Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
No commuter operator is ever going to be popular, simply because commuting is grim and always will be.
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
East Midlands franchise won by Abellio
- Thread starter InTheEastMids
- Start date
- Status
No commuter operator is ever going to be popular, simply because commuting is grim and always will be.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
DanDaDriver
Member
- Joined
- 5 May 2018
- Messages
- 338
Of course, if the contributors to this forum were in charge then everything would be perfect, because it really is that easy... 
StaffsWCML
Member
- Joined
- 10 Apr 2019
- Messages
- 221
Again the point here is that customer satisfaction of Stagecoach is one of the highest amongst all TOCs. We are replacing it with an even more mediocre provider with lower customer satisfaction ratings seems crazy to me.
No operator is perfect but some are better than others. My whole point is that Abellio are pretty poor yet keep being given more, seems an odd thing to do...unless of course you want to fob off all you pension liabilities on someone.
With the franchises Abellio now runs I would be interested to see what happens when a top up (multi billion) contribution is required for the pension pot.
Kneedown
Established Member
Of course, if the contributors to this forum were in charge then everything would be perfect, because it really is that easy...
We'd all be driving round in deltics and kettles!
cactustwirly
Established Member
Well IMO, FGW before the GWR rebrand set the bar, and I'd say they were a far superior operator than EMT.
EMTs intercity service, feels a bit like XC, and not a premier one like GWR etc.
Hopefully the stock gets a refresh, and a proper buffet under Abellio
But not Flying Scotsman. Banned!
RealTrains07
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Feb 2019
- Messages
- 1,760
I know, its just an example of gateline policy
grumpyoldman01
Member
This my experience too.
Regarding Abellio, the major station managed by them which I use most is Norwich, and I can't ever remember finding the barriers there unmanned; right pain when you want to grab a quick coffee between trains!
I think FGW dropped the ball when they got rid of the travelling chef. Losing a first class carriage has also made such fares much higher, which would make it difficult to take advantage of what options there are. Not sure how the new trains have affected this though.
Abellio could probably do with improving catering for standard class passengers (GC manage it, so it can be done), however the current first class offering is still very good. Infact, the menu has just been refreshed with more options such as baked potatoes.
cactustwirly
Established Member
I don't want to go off topic, but GWR still have the daytime catering (Pullman service)
Losing the First class carriage was the right call, because it increased capacity for Standard class, which was definitely needed.
Well I don't know of such luxuries, I can only afford pleb class.
Mordac
Established Member
They certainly seem to employ a lot of people at University whose only job seems to be to bark orders at passengers.
ForTheLoveOf
Established Member
- Joined
- 7 Oct 2017
- Messages
- 6,416
I suspect the issue is to do with the fact that University is a station that has far outgrown its humble size! 3.5m passengers at the last year's count, for a station with a tiny booking hall, narrow overbridge, narrow pedestrian access, and narrow, relatively short platforms (with staircases at the ends not helping things) - the result is entirely foreseeable.
When I have previously used University station at even shoulder peak times, the platforms have sometimes been packed to the rafters, and there has been a real Health and Safety risk. The upcoming improvement and enlargement works will be well received by its regular users no doubt!
I don't want to go off topic, but GWR still have the daytime catering (Pullman service)
Losing the First class carriage was the right call, because it increased capacity for Standard class, which was definitely needed.
Well I don't know of such luxuries, I can only afford pleb class.
The pullman service is all well and good, but its a bit pricey if you just want a meal.
In terms of first class provision, they could have relieved overcrowding in standard by enticing people into first with cheaper fares.
I usually travel in steerage, however EMT is one of the few services where the price differential and increased comfort make it worthwile to pay for the upgrade. Whether this remains the case when the HST's and their armchairs are withdrawn, remains to be seen.
Kneedown
Established Member
All Eastern (ptttt) region anyway. Now if there was a Class 45 or 50 option!
cactustwirly
Established Member
Doesn't really work for people on season ticket holders.
GWR were doing this to an extent, but it devalued the first class product.
Anyway it's a non issue, since it's very rare to see first class full, even with 1.5 coaches.
I doubt there are many season ticket holders from London to Cornwall.
cactustwirly
Established Member
But there are plenty from London to Bristol, Stroud, Moreton-in-Marsh, Cardiff etc
Perhaps its a case of too many short distance commuters ruining the product for long distance travellers !
We seem to be veering wildly off-topic here! A reminder that this thread is about the award of the East Midlands franchise to Abellio. It is not about the sadly missed Travelling Chef, the Flying Teapot Scotsman or any other of the wider variety of topics brought up of late!
Please lets get back to the topic at hand? Thanks.
Please lets get back to the topic at hand? Thanks.
But, like Virgin passengers... it's likely people don't know any different than the incumbent TOC.
