Pullman replaces SE commuter service

[sammyg901]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-38011196

Looks fun and a nice surprise for those not expecting it!

Was it this train?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W46075/2016/11/17/advanced

 

[grumblingalong]

A nice treat! If only we could do stuff like this more often, the public perception of the railway would be greatly improved!

 

[Fincra5]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U64236/2016/11/17/advanced

Was this one I believe. Ex Stewarts Lane.

 

[Ephiny]

This is a bit confusing. The BBC article says it 'replaced' the 0700 service (although there doesn't seem to be any such service in the Southeastern timetable), and the Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/a...ar-style-complete-three-course-breakfast.html says it arrived at 0724, but also has the number of passengers on board as 100, and then 180 later in the same article...

If it replaced a regular peak-time commuter service into London, surely there would have been far more than 100 (or even 180) people wanting to travel on that service, so what happened to all the others when their train was replaced by one with much less capacity? Did it stop at intermediate stations?

It does sound lovely, I just want to understand how it worked...

 

[Fincra5]

It seems to be an additional I'd imagine. People signed up for it it seems or were asked if they'd like to at the station.

 

[Ephiny]

That would make more sense.

 

[Clip]

This is a bit confusing. The BBC article says it 'replaced' the 0700 service (although there doesn't seem to be any such service in the Southeastern timetable), and the Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/a...ar-style-complete-three-course-breakfast.html says it arrived at 0724, but also has the number of passengers on board as 100, and then 180 later in the same article...

If it replaced a regular peak-time commuter service into London, surely there would have been far more than 100 (or even 180) people wanting to travel on that service, so what happened to all the others when their train was replaced by one with much less capacity? Did it stop at intermediate stations?

It does sound lovely, I just want to understand how it worked...

Did you read the story to find all the answers to your question at all?

Great bit of promotion by the company for sure.

 

[Deepgreen]

According to RTT it left Ashford at 0740 - hardly a replacement for the 0700 working, which originates from Sandwich, and ran anyway. It was reported to have been a publicity stunt by Belmond Pullmans. It arrived at Victoria 21 minutes late against its own schedule. Depressingly poor reporting from the BBC again.

The evening return working has been cancelled owing to no 14th and 15th stewards being available!

 

[DarloRich]

According to RTT it left Ashford at 0740 - hardly a replacement for the 0700 working, which originates from Sandwich, and ran anyway. It was reported to have been a publicity stunt by Belmond Pullmans. It arrived at Victoria 21 minutes late against its own schedule. Depressingly poor reporting from the BBC again.

and that is a problem because?

The "replaced the 0700" bit is clearly a journalistic hook to draw people into the story. Don't let it worry you or detract from a nice story. :roll:

 

[Antman]

I saw this earlier passing through West Malling en route to Ashford, I wondered where it was going as it appeared to have only staff on board.

 

[sammyg901]

Ah that makes sense. I did think it odd that the train would be quiet enough to replace !

 

[ScotTrains]

It would be nice if Scotrail could get this treatment as a sorry for the constant delays and cancellations seen almost everyday. The Northern Belle would be quite fitting up here, and the Royal Scotsman for the 1st class passengers! Would be a great publicity stunt!

 

[LAX54]

This is a bit confusing. The BBC article says it 'replaced' the 0700 service (although there doesn't seem to be any such service in the Southeastern timetable), and the Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/a...ar-style-complete-three-course-breakfast.html says it arrived at 0724, but also has the number of passengers on board as 100, and then 180 later in the same article...

If it replaced a regular peak-time commuter service into London, surely there would have been far more than 100 (or even 180) people wanting to travel on that service, so what happened to all the others when their train was replaced by one with much less capacity? Did it stop at intermediate stations?

It does sound lovely, I just want to understand how it worked...

Additional 'special / charter' 1Z62 0735 Ash to Vic.

 

[IKB]

Commuters in the London area have been enduring a particularly poor service in recent months from Southern trains, whose drivers have been striking perceived safety concerns in relation to a plan for train drivers to be in charge of shutting doors.

^ This from the Daily Fail. Wrong and irrelevant to the commuters of Ashford !

