Greater Anglia Good and Bad Discussion

[jon0844]

No I'm implying that behaviour that may seem poor to person A can very easily seem fine to person B.

I understand that, but checking what I've said or telling me a return isn't much more wasn't part of my plan given there was an earlier train I could have taken without any difficulty.

By all means check if I need a return, but to suggest it's better value when I've said I am not coming back is a bit odd.

 

[samuelmorris]

If I knew the train I wanted was about to arrive, I'd try and hurry the process along. If I didn't, sucks to be me, tough luck. I'm not sure on that occasion I'd wholly attribute me being late to the ticket office staff, especially when it all arose due to making a slower, but cheaper journey.

 

[Richard1960]

Is this the very same guy who, dispatched drivers/trains from HT, against red signals? Was issued with the heaviest dispatch bat known to staff, as it never appeared above his waist, until those 'jobsworth' drivers insisted he dispatched in accordance? Who reported drivers for stop short incidents, ie 4 car units not on their stop boards in a 12 car platform? Lets hope not.

Sheringham - the saga express line. By loose change, do you mean crowns, shillings and pence? As most, will be able to recall that currency, for sure. A heritage line with a daily service. It truly is a part of the railway that has fought reform for decades. Ask Tesco..

Jobsworth's are every where, not just within AGA. However they are the one's, who are often often called into question, when those who do their duty, more than adequately, are often ignored, nor rewarded..

Well actually the loose change incident happened on the lowestoft line.!

As for Tesco at Sheringham i was there saturday and it was virtually a customer free zone obviously they have run out of pre decimal thrupenny bits to spend ,thought the heritage line was over the road as i am a member of the North Norfolk Railway .LOL Although Tesco did knock down a perfectly serviceable social housing block to build their store which is now a blot on the landscape as you enter by train.

Which part of railway reform have Sheringham opposed incidentally ? certainly not the newish AGA hourly sunday service that once used to be every two hours in winter to Norwich,it is hourly all year round now.

As for the first paragraph i have not asked the guy on the gates at Harlow Town if he did the things that were stated,all i know he is he always okay with us passengers.

Oh no jobsworths are everywhere that is for sure luckily on my travels around East Anglia today i did not meet any for my weekly £196 ticket they p-- me off..

 

[jon0844]

If I knew the train I wanted was about to arrive, I'd try and hurry the process along. If I didn't, sucks to be me, tough luck. I'm not sure on that occasion I'd wholly attribute me being late to the ticket office staff, especially when it all arose due to making a slower, but cheaper journey.

Slower? Cheshunt to WGC via Tottenham Hale and 2 stops on the tube, vs a trip into Liverpool Street, tube to King's Cross and a later train out?

As it stood, I got a train at around xx:21 past. Got to Tottenham Hale about xx:28 past. Was at Finsbury Park at xx:35. Got fast train to WGC at xx:41.

Care to tell me how long it would have taken me via LST?

Yes I was running late, hence me not buying via my app. However, I would have got the earlier train and therefore not needed to run down the escalators at TOM and up the stairs at FPK quite easily, as it only departed as I came down the steps.

Anyway, I am not sure how I could have hurried the process along without seeming incredibly rude. It was me being polite and NOT saying anything nasty that ultimately meant taking so long.

I haven't complained to AGA or demanded she's sacked. Nor will I go to the Daily Mail. Nevertheless, it was odd that she wanted to know what other tickets I had, if I was coming back, and why I wasn't buying a ticket straight through and any permitted.

 

[387star]

Refurbished first class tour

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-VVmpd26rzc

 

[jon0844]

Couldn't the person filming hold steady on anything for at least a few seconds? Or is the idea to pause frame to look properly, in which case photos would have been better!

 

[scott118]

Well actually the loose change incident happened on the lowestoft line.!

As for Tesco at Sheringham i was there saturday and it was virtually a customer free zone obviously they have run out of pre decimal thrupenny bits to spend ,thought the heritage line was over the road as i am a member of the North Norfolk Railway .LOL Although Tesco did knock down a perfectly serviceable social housing block to build their store which is now a blot on the landscape as you enter by train.

