TimboM
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1M11 is Load 16 + 2 locos (90 + 92) on the front - and the ECS loco is a 92... could make things interesting at Euston in the morning.
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The paper flexi has gone already. You can still use old ones within a year of purchase but it's online only if you buy a new one. There is a temporary price advantage in that an online purchase is £1450 whereas papers were £1600 at the end.AFAIK the flexi pass will be reduced to STD class travel booked online only with paper flexi tickets removed altogether. I think in the long term these will be done away with completely.
If Serco are following the "hotel on wheels" principle (which is a debate in itself) is it a reasonable expectation that 80 journeys (or "stays") over the course of a year are all at the same price? If you were staying in the same hotel in the same city 80 times in a year, I think you'd expect/accept some nights in peak periods (e.g. holiday seasons, big events on) to be more expensive than out of season when there's much less demand.I don't think anyone's that bothered about the flexi itself, but if you make 80 journeys a year you want to know that they're all at the same price and not subject to an advance booking competition with American tourists.
No, 90016 (leading) and 92043 (DIT) were on the train from the start at Glasgow - it was a loco positioning move to get 92043 back South.The 23:40 (1 December) Glasgow Central-Euston had 87002 "Royal Sovereign" bringing in the set from Polmadie.
When I alighted at Euston earlier (60 minutes delayed - something happened around the the new town that is famous for stealing football teams from south of the Thames so as to buy a place in the league), I was surprised to see double headers 90016+92043.
Were there problems with 92043?
The 23:40 (1 December) Glasgow Central-Euston had 87002 "Royal Sovereign" bringing in the set from Polmadie.
When I alighted at Euston earlier (60 minutes delayed - something happened around the the new town that is famous for stealing football teams from south of the Thames so as to buy a place in the league), I was surprised to see double headers 90016+92043.
Were there problems with 92043?
Either that or it was a positional move, very unusual to have double header. Top and Tailed is not allowed now when the train is in service so I don't think they had any choice.
Positional move, as above...Either that or it was a positional move, very unusual to have double header. Top and Tailed is not allowed now when the train is in service so I don't think they had any choice.
There was a 90 (016) + 87 double header on Wed 18th October to move 87002 north (again 87 was DIT).Even more unusual to have a double-header made up of a 90 and 92 I believe?
Last double header was November 10th (https://flic.kr/p/ZhW4HW), 90042 + 047. Again, a rebalancing of the locos after 92028 went south on the 9th instead of 90047.
1M11 is Load 16 + 2 locos (90 + 92) on the front - and the ECS loco is a 92... could make things interesting at Euston in the morning.
Wouldn't it have been feasible to let 1S45 get away first before bringing the 92 on to the top of the stock (as without the 92 on it would've been "normal" length)? Or was it a case of it was going to cause problems at some point, so best to bite the bullet and get 5M11 out of the way as soon as poss?Yep, 5M11 blocked 1S45 0830 EUS-GLC, which caused the latter to have a 62min late start.
The nearest equivalent I can thing of is where companies agree preferred rates with certain hotels in exchange for a certain guaranteed number of nights/occupancy over the year - I wonder if Serco will do something like this with corporates and/or individuals (I'm not holding my breath!)
I fear that normal passengers are going to be priced off the sleeper once the new stock arrives. A reminder that since Serco took over we've seen:
- Appalling reliablity
- Extortionate increase in berth supplement fees (with more to come)
- Removal of solo use of a standard class berth option (seems to be making a comeback, although at a far higher price)
- Refusal to accept ALRs on the last day of validity
- Difficulties in reserving seats between Fort William and Glasgow/Edinburgh which can be used as a normal 'day' train (I suspect Serco want this removed)
I fear that normal passengers are going to be priced off the sleeper once the new stock arrives.
That's why "they" (or Transport Scotland and DfT to be more precise) are spending £100m or whatever it is on 75 brand new Mk5 coaches.Used it last year to Aberdeen and the standard is nowhere near as good as GWR's Sleeper. Wanted to charge my phone in the lounge but the sockets didn't worked. Questioned the member of staff and was told what do you expect from an old train. Haven't been on since.
That's why "they" (or Transport Scotland and DfT to be more precise) are spending £100m or whatever it is on 75 brand new Mk5 coaches.
Incidentally, I believe most if not all berths in the old stock now have USB charging points fitted in them.
They've been fitting them in the year since you went on them. There is/was also a way to use the shaver sockets to charge phones, but probably shouldn't disclose/recommend it as the electrics in those old Mk3s probably aren't the most robustMine didn't!
Mine had one last SundayThat's why "they" (or Transport Scotland and DfT to be more precise) are spending £100m or whatever it is on 75 brand new Mk5 coaches.
Incidentally, I believe most if not all berths in the old stock now have USB charging points fitted in them.
They've been fitting them in the year since you went on them. There is/was also a way to use the shaver sockets to charge phones, but probably shouldn't disclose/recommend it as the electrics in those old Mk3s probably aren't the most robust
Used it last year to Aberdeen and the standard is nowhere near as good as GWR's Sleeper. Wanted to charge my phone in the lounge but the sockets didn't work. Questioned the member of staff and was told what do you expect from an old train. Haven't been on since.
87002 on the Edinburgh portion of 1M11 tonight.
87002 on the Edinburgh portion of 1M11 tonight.