Juniper, THE best train to and from Reading since slammers!
Joined: Oct 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,233 Location: A Well-Known Pizzeria
Re: Air France plane missing « Result #1 Today at 12:14pm »
Given the shear lack of information on the circumstances surrounding the crash I'm not surprised at all. There was an interim investigation report released on 1st July, runs to 128 pages.
Joined: Nov 2001 Gender: Male Posts: 759 Location: Loughbrorough, Leicestershire
Re: East Coast Mainline Ltd « Result #2 Yesterday at 9:32pm »
Will be interesting to see what happens to the 91s and Mk4s, if they just stop in modified GNER colours until a new operator takes over (and going how long fleet painting takes, some time after that), or if they will continue to paint into modified NXEC livery. Can't see them coming up with a totally new livery considering that the HSTs have only just finished recieving NXEC livery, and the short lenght before it goes private again (by the timescale of reliverying the fleet). Would be a total waste of money. At most I can see a few vinyls.
Whilst it's easy to look at the number of operators of the East Coast franchise recently, it's important to remember that GNER's failure was less down to the ECML, and more down to Sea Containers themselves.
Talking about keeping websites up to date, the Sea Containers website has a picture of a GNER train.
Joined: Jul 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 409 Location: London
East coast V West coast « Result #9 Yesterday at 10:35am »
Yesterday I travelled for the first time on Virgin West Coast services. I had a first class AP ticket. Admittedly, I haven't travelled on the EC since re-nataionalisation so I base these comparisons on the days of NXEC..
First thing I noticed was hosts at all first class doors, welcoming guests on-board and helping them with luggage. A nice touch.
Then when on the train instead of the usual tannoy booming into action with the yelling of a train manager with a geordie accent "YOU MUST HAVE A TICKET OR YOU WILL BE STUNG FOR ABOUT £500" .. and repeated about 5 times.. a politely spoken man softly announced the destination, departure time, and calling points.
Before the train had even left Euston I was served a fresh coffee by one of the hosts... on the EC sometimes this hasn't even been carried out by Stevenage and once PETERBOROUGH !!
Anyway, then there was brought around a trolly of cold drinks as our journey got underway. To my surprise the alcoholic drinks were all complimentary too, so I had a nice glass of cold Chardonnay, and it was served at the perfect temperature in a glass not plastic cup.
Then they brought round food, which I was even more surprised to find was free too. A filling and freshly prepared light lunch and cake (apparently the kitchen on the Pendulino's is the largest on any train in Europe.) More coffees were later served and I even had a GnT to finish off with, all included !
The staff were prompt and professional, whilst attentive to the passengers every need! Wifi is free only for first class passengers so it doesn't get clogged down to dial-up standard speeds because of every tom dick and harry using it ! My only complaint was no complementary newspaper.
Also AP tickets can use either of the VT's first class lounges at Euston, without having to pay the £10 extra or whatever NXEC charged 1st AP holders to use the lounge ! I assume this policy remains unchanged.
Overall, when the EC is re-privatised .. Virgin Trains should run it !!
Re: East Coast Mainline Ltd « Result #10 Yesterday at 8:08am »
Good to see they're keeping it all updated.
Saw a Class 91 with the "new" Eastcoast name on it - a small purple patch over the old National Express name and the web address over the old NX "East Coast" name.
It does make me wonder what East Coast Plan to do with the re-painted HST stock - that would be harder to re-brand away from NX colours.
There is at least one class 91 which has the old GNER logo fairly visible, so I wonder if something similar happens with the NX logo, we could have at least one loco with the GNER/ NX and East Coast brandings. Maybe that loco could be named "Governments Folly"?
Joined: Nov 2001 Gender: Male Posts: 759 Location: Loughbrorough, Leicestershire
Re: East Coast Mainline Ltd « Result #11 on Nov 18, 2009, 11:12pm »
Just had a slight laugh as I had to go on the NX website for something and on the right it has a rolling advert for their various services including "quiet carriages on all our trains" with a picture of a Mk4 interior, and even better (and something that doesn't take an enthusiast to notice) "Free wi-fi on our East Coast trains". Oh, and "Bus times via text" shows two Travel London buses.
