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I used to visit York twice a year, and I always liked to travel by GNER. I always liked them. Has any former regular user any thoughts on them?
I used GNER throughout its existence & found the staff to be quite professional & certainly never observed any of this haughtiness you describe with the guardsI remember GNER to be OK. Trains very well loaded. Some of the guards could be a bit desperate though. Did seem to have a high opinion of themselves though, sometimes warranted and other times not.
Like probably 90% of passengers I never used the restaurant so wasn't really something I can comment on
I used GNER throughout its existence & found the staff to be quite professional & certainly never observed any of this haughtiness you describe with the guards
I used to visit York twice a year, and I always liked to travel by GNER. I always liked them. Has any former regular user any thoughts on them?
mmm...As I recall, Sherwood's idea was to develop the BR Inter City idea of real service (which really set the tone)...and it worked for a period. There were far more uniformed hosts on the train who were expected to stand at the doors of the first class to welcome and thank passengers. The uniform included hats which they were obliged to wear on welcoming and waving farewell to first class passengers. I found all that rather endearing.
The restaurant was superb as was the buffet, running to regional bottled beer and cheeses and seasonal stuff like game pie...quite wonderful.
So what was there to complain about? Not a lot, but plainly they couldn't influence the rest of the railway that just got in the way! Sherwood wanted to run a railway that suited business people...including the idea that there should be parkways near Edinburgh, Donny and Welwyn (which brought out every imaginable nimby) to run effectively rapid business trains with car parks...it does seem very reasonable even now, but was quietly told, I understand, 'just run the franchise mate, don't f++k about with the infrastructure. I believe the same thing was said to GW (whoever was behind that) when they started to have designs on a West country high speed line.
That's why such good guys just go back to what they know...ask Mr Branson!
GNER was very good most of the time but did rely on their classic railway image which through rose tinted specs & was often a dissapointment. Yes the staff where on the whole very good & looked exceptionally smart & the restaurant won awards & was superb. But to the majority of passengers in standard class it was more often overcrowded trains with passengers balancing on suitcases outside toilets & trolley catering trapped & becoming a static service from a vestibule.
GNER was very good most of the time but did rely on their classic railway image which through rose tinted specs & was often a dissapointment. Yes the staff where on the whole very good & looked exceptionally smart & the restaurant won awards & was superb. But to the majority of passengers in standard class it was more often overcrowded trains with passengers balancing on suitcases outside toilets & trolley catering trapped & becoming a static service from a vestibule.
Fair assesment. Didn't endear themselves to the rest of the rail industry with their holier-than-thou attitude.
I agree. Their efforts to provide a high standard of customer service set the Company apart from all others....As I recall, Sherwood's idea was to develop the BR Inter City idea of real service (which really set the tone)...and it worked for a period. There were far more uniformed hosts on the train who were expected to stand at the doors of the first class to welcome and thank passengers. The uniform included hats which they were obliged to wear on welcoming and waving farewell to first class passengers. I found all that rather endearing.
The restaurant was superb as was the buffet, running to regional bottled beer and cheeses and seasonal stuff like game pie...quite wonderful.
Again, I agree.Didn't endear themselves to the rest of the rail industry with their holier-than-thou attitude.
Yes, indeed I can. But I regret that I feel unable to do so on this public forum as it is just conceivable that there may be (and I say this in all naievety) some outstanding employment dispute which should not be prejudiced nor influenced by ad hoc reports.Replacing experienced staff with less expensive newcomers? Can you be more specific?
I still miss having one FC carriage kept at weekends for full fare pax/season ticket holders, so you're not deafened by wailing kiddies on AP.
Replacing experienced staff with less expensive newcomers? Can you be more specific? I'm not aware of any 'global replacement program' in other TOCs. And generally pay rates are far higher than they were pre-privatisation.