Bad news for thirsty North British passengers!
This from East Coast...
Train operator East Coast is to
trial an alcohol ban on a morning train from North East Scotland to
ensure comfortable travel for passengers.
The four-week trial will apply on Fridays only from 10 May to 31 May
inclusive, and will only apply to the 09.52 service from Aberdeen, for
journeys as far south as Newcastle. The train calls at several stations
along Scotland’s North East coast, including
Stonehaven, Montrose, Arbroath and Dundee.
The restriction means passengers will not be able to bring alcohol in
any form onto this train, or to drink it on-board. No alcohol will be
sold at the train’s cafe-bar, though other hot and cold refreshments
will continue to be available as usual.
East Coast’s Commercial and Customer Service Director Peter Williams
said: “We are trialling this for four weeks from next Friday, following
discussions with the British Transport Police.
“The trial follows a number of recent instances of anti-social behaviour
on this train between Aberdeen and Newcastle. Our aim is to ensure that
all of our customers can enjoy a more pleasant and comfortable journey."
Happily those travelling on 1E15 beyond Newcastle can break the fast at 13:59.
Friday, 3 May 2013
Britain's least friendly station?
This from the Mad Hatter...
Passing through Gainsborough I thought I'd pay a visit to the town's Central station.
Alas!
I was unable to access the platforms or footbridge as station is open SATURDAYS ONLY, although there is nothing to say as much on the outside of the palisade fencing.
Inside the locked and bolted gates are three notice boards, but because of the angle of the board and the small type size you cant see what time the trains run (on the Saturdays they do run), only a printed part of the timetable that says ‘Saturdays only’. Even National Rail doesn’t list the station’s opening times.
A contender for one of the most unfriendly stations – with no payphone, no notice with opening times on the locked gate, no easy sight of the notice board for train times, etc...
Oddly, just a few miles up the line at Kirton Lindsay, where the service is the same (Sat only), you can walk on the platform with no restrictions.
Daft, innit.
Passing through Gainsborough I thought I'd pay a visit to the town's Central station.
Alas!
I was unable to access the platforms or footbridge as station is open SATURDAYS ONLY, although there is nothing to say as much on the outside of the palisade fencing.
Inside the locked and bolted gates are three notice boards, but because of the angle of the board and the small type size you cant see what time the trains run (on the Saturdays they do run), only a printed part of the timetable that says ‘Saturdays only’. Even National Rail doesn’t list the station’s opening times.
A contender for one of the most unfriendly stations – with no payphone, no notice with opening times on the locked gate, no easy sight of the notice board for train times, etc...
Oddly, just a few miles up the line at Kirton Lindsay, where the service is the same (Sat only), you can walk on the platform with no restrictions.
Daft, innit.
Parry flees First for the Cut
This from the Canal and River Trust...
New chief executive appointed
Richard Parry is to swap trains for boats as he takes up the role of chief executive of the Canal & River Trust starting this summer.
Currently at FirstGroup, Richard headed up First's bid in 2012 for the InterCity West Coast line and more recently has been leading First's highly-regarded Hull Trains company as well as other wider development programmes across First's rail businesses
Before that he spent 19 years at London Underground (LU) and Transport for London (TfL) where he had a range of senior roles, spending eight years as a director of LU, including a year as interim LU managing director (2009-10), and then a further 18 months as deputy managing director, TfL Rail and Underground (2010-11).
Interesting. Does this herald some further moves at First?
UPDATE: This from a Mr Tony Miles...
Am I alone in wondering whether the role of MD at First Hull Trains is now timed to change with the same frequency as that of the Secretary of State for Transport?
If so anyone offered the job may want to take this into account! (Which one, Parry's or McLoughlin's? Ed)
New chief executive appointed
Richard Parry is to swap trains for boats as he takes up the role of chief executive of the Canal & River Trust starting this summer.
Currently at FirstGroup, Richard headed up First's bid in 2012 for the InterCity West Coast line and more recently has been leading First's highly-regarded Hull Trains company as well as other wider development programmes across First's rail businesses
Before that he spent 19 years at London Underground (LU) and Transport for London (TfL) where he had a range of senior roles, spending eight years as a director of LU, including a year as interim LU managing director (2009-10), and then a further 18 months as deputy managing director, TfL Rail and Underground (2010-11).
Interesting. Does this herald some further moves at First?
UPDATE: This from a Mr Tony Miles...
Am I alone in wondering whether the role of MD at First Hull Trains is now timed to change with the same frequency as that of the Secretary of State for Transport?
If so anyone offered the job may want to take this into account! (Which one, Parry's or McLoughlin's? Ed)