Re: I met an interesting member of staff yesterday « Result #12 on Nov 18, 2009, 9:34am »
What I can't understand is why the industry as a whole has decided to create this problem. Surely a set of RULES would solve any issues?
Firstly Network Rail has spent millions on providing retail on stations. St Pancras is one example that has become an attraction in it's own right. People visit to see the station and not travel. So with NR obviously making a lot of money through rents attracting people onto it's stations, it then decides to change it's mind when somebody wants to visit and actually look at what the location is intended to do.
I appreciate that railway stations are always targets to those intent on causing harm - they always have been and sadly always will be. But, and I'm happy to be corrected, has any serious atrocity ever been committed on the railway by somebody posing as an enthusiast?
What needs to happen is quite simple. People should be allowed onto unpaid side of a railway station. Staff should, quite rightly, retain the right to ask what somebody is doing, but the enthusiast should have the right to remain as long as they are not committing any crime (such as a Beggar pretending to be a enthusiast) or operational reasons mean that the person should not remain on the station (i.e. over-crowding/ fire alert). With the paid side of a station, then a standard policy should be adopted. With the provision of platform tickets if that is the way the industry wishes to go.
It really isn't rocket science. The fact that many companies hide behind "Guidelines" or "discretion" IMHO simply show they don't understand the problem and are unwilling to actually tackle the problem.
Joined: Nov 2001 Gender: Male Posts: 759 Location: Loughbrorough, Leicestershire
Re: I met an interesting member of staff yesterday « Result #13 on Nov 16, 2009, 10:25pm »
The problem is that even with NR's posted rules, the same minority of staff either ignore them (if they are even aware) or totally misinterpret them. Doesn't help that they are officially "guidelines", which leads some staff (and some enthusiasts) to the conclusion that the parts that support them are rules and must be followed to the letter (e.g having to sign in, even if you are just getting a few shots whilst waiting for a train), the parts that support the other side are just guidelines (e.g the fact that you actually do have the right to photograph). There is also the problem that it really only covers NR stations, other TOCs could make up their own rules. Discression is a there too (they use the term "authorised to use judgement"), worse really as it uses the loose term "station staff", which expecially with the fragmented system is open to very wide interpretation (could apply to any staff employed to work on the station, although on the other hand it doesn't seem to cover train staff). It also does leave a situation within the guidelines where someone could get permission from the station manager, and still get trouble from other staff for no sensible reason).
The TC is a point in question. Why "hide" the bit about enthusiasts. Plus the "at the Station Supervisors Discretion" is a tad misleading. It implies that a SS can refuse somebody to film for no reason.
Re: advice, anyone??? « Result #15 on Nov 16, 2009, 3:34pm »
Yeah, it is an interesting topic. I have been thinking about quitting, but never really worked out for me and once I got my PEP Cigarette I got used to smoking that thing. It has made my life easier and a bit more difficult at the same time. I know its legal but people are not much used to it yet. Anyhow I was hoping that someone could share a similar experience with me. Its actually a kind of adventure smoking this thing in public. Stig, Iam guessing you´re not a smoker yourself?
Re: I met an interesting member of staff yesterday « Result #16 on Nov 16, 2009, 3:03pm »
The TC is a point in question. Why "hide" the bit about enthusiasts. Plus the "at the Station Supervisors Discretion" is a tad misleading. It implies that a SS can refuse somebody to film for no reason.
Bit of a shame when a member of staff is happy to "quote" rules, delay the service and be in the wrong.
I find that the majority of staff are OK towards enthusiasts. Obviously there are some that don't understand the "desire" of a Met train stopping at Willesden Green for example, perhaps it's just another day for them.
I just wish that LU published the same/similar rules that National Rail do on their website, to allow enthusiasts some support in incidents like this.