Which part of railway reform have Sheringham opposed incidentally ? certainly not the newish AGA hourly sunday service that once used to be every two hours in winter to Norwich,it is hourly all year round now.

As for the first paragraph i have not asked the guy on the gates at Harlow Town if he did the things that were stated,all i know he is he always okay with us passengers.

Oh no jobsworths are everywhere that is for sure luckily on my travels around East Anglia today i did not meet any for my weekly £196 ticket they p-- me off..

I'd rather go to Shezza, than LWT, that's a given. Tesco will ultimately remain customer free, as i understand, the residents became somewhat vocal about it's presence. Fire station looks modern though, however the new platform Tesco, i believe promised, as part of the redevelopment, has failed to materialise. The point i was making regarding the saga line is, it truly is a part of the railway that time forgot. SLW, semiphore, OTNS, axle counters, all blasts from a bygone era, in today's world.

New hourly service - that's if the service hasn't been delayed prior, and is been terminated at Cromer, by AGA control, who have only informed the guard, on the final approach towards the buffers, that this is the case..

£196, bargain. What would it have cost, if you had taken the same journey's by taxi, i wonder?

 

[Richard1960]

I'd rather go to Shezza, than LWT, that's a given. Tesco will ultimately remain customer free, as i understand, the residents became somewhat vocal about it's presence. Fire station looks modern though, however the new platform Tesco, i believe promised, as part of the redevelopment, has failed to materialise. The point i was making regarding the saga line is, it truly is a part of the railway that time forgot. SLW, semiphore, OTNS, axle counters, all blasts from a bygone era, in today's world.

New hourly service - that's if the service hasn't been delayed prior, and is been terminated at Cromer, by AGA control, who have only informed the guard, on the final approach towards the buffers, that this is the case..

£196, bargain. What would it have cost, if you had taken the same journey's by taxi, i wonder?

I do not intend to tour North Norfolk by cab.! But as you ask from Harlow to Sheringham its about £120 each way.

But then again a train should be cheaper because of the volume using it rather then the one passenger.

Yes the new platform at Sheringham Tesco promised has not materialised yet i wonder if it ever will considering the losses Tesco are racking up as of late.

My main concern about this Tesco was all the social housing that was bulldozed to build it though.Grrrr.

Must admit i have a much more positive attitude towards greater Anglia after this week met some nice staff on the whole,and even the guy at cambridge lets me through now, as he knows i am having trouble with my Anglia Weekly Plus Season at the gates.On the whole i think they are improving.

 

[Trainfan344]

I'd rather go to Shezza, than LWT, that's a given.

What's wrong with LWT? :P

 

[TheEdge]

What's wrong with LWT? :P

How long have you got?

 

[Richard1960]

How long have you got?

Its got a nice theatre thats a positive i saw Roy Chubby Brown there last year.

Minus points ticket office closes too early at the station meaning a chilly platform wait,unless the coffee shop is serving on the platform

 

[Wivenswold]

Just seen a 317 on a LST-Shenfield diagram. Is this going to become a thing under TFL?

 

[samuelmorris]

That's happened a few times but given the concessions are run by different companies I suspect it'll be less likely under TfL than as now.

 

[Richard1960]

Just seen a 317 on a LST-Shenfield diagram. Is this going to become a thing under TFL?

Don't they run one up to Norwich nightly via Shenfield usually the 7.30pm out of Norwich on the way back i think the only intercity! without a loo on it.

 

[jopsuk]

Don't think so. For a while there was an LST-NRW service that used 3x317/7. All the 317s have loos, the /7s even have an accessible loo.

I'd have thought from the start of the concessions that the chances of a 317 to Shenfield will be almost nill (it would require TfL rail to hire one in from GA or LO WA)

 

[Richard1960]

Don't think so. For a while there was an LST-NRW service that used 3x317/7. All the 317s have loos, the /7s even have an accessible loo.

I'd have thought from the start of the concessions that the chances of a 317 to Shenfield will be almost nill (it would require TfL rail to hire one in from GA or LO WA)

I saw one at Norwich wednesday no loos on board and obviously no catering as was announced,i have also used one from Stowmarket heading towards Norwich via Shenfield might not have been a 317 but definitely no loo on it as far as i know. If i see it tonight will get a picture.GA were running it.

