Chaz said:You need a lot of people to sign it. Most of them been the actual commuters who use the Cobblers.....
1 Person - Nay
10 People - Nay
100 People - Doubt it
1000 People - Silverlink will have to rethink their business plan
Back in June said:I say that the Class 90s + Mk3s that currently operate are more suited to this service than the 12-car desiros that are proposed by the SRA.
Here's some stats:-
90 + 10x Mk3s + DVT
Standard class seats (2+2): 648
First class seats (2+1): 48
Weight: Approx 450 tonnes
Max speed: 110mph
3x4Desiro
Standard class seats (2+2): 606
First class seats (2+2): 72
Weight: approx 510 tonnes
Max speed: 100mph
The new trains are notably heavier, and with fewer seats.
The loss of 2+1 first class seating, and the loss of First Class at the barriers at Euston, is a blow to first class passengers so could cause a decrease in FC passengers, despite the increase in FC seats.
I am not sure about track access charges but modern EMUs/DMUs are not just heavy but cause more track damage than was previously thought and charges have increased recently to reflect this.
It is much more expensive to lease brand new trains (that must be paid for) than stock that is older and has already been paid for, just needs to be maintained, stored etc.
When I went just about everyone got a seat. It was very busy though.AlexS said:The extra standing room and third interval doors on the Desiro's may however help with peak hour standing passengers - a standing journey on a Mk3 coach has never been fun in my experience - the vestibules simply aren't large enough.
yorkie said:However I suspect there's lkely to be a lot of spare capacity in 1st class now (Far less incentive to use it, how can you justify the cost when the seat layout is the same and you aren't near the barriers? Is there any real benefit?) at the expense of more people vying for less seats in standard.
Dear Julian
Thank you for your suggestion to improve our services. I apologise for the
time it has taken
for us to reply.
I understand from my colleague who has been working for the railway for
longer than I, that
the 'Cobblers' services refer to services that operate between Euston and
Northampton, but
not particular stopping patterns of those services.
I'm afraid that I'm therefore not sure which services you would like us to
consider reinstating
and I'd be grateful if you were able to clarify this further for me. I will
then be able to record
your comments more accurately so that they may be made available to the
appropriate
managers.
Thank you for taking the time to contact us. I look forward to hearing from
you.
Yours sincerely
Helen Wilson
Customer Services Assistant
hock:yorkie said:I would like to see how 1288gaje worded the letter though.
Remember 'Cobblers' was a name for the loco-hauled fast services. These services do still run, but are now EMUs.
So if you are asking them to reinstate services, then it's not an applicable question as they have not withdrawn any!
The question really that you need to make clear (did you?) is why they use EMUs instead of 90s. However there is (IMO) no point asking them.
At the end of the day, the SRA has dictacted to them that they must use the 350s because the SRA ordered too many 450s and then had to use them elsewhere. It's all old news, and old decisions, and cannot be reversed by Silverlink.