Who has traveled with Grand Central between Bradford and London? - Page 2

Crossover · 25th June 2012, 12:28

Been on a couple of journeys with them now. The first was just a journey - Pontefract to Bradford - and I didn't actually see any staff members at all in that time.

The second was supposed to be Kings Cross to Mirfield, but we only made it as far as Grantham due to a track defect, and our service was cancelled. I mentioned it on here at the time, the staff were very helpful throughout, trying to get information to us and the guard walked through the train to answer any questions people may have. One of the staff members travelled passenger right through to Leeds (before heading on to Bradford via alternative means) and was helping some passengers even when we got to Leeds. All in all, very good

43167 · 3rd July 2012, 16:55

Ive always found GC very good. Cant really complain about anything.

4SRKT · 3rd July 2012, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by 43167

Ive always found GC very good. Cant really complain about anything.

What about the replacement of Valenta engines?

LexyBoy · 6th July 2012, 15:43

I had got myself quite excited about taking my first trip with GC when I discovered they had just started calling at Mirfield - not only would I get to travel with GC, but it would actually be really convenient for me!

Unfortunately the train never turned up

D841 Roebuck · 6th July 2012, 15:55

Comfortable, pleasant and civilized with helpful, attentive staff. (Based on one 180 Brighouse to KX and an HST York to Sunderland.)

As and when pendolini and Voyageurs need a refresh, can whoever was in charge of the 180's interior design be given the job.

spionkop64 · 17th July 2012, 17:39

Now that their early teething problems are hopefully behind them on the Bradford route GC are excellent. Trains are clean and staff friendly. I always feel more relaxed on GC than EC and I think that is down to the staff. The only downsides are the journey time due to the route via Pontefract and potential reliability issues posed by a small train fleet. They even gave a Network Rail pilotman a cuppa during the recent flooding problems, now that is customer service with a twist!

Welshman · 20th July 2012, 20:49

Although I no longer live in Halifax, I made a nostalgic journey from Halifax to London KX with them a while ago, and was much impressed with the friendliness and professionalism of the staff.
It was a nostalgic journey - the last time I travelled direct from Halifax to London was to university in the mid 1960s, when the one through train of the day was a three-carriage portion of a Bradford Exchange/Leeds Central-London King's Cross train.
Worked by a Fairburn tank, it left Halifax at 9.12am, reversed in platform 1 at Huddersfield and worked to Wakefield Kirkgate. The tank then changed ends again and dragged it up to Westgate, through the station and into the siding on the up side, from whence it propelled its coaches on to the rear of the Leeds-London train when it arrived. So even then, it was also a slow journey for the first hour or so!
Incidentally, I read on another forum, that GC actually used one of its HSTs on a Bradford service recently, and the set worked throughout, via its booked route. I would have liked to have been on that.

GNERman · 21st July 2012, 10:01

Yep, see here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/yorkshi...7630624609432/

It was a nice trip, nice to be on something different for once...

s'land · 16th August 2012, 21:46

How has Grand Central been doing recently on both routes? There seems to be less chat about them lately. Has being owned by Arriva made any difference to day to day operations or ambitions for the future?

25th June 2012, 12:28	#16
Crossover Established Member Join Date: 4 Jun 2009 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2,800	Been on a couple of journeys with them now. The first was just a journey - Pontefract to Bradford - and I didn't actually see any staff members at all in that time. The second was supposed to be Kings Cross to Mirfield, but we only made it as far as Grantham due to a track defect, and our service was cancelled. I mentioned it on here at the time, the staff were very helpful throughout, trying to get information to us and the guard walked through the train to answer any questions people may have. One of the staff members travelled passenger right through to Leeds (before heading on to Bradford via alternative means) and was helping some passengers even when we got to Leeds. All in all, very good __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is" Owner of 185111, 220030 and 390054

3rd July 2012, 16:55	#17
43167 Member Join Date: 18 Jan 2010 Location: Keighley Posts: 785	Ive always found GC very good. Cant really complain about anything. __________________ Last Rail Journey not on a Class333: 1/5/13: 185123 Liverpool South Parkway-Leeds

6th July 2012, 15:55	#20
D841 Roebuck Dilettante iconoclast. Member Join Date: 16 Mar 2012 Location: Rochdale Posts: 311	Comfortable, pleasant and civilized with helpful, attentive staff. (Based on one 180 Brighouse to KX and an HST York to Sunderland.) As and when pendolini and Voyageurs need a refresh, can whoever was in charge of the 180's interior design be given the job. __________________ 2013 locos/units/trams bashed - 94.

21st July 2012, 10:01	#23
GNERman GNER's Saviour Established Member Join Date: 8 Oct 2008 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1,527	Yep, see here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/yorkshi...7630624609432/ It was a nice trip, nice to be on something different for once... __________________ GNERman of GNERvideos and Yorkshire Rail Photos \| Yorkshire Rail Photos Website \| Grand Central Rail Gen Founder and Moderator \| CLICK TO JOIN GRAND CENTRAL RAIL GEN \| Loves GNER and Grand Central \| CLICK FOR SOME OF THE MOST ADDICTING RAILWAY QUIZZES

16th August 2012, 21:46	#24
s'land Member Join Date: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 30	Grand Central update How has Grand Central been doing recently on both routes? There seems to be less chat about them lately. Has being owned by Arriva made any difference to day to day operations or ambitions for the future?

6th July 2012, 15:43	#19
LexyBoy Reading Commuter Established Member Join Date: 23 Jan 2009 Location: North of the rivers Posts: 2,948	I had got myself quite excited about taking my first trip with GC when I discovered they had just started calling at Mirfield - not only would I get to travel with GC, but it would actually be really convenient for me! Unfortunately the train never turned up

17th July 2012, 17:39	#21
spionkop64 Member Join Date: 3 Apr 2011 Location: Bradford/Filey Posts: 45	Now that their early teething problems are hopefully behind them on the Bradford route GC are excellent. Trains are clean and staff friendly. I always feel more relaxed on GC than EC and I think that is down to the staff. The only downsides are the journey time due to the route via Pontefract and potential reliability issues posed by a small train fleet. They even gave a Network Rail pilotman a cuppa during the recent flooding problems, now that is customer service with a twist!

20th July 2012, 20:49	#22
Welshman Established Member Join Date: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 1,214	Although I no longer live in Halifax, I made a nostalgic journey from Halifax to London KX with them a while ago, and was much impressed with the friendliness and professionalism of the staff. It was a nostalgic journey - the last time I travelled direct from Halifax to London was to university in the mid 1960s, when the one through train of the day was a three-carriage portion of a Bradford Exchange/Leeds Central-London King's Cross train. Worked by a Fairburn tank, it left Halifax at 9.12am, reversed in platform 1 at Huddersfield and worked to Wakefield Kirkgate. The tank then changed ends again and dragged it up to Westgate, through the station and into the siding on the up side, from whence it propelled its coaches on to the rear of the Leeds-London train when it arrived. So even then, it was also a slow journey for the first hour or so! Incidentally, I read on another forum, that GC actually used one of its HSTs on a Bradford service recently, and the set worked throughout, via its booked route. I would have liked to have been on that.