LNER Football Additional Trains Cancelled (Not actually cancelled) (24/05)

[dk1]

Not too long ago, can't remember whether it was Sunderland or Newcastle (think it was the carabao cup so Newcastle), but I remember staff saying they had to put in place acceptance the next morning because so many people missed the last train back as they were busy partying

Yes I remember that. Good on them and good on LNER. The NE knows how to party.

 

[Egg Centric]

Well there were loads of Sunderland fans who weren't impacted by issues this morning at all. They were the ones partying in Trafalgar Square last night causing Charing Cross Underground station to be closed due to overcrowding. Walking up from Embankment at about 2300 the whole of Villiers Street was a sea of red and white.

Gonna be a heck of a bigger party there tonight!

And yeah I'm hoping this makes the train for those of us taking it a bit less of a crush

 

[D1537]

That 2130 KGX-NCL is going to be one serious rolling party train tonight!

 

[Egg Centric]

That 2130 KGX-NCL is going to be one serious rolling party train tonight!

My original plan of catching up on work is so unlikely to succeed that I've made peace with the inevitable, gonna get a couple of 4 packs to bring on and roll with it

As long as I get my reserved (or any) seat I'm fine.

 

[dk1]

My original plan of catching up on work is so unlikely to succeed that I've made peace with the inevitable, gonna get a couple of 4 packs to bring on and roll with it

Probably for the best as I can’t see the ‘at-seat’ offering being available tonight in standard.

 

[Egg Centric]

Probably for the best as I can’t see the ‘at-seat’ offering being available tonight in standard.

I'll be in first (if there's any law and order at all ) but I think every chance of it not working there either and/or full declassification. But who knows. You don't have to be a football fan (and in truth I'm not by any reasonable standard) to understand this is a momentous occasion.

This typed walking through Farringdon seeing dejected SUFC fans. Bless.

 

[TUC]

This is due to more trains needing repairs across the east coast mainline hitachi fleet - affecting both Lumo and LNER:


https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/london-kings-cross-20250524/

Northern customers will be familiar with 'more trains than usual needing repair' as their usually lazy get-out clause. That's why it's hard to believe LNER.

 

[dk1]

I'll be in first (if there's any law and order at all ) but I think every chance of it not working there either and/or full declassification. But who knows. You don't have to be a football fan (and in truth I'm not by any reasonable standard) to understand this is a momentous occasion.

This typed walking through Farringdon seeing dejected SUFC fans. Bless.

Poor old Blades.

 

[ainsworth74]

Northern customers will be familiar with 'more trains than usual needing repair' as their usually lazy get-out clause. That's why it's hard to believe LNER.

I mean is it a "lazy get-out clause" when there are more trains down with faults that planned? What would you prefer they say?

 

[D1537]

My original plan of catching up on work is so unlikely to succeed that I've made peace with the inevitable, gonna get a couple of 4 packs to bring on and roll with it

As long as I get my reserved (or any) seat I'm fine.

Sounds like a good plan. My wife is a Mackem so we're off out to celebrate later.

 

[TUC]

I mean is it a "lazy get-out clause" when there are more trains down with faults that planned? What would you prefer they say?

The problem I meant was that, on lines such as Newcastle-Middlebrough, Northern used that line to justify cancelling large amounts of every day's service, week after week. That's why the North East will view such a line with particular cynicism, even if true.

 

[ainsworth74]

The problem I meant was that, on lines such as Newcastle-Middlebrough, Northern used that line to justify cancelling large amounts of every day's service, week after week. That's why the North East will view such a line with particular cynicism, even if true.

I'm not sure I'd say it was "large amounts"? It happens to frequently to be sure but Northern seem to run the full hourly service, it's the extra every other hour through a chunk of the day semi-fasts that do get hit but even then it's not often all of them.

But again, what would you prefer they say? The issue does seem to be a knackered old fleet sometimes struggling with availability meaning more trains are down for maintenance for longer than would be ideal.

Sounds like "more trains than usual needing repairs" to me

 

[rg177]

I can see the 22:15 Doncaster to Sheffield being entertaining tonight. Its down as a two-car 158 but has both the 20:03 and 20:25 (additional) from King's Cross connecting into it...

 

[Tetchytyke]

Sounds like "more trains than usual needing repairs" to me

To be fair, if it wasn’t Hitachi I’d have been cynical too.

As it is, the IEP contract with Hitachi continues to be the gift that keeps on giving. The IETs really are plastic junk.

 

[800001]

There will be further checks across the whole fleet in the next 48hours, this is to identify any further units that may suffer the fate of the units that had problems last night.

 

[Bow Fell]

Northern customers will be familiar with 'more trains than usual needing repair' as their usually lazy get-out clause. That's why it's hard to believe LNER.

What’s lazy about it, when it’s the truth. It’s not ideal but theres no shying away from the truth.

Lately, especially Heaton have been unable to supply the required units for the start of service, resulting in short forms and cancellations owing to failures overnight.

Believe me, Heaton depot and the Controllers at Northern have done a fantastic job, trying to squeeze every last exam mile out of the 156’s and 158’s at Heaton lately, even at the expense of units having to “drop dead” during the day just to get something out of them to prevent further cancellations. They've been worked right down to the wire of exam tolerance.

 

[Egg Centric]

Sounds like a good plan. My wife is a Mackem so we're off out to celebrate later.

