The Ticket Collector

New Rail Forum Launched.

A new rail forum for employees and enthusiasts working on and around the East Coast Mainline has recently been launched by our friends at Eastcoastchat.co.uk. Launched only in March the site has seen steady growth with a solid user base.

The forum has something for everyone whether you’re a steam enthusiast or working on a station platform. If your interested in anything to do with the East Coast Mainline we would strongly suggest you pay our friends at at Eastcoastchat.co.uk a visit.

Ticket names to change.

As if you were not already confused by the huge number of different ticket names, the powers that be have decided to change the names yet again.

So say goodbye to the SuperSaver, the Saver, the Cheap Day Return, the Standard Day Return and say hello to Super Off-Peak and Anytime.

The new ticket types are as follows.

Notwork Rail York to strike Easter Weekend

Update: We are now currently hearing reports that Notwork Rail have been told to make an 11th hour agreement. Furthermore if the strike does go ahead NXEC do not have an Emergency timetable ready.

Staff in Network Rail’s electrical control room at York are to strike for five days from 18:59 next Wednesday, March 19, over the company’s plan to cut the number of operators there by a third, from 18 to 12.

The union’s ten members in the control room, who voted unanimously to take action, will not book on for shifts that commence between 18:59 on March 19 and 06:59 on Monday March 24.

The electrical control room controls the current from York to Doncaster so services through that area will be effected. It also controls the current from Bedford to Moorgate West (TL). So FCC and EMT services could be affected.

Overhead wire problems at Thirsk

Services got back to normal later on Wednesday 13th.

Due to overhead wire problems at Thirsk (between Newcastle and York) servics have been suspended for the rest of the day.

The lines will remain closed until approximately 06:00 on Wednesday 13 February. On Wednesday, only three out of four lines will be available, so some alterations and delays can still be expected.

Train services are currently operating as follows:
National Express East Coast:
Train services are currently suspended between Darlington and York in both directions, with replacement bus services in operation. Some services from Edinburgh towards London may terminate at Newcastle to ease congestion at Darlington.

CrossCountry:
CrossCountry services to and from Edinburgh and Glasgow are currently suspended between Darlington and York in both directions, with replacement bus services in operation.
CrossCountry services that normally start from and terminate at Newcastle are currently starting from and terminating at Derby. Customers travelling to/from Newcastle should use alternative CrossCountry services between Derby and York, replacement bus services between York and Darlington, and alternative services between Darlington and Newcastle.

First TransPennine Express:
Train services are currently suspended between Darlington and York in both directions, and also between Middlesbrough and York in both directions, with replacement bus services in operation.

Grand Central:
The 16:50 London Kings Cross to Sunderland service will terminate at York. Customers should use bus services between York and Middlesbrough, and Northern Rail services between Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
The 06:46 Sunderland to London Kings Cross service on Wednesday morning is expected to be operating, but may be subject to a late start from Sunderland.

Customers using bus services between York and Darlington / Middlesbrough should allow at least an extra 60 minutes for their journey.

Alternative routes and easements:
Customers travelling between London and Scotland in either direction are advised to travel using Virgin Trains services between London Euston and Glasgow Central.

Customers travelling on CrossCountry services between Southern & South West England and Scotland via Newcastle are advised to change at Birmingham New Street to connect with Virgin Train services to Glasgow Central.

First ScotRail will accept National Express East Coast and CrossCountry customers between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh.

Customers may also use East Midlands Trains services between London St Pancras and Sheffield.

Severe weather warning - Friday 1st and 2nd February.

Severe weather conditions have been forecast by the Met Office for the UK for Friday 1 and Saturday 2 February. The weather warning is valid from 0001 Friday 1st until 0600 Saturday 2nd February.

The Met Office continues to forecast colder weather to spread southwards across the UK during Friday and at first on Saturday giving heavy snow in places. Areas most at risk include Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland from early on Friday, extending to northern and central England and much of Wales on Friday afternoon, and perhaps into southern areas on Friday evening. Northern areas could see accumulations of 10cm of snow, with up to 20cm on higher ground, and blizzard conditions and snow drifts could occur in strong winds. Southern areas could see accumulations of 2 to 5cm of snow by Saturday morning. Disruption to transport and power networks is likely and the public are advised to take extra care. This warning will be updated by 1200 Friday 1st February unless superseded by Flash warnings.

Problem with line-side equipment between Broxbourne and Stansted Airport

13:55 Train services between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, and also between Stansted Airport and Cambridge are being disrupted due to a problem with line-side equipment in the Bishops Stortford area.

We are being informed that all the signals in the area have failed and that is the reason as to there being no trains running to Stansted Airport and Cambridge. Services to Hertford East have also been suspended.

15:50 The problem has now been resolved, and train services are returning to normal on all routes in the area. Residual alterations and delays of up to 50 minutes can still be expected until approximately 17:00.

17:05 We have been told that services are back to normal now. Customers can claim compensation via the ‘delay-repay’ scheme on www.onerailway.com.

Arriva wins Cross Country - The in depth report.

Ok further to the previous post about arriva winning the new Cross Country Franchise here is what they plan to do.

Arriva has informed us that they plan to remove the on board shop and one toilet from each train set to provide extra seats and luggage space for passengers.

Catering provided to customers at their seats, including hot meals in first class on weekdays

You think you can get a trolley through a packed train during peak times? Haha

A new web-based ticketing system will be introduced from December 2009 which will allow customers to reserve seats up to 10 minutes before their train leaves, print tickets at home, receive and display tickets on mobile phones and receive customised journey information packs. The franchise will also accept smartcard tickets issued by other train companies;

Error the webpage cannot be displayed, due to another cockup by your train operator Arriva.

Wi-Fi access, which will be free in first class;

Yipeee, free internet on a train. Oh but wait dont GNER have this already and wait doesnt it only allow downloads at some pathetic speed of around 3Kbps.

Delay/Repay compensation arrangements.
50% of the price paid for a single-leg journey delayed by between 30 and 59 minutes;
100% of the price paid for a single-leg journey delayed by between 60 and 119 minutes; and
100% of the price paid for a return journey delayed by more than 119 minutes.

But you have to go to the shop to get proof you were on a delayed train, but oh no wheres the shop gone. Yep Arriva have done away with the shop to give you an extra seat. Ah but yes theres still the trolley, but nooo you cant find it - Techical Problems have foreced it off the train apparently. And the staff? All stuck at Birmingham New Street because they lost the train your on.

This is going to be one major cock up. Oh and remember Arriva is your friendly “lets go on strike every weekend” company. You think First Group are bad? Just wait till you see Arriva. Do the words Arriva Trains Wales ring fear into you? If not they should.

The next train to depart for somewhere up north is this lovely classic class 142 pacer, its a railbus. Imagine this on your 4 hour journey. It could well happen with Arriva.