Grand Central Discussion

[Techniquest]

I think ORR might just knock that one back, mind by 2012, there may be some spare HSTs, and by 2015 lots! We may see them being cascaded, and the challenger fleet may be a reality, or even cl43 one end and a DVT or DBSO the other?

*I may also have been dreaming*

I like, I like...

 

[s'land]

Grand Central stopped at Peterborough on the 20th december on the 6:53(the first service in the morning) service from Sunderland. Does anyone no why?

 

[David]

Probably because NXEC asked them to ....

 

[devon_metro]

What proportion of Peterborough - London morning tickets would they get for doing that, if any?

 

[1D53]

Probably none!

 

[andylloyd]

May I firstly give our friendly GC staff a belated 'HAPPY XMAS'.(sorry bout the caps)
Secondly may I wish them a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Hear is for the continual success folks for 2009

Cheers
Andy

 

[Techniquest]

Aye, I'll echo that! Looking forward to a likely trip from Sunderland to Hartlepool with GC on the 17th of January. Hopefully 080 and 084 will produce on the 1230 SUN - KGX...

 

[Max]

I forgot to say, thanks to GC for a pleasant journey on Monday night on the 17:30 from Sunderland, enjoyed the declassified first class and the friendly service (and the bonus of the valenta thrash ). I was also encouraged to see how many people boarded at stations like Northallerton and York. An elderly couple asked me whether they could use their super off peak return tickets to London, I happily said yes, safe in the knowledge that they would have a more comfortable and speedy journey than on the following NXEC service!

 

[robertclark125]

Can anyone explain to me why Grand Central's parent company, some private equity firm, have said theyre only committed to the business until the end of its licence in 2011, and are not committed to if after that? I have asked them for a comment, but they have refused.

Incidentally, now that ticket barriers are going up at York, Peterborough, and Northallerton, people will no longer be able to buy walk on tickets. So this means that People will have to pay for Nat Ex tickets, in order to use the GC service. I guess that GC will get no revenue for this.

If you're wondering why such barriers are going up, it's due to the franchise committment of Nat Ex and First.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

You could've said hello Max...
Why would people have to buy NX tickets to get through the barriers? The ticket offices sell GC tickets too, which the barriers would HAVE to let through as they are valid. Might stop super off-peaks getting through.

 

[Max]

You could've said hello Max...

Sorry, I didn't know who anybody was!

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

I was the one with the waistcoat...

 

[BOSCH]

Incidentally, now that ticket barriers are going up at York, Peterborough, and Northallerton, people will no longer be able to buy walk on tickets.

I just tend to wave at peterborough station as I pass,considering its not one of our calling points !!!

 

[Max]

I was the one with the waistcoat...

Ah ok, I was the guy sat with a friend in the declassified first class, I had an awkward ticket combination

 

[martyn29]

hopefully I will be on GC on the 17th!

 

[Techniquest]

Which run are you doing? Looking to do the 1230 off Sunderland on the 17th myself, only as far as Hartlepool or something though.

 

[Darandio]

Me too!!!

 

[yorkie]

Ah ok, I was the guy sat with a friend in the declassified first class, I had an awkward ticket combination

GC staff are used to Hartlepool ticket combos

Shame their pricing manager ignores the issue as I am sure people would hand GC their cash for a GC only fare if the price was right.

 

[s'land]

nxec hst was on the durham coast today (4th jan 11 am), saw it near east boldon, was it route learning or would have there been passengers on board? Could this mean nxec could be going to copy grand central and have some services via the durham coast and gain to revenge on GC

 

[Max]

nxec hst was on the durham coast today (4th jan 11 am), saw it near east boldon, was it route learning or would have there been passengers on board? Could this mean nxec could be going to copy grand central and have some services via the durham coast and gain to revenge on GC

This was on diversion due to engineering works on the ECML. It's happening for the next few weekends. As far as I'm aware, no stops were made between Newcastle and York, and there are no immediate plans to run any regular services that way.

 

[Royston Vasey]

nxec hst was on the durham coast today (4th jan 11 am), saw it near east boldon, was it route learning or would have there been passengers on board? Could this mean nxec could be going to copy grand central and have some services via the durham coast and gain to revenge on GC

I gather they're doing diverts up there soon, can't recall when... sure others will know...

I can't think that they'd start running in service via Sunderland with the platform lengths etc, and if they did I wouldn't use it, it'd be incredibly cynical to do so.