Perhaps somebody with better knowledge then me could enlighten us.

AS for TFL using them i suspect they might be able to for the right price.

 

[jopsuk]

Every single 317 has one or two loos. I promise you. Every last one.

 

[Richard1960]

Every single 317 has one or two loos. I promise you. Every last one.

Must have been another variant then perhaps somebody a driver from GA knows what that train is.? Definitely a commuter line one though not inter city could it be a 321 i have looked at some pictures and that seems closest.

 

[Wivenswold]

With some of the 317s heading to TfL it made me wonder whether they will see use on Shenfield fast services.

It's an interesting point and possibly for another thread, where on the Network South East AC network haven't 317s operated?

On the GEML they were used in First Great Eastern days for weekend Harwich International services I recall. Though I'm not sure why that would have happened as FGE didn't have any on lease. In the early days of "One" (NX) a small number were allocated to the GEML as replacements for 312/322s though that was a very shortlived situation and I'm pretty sure they only did LST to Ipswich services. More recently, in the last days of NX, a 3 set was used for the 17.02 Norwich stopper from London.

That leaves the Southend Vic, Braintree and Clacton branches, though I saw a 317 heading to Clacton out of service only last weekend.

 

[TheEdge]

1702 LST - NRW and 19:30 NRW - LST runs as a 321, not a 317.

 

[Richard1960]

1702 LST - NRW and 19:30 NRW - LST runs as a 321, not a 317.

Thanks i guess that answers my question.

 

[Wivenswold]

That was a 317/7 diagram until Abellio took over and cut them out of their fleet.

On the no loo front, 315s were used to Colchester during the heavy snow in 1987. There was quite a queue for the toilets on the platform when it arrived in North Essex.

 

[306024]

Over the next few weeks you may well see the odd 317 or even 321 on a Shenfield metro service while Ilford Depot make sure the 315s are handed over to TfL is as reasonable nick as possible for a 35 year old train. Even so AGA will continue to maintain them on behalf of MTR and LOROL.

Once the big split occurs on 31 May 2015, only the AGA drivers at Ilford will sign 317s, MTR Ilford drivers will only work 315s, so while you can't say it won't happen, the chance of a 317 on the GEML is rather limited, and not planned.

The 12 x 317/7 on the 17.02 LST - NRW lasted all of 8 weeks, and if reintroduced now would see many passengers standing, not a good idea.

When 317s were used on boat trains and some Ipswich off peak services they were on hire to Anglia Railways, not FGE, all a long time ago.

And finally Clacton Depot are doing some refurb work on 317s, so you will see the odd ECS down there.

Think that tidys up a few loose ends

 

[Wivenswold]

Over the next few weeks you may well see the odd 317 or even 321 on a Shenfield metro service while Ilford Depot make sure the 315s are handed over to TfL is as reasonable nick as possible for a 35 year old train. Even so AGA will continue to maintain them on behalf of MTR and LOROL.

Once the big split occurs on 31 May 2015, only the AGA drivers at Ilford will sign 317s, MTR Ilford drivers will only work 315s, so while you can't say it won't happen, the chance of a 317 on the GEML is rather limited, and not planned.

The 12 x 317/7 on the 17.02 LST - NRW lasted all of 8 weeks, and if reintroduced now would see many passengers standing, not a good idea.

When 317s were used on boat trains and some Ipswich off peak services they were on hire to Anglia Railways, not FGE, all a long time ago.

And finally Clacton Depot are doing some refurb work on 317s, so you will see the odd ECS down there.

Think that tidys up a few loose ends

Excellent, yes, thanks.

The only outstanding query I have is around the 2004 replacement of the Class 312s. From (fading) memory, 5 x 322s replaced the last handful of 312s shortly after NX took over that spring, the 312s were diagrammed for only two workings (AM Peak Southminster to LST then PM peak LST to Witham).

