]

I know you were probably delayed and inconvenienced but since when does that excuse you finding out the facts before having a rant and making assumptions?

Passengers have been demanding massive investment in the infrastructure on GEML for a while. Network Rail announces the biggest investment ever with a very high tech bit of kit being used i.e the high output ballast cleaner. Then people complain about the lack of trains late at night and weekends while the work is taking place. The railway just cannot win either way.

Excuse me? I did not complain about a lack of trains at night. I merely said it wasn't peak time. I for one am glad NR are ploughing a lot of investment in.

The only assumption I made was that it was due to poor maintenance (by AGA) which has nothing to do with NR. So I suggest you read properly first before attacking.

Z12XE, thank you for your explanation.

 

[Wayneh]

Next meeting of the East Anglia Passenger Voice group is Feb 24 6pm.

County Hotel Chelmsford 6pm

Follow me at @waynecips for last minutes.

MPs interested. GE candidates coming, we are seeing NR and Transport Sec in next few weeks.

 

[chubs]

Next meeting of the East Anglia Passenger Voice group is Feb 24 6pm.

County Hotel Chelmsford 6pm

Follow me at @waynecips for last minutes.

MPs interested. GE candidates coming, we are seeing NR and Transport Sec in next few weeks.

Could you not provide us with a short summary here?

 

[387star]

Anyone know why the class 315s suffer from damp/ stain marks at certain points on the body side? Looks quite unsightly

 

[SPADTrap]

Anyone know why the class 315s suffer from damp/ stain marks at certain points on the body side? Looks quite unsightly

Drain for the pan perhaps?