Named Trains

[ChrisCooper]

With both the MML and ECML franchises changing hands, I wonder what the future of their named trains is. The MML currently has the Master Cutler, the Robin Hood and the Midland Express, with the GNER having the Flying Scotsman, The Highland Chieftain, The Hull Executive and the Northern Lights. I feel all or most of the GNER ones will remain with National Express, but am less confident over the MML ones staying with EMT, particularly with their policy to remove the buffets from their trains (since the resteraunt service is an important part of these "pullman" trains).
Also it will be interesting to see if Cross Country decide to resurect any of the named trains that Virgin abolished, although some of them used the WCML (e.g the Devon Scot) so won't be Cross Country routes for much longer, but some ran via the ECML, so will still be part of Cross Country.

 

[class 313]

I don't get why EMT want to remove the Buffet from the HST's, yes they will create more seats, but with the fare rise I can't see a massive boom in people traveling from St Pancras. Or why can't they just use extra trains instead of shipping them off to other TOC's?

 

[Mojo]

I don't get why EMT want to remove the Buffet from the HST's, yes they will create more seats, but with the fare rise I can't see a massive boom in people traveling from St Pancras. Or why can't they just use extra trains instead of shipping them off to other TOC's?

EMT don't want to remove the buffets - the DfT do.

 

[class 313]

EMT don't want to remove the buffets - the DfT do.

Oh I see, sorry.

 

[devon_metro]

About time the DFT stopped meddling...

 

[Daniel]

I would like to see an executive from the DfT being on the first EMT train without a buffet for several hours due to a breakdown or something...

 

[Mojo]

The same goes for First GW and the removal of buffets, arrival of 142s and so on, nothing to do with the TOCs. One of the reasons privitisation is so popular, the media & the public seem to give it all to the private companies and the politicians escape relatively easily. You can tell the type of areas which have strong political lobbyists though...