What is wrong with Northern Rail?

[harry42]

OK...

Majority of people really don't like Northern Rail...Why?

What are your problems with NR? If you owned that company what would you do?

I'll start off:

#1: Clean the train during turn-around instead of sitting on your bum next to it chatting to your colleges!

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Have staff on the Ellesmere Port-Helsby trains leaving at the right times, calling at all stops and not tell people boarding at Elton and Stanlow that they can get a free ride. Other than that, they are fine, I've yet to go on a really dirty Northern Train.

 

[455driver]

OK...
I'll start off:

#1: Clean the train during turn-around instead of sitting on your bum next to it chatting to your colleges!

So you are going to change the crews terms and conditions are you?
Good luck with that one.


So basically this is just another thread where people who know very little (but think they know lots) will come up with a load of stupid ideas because they can, most of which we will have heard 20 tims in the last 6 months already!

Yawn.

 

[northwichcat]

OK...

Majority of people really don't like Northern Rail...Why?

I notice you've put Nottingham as your location. Do you use Northern services which aren't operated by 158s.

 

[tbtc]

#2: Unrealistic expectations about what a heavily subsidised TOC running short trains with cheap PTE fares (and a number of infrequent branchlines through fairly empty parts of England) should be able to achieve

 

[Manchester77]

So basically this is just another thread where people who know very little (but think they know lots) will come up with a load of stupid ideas because they can, most of which we will have heard 20 times in the last 6 months already!

Yawn.

Think you've hit the nail right on the head there!

 

[northwichcat]

#2: Unrealistic expectations about what a heavily subsidised TOC running short trains with cheap PTE fares (and a number of infrequent branchlines through fairly empty parts of England) should be able to achieve

I'd personally say some PTE lines like Marple to Manchester get an unrealistic level of off-peak service considering usage, while some lines where passengers pay higher fares have higher patronage and a lower level of frequency.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I was on an NT (not NR please!) 142 yesterday which had what appeared to be brand new seating (or at least new stripey seat covers).
It was in a 2+2 configuration and quite nice really compared to the older units.
I take this as a sign they will be in service for another decade at least...

 

[harry42]

I notice you've put Nottingham as your location. Do you use Northern services which aren't operated by 158s.

Yes...the hope valley line (142/144)
Sheffield-Lincoln
Buxton line (142 quite often.)
All of the above at least once monthly.

I never said I was against Northern...I understand there circumstances.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was on an NT (not NR please!) 142 yesterday which had what appeared to be brand new seating (or at least new stripey seat covers).
It was in a 2+2 configuration and quite nice really compared to the older units.
I take this as a sign they will be in service for another decade at least...

I thought by 2019 they had to be got rid off because of the disability act as they aren't step free. Could've just made that up though!

 

[northwichcat]

I was on an NT (not NR please!) 142 yesterday which had what appeared to be brand new seating (or at least new stripey seat covers).
It was in a 2+2 configuration and quite nice really compared to the older units.
I take this as a sign they will be in service for another decade at least...

You got one of the examples that Northern Spirit fitted new seats to and Northern have just started replacing worn out seat covers on so the 'new' seats are probably 12-14 years old.

 

[Manchester77]

Buxton line (142 quite often.)
All of the above at least once monthly.
!

142s aren't powerful enough let alone cleared to go north of Hazel Grove. If you've been going north of Hazel Grove it'll have been a 156 or 150 the only trains cleared to work to Buxton.

 

[northwichcat]

Yes...the hope valley line (142/144)
Sheffield-Lincoln
Buxton line (142 quite often.)
All of the above at least once monthly.

No the Buxton line is never 142s except for a small number of services which don't go any further south than Hazel Grove. It's mainly 150s even on the Hazel Grove only services.

 

[harry42]

No the Buxton line is never 142s except for a small number of services which don't go any further south than Hazel Grove. It's mainly 150s even on the Hazel Grove only services.

To be fair, that was only to Hazel Grove. The hope valley line is either a 150 or 142/144 when I go on it.

 

[northwichcat]

The hope valley line is either a 150 or 142/144 when I go on it.

If by Hope Valley you mean Manchester-Sheffield then it'll be 142 or 150 with occasional 156s. The crews that work the line don't sign 144s.

 

[harry42]

If by Hope Valley you mean Manchester-Sheffield then it'll be 142 or 150 with occasional 156s. The crews that work the line don't sign 144s.