 

[D1009]

I do find this odd, was it a total freebie?

 

[Ephiny]

Did you read the story to find all the answers to your question at all?

Great bit of promotion by the company for sure.

Not sure I understand the question, but I read the BBC and Daily Mail articles, and no, they didn't answer all my questions, hence me asking them here. I'm new to posting here, so possibly that was wrong somehow?

 

[Flying Phil]

Hi Ephiny
It certainly was a confusing story and you were correct to ask for clarification on here. There are many very well connected knowlegable people who post regularly so I'm sure detailed answers will come.
But it certainly was a publicity coup for Belmond!

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Perhaps we can have in SWT land soon ?

 

[Deepgreen]

The story has been adopted by many media outlets as a 'feel-good' one, but that doesn't excuse the errors and poor journalism that have been rife. It wasn't a replacement for any Southeastern working; it was an extra, well-judged, publicity-seeking exercise by Belmond. Neither was it anything to do with Southern, and media attempts to latch it onto the issues there are pathetic.

That the BBC should leap upon it and put out the poor stuff that they did is a shame, to say the least. It goes hand-in-hand in terms of accuracy and quality with their tornadoes (or 'tornados' - their short article yesterday used both spellings!) item, when no tornadoes had actually been reported, merely gusty winds with heavy rain. To witness the BBC declining into the mire of sensationalism is sad.

 

[Clip]

Not sure I understand the question, but I read the BBC and Daily Mail articles, and no, they didn't answer all my questions, hence me asking them here. I'm new to posting here, so possibly that was wrong somehow?

Hi Ephiny
It certainly was a confusing story and you were correct to ask for clarification on here. There are many very well connected knowlegable people who post regularly so I'm sure detailed answers will come.
But it certainly was a publicity coup for Belmond!

Im unsure if we read the same story then and there is no more detail to give - it was a promotion by Belmond, it was free and people either signed up for it or got offered it on the morning concerned.

Im really unsure how anyone could not grasp that even if they didnt read the story.

 

[misterredmist]

what a wonderful surprise that will have been, they should do that on a few more routes !

......reminds me of many decades back when a Concorde replaced the usual Trident on a MAN to LHR shuttle.....

 

[Deepgreen]

Many years ago, a Bournemouth to Weymouth service train was cancelled/failed en route (I forget which), and the following working, which was a steam-hauled special operated by 'Steam Dreams'/'Cathedrals Express' made several extra stops to cover for the missing train! Now, that's an unexpected local service!

 

[tsr]

Many years ago, a Bournemouth to Weymouth service train was cancelled/failed en route (I forget which), and the following working, which was a steam-hauled special operated by 'Steam Dreams'/'Cathedrals Express' made several extra stops to cover for the missing train! Now, that's an unexpected local service!

It may surprise you to learn that Southern station staff have tried similar tactics with charter trains once or twice recently. I seem to remember that all recent attempts have unfortunately failed, chiefly for the simple reason that the trains were already completely full...

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Many years ago, a Bournemouth to Weymouth service train was cancelled/failed en route (I forget which), and the following working, which was a steam-hauled special operated by 'Steam Dreams'/'Cathedrals Express' made several extra stops to cover for the missing train! Now, that's an unexpected local service!

That has happened a few times. I have been one one or two Cathedrals Express Steam Trains which has made extra stops for local passengers when there has been late running. It also happened a few years ago in a very snowy December when the Cathedrals Express hauled by Tornado doing an evening Kent Circular excursion, took some South Eastern passengers to Bromley and Maidstone I think, when because of the bad weather, the electric trains would not work, (Problem with the 3rd rail supply I seem to recall). It even got a good mention on the BBC Radio 4 today morning programme. Good publicity. HDL Did the same when they could get through, but again the electric trains couldn't. The buffet cars on these trains did a roaring trade from the extra surprised, but pleased SE passengers.

Nice that the old trains came to the rescue.

 

[yorksrob]

What a good idea. Nice to see the Ashford - Victoria line take precedence for once as well.

As an occasional user of the route over thirty years or so, I have to say I'd be ecstatic to catch a VEP along there again.