Harsh. That will have been planned well upfront...
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Entire 800/801/802 fleet stood down for safety checks
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Iskra
Established Member
The LNER Twitter team are a bit fair weather. Fine in normal times, but become very defensive when things go wrong or they get criticised for LNER's more interesting policy decisions.
That said, it can't be a great day to be representing a TOC that can't run any (many) trains on social media. You have to feel for them a little, and it isn't actually LNER's fault is it this one.
It's not uncommon. Norway had to withdraw an entire new fleet in 2000, we got caught up in it.
You design and make modern trains as light as possible to save energy use and track wear so you use aluminium instead of steel, and you make the components as light as possible. Get the design slightly wrong and fatigue cracking occurs. The Norwegian problem was actually cracks in the steel axles, but I think the same principle applied. It has even occurred on big old stuff made of steel, like 1960s loco bogies and steam engine frames.
I think this is a communication disaster at LNER. It has been left to the poor twitter feed operative to justify the cancellation of trains.
LNER is different to the other providers as it is taxpayer owned. This to me puts a bigger onus on them to be open and honest with the taxpayers as to what is happening. The BBC has had to tell the travelling public why there are no trains.
The 'We are you're NER' slogan doesn't seem to apply this morning.
Royston Vasey
Established Member
365s to Leeds, anyone? 
Iskra
Established Member
Grand Central could do quite well out of all this I suppose.
What are they running today?
What are they running today?
cactustwirly
Established Member
You have to understand that if you spent a lot of money, or planned a trip out, or had to be somewhere important. You would be very angry at the moment.
Although it's not the dispatchers fault, they probably needed someone to vent their frustrations to. Not acceptable but understandable given the circumstances.
My plans have be ruined today, and I am very angry. But I recognise it isn't GWRs fault.
I'd rather be a little peeved off (and get my money back) than have a catastrophic failure on my train whilst it was travelling at 125mph.
cactustwirly
Established Member
Yes of course, but it's still a very frustrating situation. Not everyone is going to roll over and say it's an ok situation.
Driving can scarcely be described as 'dangerous'
High Dyke
Established Member
Plenty of 365s around! Weren't they used after the 91s were temporarily withdrawn after the Sandy incident?Are there any 321's around to substitute on the ECML like last time
Anyway, as to what has happened today I think the main thing will be how long is this expected to go on for. Longer term if a number of trains remain withdrawn then I'd look to run what 800s are available from places like Reading or Didcot to Bristol, Plymouth, Cardiff etc and from Peterborough to Edinburgh, Leeds. Then use 387s/700s to run from Paddington and Kings Cross to connect.
CBlue
Member
While I don't dispute the point that many contributors on here are knowledgeable and in plenty of cases are involved at the deep end - it's a web forum. As a result for every two or three sensible, informative posts on a topic you'll get someone posting silly speculation or simply making things up - and due to the nature of web forums, it's not like we all have our backgrounds and knowledge plastered on here for people to see.
LNER are quite right to nudge people away from here to try and prevent any ridiculous or incorrect comments from gaining legs.
shyanthony
Member
Unfortunately, LNER have stated that "a new reservation must be made before travel" however, journeys can be made until 16th May as a result of the disruption caused.
43096
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Neville Hill is the home depot for the LNER 91s and Mark 4s.
That LNER project to do up the remaining 91s and mark 4s is probably getting some eyes on it at the office today. 
It highlights one of the potential problems of all high speed operators going for the same fleets, when one goes down they all do. Grand Central would be smart to try soak up as many customers as they can fit from this.
It highlights one of the potential problems of all high speed operators going for the same fleets, when one goes down they all do. Grand Central would be smart to try soak up as many customers as they can fit from this.
Which is quite reasonable - a trip planned for this weekend can be deferred to next weekend.
dk1
Veteran Member
These things happen. After the last year or so I’m sure we’ll be able to cope.
Can it? How do you know?
They cant cope with our rough riding infrastructure lol
Not necessarily. If you were going to a relative's wedding for example...
I remember when TfW had to withdraw their 175s due to potential safety concerns a couple of years ago. Trains were advertised as being cancelled due to ‘a shortage of trains because of extra safety inspections’ which was displayed online and played out at stations for cancellations. I don’t see why LNER can’t give passengers more specific information, after all, passengers can just look up the reason from news sources online anyway.
OK, so what's the alternative thing LNER could do that would be better?
Ooh I did that from KX to Leeds once, probably more comfortable than sitting on stones like the 8xx. Bit noisy with all the windows open at full speed thoughAre there any 321's around to substitute on the ECML like last time
NSEFAN
Established Member
While it is probably good to discourage travel during major disruption, to insist upon reservations being maintained now is ridiculous. I do hope that this is not a foretaste of the post-covid future for LNER...
I'm not blaming LNER (or GWR for that matter) for something beyond their control. I was merely questioning your categoric statement.
It’s very reasonable. It’s more than GWR are doing (subject to change I guess).
As of 0830 there was no deferred travel (but plenty of ticket acceptance). A colleague and his family had planned a trip to Cornwall and had bagged some cheap advances. They can’t be used on another day, they have to be refunded and new tickets bought, of course, there are no advances left so it would be another £130 or so. They’re going in the car now. hopefully gwr will see sense.
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