Grand Central Discussion

[Donny Dave]

Guys, things are about to step up a gear at GC and it's all good
Can't reveal the plans on here as it would break the confidentiallity clause in the employee contract, but suffice to say, you will all be pleasantly surprised in the very near future.

I think I know what this is ....

I'm not going to comment on here, or any other forum, but I shall speak to BOSCH and Sir_Clagalot if I see them around this weekend.

 

[BOSCH]

I think I know what this is ....

I'm not going to comment on here, or any other forum, but I shall speak to BOSCH and Sir_Clagalot if I see them around this weekend.

No good asking me mate,I've no idea whats going on or what DD is on about !!

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Same here! I havent the foggiest what DD is referring to!

 

[Danny Dire]

Sorry Bosch, can't tell you on here as GC now take breaches of confidentiallity as serious as a guard giving the driver the ready to start signal when the signal is at red.

But give me a ring mate, and i will fill you in

 

[adambro]

Since the fact that GC are looking at using Class 180s is already in the public domain, I hope this top secret announcement is going to be something a little bit more interesting than that.

 

[yorkie]

Since the fact that GC are looking at using Class 180s is already in the public domain, I hope this top secret announcement is going to be something a little bit more interesting than that.

He said it was good news, so it can't be 180s surely!!!!

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

First Group?
Arriva?
Virgin?
NatEx?(wildcard!)
Stagecoach?

Place your bets!!

 

[Donny Dave]

How about none of the above?

 

[andylloyd]

Sir Clag/Bosch,
what is the latest on the lack of power car situation?
Have the 'Heaton gang' got them up and running yet?

Cheers

Andy

 

[37402]

Well they had better get something sorted out pretty soon as the 1127 departure from Kings X STILL hasn't arrived at Sunderland...3 hours (fast approaching 4 hours) late.

Now THAT is something for FGW to aspire to. :roll:

 

[1D53]

Perhaps GC are going to fit the 180's with Valentas.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

1127 HAS arrived at Sunderland. It goes to Heaton for Fuel and any little jobs that need sorting before going back out as the 1730 to KX. I know the departure boards are showing it as not arrived but it has!

 

[devon_metro]

Why did it leave the X 108 minutes late :?

 

[Techniquest]

Well they had better get something sorted out pretty soon as the 1127 departure from Kings X STILL hasn't arrived at Sunderland...3 hours (fast approaching 4 hours) late.

Now THAT is something for FGW to aspire to. :roll:

I hope there aren't any major delays on Friday morning, as I intend to pop in before I leave London to cop the power cars for the year.

As for the FGW comment, I cannot complain about them currently. I travelled with them on the 0851 PAD - HFD on Tuesday morning from Colwall to Hereford. 43026 and 43134 performed nicely and whilst we left 9 minutes late (reason unknown), we arrived only 1 minute late. All things considered, slack timings and whatever, that wasn't bad for the Malverns route. But better still was the 1429 SWA - PAD on Tuesday. 3 minutes late from Newport (due to the 1520 CDF - HHD being in the way), 2 late from Bristol Parkway, 1 minute late from Swindon and right-time onwards. Even with a considerable speed reduction through Slough. To be right-time into Paddington in this day and age was brilliant, first time in ages that has been the case!

Anyway, I shall be awaiting this news on GC with anticipation.

 

[BOSCH]

1127 HAS arrived at Sunderland. It goes to Heaton for Fuel and any little jobs that need sorting before going back out as the 1730 to KX. I know the departure boards are showing it as not arrived but it has!

The plan WAS to turn it around at s/land but it failed at hartlepool by all accounts and the 1730 was canx,I should know I was waiting to work it !!!! caught the delayed 1830 Northern service to heworth and then home on metro to jarrow.
Danny Dire,thanx for the call and the info,much appreciated mate !!

 

[theblackwatch]

So presumably the morning train out of The Cross will be cancelled tomorrow.

Much as I would like to see GC succeed, I am a bit concerned at the number of failures there have been in the past few weeks, and I'm sure it isn't helping customer confidence at all - it would be extrememly interesting to see some MPC (Miles Per Casualty) figures, particularly if they could be compared to other TOC's HSTs.

 

[Andy]

So all fun again, this i just one of the report i got.

Sunderland - KGX 0646 965 OVERDUE

KGX - Sunderland 1450 283 OVERDUE

Sunderland - KGX 1730 329 OVERDUE


Are these right or not, this information was passed on so may not be 100% correct.

Lets hope that things can be sorted out, and the luck will change.

