East Anglia Franchise ITT published: Norwich in 90*

[TheEdge]

Nice to drive though. My opinion of course.

Nice to conduct too. Prefer them over everything else in the AGA fleet. Especially on a nice quiet clear Monday night on a late Breckland line run. Leave Ely, cab lights all out, lovely picture window to stargaze from.

 

[MP33]

An improvement that could be made once platform 6 is opened for Crossrail at Shenfield. Have platforms 5 and 6 connect to the Electric lines to the London side of a connection from the down Main line to Platform 4. Platform 4 will become the down platform for Southend Victoria and Southminster reducing the conflicting movements.

 

[dk1]

Nice to conduct too. Prefer them over everything else in the AGA fleet. Especially on a nice quiet clear Monday night on a late Breckland line run. Leave Ely, cab lights all out, lovely picture window to stargaze from.

You paint a wonderfully romantic picture there mate. Im always happy with you up my rear end 170 style. Newly married too

 

[306024]

An improvement that could be made once platform 6 is opened for Crossrail at Shenfield. Have platforms 5 and 6 connect to the Electric lines to the London side of a connection from the down Main line to Platform 4. Platform 4 will become the down platform for Southend Victoria and Southminster reducing the conflicting movements.

That is indeed part of the new layout proposed for Shenfield. The down main to platform 4 connection is 50mph for a faster run in. The idea was first proposed back in NSE days, so not much longer to wait now.

 

[eastdyke]

You paint a wonderfully romantic picture there mate. Im always happy with you up my rear end 170 style. Newly married too

Rear ended on the Breckland? You have an hour to spare!

 

[mwmbwls]

A recent article in the East Anglian Daily Times brings back memories.
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/bid_for_...s_stepped_up_by_suffolk_politicians_1_4279354

At present there is a train every two hours between Ipswich and Peterborough – stopping at Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Ely and March – but these services have become increasingly popular over recent years.
Peterborough is the major junction on the East Coast Main Line and is served by trains heading to and from Scotland, the North East and Edinburgh.
There are also cross-country services from there to Birmingham, Leicester, Manchester, Liverpool and Nottingham.
In recent years there have been calls for the number of trains to be increased as those already running are becoming increasing full – but this has always seen as being an issue for the next franchise operator.
However there was widespread surprise when the basic requirements of the new franchise were published last month and there was no mention of the hourly service.
It is important that it is included in the franchise agreement because that will ensure that there are enough trains to operate it – there is a national shortage of diesel units which makes it difficult for operators to expand services with government agreement.
Ipswich MP Ben Gummer has asked Rail Minister Claire Perry to ensure an hourly service is written into the franchise: “That is very important. We got most of what we wanted from the franchise but not this, but we aren’t giving up.
“I think the government gets the point we are making and I am hopeful it will ultimately be included in the franchise.”
Bury St Edmunds MP Jo Churchill has also been lobbying for its inclusion, and hoped that their efforts would be successful.
She said: “To the government this might look like a small point, but for those of us in Suffolk, and especially those who use Bury St Edmunds or Stowmarket stations it is a very important issue.
“I think we have got the point across and I really hope an hourly service is included when the final route specification is drawn up.”
There was widespread surprise within the industry when the hourly service was not included in the original franchise specification – especially when the re-introduction of through trains from Lowestoft to London along the East Suffolk Line were included.
These would cause serious congestion on the main lines into London – they could only be three carriages long when all the other trains using Liverpool Street are eight to 12 carriages.
And they would introduce diesel engines with all the fumes they create in an enclosed “train-shed” to an all-electric environment at the London terminus.
final decision on whether to include an hourly cross-country service should become clear early next year. The franchise is due to be awarded during the early summer and the new operator is due to take over in October 2016.

Back in the days when I was learning to count beans the firm ran courses in Cambridge which involved the opportunity to catch the Southbound Harwich Boat from Manchester Piccadilly over Woodhead and later via the Midland Route through New Mills and Chinley.45’s, 47’s appeared but the staple soon turned to being a 37 – although I would know them as English Electric Type 3’s. IIRC the train was always stabled in platform 5 at Piccadilly and used the last remaining trailing points at the barrier end of the station. It probably carried more ruck sacs per sq. foot than any other train in the United Kingdom and passengers from as far east as Poland were frequent travellers – there being a significant Polish population in the North West, including a fair number of railway men with concessionary privileges. This was of course before Easyjet and Wizzair. I recall a Gresley Buffet Car with original bogies intermixed with Mk 1 rolling stock. I qualified before the train was diverted via the North London Line so never went by that route,
I have since had cause to ride from Manchester Piccadilly to Norwich on a number of occasions with Stagecoach EMT which can get cosily overcrowded until Peterborough and if you are unfortunate enough to catch the 158/156 combined set somewhat basic for such a long journey.
Given a free choice what stock would you use to power this long distance service and which franchise would you award it too?

