EAST COAST MAIN LINE - OH, NOT AGAIN !!

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Thu 28 Mar, 2013 7:42 pm

tyke bhoy wrote: In moving servers a couple of posts on this thread disappeared. Majorhoudini was looking for a route back to Leeds from Salisbury without going to Bristol (he also pointed out lack of dining car on the Penzance- Edinburgh train)My ReplyI can only think, if avoiding London, you could do it by adding at least one other change. Having been there and back last year I know there are at least two direct trains each weekday to/from Reading but Salisbury to Reading appears to require at least one change which is presumably Basingstoke. Intrestingly when I went to Reading I was expecting having to avoid London for price reasons as previously it was much more expensive. However this time work had to pay slightly more because I would have been crossing London each way in the rush hour. Thanks for that tyke bhoy. I was trying to avoid too many changes. TBH I thought the trains from Bristol that go through Salisbury were London bound - but apparently no. I have always thought there was a train from Leeds to Bournemouth (and vice versa) that would stop at Basingstoke but either it doesn't run any more or interecpting it is impossible. The trouble with the privatised railway is that there doesn't appear to be any co-ordination.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Thu 28 Mar, 2013 9:45 pm

Judging by the rail map trains from Yeovil possibly Exeter and even Penzance may end at Waterloo having passed through Salisbury. The health warning though is that would be Worst Great Western territory

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Fri 29 Mar, 2013 12:28 am

majorhoundii wrote: I thought the trains from Bristol that go through Salisbury were London bound - but apparently no. I have always thought there was a train from Leeds to Bournemouth (and vice versa) that would stop at Basingstoke but either it doesn't run any more or intercepting it is impossible. The trouble with the privatised railway is that there doesn't appear to be any co-ordination. There used to be regular trains from leeds to bournemouth, but these have all been rerouted to go north via York. In fact it is now impossible to go direct from Reading to Leeds - you have to change at Birmingham

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Fri 29 Mar, 2013 9:53 am

tyke bhoy wrote: Judging by the rail map trains from Yeovil possibly Exeter and even Penzance may end at Waterloo having passed through Salisbury. The health warning though is that would be Worst Great Western territory TBF I travelled from Salisbury to Bristol on First Great Western with no problem.The other point I was making in reply to Blakey was that it wouldn't be much an upheaval for the railways to revert to public ownership - in the same way East Coast has been run (very profitably apparently) for the past four years. We already own the track, if the franchises are not renewed surely the service can continue under state ownership.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Fri 29 Mar, 2013 10:30 am

chemimike wrote: There used to be regular trains from leeds to bournemouth, but these have all been rerouted to go north via York. In fact it is now impossible to go direct from Reading to Leeds - you have to change at Birmingham I'm sure there was another one just a year ago but there still appears to be one direct train a day http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/t ... ectonlyand in t'other direction toohttp://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/LDS/RDG/200613/0930/dep?directonly

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Fri 29 Mar, 2013 10:38 am

majorhoundii wrote: The other point I was making in reply to Blakey was that it wouldn't be much an upheaval for the railways to revert to public ownership - in the same way East Coast has been run (very profitably apparently) for the past four years. We already own the track, if the franchises are not renewed surely the service can continue under state ownership. Oh I agree wholeheartedly but there wouldn't be any dividends for shareholders would there. Competition only works if you can move to the competitor at the drop of a hat and then move back again next time if you so wish. The idea that the franchises provide competition and therefore service up and fares down is totally ridiculous because only in the few places where there is an overlap is there any genuine competition.

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Fri 29 Mar, 2013 10:52 am

Thanks tykeboy. Might be useful in the future, though not over the easter period.

Post by **cnosni** » Fri 29 Mar, 2013 11:15 am

chemimike wrote: Thanks tykeboy. Might be useful in the future, though not over the easter period. Very wise,old railway tip-"If its a bank holiday dont use the train!!"

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 29 Mar, 2013 6:44 pm

Loiner1960 wrote: How many colour schemes can the Class 91 and Mark IV rolling stock take? 1. BR Inter-City..2. BR Blue/White3. GNER Royal Blue and Crimson4. Interim East Coast5. East Coast Lilac and purple...... Don't forget the brief appearance of National Express white - and my own personal favourite, the "007 Skyfall Special":http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/skyfalltrain(Sorry, I can't seem to post a pic at the moment...)

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Sat 30 Mar, 2013 12:13 am

cnosniIn this case particularly advisable as Reading station is completely closed (other than line to waterloo etc) till the middle of next week