Yeah; I have had much less hassle recently.
The thing is, LU do have it in the FAQ section and the CoC on the website, and also in every TC for about the last 2 years! I sometimes feel like saying "Have you signed for your Traffic Circular this week?"
Juniper, THE best train to and from Reading since slammers!
Joined: Oct 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,233 Location: A Well-Known Pizzeria
Re: BA merger « Result #18 on Nov 16, 2009, 9:53am »
Less competition on flights between UK and Spain, especially at Heathrow.
IMHO I can't see there being much more of an effect than that - to the layman it appears that both brands will be kept as their respective country's flagship carrier, the only difference is that both are majority-owned by the one company now.
It's good for the industry as Iberia was one of the big european airlines following Alitalia on the way out - combining forces will only strengthen both airline's chances of riding out the economical storm.
Re: I met an interesting member of staff yesterday « Result #19 on Nov 16, 2009, 8:46am »
Bit of a shame when a member of staff is happy to "quote" rules, delay the service and be in the wrong.
I find that the majority of staff are OK towards enthusiasts. Obviously there are some that don't understand the "desire" of a Met train stopping at Willesden Green for example, perhaps it's just another day for them.
I just wish that LU published the same/similar rules that National Rail do on their website, to allow enthusiasts some support in incidents like this.
A great pity. The majority of Met Motormen are real railwaymen and enthusiasts aswell. A great shame how theres always one, and despite the umpteen clarifications in T/Cs that have occured about photography too. Just bad luck, James. Did you mention the event to station staff?
yeah, they clarified (again) that I was alowed to be there.
Indeed, I have always found Met T/Ops to be a top bunch of people.
Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 267 Location: Lufbra
Re: I met an interesting member of staff yesterday « Result #21 on Nov 15, 2009, 4:33pm »
A great pity. The majority of Met Motormen are real railwaymen and enthusiasts aswell. A great shame how theres always one, and despite the umpteen clarifications in T/Cs that have occured about photography too. Just bad luck, James. Did you mention the event to station staff?
Joined: Sept 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 96 Location: London
I met an interesting member of staff yesterday... « Result #22 on Nov 15, 2009, 11:58am »
A metropolitan line Train Op.
I made my way to Willesden Green to take a few pictures of both the fast platforms as I have never had the opportunity to go onto these platforms before and don't know when I will again.
Upon arrival at the station I saw a member of platform staff from the SRT dispatching the trains, so once my train had departed I went over to him and told him my plans. He kindly reminded me not to use a flash and had a nice chat about my interest in LUL, excellent customer service on his part.
I took a few pictures well behind the yellow line and well in front of the OPO monitors (that were turned off anyway) and then train 431 arrived. As I took the picture the train operator "dropped the handle" and hid under the window in the M door. When the train had stopped the second time, this time in the correct place, the train operator opened the window in the cab door and proceeded to shout at me telling me I was distracting her, need to pay LUL £300 a day to take pictures, that the SRT staff "know nothing", that any amateur photographer needs to be accompanied by a DMT, that we would both need to have a hi-vi on, and that she was going to phone the line controller and have be "thrown off" the station by the police.
This incident delayed the train by 3-4 minutes and by the time she left the station someone was asking on the radio why the train was still there and if there was a problem.
Unfortunately the only problem was a member of staff who was mis-quoting rules, needlessly delaying the service, harassing and shouting at a customer, threatening to waste police time, publicly insulting other staff and finding customers standing on platforms distracting.
Is one person in dark clothes really more distracting than two people in hi-vi's. (Personally, if you find people on platforms distracting you need a career change...)
Other highlights were:
"Do you have permission to take pictures?" "I spoke to the station staff and they said it was fine" "They know nothing, I've been on this job years and know the rules" - Obviously not!
