The Great Train Debate

[footymad13]

Quote[/b] (Adrian C @ Jan. 20 2004,15:30)]

Quote[/b] (footymad13 @ Jan. 19 2004,23:17)]Can someone tell me why FGE had it taken away ?

Luke,

They were rejected from the 'bidding' at a very early stage. National Express, Anglia and Arriva were the 'preferred bidders'. No one except the SRA really know why, but there must have been something going on they didn't like.

FirstGroup got shirty and threatened legal action but then decided not to, so they then went and bought out GB Rail (who own Anglia). So the SRA gave it to National Express instead.......

I don't rate First myself (as a daily user of FGE), they could have done a lot more than they have. I think they've treated the line as a 'cash cow'. It is one of the most profitable in the country. Just be thankful it's not Arriva, they aren't very good at all.

Sorry, you did ask!!!!!

 

 

So do national express own C2C ?

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

Yes, they bought out Prism who were the original franchise owners.

 

[footymad13]

So i take it the Liv Street line will completely change ?

New trains etc
More stops ?
More delays

 

[Adrian C]

Quote[/b] (footymad13 @ Jan. 22 2004,15:29)]So i take it the Liv Street line will completely change ?

New trains etc
More stops ?
More delays

I don't think you'll find much will change at all, except all the trains into Liv St will be run by the same company instead of FGE, Anglia and WAGN. So no more blaming each other for the delays, which was frequent between FGE and Anglia until First bought GB Rail.

The current Anglia services will probably get newer coaches for the Norwich services, that'll be about it. The services work quite well as it is really.

AC

 

[Napster]

Quote[/b] (footymad13 @ Jan. 19 2004,23:17)]I have many friends in London

Really?

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ Jan. 23 2004,12:34)]

Quote[/b] (footymad13 @ Jan. 19 2004,23:17)]I have many friends in London

Really?

Aren't David Icke and his illuminati chums based in London these days...?

Sorry, cross-pollination of threads there...

Matt

 

[* ORM *]

Quote[/b] (footymad13 @ Jan. 22 2004,15:29)]So i take it the Liv Street line will completely change ?

New trains etc
More stops ?
More delays

Good question and I think Napster was too optimistic in his answer.

At the moment there is a healthy fares competition between both routes, when they are both owned by the same company I can see this disappearing.

However on the plus side I would have thought ticket validity on both lines (like the good old days) is something that should come. My original seaso used to be valid from Southend Central to Fen Street and Southend Vic to Liv St.

I've only been back on the trains for about 3 years after 8 years of driving in and they are a massive improvement on what I was used to before. Even with the landslip between Wickford + Billericay and a couple of fun journeys home last summer overall the service is excellent. I'm still at a loss to see what First actually did that warranted not getting an invite to tender for the franchise.

Nothing wrong with the trains on FGE or C2C as far as I can see. The only criticisms I have are legroom but that applies to just about any train in the country. Certainly don't miss the smoking carriage (and I smoke!).

Originally I was an LTS man - Limehouse was Stepney East in those days, which was actually a name change from the original Limehouse. I occassionally used to get a Tilbury loop train to relieve the boredom. Tilbury Riverside was always fun to stop at and I used to use this route for awaydays to Gillingham.

 

[Hillhouse]

no air con on fge

 

[Guest]

Quote[/b] (Hillhouse @ Jan. 26 2004,23:07)]no air con on fge

Yes and no pikies from Basildon, Laindon, Tilbury etc. either.

 

[McScriven]

But pikies from Wickford, Billericay and Stratford!

 

[Adrian C]

Quote[/b] (Hillhouse @ Jan. 26 2004,23:07)]no air con on fge

No air con on FGE to go wrong, you mean......

 

[Adrian C]

Quote[/b] (McScriven @ Jan. 27 2004,08:17)]But pikies from Wickford

oi

mind you, I'm a Rayleigh boy really...and I live in Shotgate

 

[Vange Shrimper]

I had to use a FGE train from Romford to Ipswich on Saturday and although it was fast which benefited us at the time, i thought the train was a lot worse than the C2C one, with it's interior state. It was dirty, seating was nasty and wasnt pleasant to travel on......I hope the new FGE trains are an improvement as they look a lot like C2C on the outside and hopefully are like them on the inside.

Thank god this thread aint about Anglia trains as well, as i can say a lot about them.......

 

[steveh1510]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Jan. 27 2004,07:46)]Yes and no pikies from Basildon,

OI!!

Oh, hang on, fair one!

 

[Vange Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (steveh1510 @ Jan. 27 2004,09:25)]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Jan. 27 2004,07:46)]Yes and no pikies from Basildon,

OI!!

Oh, hang on, fair one!  

Oit!

 

[Adrian C]

Quote[/b] (Vange Shrimper @ Jan. 27 2004,09:24)]I had to use a FGE train from Romford to Ipswich on Saturday and although it was fast which benefited us at the time, i thought the train was a lot worse than the C2C one, with it's interior state. It was dirty, seating was nasty and wasnt pleasant to travel on......I hope the new FGE trains are an improvement as they look a lot like C2C on the outside and hopefully are like them on the inside.

Thank god this thread aint about Anglia trains as well, as i can say a lot about them.......

Trouble is VS, First are not really going to give two figs about it now.

As for Anglia, nope they aren't great, but don't have the financial backing to do much about their problems (unlike First, who do, but do naff all anyway)

 

[steveh1510]

Quote[/b] (Vange Shrimper @ Jan. 27 2004,09:31)]

Quote[/b] (steveh1510 @ Jan. 27 2004,09:25)]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Jan. 27 2004,07:46)]Yes and no pikies from Basildon,

OI!!

Oh, hang on, fair one!  

Oit!  

Oh come on, he isn't saying ALL people from Basildon are pikies - but you've got to admit there are a lot of pikies in Basildon....

 

[Vange Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (steveh1510 @ Jan. 27 2004,09:37)]

Quote[/b] (Vange Shrimper @ Jan. 27 2004,09:31)]

Quote[/b] (steveh1510 @ Jan. 27 2004,09:25)]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Jan. 27 2004,07:46)]Yes and no pikies from Basildon,

OI!!

Oh, hang on, fair one!  

Oit!  

Oh come on, he isn't saying ALL people from Basildon are pikies - but you've got to admit there are a lot of pikies in Basildon....  

Especially in the Pitsea Area - Plus there are loads of PPP's there.........

 

[Guest]

What is a PPP?

Is it anything like a TBM (Tower block mum)?

 

[Vange Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Jan. 27 2004,09:50)]What is a PPP?

Is it anything like a TBM (Tower block mum)?

Pitsea Pram Pusher - all under the age of 19. Wear so much gold jewellery it weighs them down, all in shell suits (remember them) or sports gear. All live on the dole/benefits, complain they have no money but still can afford £60+ for a gold necklace or bracelet, etc.