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Post by snoggle on Jun 20, 2018 13:17:37 GMT
Networkers need an overhual and they'll be good for another 10 years. Look at the 365s Except they are not compatible with the new franchise spec for South Eastern so they'll no doubt be heading to the scrap heap and new trains will arrive for the suburban services in a few years time. Not that I get particularly agitated about train types but I particularly enjoy using Networkers. They're just not very attractive trains to use or maybe that's me reacting to the generally dire experience that is using South Eastern trains. The only experience from entering stations to waiting to then using their trains is just dull, uninspiring and gloomy. No sense that anyone gives a d*mn - especially on inner suburban routes. Been yonks since I had a longer trip on S Eastern - largely because it takes a lifetime.
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Post by twobellstogo on Jun 26, 2018 16:29:24 GMT
Networkers need an overhual and they'll be good for another 10 years. Look at the 365s Except they are not compatible with the new franchise spec for South Eastern so they'll no doubt be heading to the scrap heap and new trains will arrive for the suburban services in a few years time. Not that I get particularly agitated about train types but I particularly enjoy using Networkers. They're just not very attractive trains to use or maybe that's me reacting to the generally dire experience that is using South Eastern trains. The only experience from entering stations to waiting to then using their trains is just dull, uninspiring and gloomy. No sense that anyone gives a d*mn - especially on inner suburban routes. Been yonks since I had a longer trip on S Eastern - largely because it takes a lifetime. Networkers have never been reliable trains and I will be glad to see the back of all of them - yes, they possibly have 10-15 years life left in them ostensibly: but this is one train I’ll more than happily see the back of prematurely. 376s are OK, but Southeastern have let the condition of them go, and all of them are now tired and filthy both inside and out.
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Post by snoggle on Jul 30, 2018 15:56:45 GMT
For those who are fans / users of South Eastern (or buses in Kent) then they may be interesting in the range of documents and presentations from a recent London Travelwatch meeting that considered the forthcoming South Eastern Franchise. Some interesting ideas, aspirations and comments including the potential Crossrail extension to Ebbsfleet. Documents accessible via this link ---> www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/calendar/event/view?id=1814
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Post by twobellstogo on Jul 30, 2018 18:45:44 GMT
For those who are fans / users of South Eastern (or buses in Kent) then they may be interesting in the range of documents and presentations from a recent London Travelwatch meeting that considered the forthcoming South Eastern Franchise. Some interesting ideas, aspirations and comments including the potential Crossrail extension to Ebbsfleet. Documents accessible via this link ---> www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/calendar/event/view?id=1814Marvellous: thanks, snoggle. I’ll have a good read of those 🙂
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Post by snoggle on Aug 1, 2018 17:26:10 GMT
Looking at a couple of other forums it transpires the DfT will NOT be awarding the South Eastern franchise this month as planned. The Daily Torygraph says this is because "Failing Grayling" is having agonies about the possibility of an award to either Stagecoach or Govia (both politically difficult because of the ECML / GTR debacles). How nice of the Telegraph to be kind to Mr Failing of Grayling. Inevitably there are "righteous anger" quotes from Heidi Alexander who carefully omits to mention that TfL could well face having to award a devolved franchise to Govia if their bid was best. Given their time running the franchise they would be very well placed to put in a good bid but, of course, we are talking about fantasy here as Grayling won't devolve / split the franchise.
On London Reconnections they are saying, in comments, that the delay is because the DfT have got the Train Service Requirement wrong. Govia have apparently gone back and said "it needs "x" number of trains" where "x" is vastly higher and more expensive that the DfT were expecting. This may force the DfT to go back and reissue the TSR to make bids affordable. So yet another enormous cockup brewing but meanwhile Govia keep running South Eastern until Easter 2019 or so. You couldn't make this sort of disaster up.
