Maybe we should be glad we didn't get National Express

[whole diary]

[John R]

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/12/bring_back_british_rail.html#more

Not the first horror story about poor customer service on National Express either.

[Chris from Nailsea]

On the other hand, the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) were rather more supportive:

BBC producer Rob Lawrence was on a train from York to London which was held up for about six hours.

While still on board he said: "The train company have been pretty good. They have been pretty clear from the outset, they have been very apologetic, they have been doing their best to keep people as happy as possible in the circumstances by ensuring that food and drink were given out at the bar and the buffet. All the stations have had staff who have done their best to field queries and try to give the best answers they can."

The 1830 GMT Hull Trains service from Hull to London was one of the worst-hit, finally arriving at London Kings Cross at 0305 GMT, some six hours late.

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7783020.stm

[Btline]

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/12/bring_back_british_rail.html#more

Not the first horror story about poor customer service on National Express either.

I wonder why the person took the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) to London?

[G.Uard]

I seem to remember that Wessex Trains was a National Express franchise.

[Electric train]

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/12/bring_back_british_rail.html#more

Not the first horror story about poor customer service on National Express either.

I wonder why the person took the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) to London?

It doesn't say they actually joined the train at Glasgow, even if they did with all the past 10 years of work on the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) the journey from Glasgow to KX is comparable in speed and out of choice I would sit in a Mk4 coach over a pendelino any day

[grahame]

Maybe we should be glad we didn't get National Express

It's hypothetical - we can speculate as to what would have been, but that's all.  I have speculated that with franchise bid dramatically lower (300 million at least, it is said) than the First Group one, that one or more of the following would have occurred:

a) There would have been much poorer marketing of services leading to fewer passengers
b) Directors, shareholders (and staff? but I doubt it) would have got more money
c) Services that First cut would not have been cut, with (example) TransWilts remaining at a more reasonable service and the Cardiff - Portsmouths not being cut back to 2 cars
d) Fares would have on average been lower.

But which ones?

[Btline]

The article does say he started from Glasgow. It takes at least an hour longer on NXEC^▸ (National Express East Coast)!

National Express is funny company-

Incompetent: Central Trains, Silverlink, NXEA^▸ (National Express East Anglia), NXEC, Scotrail, Wales and West

Competent: c2c, Wessex, Midland Mainline.

If NX had taken over, the local trains would have been better, but I don't think NX have the ability to run express trains.

[Electric train]

I know there are some major issues with the OHLE^▸ (Over-Head Line Equipment (electrification via catenary)) (overhead line equipment) on stretches of the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) Claypole is one such area.  There is a planned campaign change of components which has been going on for a few years starting in the London to Hitchin areas, also there are some power supply problems as well which are being addressed as well as control and protection equipment renewals in the line side switching stations over the last few years and there is a power supply up grade planned.