Especially (and I'll say it again) (from what I understand) not much changed from National Express.
StaffsWCML
Member
- Joined
- 10 Apr 2019
- Messages
- 221
It is because they are competent at delivering a service, not because the are incumbent, Stagecoach and Virgin deliver a dependable service in a sea of dross. Abellio have lots of franchises and the customer satisfaction on all of them is poor and dropping. Their record of actually delivering a train service at a basic level is poor.
If anyone thinks that Abellio are the ones likely to improve or modernise/revolutionise things they are sadly misguided. They might paint the trains a pretty colour and kit their staff out with trendy gear and new gadgets! but that is about it! There is competent, there is incompetent and then there is Abellio.
Sadly if you want a train the gets you somewhere reliably and on-time they are not the operator of choice. Unfortunately on some local lines in the Midlands we have a choice of Abellio or Abellio now, terrible for the customer.
I travel from Stoke to Crewe everyday and have a choice of EMT or London Northwestern, I know which one I would rather travel on every time even given the fact that much hasn't changed since National Express. London Northwestern train also decide to completely divert away from Stoke on a very frequent basis. I have on numerous occasions be dispatched at a random station near London with 'Technical Issues' too.
You've picked a bit of an unfortunate route to compare really though given EMT themselves freely admit the 153 operated Derby to Crewe line is an embarrassment.
StaffsWCML
Member
- Joined
- 10 Apr 2019
- Messages
- 221
If that's an embarrassment then I don't know what the London NorthWestern sham is!
It turns up fairly reliably for me.
Kneedown
Established Member
Well an entire fleet replacement, right across the board with an end to the antiquated Sprinters and brand, spanking new ac capable stock on the MML sounds pretty revolutionary to me! Maybe us East Midlanders just set our sights too low?
StaffsWCML
Member
- Joined
- 10 Apr 2019
- Messages
- 221
Abellios track record of delivering 'new trains' isn't glowing.
Also completely pointless if the shiny new train is dirty and late or cancelled like most Abellio services though. And if the staff are managed by people who could organise a drinking session in an ale house!
I would be more convinced if they didn't make such a hash of every other franchise they are currently running. Look at the threads on issues with London NorthWestern, Scot Rail and Great Anglia.
Id rather sit on an old train that arrives than any Abellio nonsense. Now I have no choice I am forced to endure Abellio's incompetence which ever way I go, this is my issue.
MichaelAMW
Member
- Joined
- 18 Jun 2010
- Messages
- 1,012
For "most" trains to be cancelled or late would require punctuality figures of under 50%, which is clearly not the case.
I would love to know where all your bitterness, leading to absurd exaggeration about Abellio, comes from. You joined a month ago and practically every one of your post is a moan about Abellio. I'm going to guess it's the usual reason...
StaffsWCML
Member
- Joined
- 10 Apr 2019
- Messages
- 221
I never said it was! I said most of the trains I travel on are late.
Give me some data to suggest they are doing a good job then? What is the usual reason? Hate of incompetent TOCs? 65% of trains arrived on time last month 2.5% were cancelled, pretty poor by any standard that's on one franchise.
What is the love for this Dutch state run operator that delivers very little? They are a bad TOC and DfT keep giving them more. Odd.
59CosG95
Established Member
Have you considered the causes of cancellations and delays? Many of them might be out of Abellio's control, such as (on the GEML until fairly recently) ancient overhead line equipment that dated from the 1940s (which, until replacement, would sag in the heat as it wasn't auto-tensioned with weights/springs etc.)
Some of them are, admittedly, but the public (funnily enough) can be a major source of disruption *cough* Flying Scotsman *cough* trespassers *cough-cough*.
Is there any evidence that their 350s break down more than they did under Govia? If so I'd like to see it. Besides, Siemens maintain the trains at Northampton Kings Heath, not Abellio.
This is all wildly off-topic from the award of the East Midlands franchise to Abellio anyhow. Whatever will be will be.
StaffsWCML
Member
- Joined
- 10 Apr 2019
- Messages
- 221
I am sure there are a range of things, some are an aren't the operator. Just many things about Abellio don't add up for me.
True on the other comment, I just think they are the wrong choice. I suppose they were the only one willing to take on the 'pensions'.
In all more evidence franchising is broken, that is my main point.
I feel we will see a markedly worse service given their track record.
I will say no more and hope they can prove me wrong.
True on the other comment, I just think they are the wrong choice. I suppose they were the only one willing to take on the 'pensions'.
In all more evidence franchising is broken, that is my main point.
I feel we will see a markedly worse service given their track record.
I will say no more and hope they can prove me wrong.
DanDaDriver
Member
- Joined
- 5 May 2018
- Messages
- 338
I think you’ve made your point...
- Status