 

[chubs]

The Archant group of newspapers seem to really have it in for the railway this past week, with far more poorly researched articles than usual.

The EMT service is useful, and busy even past Peterborough.

 

[Dave1987]

One thing you learn very quickly in this world is that politicians and councils will say anything to be seen to be doing something regardless of whether such things are possible or practical. And hourly service from Ipswich to Peterborough would be desirable but they are not going to magic the trains out of thin air by just specifying it in the ITT.

 

[TheEdge]

The Archant group of newspapers seem to really have it in for the railway this past week, with far more poorly researched articles than usual.

Thats just Archant. They, together with BBC Anglia, have departments solely towards writing and producing anti-railway stories. I once even saw a "story" on the Eastern Daily Press that was just a copy paste of an AGA Journey Check message!

There is a huge amount of hot air coming out of MPs and pressure groups and that hot air is being mistaken for franchise commitments. Expect massive disappointment when the final franchise commitments come out!

 

[w0033944]

The Archant group of newspapers seem to really have it in for the railway this past week, with far more poorly researched articles than usual.

To be fair, one of their articles did attempt to explain to the traveling public that a great deal of the delays they experience aren't the fault of the company whose branding they see on the side of the trains, but rather are often the fault of a seemingly mysterious entity called "Network Rail"!

 

[WatcherZero]

Governments published response to consultation on East Anglia franchise. Not had a chance to read it yet.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...e/481392/east-anglia-stakeholder-briefing.pdf

 

[klewer]

Governments published response to consultation on East Anglia franchise. Not had a chance to read it yet.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...e/481392/east-anglia-stakeholder-briefing.pdf

According to that document, "The London Mayor and TfL in particular noted importance of 4 trains per hour between Stratford and London Liverpool Street that call at all intermediate stations"

Good luck with those intermediate station stops..

 

[306024]

According to that document, "The London Mayor and TfL in particular noted importance of 4 trains per hour between Stratford and London Liverpool Street that call at all intermediate stations"

Good luck with those intermediate station stops..

Perhaps they want to reopen Coborn Road (closed 1946) and Globe Road (closed 1916)

 

[jopsuk]

According to that document, "The London Mayor and TfL in particular noted importance of 4 trains per hour between Stratford and London Liverpool Street that call at all intermediate stations"

Good luck with those intermediate station stops..

I spotted that and had wtf-ed a bit. I wonder what was actually meant?

Things I hadn't fully grasped from the ITT- that the current Cambridge-Stansted off peak hourly service is required to be grafted onto the Norwich-Cambridge service all day every day and to stop at Cambridge North

 

[klewer]

I spotted that and had wtf-ed a bit. I wonder what was actually meant?

Same. Surely service between these two stations is more of a TfL/Crossrail issue than something for the Anglia franchise?

 

[colchesterken]

Briefly, who would you like to win and why
We tried First Great Eastern, NXEA, AGA, and as a fairly regular user ( no longer a commuter, OAP discount OP now ) I have not noticed a lot of difference
I love the refurb mk 3 I think the new lights do it all now bright rather than the dreary crossway strip lights often different colours.

 

[HH]

What has happened in general is that since FGE days the stock has just gotten older and shabbier, apart from the few units that had a recent refurb.

That is largely down to DfT and NX (the units were still OK at the end of FGE and Abellio have actually done more than DfT could have expected given the terms of GA short). However in the case of the NX it is now largely run by ex-First people. Nothing much has changed at DfT though...

 

[colchesterken]

Can someone help me? My interests are on this line, been trainspotting on here since the last of the Britannias.
I get the hump when we slow down at Witham even on the Norwich fasts. It seems to be implied on here that there is still a signal check, even though the level crossing is gone and replaced by the bridge, anyone know why,

 

[Sleepy]

Can someone help me? My interests are on this line, been trainspotting on here since the last of the Britannias.
I get the hump when we slow down at Witham even on the Norwich fasts. It seems to be implied on here that there is still a signal check, even though the level crossing is gone and replaced by the bridge, anyone know why,

Yes the foot crossing was closed but of course Nitwit Rail still haven't changed the signalling through Witham !!

