Recent content by GuyGibsonVC

NR have always used November RPI from the previous year for the January award and, now that it doesn’t suit the company, they change it and say 'Ah, but inflation is coming down' nearly 5 months after the pay anniversary. I bet if November RPI was low and inflation was going higher they would...

I was thinking what particular timetabled journey makes the most for that particular TOC. For a made up example, LNER know that the 1700 out of KX on a Friday evening makes them the most money. Sorry for the brevity. It is hard to define!

My mind was wandering the other day whilst on a train and this thought popped into my head. Which individual train journey makes the most profit? Not the most lucrative, but profitable? I would imagine there are a few variables such as staff costs, energy costs, ticket costs, timings...

The unfair nature of how it is applied causes issues, too. You can go for the same role on different routes and be offered different amounts within the band for the same job. Lastly, you can be on a lower band but be on a higher salary than the band above due to the wide range of the bands. I...

There is now actually no way to move up the bands as the Performance Related Pay aspect of the bonus no longer applies. There is no incentive or reward for upskilling, experience or technical knowledge within the bands and I understand the frustration. From the bottom of band to the top of the...

Not Avanti related but I’m on the 1408 Edinburgh - Plymouth CrossCountry service and it is rammed to to the gunnels. Yes, it is a 4 car Voyager. Unbelievable. I got on at Newcastle and it was shown as a 8/9 car on the platform. It was cancelled from Dundee to Edinburgh. So maybe some unit...

Morpeth has a lovely little independent cafe in the recently refurbished station which is popular with locals. They've had a bit of a rough 18 months or so with industrial actions, storms and Plessey Viaduct but, thankfully, they are still going strong. Lovely coffee, a loyalty card and...

OHL damage around Peterborough and power supply failure at Edinburgh. LNER have just put out a ‘Do not travel’ instruction from KX to Edinburgh. I’ve been sat in Newcastle Station for an hour on the 1400 from KX.

He is the Route Director for East Coast and generally known for being a straight talker.

I’m not expert but I think it is because the Chathill Flyer doesn’t have to crossover to the Blyth and Tyne for the return service as other Northern Trains do when they terminate at Morpeth. These crossovers are being used as part of the bi-di working and the Northern Morpeth service will...

The SIMBID running between Plessey and Morpeth is scheduled to continue until 04/11/23 and the speed over the Down on the viaduct is 50mph. The independent coffee shop in Morpeth station has endured quite a torrid 18 months with weeks of industrial action, engineering blockades and now this!

During the weekend blockade, a track renewal over Plessey Viaduct uncovered structural defects on said viaduct. It looks like they can’t put the Up Main back in and, as such, the service is up the spout tomorrow and possibly all week, especially at Morpeth. Only two Northern and CrossCountry...

As mentioned, nothing new. Apprentices for NR from the North sometimes used to fly to Southampton via Paris when they attended Gosport. Cheaper and quicker.

Couldn’t have been a worse place. They couldn’t plain line as they would’ve needed to change the bearers. WCML blockade on for Carstairs Long possession on between Church Fenton and Holgate Jn. New crossing going in tonight and I believe they are going to use the sleepers as hotels at...

Disruptive access is usually given short thrift by the TOCs unless it is emergency works. Planning for blockades happen two years out and more whilst normal possessions are usually started 37 weeks out. On the other hands, with slippage of the Cairstairs works, WCML freight and sleepers have...