One foot in the dor?

This from Dear, Dear, Dicky... 

Tuning into Sky's brand new series on East Coast, my ears were audibly assaulted by some dulcet thespy Scottish tones reminding me of the popularity of rail travel and how hard TOC staff work.

Why it was none other than 1990s has-been (shurely: 'favourite'? Ed), star of the 2011 Channel 4 Dispatches rail travel 'documentary' and everyone's favourite leftie - Richard Wilson!

Presumably this time the uber-luvvie was in possession of his Senior Railcard? 

Very much a case of "I don't believe it.".

East Coast introduces Dry Train on Fridays!

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.

ECML - It's a wash out!

This from JD Bitterspoon...

Rumour has it that DOR is branching out into a range of new sanitary ware.  

 

With the timetable reliability 'plumbing' new depths, customer service generally 'down the pan', passengers increasingly left with a 'sinking' feeling, East Coast's regular customers hope that they have better luck running this bath than they do a train service.  

Hour-plus delays the third Monday in a row, and no service at all between Peterborough and Kings Cross this morning.  

An absolute shower.

Eye observes:  If DOR entered the bathroom suite market no doubt the ORR would insist the 'plumbing' was provided by Network Rail. Inevitably, therefore, the new venture would fail to 'wash its face'. (that's enough leaky old jokes. Ed)

East Coast tweets it like it is...

Seen on twitter earlier this afternoon...

Good effort! 

That is all.

UPDATE: This from the late Sir Edward Heath...

I am disturbed to see East Coast using gallons rather than litres.

Under my inspired leadership, and since the 1970s, the UK has been using... (cont' p94).

Oh... Gotti off! Ed

East Coast signals Olympic distress

This from Commander Proto-Methodist...

Rudely awakened from my slumbers by the appalling meejah coverage of the Jubilee River Pageant (no, it was not random hooting by LMS 6201 Princess Elizabeth at the start but a careful rendition in Morse code of the Royal Cipher), The Commander is further roused by the appalling gaffe on the last page of Captain Deltic’s own publication this month, depicting the unveiling of a pile of railway scrap metal outside King’s Cross. 

The hoist end of the Union flag is clearly visible in the athlete’s right hand, showing he is displaying the flag upside down. The broad white stripe of the Saltire of St. Andrew behind the Cross of St. Patrick at the hoist end should be above the red  – It’s easy to remember the cream rises above the jam on the scone. At least the sculptor got it right, behind.

If we’re displaying a distress signal before the Olympics have even started, what chance... (cont' p94)

EC Pendolino - There is more joy in heaven...

A perfect run last night from Edinburgh Waverley to King's Cross!


Operated by Virgin Trains...

Controlled by East Coast...

Burying IEP!

UPDATE: This from, a somewhat twitchy, East Coast...

To be clear, East Coast’s fleet of High Speed Trains (HSTs) are already earmarked for replacement by new trains procured via IEP from 2018.

The Pendolino test runs have no consequence for the IEP programme – they are not relevant to IEP.

UPDATE: This from Mr Tony...

According to Railway Herald an East Coast spokesman also said:

That the company was "now concluding the desktop study to test our findings in practice, in line with the wider strategic aims of the industry going forward.

Doomed?

UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic...

Clearly a very carefully worded statement from the Industry's fifth column at York.

Note the reference to IEP replacing HST, while Pendolino is a potential replacement for electric IEP.

So it is strictly true that The Pendolino test runs have no consequence for the IEP programme – they are not relevant to IEP - but only in an East Coast context. Great Western is a different matter

All that was missing from the trial run were bodyside stickers saying 'You can have this proven train for £20,000 per vehicle per month less than IEP'!