OK well pacer anyway.

 

[wbbminerals]

The worst thing is when they don't open the doors until the last minute when the service is starting! So annoying as those who arrive early have to stand for a long time and when the doors do open everyone rushes to get seats.

 

[455driver]

Is it me or is the OP being ripped apart on his complaints?
He doesnt even know what trains he has been on or where he went on them!

 

[Anvil1984]

The worst thing is when they don't open the doors until the last minute when the service is starting! So annoying as those who arrive early have to stand for a long time and when the doors do open everyone rushes to get seats.

So its now a staff bash, so far the conductors don't pick litter up (after they've worked a service and may need a wee or a breather after being up and down the train and obviously the OP doesn't mind what muck the staff pick up on their hands and gets transferred to them via their ticket), and the staff don't open the doors until the last minute when theirs often good reasons for this (legally mandated breaks, delays to previous services and coming in on different units etc)

 

[wbbminerals]

Why can't the doors be left open then? And it is usually when the driver is in the cab thrashing the unit up.

 

[jon91]

Then you'd be complaining that the carriages are freezing in winter.

 

[455driver]

So its now a staff bash,

Did you expect anything else?

 

[wbbminerals]

It would be a reasonable price to pay. And there is the close button anyway!

 

[Manchester77]

It would be a reasonable price to pay. And there is the close button anyway!

What you wanted the doors to be kept open now you want them closing while people are boarding what :-?

 

[jon91]

Oh yes, that close button that I've seen commuters avoid like a leper has sneezed on it. :P

 

[ryan125hst]

In my opinion, they are no where near as bad as I thought. I hadn't used them for long time until a couple of years ago. I have travelled between Retford and Sheffield and back four times so far this year, and have continued to Meadowhall on two of those occasions. Every journey has been a Pacer, but I have been pleased with them overall.

I think out of all eight journeys, only one was delayed. While some of the services have been quite busy, I've only had to stand once. Lots of people moan about the Pacers, but the route is almost entirely continuous welded rail and the only screeching is on the approach to Sheffield, so they aren't too bad on that route. The senior conductor has checked tickets and been polite every time, and they have announced the stops when it was possible for them to do so.

I know they aren't perfect, but most of their trains are at least twenty years old. I don't think they do a bad job at all to be honest.

 

[wbbminerals]

What you wanted the doors to be kept open now you want them closing while people are boarding what :-?

I meant as in left unlocked or 'open' to allow people to board, but if it really was cold inside people could press the close button to shut the door behind them.

 

[455driver]

I meant as in left unlocked or 'open' to allow people to board, but if it really was cold inside people could press the close button to shut the door behind them.

You think?

They would just sit there moaning about how cold the train is and probably post about it on here!

 

[Harlesden]

OK...

Majority of people really don't like Northern Rail...Why?

What are your problems with NR? If you owned that company what would you do?

I'll start off:

#1: Clean the train during turn-around instead of sitting on your bum next to it chatting to your colleges!

So you'd be happy for your train to be under the control of a driver who is tired and weary because of having the 5-10 minutes break at the terminus to which he/she is entitled, he/she is forced to go through the train picking up rubbish that selfish thoughtless people have left behind.

 

[Class 92]

I actually like NT and dont see what is wrong with them and yes i do travel on NT in the north west quite a bit, I like going on their 156s and 323s

 

[Anvil1984]

I meant as in left unlocked or 'open' to allow people to board, but if it really was cold inside people could press the close button to shut the door behind them.

I'm sorry but on non reservable services I see 5 mins prior to departure as an acceptable time to open the doors or any time prior to departure (could be less if there's a fault / delay on a . Many a time first thing on a morning the staffs signing on time is only 15 - 20 minutes prior to departure and that includes collecting relevant equipment, notices and preparing the unit), you can't just leave a train open as many times you don't know what it will be forming next, the lights will go off after 15 minutes without a key in on many trains and the security risk also
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So you'd be happy for your train to be under the control of a driver who is tired and weary because of having the 5-10 minutes break at the terminus to which he/she is entitled, he/she is forced to go through the train picking up rubbish that selfish thoughtless people have left behind.

And even when the bins aren't full its the staffs fault for not putting the many Metro newspapers (left by some passnegers but can often see 20 Metros left behind) soaked in spilt coffee on the seats