 

[dk1]

Briefly, who would you like to win and why
We tried First Great Eastern, NXEA, AGA, and as a fairly regular user ( no longer a commuter, OAP discount OP now ) I have not noticed a lot of difference
I love the refurb mk 3 I think the new lights do it all now bright rather than the dreary crossway strip lights often different colours.

Who cares really? Like you, I've seen them all come & go. Makes me laugh listening to the twits on Twitter. Why would they think or even hope things would be better under a different operator? I've worked on the GEML for 31 years & it's all fur coat & no knickers. It's better to look on the negative side to save disappointment in my humble opinion.

 

[SPADTrap]

Who cares really? Like you, I've seen them all come & go. Makes me laugh listening to the twits on Twitter. Why would they think or even hope things would be better under a different operator? I've worked on the GEML for 31 years & it's all fur coat & no knickers. It's better to look on the negative side to save disappointment in my humble opinion.

The fickle twitter folk. Weeks of celebrating the demise of FCC only for 'BringBackFCC' to trend a few months later from the same people.

 

[dk1]

The fickle twitter folk. Weeks of celebrating the demise of FCC only for 'BringBackFCC' to trend a few months later from the same people.

They are truly pathetic mate :roll:

 

[grumblingalong]

Some brilliant examples of understanding the rail network from Claie Perry and Chloe Smith in this article: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/rail_mi...o_talk_about_strained_rail_services_1_4337760

“It slows the whole service down. We are working with drivers to make sure they have more information so they don’t just brake straight away"

“We are also working on the equipment we have to scrape the leaves off.”

 

[scott118]

Some brilliant examples of understanding the rail network from Claie Perry and Chloe Smith in this article: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/rail_mi...o_talk_about_strained_rail_services_1_4337760

“It slows the whole service down. We are working with drivers to make sure they have more information so they don’t just brake straight away"

“We are also working on the equipment we have to scrape the leaves off.”

Aviva?

 

[321446]

I'm sure those comments must've been taken hugely out of context. I'm sure. No really the must.

Sits in corner alternatively laughing maniacally and sobbing. Then goes off to drive his train, remembering not to brake strait away in low rail adhesion conditions....

 

[SPADTrap]

“It slows the whole service down. We are working with drivers to make sure they have more information so they don’t just brake straight away"

I'd go as far to say that is an out and out lie, in my opinion. :roll:

The last thing my company would do is take advice on train handling during low adhesion conditions from Claire Perry.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm sure those comments must've been taken hugely out of context. I'm sure. No really the must.

Sits in corner alternatively laughing maniacally and sobbing. Then goes off to drive his train, remembering not to brake strait away in low rail adhesion conditions....

Reason for SPAD driver?

Well yesterday Claire Perry was working with me and...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

They are truly pathetic mate :roll:

British ignorance eh :roll:

 

[dk1]

I'm following Claire Perry on Twitter. Need all the advice she can give me on poor adhesion :roll: Oh & lets not forget, AGA trains no longer deposit human waste on the tracks. She said so on BBC Look East last night. Who the hell gives her advice, Noddy??

 

[321446]

I shouldn't be surprised that an MP, elected to serve the mandate of the people, in the role of Under Secretary of State for Transport, no less, knows nothing about the job they are being paid to do.

But it doesn't make it any easier to swallow. Absolutely pathetic.

 

[Dave1987]

“It slows the whole service down. We are working with drivers to make sure they have more information so they don’t just brake straight away"

“We are also working on the equipment we have to scrape the leaves off.”

Driver slips through Mistley on a Red day can now say "Claire Perry said I was braking too early so braked where I would normally for a good day".

MP's say exactly what their constituents and main core voters want them to say. I mean look at Will Quince at the moment. What on earth is an emergency session of the Transport select committee going to achieve? Confirm what everyone already knows? It's going to be held after the bids are all submitted anyway.

And what on earth is this new technology for "scrapping the leaves off the line". The RHTT had to be route conducted over the Harwich branch the other day. Shows you how often it goes over one of the most notorious lines for poor rail adhesion in our network.

 

[Class 170101]

Can someone help me? My interests are on this line, been trainspotting on here since the last of the Britannias.
I get the hump when we slow down at Witham even on the Norwich fasts. It seems to be implied on here that there is still a signal check, even though the level crossing is gone and replaced by the bridge, anyone know why,

It costs a lot of money to change the IECC signalling and the plan was for the Witham station layout to be changed and therefore both changes to be implemented on one occasion at the IECC. The layout changes were cancelled but I believe that signal check has gone in recent weeks anyway.