Anyone on the 9:30 - at the risk of a last minute set swap you can join it now using the bridge...

Station itself is weirdly quiet. Honestly think loads may have gone to Trafalgar Square.

And now hear come the hoardes

 

[D1537]

I can see the 22:15 Doncaster to Sheffield being entertaining tonight. Its down as a two-car 158 but has both the 20:03 and 20:25 (additional) from King's Cross connecting into it...

It's also running a little late, and with some late running on the ECML, it's now the first train to Sheffield for no less than SIX King's Cross arrivals (1948, 1957, 2000, 2003, 2025, 2030) and for extra bonus points 1E28 Edinburgh-Doncaster as well.

 

[43096]

I mean is it a "lazy get-out clause" when there are more trains down with faults that planned? What would you prefer they say?

"Another day when Hitachi have failed to deliver what they are contracted to"?

 

[800Travel]

It's also running a little late, and with some late running on the ECML, it's now the first train to Sheffield for no less than SIX King's Cross arrivals (1948, 1957, 2000, 2003, 2025, 2030) and for extra bonus points 1E28 Edinburgh-Doncaster as well.

And it's short formed along with the following service which can't help

1J55 2000 Scarborough to Sheffield
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Y02215/2025-05-24/detailed#allox_id=1

Facilities on the 20:00 Scarborough to Sheffield due 22:42.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

https://www.journeycheck.com/northernrail/

2R68 2223 Adwick to Sheffield
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Y05150/2025-05-24/detailed#allox_id=0

Facilities on the 22:23 Adwick to Sheffield due 23:14.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 4.

https://www.journeycheck.com/northernrail/

 

[Egg Centric]

It's also running a little late, and with some late running on the ECML, it's now the first train to Sheffield for no less than SIX King's Cross arrivals (1948, 1957, 2000, 2003, 2025, 2030) and for extra bonus points 1E28 Edinburgh-Doncaster as well.

Don't most of them go up the MML?

 

[800Travel]

Don't most of them go up the MML?

Nothing going direct St Pancras to Sheffield due to engineering works.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...25-05-24/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

Bedford - London St Pancras International: The lines will be blocked between Bedford and Harpenden, which will significantly disrupt journeys on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May. Alternative ways of getting to and from central London will be available from Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. Buses will run between Bedford and Harpenden so you can get to and from Luton Airport

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/late-may-bh-weekend-20250523/

 

[Egg Centric]

Nothing going direct St Pancras to Sheffield due to engineering works.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...25-05-24/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt



https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/late-may-bh-weekend-20250523/

Oh well sucks for them. Meanwhile the at seat booze and general deli menu is operating as well as what I brought along hehe

(It's not much of a party train though. At least not in coach L. Nice atmosphere but that's it. So I shall just continue getting smashed)

 

[Benjwri]

If you don’t respond to the dry weather with maintenance to prevent issues then problems occur. The UK very rarely has severe conditions of any weather in an international context and it’s obviously gradual over weeks anyway. It’s just very poor all round.

Except this was the first time it has happened. It’s not like this has happened numerous times before, it happened once, they very quickly found the issue and rectified it in a morning. How is that poor? You mention severe conditions are rare, when they do happen issues which couldn’t be accounted for will happen.

This wasn’t poor, it was handled pretty well. If it happens again that’ll be poor, but that hasn’t happened yet.

 

[Clarence Yard]

If the LNER are on the same maintenance regime as the other Hitachi sets, they will be getting a full pan bay inspection every 36 days so there will be no lack of normal maintenance here.

The circumstances behind the issue have been identified, a fleet check is in progress and it will be sorted. These kind of checks are not exactly unknown to those of us involved in train maintenance but rarely do they threaten service provision. The most important thing here is not to let anything occur that could cause a safety critical incident.

 

[Bald Rick]

Given how many Sunderland fans were in St Albans this evening (all of whom I spoke to had been at Wembley) I’d be surprised if any have gone back north!

 

[ChristopherJ]

The Wrong Type of Grime.

Thank me later, Daily Mail.

 

[ainsworth74]

"Another day when Hitachi have failed to deliver what they are contracted to"?

Sure. But that definitely would sound like an excuse to passengers I reckon. Or at the very least buck passing!

 

[The exile]

I mean is it a "lazy get-out clause" when there are more trains down with faults that planned? What would you prefer they say?

When it happens occasionally or after a particular incident, fair enough. When it is a semi-permanent feature, it is basically an admission that bau plans are not robust enough. There comes a point where you have to adjust your plans to reflect reality. Personally, I would have less of an issue with it if it said “more than planned” rather than “more than usual”. If you’ve regularly / frequently had 11 units under repair rather than the planned 10 - then “usual” becomes 11 not 10.

 

[crablab]

But that definitely would sound like an excuse to passengers I reckon. Or at the very least buck passing!

Well it is buck passing?

But this is very much a feature of the IET contract. Unlike traditional lease agreements, Hitachi are solely responsible for the trains and all maintainence.

That can be explained to passengers, who are not stupid.

It's not like LNER can switch suppliers tomorrow, or are even the ones who chose Hitachi in the first place (in fact, they could make a bit thing about their new train order *not* being with them...)

Unless of course, LNER are the ones failing to hold up their side and return trains to the right depots on time etc.