I again had a great run on GC on my London-Sunderland and return for the Xmas break... declassified FC of course! GC guys, is this here to stay to better match demand or is it due to problems with some of the TS coaches and lack of available spares? Noticed coach D had no heating on the rake I was on...

 

[Csalem]

I'm booked to go on GC in February. Getting it to York with my bro and then NXEC to Edinburgh. The total cost is £110, which is £55 each. Even better, is that the flights are free, and only have to pay tax!

 

[Techniquest]

A Ryanair promotion then for the flights I assume?

I should imagine you'll enjoy GC, I loved it

 

[BOSCH]

nxec hst was on the durham coast today (4th jan 11 am), saw it near east boldon, was it route learning or would have there been passengers on board? Could this mean nxec could be going to copy grand central and have some services via the durham coast and gain to revenge on GC

The nxec interlopers are using the durham coast for diversion due to line blocked between ncle and darlington for the next 3-4 weekends for engineering work.
As for the "Revenge" on GC factor,pah !!

 

[schmoo_smith]

The nxec interlopers are using the durham coast for diversion due to line blocked between ncle and darlington for the next 3-4 weekends for engineering work.
As for the "Revenge" on GC factor,pah !!

so what route will that be then?

 

[37412]

Aye, I'll echo that! Looking forward to a likely trip from Sunderland to Hartlepool with GC on the 17th of January. Hopefully 080 and 084 will produce on the 1230 SUN - KGX...

Been paired the last few days, had them Kings Cross - Thirsk on Friday for 065 and 067 back to York. Had 65 & 67 from Sunderland back to the Cross on Sunday as well, both sets had declassified FC coaches behind the Power Car on the North end which was an added bonus. Still the same sets yesterday as well as I checked whether 68 or 123 were out as they are the two operational valentas i havn't had yet this year but both were showing on Heaton according to trust so I stuck to EMT's last Valenta 43064 which I have now had 731.25 miles on for the year!

 

[BOSCH]

so what route will that be then?

The person who I quoted had said maybe nxec would stop at s/land and pick up pax from there as a revenge move against GC picking up pax at york,hence my reaction "Pah "
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Been paired the last few days, had them Kings Cross - Thirsk on Friday for 065 and 067 back to York. Had 65 & 67 from Sunderland back to the Cross on Sunday as well, both sets had declassified FC coaches behind the Power Car on the North end which was an added bonus. Still the same sets yesterday as well as I checked whether 68 or 123 were out as they are the two operational valentas i havn't had yet this year but both were showing on Heaton according to trust so I stuck to EMT's last Valenta 43064 which I have now had 731.25 miles on for the year!

Yours truly at the helm on friday afternoon 065 leading on 1A62,
43068/43123 are not too far away from service again !!

 

[Techniquest]

Been paired the last few days, had them Kings Cross - Thirsk on Friday for 065 and 067 back to York. Had 65 & 67 from Sunderland back to the Cross on Sunday as well, both sets had declassified FC coaches behind the Power Car on the North end which was an added bonus. Still the same sets yesterday as well as I checked whether 68 or 123 were out as they are the two operational valentas i havn't had yet this year but both were showing on Heaton according to trust so I stuck to EMT's last Valenta 43064 which I have now had 731.25 miles on for the year!

731 miles for the year, already! Bleedin' 'eck! The joy of priv I would guess...

Ta for the gen re: 080 and 084, I'm hoping they stay like that for the time being! Or 080 and 123 or 084 and 123, or even 065 and 123 (three guesses as to why I'd like the combinations listed )

Booked for myself to be on the 1230 from Sunderland, unfortunately only as far as Hartlepool due to time constraints. Even got a seat reserved in coach D! Bring it I say, it's been almost 2 months since my last Valenta fix...

 

[37412]

Yours truly at the helm on friday afternoon 065 leading on 1A62,
43068/43123 are not too far away from service again !!

In that case you probably saw me taking a phot of it at York before departure, wasn't there two in the cab? Did you have a trainee with you or do GC sometimes have a 2nd man? Anyway was a good performance, walked down the back to listen to 67 under the roof on departure!

Would this be you in the cab then sir?

 

[158809]

Quick question about GC Fares, because their website is a tad complicated.

I have been quoted £42.90 return, Eaglescliffe to Kings Cross with a YP Railcard, is this correct? Im travelling on a Saturday, on the first and last trains of the day. Just wondering if this is correct, thats all. (Like to make sure im right, so I don't have a heart attack when they ask for a higher fare)