 

[Michael Scofield]

Good Morning, I'm new to this but can the chaps who work for Grand Central on here please explain why the service is so 'Jekyll & Hyde' at the moment and who exactly are your 'Big Cheeses' because, to be perfectly honest, they are leaving you, the frontline, up s**t creek with their silence.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Presumably the gentlemen (or women) are busy at work because, from sifting through all 38 pages on here, they usually respond within 30 seconds such is their eagerness and willingness to talk Railways!

It's a shame we don't have any 'official' dialogue with your 'Superiors' because, for me, they are a faceless bunch of buck passers.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

As to responding within 30 seconds... it depends on what Im doing!! If Im at home, then I will have the PC on, and im usually doing some modelling on the other desk behind me so I just have to swivel round and have a quick look on the forums every now and then!

TBH, the problems we have had recently are not down to GC or Heaton, but due to the scrap merchants and the various 'technical problems'

 

[Michael Scofield]

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate the mechanical faults are out of your hands although I would ask whether the company who fitted and kitted out the vehicles are competent or a bit of a 'cowboy organisation'. They must be costing the company thousands in lost revenue not to mention bad will from the public.

I note that you mention your Line Manager and Operations Director were regular travellers UNTIL the supplement's introduction and of course the increase in delays and cancellations. Did they know something you didn't or are they too cowardly to face the paying passenger and explain the reasons for hiking up prices whilst downgrading service? Either way, the impression I, and many other frequent passengers get, is that the company is not very 'people friendly' and that any man-management skills are negligible at best.

I understand you aren't at liberty to criticise your managers on here but I think it's important that the on-board team aren't 'hung out to dry' whilst the men who make the big decisions sit in their nice new offices completely removed from all the flak that is flying!

For the time being I cannot risk travelling on a GC train, due to the worry of never actually getting to my destination, which is an absurd situation. I wish you success in re-establishing the 'brand' but it will take an enormous amount of effort as for many, the damage is already done.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
P.S Are you Runway, Catalogue or 'Lads Mag'?

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

The coaches were done by Marcroft/ESG, and the Power Cars be DML (engines) and Bombardier (bogies).

(how do you mean, runway, catalogue or lads mag?)

 

[Michael Scofield]

I understand. I just hope that some of your management either read these message boards or sample the bad vibes of the entire operation in person by travelling on board. I wouldn't hold my breath as it sounds like they have their 'thumb on the pulse'.

I hope there are penalty clauses in place for the companies you mentioned above. I don't know how much it cost to refurbish your fleet but whatever it was you have been 'done up like a kipper' so to speak.

You said you had been doing a spot of modelling whilst contributing to this forum so I wondered what style of modelling it was, I hope your 'Line Manager' knows you are moonlighting in your spare time. I know a photographer who has good rates...post a picture of yourself so he can give you a quote!

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Not that modelling!! Modelling of the railway variety, with Diesels being the speciality!

 

[Michael Scofield]

Ahh I see, my apologies.

Do you have a contact number or email for your MD where I can try and get across some of my concerns about how the company is being run?

Private Message me if confidentiality is an issue

Regards

 

[theblackwatch]

Ahh I see, my apologies.

Do you have a contact number or email for your MD where I can try and get across some of my concerns about how the company is being run?

Private Message me if confidentiality is an issue

Regards

http://www.grandcentralrail.com/news.html

Hardly someone who is "completely removed", wonder if NXEC or Virgin's MD or Ops Director has his/her phone number on their respective website?

 

[Michael Scofield]

And it's hardly the direct line for the gentlemen in question friend.

I have found by ringing that office number before, the nature of the call tends to be interrogated by receptionist (an older gent) before deciding whether the MD or OD are 'in the building'.

No updates for well over a month either from the MD in his 'blog'

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

There is no receptionist at the office!! They will be trying to find out whether someone else could answer the question you have!
IIRC the 'blog' is more the press release, and there hasnt been one for a while!

Anyway, Ive got to go and run the 1730!

 

[Michael Scofield]

Well when I have rung over the last couple of months an older man with a very Northern accent has answered each time.

I'm sorry but when I can hear a 'what does he want' or 'tell him I'm not in at the moment' etc comment in the background it sounds like a traditional GC cop-out.

In a nutshell, information about the company, the problems it's faced and what it intends to do to rectify them is very thin on the ground yet today we have had an announcement about further expansion!

 

[1VWC]

DML/Bombardier/Marcroft have all carried out the work they were contracted to do. Maybe the work (as specified by GC/Sovereign) was scaled back or maybe it wasn't that extensive at all in the first place...the latter statement was made going on a quick shifty round one of the PC's a while back.

 

[BOSCH]

I'm sorry but when I can hear a 'what does he want' or 'tell him I'm not in at the moment' etc comment in the background it sounds like a traditional GC cop-out.

How can a company thats only been operating a few months have a "traditional cop out" ? :-?