Do you really believe that ? - the winning bid will be the one that returns the most to the DFT - it is as simple as that, without a mass protest the DFT will continue to fleece the passengers and the fleet will continue to be run into the ground.
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Not so Greater Anglia
- Thread starter djdave
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Do you really believe that ? - the winning bid will be the one that returns the most to the DFT - it is as simple as that, without a mass protest the DFT will continue to fleece the passengers and the fleet will continue to be run into the ground.
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captainbigun
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Depends what your view of sensible is I guess, but you're absolutely right, we'll continue to grab our ankles for the DfT.
There's plenty, and Abellio met them all during the bidding process.
And Abelio completely ignored the MPs and the ERUF.....there was no formal consultation allowed by the Dft for this short management contract.....
But lets be honest.....Greater Anglia equals East Coast.....Management contract....all revenue and profits straight to the Treasury......no investment.....well minimal.....and massively overbid fantasyland figures on revenue......£14m in profit/tax taken out of the line and given to the treasury EVERY MONTH!!!!
Welcome to austerity! This is purely a cynical tax collection exercise on behalf of the DFT/HMRC and Abelio are just the Agents who get a Management fee......
In other words....2 and 1/2 years of further neglect (after 8 years of NX) to pay of Gordon's deficit!
321446
Member
Yeah because spending what they are spending and planning to spend is just an exercise for them. They like throwing money to the Gov for no reason.
On the other hand, in the limited time they have had available to them, trains are now cleaner, there are more staff out there protecting & collecting revenue, which in turn should help soften the blow of fares increases because at least more money is actually being made available from what should already be available. These are some points which regularly get raised in passenger dissatisfaction surveys as being important.
Hopefully they will then have a strong baseline to work from to build further improvements. And if they can show they deliver they may get a crack at the longer franchise.
Yes I work for GA. I worked for NXEA. I can see who has made more effort over a given period. Then again, whoever I end up working for if Abellio don't get the franchise, they could do worse than they have. Be that NX, Stagecoach, BR, Air France....
On the other hand, in the limited time they have had available to them, trains are now cleaner, there are more staff out there protecting & collecting revenue, which in turn should help soften the blow of fares increases because at least more money is actually being made available from what should already be available. These are some points which regularly get raised in passenger dissatisfaction surveys as being important.
Hopefully they will then have a strong baseline to work from to build further improvements. And if they can show they deliver they may get a crack at the longer franchise.
Yes I work for GA. I worked for NXEA. I can see who has made more effort over a given period. Then again, whoever I end up working for if Abellio don't get the franchise, they could do worse than they have. Be that NX, Stagecoach, BR, Air France....
as I understand it:
The 379s were only going to be for Stansted Express services- I think the original plan had less of them. Then, magically, there was a brief period where the Stansted Express was going to be 12-car. At which point the number of units was firmed up, before someone pointed out that 12-car wasn't needed.
Why do we think this happened? Your answer should include the words "pork barrel" somewhere in it.
The original plan always had 30 units, and all were for the Stansted Express. The franchise amendment requested and contracted by DfT had 12 car StExs all day. This was predicated on the planned terminal expansion (not the new runway) continuing to drive growth to 35m passengers pa at the airport. Then the recession happened and Stansted growth went into reverse. NX saw the opportunity to redeploy the fleet more effectively on the Cambridge services.
Pork barrel.
87015
Established Member
Overheads down at Temple Mills, all units there expected to be trapped for the evening peak so cancellations afoot.
1702 Norwich currently expected to be an 8-car 317.
1702 Norwich currently expected to be an 8-car 317.
SprinterMan
Established Member
I wish it was always 317/6 worked, they are better in every single way except ride quality than a 321. If anyone gets any photos of 317s at Norwich I would be very grateful. Do we know if it will be 317/5, /6 or /8 (or even /7) worked.
dk1
Veteran Member
How lucky it was then that 90008 failed in the same place at Witham for the second time this week on same service 06.00 up or the set on 1P07 would have gone to Orient Way instead of forming the 08.30 back & may have got trapped
iphone76
Member
Whilst waiting for a trespasser to be removed from the track tonight at Ilford , I noticed that the 317's have been attacked again by the "artists".
One carriage is completely covered.
Such a shame to see these units sitting there being vandalised day after day.
One carriage is completely covered.
Such a shame to see these units sitting there being vandalised day after day.
Norwich317
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- 26 Nov 2011
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- 21
I think 317710 has been taken to warm storage at Eastleigh. Perhaps someone can confirm.
SprinterMan
Established Member
according to Rail magazine both Ruud Haket GA and Dave Ward NR have given an in depth interview into what they hope to achieve in the franchise! Apart from robbing the public blind and tax collection whilst providing a shocking service, should make interesting reading!
MidnightFlyer
Veteran Member
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- 16 May 2010
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With attitudes like that I'm surprised you're even bothering to intend to read it :roll:
well having watched NX and the Dft slowly destroy our line over the past 8 years, I and 80,00o other regular commuters rather expected a little more! But don't take my word for it.....Rail Magazine, April 18-1st May, Industry Insider page 45.....I suggest you read it! talking about the current franchising policy including GA......