"I'm going to ring the Line Controller and get the police to throw you off the station" "Make sure you don't do it when the train is moving; don't want you being distracted, and if you do I'll be ringing your LSM"
Re: East Coast Mainline Ltd « Result #25 on Nov 14, 2009, 11:44am »
Well NXEC havd gone - I doubt many will shed a tear for NX's attempt of the ECML. East Coast have amde a few annoucements. Station refurbishments - is this "new" news? East Coast have indicated they're removing the seat reservation charge and improving on-board catering.
What will be interesting is what other changes East Coast will introduce and will these changes become benchmarks for other operators?
Juniper, THE best train to and from Reading since slammers!
Joined: Oct 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,233 Location: A Well-Known Pizzeria
Re: St Pancras lower platforms « Result #27 on Nov 13, 2009, 11:19pm »
it's not a quick move (especially for peak-hour 8 car trains) to make, so I doubt it - NB trains are more likely to reverse at Camden Rd tunnels (between Kentish Town and St Pancras) - SB at Farringdon/City Thameslink. That Or run ECS to one of the various stabling points in the area.
Juniper, THE best train to and from Reading since slammers!
Joined: Oct 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,233 Location: A Well-Known Pizzeria
Re: St Pancras lower platforms « Result #29 on Nov 13, 2009, 6:39pm »
Yes, presuming you mean the on for Reversing North - South at the South End of KXTL station
Trains drive forward to WH390 signal from St Pancras, then use the Shunt route to regain the NB line back toward St Pancras.
There's a second (facing) crossover further along toward Farringdon, but it's for engineering use only - unsignalled and certainly not up to scratch for passenger trains.
3 - Mmmmmm stabling point for 92's. If it's somewhere East I ain't got a clue. Woodford?
8 - That train is, I believe, the tunnel cleaning train. Again don't know where it is Acton??
14 - Well the train has a special train number, assuming a pilot in the back cab. So not a wrong signal lowered, the only thing I can think of is staff training.
3 - yes
8 - yes
14 - thats the front cab - it was a special STN for battery loco driver route training.
Re: Picture quiz « Result #32 on Nov 12, 2009, 10:13pm »
3 - Mmmmmm stabling point for 92's. If it's somewhere East I ain't got a clue. Woodford?
8 - That train is, I believe, the tunnel cleaning train. Again don't know where it is Acton??
14 - Well the train has a special train number, assuming a pilot in the back cab. So not a wrong signal lowered, the only thing I can think of is staff training.
Thought all the first quiz ones had been answered... Looking back obvs not!
3 - Loughton Sidings?
8 - Track Inspection Train? and at a guess outside Northfields Depot
14 - I'm thinking approaching Northfields on the WESTBOUND local, not sure though, could be the Test Track on the EB and my memory of the scenery isn't all that...
Re: advice, anyone??? « Result #35 on Nov 12, 2009, 6:48pm »
Teleport, welcome to TTF. What an interesting topic to start on.
I'm guessing your talking about the electric cigarette that are legal. An article appeared in the Daily Mail in 2008 . Whilst they are legal, they aren't certainly usual. I'm presuming that you'll get challegened often if you used them extensively plus you'd expect to receive some incorrect information.
Signficantly better than smoking - have you considered giving up? The health benefits are well documented.
advice, anyone??? « Result #37 on Nov 12, 2009, 6:31pm »
I am not even sure if I am having a problem or not...anyhow I have been smoking my PEP Cigarette several months now, you know those e-cigarettes and I sometimes smoke in a public transit if a vehicle is not too crowded. I am used to people asking about it and I don´t mind explaining but whenever a bus driver or an RPO notices they always get confused and make the situation a little uncomfortable as they are supposed to be authorities. I´ve never been kicked out or anything because of this and I´ve always thought that I am not disturbing anyone and I am not doing anything wrong.
I´d like to smoke my PEP without having to think about whether authorities understand me or not so give me your thoughts about it, if anyone has had the same experience
Juniper, THE best train to and from Reading since slammers!
Joined: Oct 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,233 Location: A Well-Known Pizzeria
Re: Picture quiz « Result #39 on Nov 11, 2009, 11:33pm »
Thought all the first quiz ones had been answered... Looking back obvs not!
