Kings Cross to Ely/Kings Lynn stock and TOC options

[bramling]

Given that it's a 48 minute journey and both Cambridge and King's Cross have plentiful places to purchase coffee and food, there is simply no need for on train catering.

ISTR WAGN tried a trolley service, and it didn't last long.

 

[bramling]

Why 80xs? They are 125 mph (or 140mph if necessary) trains so where would they be able to reach anywhere near that speed? They would take 20 minutes to get to Stevenage, then slow down for Hitchin, followed by another 30 minutes to Cambridge (which at 26 miles is less than 60mph). What a waste that would be when an over 20 year old outer suburban commuter EMU could do the same journey in exactly the same time. This obsession with Inter-city status in some towns/cities is ridiculous. Maybe those settlements calling for it should pay the difference in cost as they think it will benefit them so much. Even Her Majesty goes to Sandringham on a class 365 so why is it not good enough for the oh-so important visitors to Cambridge?

Whilst I agree with your post (for once!), it's worth noting that for the last couple of years HM has been using 387s, and according to a reliable source prefers 365s over 387s...

 

[Hadders]

There really isn’t a need for IETs to Cambridge or Kings Lynn.

The station dwell time would be too long and flexibility to work with other GTR services on the GN would be lost which would be an issue especially at times of disruption.

 

[Ianno87]

Even Her Majesty goes to Sandringham on a class 365 so why is it not good enough for the oh-so important visitors to Cambridge?

Her Maj doesn't need to work on the train on a laptop, for one.