Quote....." the current direction is reflected in the award of the recent GA contract to Abelio. This has little to do with higher standards of customer service and much more to do with fact that the Dutch National railway operator is prepared to pay the Dft £425m over the 29 months" Unquote
It goes on......Quote "Stagecoah and Go Ahead offered figures of around £350m. So how is Abelio going to generate the additional £75m?" Unquote
personally I (and 80,000 other regular commuters) are sick of paying through the nose for crap, knackered old unrefurbished, disgusting trains that rarely work properly or run on time!
we all know the reason is ultimately the greedy Dft but personally I would like to see what precisely what these inept thieves have in store for us all!
personally my attitude is fine.....you appear to be in the minority!!!!
MidnightFlyer
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Every single time GA come up in any post you are there calling for their heads just two and a half months in (I believe it started on day one with the snow disruption!). Regardless of what they promised the DfT at least give them a chance to say what they plan and do it - only then can you judge. Give them a chance at least!
which is exactly why I am planning on reading the article! expectations rather low though.........even the professionals are Rail Mag are confirming what we (who actually pay through the nose for daily drivel) already know......not much will change for us the CUSTOMERS....you know those people who pay for the service???
the word CUSTOMER appears not matter on the Great Eastern Mainline.....how about CASH COWS? CAPTIVE AUDIENCE? CATTLE? Dunno.....do you expect us just to be good quiet little children and put up with this drivel for years and years and not complain about it?
the GA / Abelio was a big opportunity for those wonderful people at DAFT to redress the decline.....but they ducked it again and got greedy!
but that's ok......we will all just sit back, be good quiet little cattle and pay more and more and more and more and more for the same old crap!
Blindtraveler
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have to disagree with you on the customer service front there. Made my first journey on GA A cupple weeks back and it was also my first trip on the GE system for several years having been avoiding it like the plague.
The staff I came into contact with seamed happy, not something Id noted in NX days and although the set I had stil I fear bore traces of the formentioned Plague the one I was transfered onto after a failure was a different world from it!
The teams on stations and trains actually appeared to care and again thats a difference again.
I wil admit the price of tiket seamed steap for what I got but I was consoled by the fact that it would have been even steaper if I had gone on the bus, or rather the 3 different ones I would have had to use.
The staff I came into contact with seamed happy, not something Id noted in NX days and although the set I had stil I fear bore traces of the formentioned Plague the one I was transfered onto after a failure was a different world from it!
The teams on stations and trains actually appeared to care and again thats a difference again.
I wil admit the price of tiket seamed steap for what I got but I was consoled by the fact that it would have been even steaper if I had gone on the bus, or rather the 3 different ones I would have had to use.
SprinterMan
Established Member
Aside from the withdrawal of the 317/7s, GA are alot better than NXEA were. People seem to care more, they are spending alot of money on cleaning trains and the 321/4 refurb that NX refused to pay for.
tbtc
Veteran Member
I could understand the hatred if it was known that Stagecoah and Go Ahead planned to increase services/ extend trains/ cut fares etc, but as far as we currently know they planned to maintain the same level of service that GA are providing.
That NX refused to pay for towards the end of their franchise. If NX had just been given the franchise I expect that they would have refurbished the 321/4's, especially as Abellio want to impress the government to give them a greater chance of winning the longer franchise.
I have travelled with GA a few times in the last 3 weeks. I have noticed no difference except perhaps the trains are cleaner externally. I have never had any problems with staff and still don't.
Don't get me wrong, I am not criticising Abellio. It's just that I think NX have been given a lot of stick for things that are outside of their control e.g. infrastructure problems and many companies would not put much effort into a franchise in the last couple of years when they might not see a return on their investment.
Harry47818
Member
well i had trubles with GA but they have this fantastic system called the Delay Repay inwhich i think is a fab idea seeing the cost you pay for train fares, GA are by far better than NXEA, even the class 170s look brand new now they have been cleaned 
so clean that you can even see where the ONE livery once was WELL DONE GA FOR MAKING AN EFFORT! 
so clean that you can even see where the ONE livery once was WELL DONE GA FOR MAKING AN EFFORT!
SprinterMan
Established Member
well i had trubles with GA but they have this fantastic system called the Delay Repay inwhich i think is a fab idea seeing the cost you pay for train fares, GA are by far better than NXEA, even the class 170s look brand new now they have been cleaned
I think all TOCs have delay repay, but they have indeed done a superb job on the cleaning, something NXEA never did. Having said that, it does appear that the 2 remaining Anglia livered 153s are held together by dirt so maybe there is a reason for it. :P
SprinterMan
Established Member
Cleaner train exteriors.
Cleaner train interiors.
Better Customer Service.
Class 321/4 refurb.
Class 153 refurb.
On a side note, if you google "Delay repay", the top related search is "delay repay national express" :P
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