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Post by sid on Aug 8, 2018 13:19:36 GMT
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Post by galwhv69 on Aug 8, 2018 13:32:14 GMT
Its already been on hold for 7 years! Absolutely appaling
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Post by snoggle on Aug 8, 2018 15:43:51 GMT
Well yes but that's because the DfT got the train service requirement (TSR) wrong. Govia pointed this out and the consequences for the likely numbers of new trains. This caused the DfT to take fright at the likely consequences so they've had to go back to the drawing board to revise the TSR - most likely downwards. If so this is extremely bad news given the South Eastern franchise has been a broadly "do nothing except HS1 services" franchise for well over 10 years. A lot has changed in 10 years and we know that DfT badly underestimated the volumes of new housing built / in build / planned in SE London which means the TSR was wrong in that it failed to recognise the potential uplift in commuting volumes and the fact that it will be in different places to today. I'm not hopeful that the DfT will revise things correctly to reflect the likely demand levels and distribution. We are likely to be stuck with a "stuck in the mud" franchise without some new trains but little else that is needed to actually lift capacity by a huge amount.
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Post by sid on Aug 23, 2018 21:44:28 GMT
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Post by galwhv69 on Sept 19, 2018 15:16:03 GMT
How the heck did that happen!
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Post by sid on Sept 19, 2018 15:29:40 GMT
Sounds hilarious but one day there are going to be serious consequences from something like this, why can't trains just have manually opening and closing doors and locks?
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Post by galwhv69 on Sept 19, 2018 15:33:40 GMT
Sounds hilarious but one day there are going to be serious consequences from something like this, why can't trains just have manually opening and closing doors and locks? Very true.That happened to me once on a Polish Stadler Flirt 3 train
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Post by snoggle on Sept 19, 2018 16:08:07 GMT
Sounds hilarious but one day there are going to be serious consequences from something like this, why can't trains just have manually opening and closing doors and locks? Very true.That happened to me once on a Polish Stadler Flirt 3 train You can't have normal doors and locks on what I assume was an accessible toilet on the train in question. They have to be usuable by a wide range of people including those with disabilities who may normal doors and locks impossible to use. Heck some conventional train toilets are difficult to use if you're able bodied given how small and cramped they are. The wider question is why the driver ended up in the toilet on a train. I assume he was driving the stopping service that runs Victoria to Bromley South and had taken a comfort break during the train's turnround time and got stuck. I imagine he'll get a lot of stick from his driving colleagues - one of those events that people never let you forget.
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Post by sid on Sept 19, 2018 16:33:44 GMT
Very true.That happened to me once on a Polish Stadler Flirt 3 train You can't have normal doors and locks on what I assume was an accessible toilet on the train in question. They have to be usuable by a wide range of people including those with disabilities who may normal doors and locks impossible to use. Heck some conventional train toilets are difficult to use if you're able bodied given how small and cramped they are. The wider question is why the driver ended up in the toilet on a train. I assume he was driving the stopping service that runs Victoria to Bromley South and had taken a comfort break during the train's turnround time and got stuck. I imagine he'll get a lot of stick from his driving colleagues - one of those events that people never let you forget. Trains often have a few minutes dwell time at Bromley South and he probably just took the opportunity to relieve himself. I understand the point about disabled passengers, and indeed the point about the non accessible toilets being too cramped, but disabled toilets elsewhere don't seem to need buttons to open, close and lock them and there are too many instances of people getting locked in toilets and rail staff often dismiss it as 'passenger stupidity' but clearly it wasn't on this occasion and yes I suspect he will take a while to live it down. I'm surprised Southeastern publicised the full story rather than just saying it was an operational incident or something similar.
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Post by snoggle on Sept 23, 2018 11:57:11 GMT
Some forum members might be interested in this upcoming offer from South Eastern. www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/supersaturdayBasically a day rover ticket on SE services ONLY on Sat 6th October 2018. £20 Adults, £1 children. Includes High Speed services from St Pancras. Tickets on sale from 24th September from S Eastern stations and a few non SE stations like Victoria and Abbey Wood (now run by MTR Crossrail). Nice to see a proper rail day rover ticket re-appear. Let's hope SE add some extra carriages to trains on busy routes.
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