Grand Central Discussion

[87015]

No farces this week then? EWS will be disappointed at not getting a call out!

 

[37402]

No farces this week then? EWS will be disappointed at not getting a call out!

No engines to spare anyway...apparently. Not that I'd know. :roll:

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Now you've jinxed it!

 

[furryfeet]

How can ATOC legally insist the GC charge a supplement i.e. dictate what the prices should be, especially since GC are an open access operator ?

Would this not be foul of EEC competition rules ?

This sets a damaging precendent if it is to remain.

 

[djw1981]

No one has yet found proof of ATOC forcing the supplement upon GC, and the fact that GC are not enforcing it would indicate that it is not a legal requirement, else they would have to enforce it or risk penalties / legal action.

 

[Andy]

No farces this week then? EWS will be disappointed at not getting a call out!

you have spoken to soon, 67's past skelton 2 late and are now 36 over due at york. Either my info is wrong, or they have failed between skelton and york. A mate of mine is at colton and he has said they have not passed him.

whats happened this time?!

 

[Guinness]

No farces this week then? EWS will be disappointed at not getting a call out!

I thought EWS had to survive of the GC Call outs given the amount of Contracts they recently lost!

 

[yorkie]

It spent 81 mins at York (1048-1209). Now expected KGX 1352, so the 1345 will be late. 67020 + Mk2s

Interestingly the 0855 KGX-SUN spent 18 mins at York (1044-1102).

One of the 67s has been dumped at York (ta Andy).

Is it possible to run around at KGX? If not they will need another 67...

 

[1D53]

They might be borrowing the nxec Thunderbird!

 

[Mojo]

Did it ever get to KGX? It passed Peterborough 78 late at 1321 but no record of it anywhere south of Huntingdon.

 

[yorkie]

Did it ever get to KGX? It passed Peterborough 78 late at 1321 but no record of it anywhere south of Huntingdon.

Probably terminated and arranged for pax to use FCC between there and KGX, as I think they didn't want to hire a NXEC thunderbird (NXEC would charge too much money no doubt). Also the train was so late it was going to be very late off KGX.

 

[djw1981]

Interesting the cl 67 issues, given that Glasgow trains and WSMR (and maybe FSR) will be using EWS cl67's in teh coming year for Passenegr workings.

 

[yorkie]

Started at PBO 1545 - 75 down. Possibly waiting for 1536 arrival at PBO from KGX (FCC)?

 

[37402]

I thought EWS had to survive of the GC Call outs given the amount of Contracts they recently lost!

...and what about the contracts they have retained of late in the face of competition? Conoco, British Energy, MoD (which everyone - including DRS who assumed it was 'in the bag' - thought EWS would lose), Eon, Drax Power, Imerys. etc etc.

 

[martyn29]

cant wait to see what happens on tues, I am gonna be at Kings X

 

[andylloyd]

Bosch/Sir Clag was the 67 working alone today?
I witnessed it go via King Edward Bridge junc about 1820 this evening pulling a rake of stock only.

Was this down to a failure or stock shortages?

Cheers

Andy

 

[1D53]

One of the 67's was a failure and dropped off at York on the way to London, the return started Peterborough and ran via Durham to Sunderland so the loco didnt have to run around again at Sunderland. Dont know what will happen when it gets back to London!!

 

[martyn29]

wonder what will happen tomorow?

 

[mealybar]

Not heard much since the 67's came and went. What's failed today? 11.27 terminated at Northallerton to make the 16.50 from London? Just a guess, anyone know anything new?

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Correction, 1127 Terminated at Darlington, to allow easier changes and onward transport for Passenger. I brought Sunderland Pax down on an XC to Darlington, and onwards from there.

 

[djw1981]

Was that taxi Sunderland-Newcastle and XC Newcastle-Darlington, if so were you late away from Darlington or is the journey time via the coast so slow (at the moment) that you can go via Newcastle and still be right time?

I assume Xc control have to authorise this.....just imagining 40-50 GC people all getting on a train and the guard thinking WTF!

Do Pax from further down the coast get met and taxi'd as appropriate, or what?

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Northern to Newcastle, XC to Darlington. Yes, XC and Northern Control do have to authorise it! I think Hartlepool pax get a bus to Darlo, and Eaglescliffe get a Northern to Darlo (if Sunderland do the announcement that is!) Not usually that many at Sunderland (at the moment), although when we all get to Darlo there can be that many. No, we dont take pax from Darlo itself... that would be naughty!

 

[djw1981]

Naughty/enterprising - opposite sides of the same coin.:razz:

 

[Andy]

I have heard that advenza are taking some power cars to Brush next week. Have GC finally seen the light and going MTU!

 

[andylloyd]

I have heard that advenza are taking some power cars to Brush next week. Have GC finally seen the light and going MTU!

Can anyone from GC please confirm this?

Cheers

Andy

 

[yorkie]

XC have to wait until July before they get their MTUs, so how can GC suddenly jump the queue? Perhaps the source of this story can explain that?

Who would finance it? I don't know what the details are with ownership of the GC power cars (who is leasing them to GC?) but I can't see any company agreeing to this with all the uncertainty at the moment.

But why would they go MTU? Would it stop the AWS fault they had last week? Err, no. Would it stop wheels getting locked up? Err, no. Would it stop the cable thefts? Err, no. Would it stop the problems they've had with the coaching stock? Err, no.

There are many reasons for the bad performance on GC at the moment, but from what I've heard not many are due to the Valenta engines themselves.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Don't worry, they are NOT getting MTU'd :roll:

Brush dont just build/re-engine locos, they also build/refurb electrical gear too. IIRC a fair few locos were built with Brush Main Generators (could be why the company is called Brush in the first place!)

Sovereign Trains (a sister company to GC) own the HSTs.

 

[djw1981]

Was the electrical gear not refurbed only 6-9 months ago?

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

No Idea!

 

[djw1981]

I would have assumed it was part of a PC overhaul?