3 - Loughton Sidings?
8 - Track Inspection Train? and at a guess outside Northfields Depot
14 - I'm thinking approaching Northfields on the WESTBOUND local, not sure though, could be the Test Track on the EB and my memory of the scenery isn't all that...
Re: First Capital Connect staff shortages « Result #41 on Nov 11, 2009, 5:01pm »
From the FCC website:
It is probable that up to 50% of the trains scheduled to run on the Thameslink route on Thursday and Friday will be cancelled due to a shortage of available drivers. We are in ongoing pay talks with the drivers’ union, ASLEF
Re: Remembrance Sunday « Result #43 on Nov 10, 2009, 6:04pm »
At 11 am, on the 11th day of the 11th month, silence will fall over many parts of the country. In town and country, the nation will salute the men and women who lost their lives while courageously protecting our country.
It is now 91 years since the guns fell silent on the Western Front. 90 years since the Two Minutes Silence was first observed in London in honour of the men who fell on the battlefields of the Great War.
Today, young Service men and women face dangers daily in Afghanistan – over 200 heroes have already paid the ultimate sacrifice and died thousands of miles away from their families.
Whether you are at home, at work or out and about, please take the time to bow your head and pay your personal tribute to the courage of so many members of the Armed Forces who never returned home from the front line.
Thank you for respecting this important tradition of Remembrance.
Re: Industrial relations on the railways.... « Result #44 on Nov 10, 2009, 6:01pm »
I can only speak personally - I generally don't see why this major breakdown in relations. The unions appear to believe of a bigger picture, which I don't see. Doesn't mean there isn't the bigger picture though..........
But it isn't just LU. FCC have "Hidden" their drivers refusal to co-operate with the company, hiding behind the staff training/ sickness message. I do wonder if FCC management expected the 0% payrise to ever be accepted. And lets not forget that ridership of FCC is holding steady, First benefit from the cap & collar on their revenue, so exactly who will benefit from Firsts current stance - it certainly isn't the public.
Public sector wages are a complex issue and public sector wages generally don't follow the same logic as private sector wages.
Cross-country, EMT, NXEA, FCC, LU to name but a few have all experienced or are experiencing poor industrial relations with it's unions at present.
Undoubtedly as a by-product of the recession - but the railways generally, especially the privatised railways, are still performing well and certainly better than many private companies.
Why do you think that industrial relations are so poor?
If I understood the news item today, are not a group of people not to far from you planing a strike later this year over this very topic?
Maybe you could enlighten us from their point of view as you work close with them?
Re: Industrial relations on the railways.... « Result #46 on Nov 10, 2009, 3:33pm »
It's difficult to give a general answer to this, as the precise reasons are likely to vary from company to company. For example, NX are aggressively cost-cutting while EMT were looking at how best to harmonise their staff from MML and CT.
However, one common thread seems to be that these private companies are busy serving their boards and shareholders while attempting to squeeze every last penny out of passengers and staff. NXEA drivers just about staved off a pay freeze as a result of taking strike action (although there were quite a few other contributing factors to the dispute) but it seems that plenty of other companies are trying the same trick with their staff in an attempt to reduce their costs. All this in spite of a number of rail operators posting nice big profits, awarding the shareholders with record dividends and themselves with nice big salary increases and bonuses. It doesn't help much that the media are not properly representing the staff-side situation either.
Industrial relations on the railways.... « Result #47 on Nov 10, 2009, 3:23pm »
.....why is it so bad at the moment?
Cross-country, EMT, NXEA, FCC, LU to name but a few have all experienced or are experiencing poor industrial relations with it's unions at present.
Undoubtedly as a by-product of the recession - but the railways generally, especially the privatised railways, are still performing well and certainly better than many private companies.
Why do you think that industrial relations are so poor?
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and I don´t mind explaining but whenever a bus driver or an RPO notices they always get confused 
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