National Express East Anglia Interior

[mralexn]

im looking to travel with this TOC soon, i travelled with them last year under the mk3 stock they have and remember it being very tatty and pretty much unloved and worn out, i travelled in first class too and pretty much every seat was sprung, i was just wondering has these trains been refurbished or anything recently, or what would be the best alternative traction to use by them to get to cambridge, im looking for a FC with at leaste plug sockets ^^

 

[jonb]

Unfortunately the Mk III's haven't been touched (internally or externally) so remain very much the same, probably worse! As for getting up to Cambridge, all the 379 units have now entered service and I believe there are diagrams that get them up to Cambs. It may be peak hour only, Monday - Friday but I'm sure someone can advise.

If you were looking for something different you could catch a 379 to Stansted Airport (where they frequent more being mainly airport dedicated units) and then take a XC 170 to Cambridge.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Ther have been no recent refurbs on the 90s and Mk3s out to Norwich.

Try getting a 379 from Liverpool St-Cambridge, they have power points in both classes. No other trains between London and Cambridge have power points.

No trains Norwich-Cambridge have power points (hourly 170 in each direction).

 

[mralexn]

Unfortunately the Mk III's haven't been touched (internally or externally) so remain very much the same, probably worse! As for getting up to Cambridge, all the 379 units have now entered service and I believe there are diagrams that get them up to Cambs. It may be peak hour only, Monday - Friday but I'm sure someone can advise.

If you were looking for something different you could catch a 379 to Stansted Airport (where they frequent more being mainly airport dedicated units) and then take a XC 170 to Cambridge.

thanks,
so how come they have not been touched? is it because NX dont want to pay to refurb them, ? just seems odd because every other TOC has refurbed their sets ^^

 

[Mojo]

National Express *did* give a refresh to their sets when they took over the franchise in 2004.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

thanks,
so how come they have not been touched? is it because NX dont want to pay to refurb them, ? just seems odd because every other TOC has refurbed their sets ^^

They lose their franchise next year, in all honesty they don't need to waste their money bothering anymore. Similarly, they have withdrawn the highly popular breakfasts in First Class, that were only introduced in December.

 

[mralexn]

National Express *did* give a refresh to their sets when they took over the franchise in 2004.

what did they do?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

They lose their franchise next year, in all honesty they don't need to waste their money bothering anymore. Similarly, they have withdrawn the highly popular breakfasts in First Class, that were only introduced in December.

ah i see, so will the next franchise owner be made to refurbish the sets as part as the agreement?

 

[ainsworth74]

ah i see, so will the next franchise owner be made to refurbish the sets as part as the agreement?

Unlikely as the next franchise will only run for 12-18 months (god only knows why the DfT think this is a sensible idea). However the next full franchise (as in one which will last 15+ years) will almost certainly include a refresh in it's bid or be told to do one anyway.

 

[mralexn]

Unlikely as the next franchise will only run for 12-18 months (god only knows why the DfT think this is a sensible idea). However the next full franchise (as in one which will last 15+ years) will almost certainly include a refresh in it's bid or be told to do one anyway.

so its going to be at leaste 2 years before we see any improvements to them, such a shame really, and 18 month franchise seems to be a terrible idea.

 

[AlterEgo]

Similarly, they have withdrawn the highly popular breakfasts in First Class, that were only introduced in December.

What? Is this recent? I thought they ran two breakfast trains?

I travelled on the 1000 Liverpool St - Norwich only four or five weeks ago, and got a full English.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

What? Is this recent? I thought they ran two breakfast trains?

I travelled on the 1000 Liverpool St - Norwich only four or five weeks ago, and got a full English.

I'm fairly certain they have, Barry Doe reported it in RAIL recently. I'll check, or whack off an email.

 

[dk1]

What? Is this recent? I thought they ran two breakfast trains?

I travelled on the 1000 Liverpool St - Norwich only four or five weeks ago, and got a full English.

As soon as NX didnt pre-qualify they withdrew first class service on the 06.50/09.00 & 07.10/09.30. The 'East Anglian' 07.40/10.00 lingered on a few weeks longer but was withdrawn at around a weeks notice during late July. All staff have now been put into the main catering shift roster.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

so its going to be at leaste 2 years before we see any improvements to them, such a shame really, and 18 month franchise seems to be a terrible idea.

Temp franchise will now run for around 2.5 years.

 

[317666]

what did they do?

New seat covers, carpet and re-painted internal panelling. And some standard class coaches had a mini-buffet added.

 

[MCR247]

I take it that was also when those priority seats were added?

 

[dk1]

New seat covers, carpet and re-painted internal panelling. And some standard class coaches had a mini-buffet added.

& some FOs converted to FOD.

 

[317653]

I know 317650 has had a refurb inside same seats as 379s and carpet

 

[jopsuk]

it has- but no power sockets or wifi.

 

[iphone76]

I'm sure I read recently that the ex-Silverlink/LM class 321's are going to be refurbished/refreshed as part of the interim franchise.