The 322s arrived in an appalling condition with threadbare, damp-smelling seats and fading paintwork. These only seemed to last a few months before 317s started to be seen in Colchester sidings. I can vividly remember seeing one of them on an Ipswich evening peak service but these too seemed to disappear pretty quickly (by 2005?). I'm not sure whether NX made any further provision to replace the loss of those three 312s or whether there was a big timetable change around that time which reduced the unit requirement.

 

[jopsuk]

With some of the 317s heading to TfL it made me wonder whether they will see use on Shenfield fast services. .

There's two, completely separate, TFL operations that are starting from Liverpool Street:

TfL Rail is the pre-Crossrail operation on the Shenfield Metro. They'll be using exclusively 44x315s in the new livery with the blue lower body stripe. When available these will be replaced by Class 345, and after that they'll start running through Crossrail services

London Overground will be running the Chingford/Enfield/Chesunt services, using a mix of the other 17x 315s, 7x 317/8 and 8x 317/7. It's unclear exactly what branding they'll get, likely just LO stickers on the existing GA livery. These are all to be replaced in the near future by a new fleet of 4 car units(which will be shared also by the GOBLIN when the wires go up). One of these will be used on the Romford-Upminster shuttle service.

GA will still operate the 317/6 and 317/5s, plus the other 5 317/8 and (when it's working) 317722 (the refurbishment/retraction demonstrator). Potentially (as they're cleared) they could theoretically be used on the GEML

 

[306024]

Excellent, yes, thanks.

The only outstanding query I have is around the 2004 replacement of the Class 312s. From (fading) memory, 5 x 322s replaced the last handful of 312s shortly after NX took over that spring, the 312s were diagrammed for only two workings (AM Peak Southminster to LST then PM peak LST to Witham).

The 322s arrived in an appalling condition with threadbare, damp-smelling seats and fading paintwork. These only seemed to last a few months before 317s started to be seen in Colchester sidings. I can vividly remember seeing one of them on an Ipswich evening peak service but these too seemed to disappear pretty quickly (by 2005?). I'm not sure whether NX made any further provision to replace the loss of those three 312s or whether there was a big timetable change around that time which reduced the unit requirement.

My memory is knocking on a bit too, but the 322s were brought down from Shields Road to help out with the Ipswich tunnel closure in the summer of 2004, as it wasn't possible to maintain sufficient InterCity sets south of the block. Then came the new NX timetable with through services to Lowestoft and Peterborough, which rewrote everything.

I do now recall some Colchester drivers being trained on 317s, but as you say that didn't last long. And yes the last 312 workings were the 07.15 Southminster to Liverpool Street and 17.50 Liverpool Street to Witham.

 

[387star]

I wonder why the gov didn't take on this franchise till the next long franchise which would have saved a private companies reputation .. They could have painted trains grey similar to east coast making it an easy process for the next private company to rebrand instead we have a situation where if Abellio lose the franchise the route will look a mess yet again ...

Abellio were brave to take on a mini franchise since lengthened which initially saw no major investment planned fair play to them for pushing improvements through and clearly wanting it for the long term ...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Will the 379s be repainted into a specific airport livery at some point like all over red to stand out more?

The white on them does not wear well

 

[badassunicorn]

We can but hope! They always look mega grubby!

 

[jopsuk]

Unlikely to ever have an airport-specific livery as they're a shared pool with the ones used for Cambridge services (especially the peak time 12-car services)

 

[Richard1960]

Hi i spent a nice day on the North Norfolk Railway.

When i got back into Norwich the 18.03 to Cambridge had been cancelled ,but spoke to some body with a RMT badge on and he said the next one was 19.03.

So i went for a meal over the river at the Lord Nelson phoned up from there to check again, only to be told the next train was 20.03 two hours later.

Even though EMT ran their 18.57 train to Ely along the same line.

I needed to get to Harlow Town and could get to Ely on my £111 Anglia Plus via EMT.

But needed to get to Cambridge on the Cross Country which does not take anglia Plus Tickets.

I asked customer service at Norwich if they could ask if i could use it seeing as their trains were not running to Cambridge at present.

They said i had to go over to customer service to ask them my meal went ion the bin and and that was £24 wasted because they could not sort the problem out on the phone.

Useless.

I thought train companies if they could not run their routes had a duty to make sure you could get home not GA apparently.