GER, Anglia, Stanstead Express & WAGN, and the rename is

Larry Scutta
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue 16 Sep, 2003 00.52

The 3 franchises were merged into the 'Greater Anglia' franchise, this was won by National Express who started (as One railways) on the 1st April.

This is the new strategy by the Strategic Rail Authority - bigger franchises and less of them. This is being done in part by having one operator per London terminus. Thames Trains also ceased to be on the 1st; that franchise has been merged with First Great Western's but will be readvertised in a couple of years. The GN bit of WAGN is staying for a wile and will then merge with Thameslink.

The controversial thing is that the old Anglia Railways company was the best performing franchise and one of the most popular in the country.... and they were kicked off the network!. Although funnily Anglia was expected to win and so its parent company was bought by First Group a few weeks before the franchise decision was made.
Anonymous

Larry Scutta wrote:The 3 franchises were merged into the 'Greater Anglia' franchise, this was won by National Express who started (as One railways) on the 1st April.

This is the new strategy by the Strategic Rail Authority - bigger franchises and less of them. This is being done in part by having one operator per London terminus. Thames Trains also ceased to be on the 1st; that franchise has been merged with First Great Western's but will be readvertised in a couple of years. The GN bit of WAGN is staying for a wile and will then merge with Thameslink.

The controversial thing is that the old Anglia Railways company was the best performing franchise and one of the most popular in the country.... and they were kicked off the network!. Although funnily Anglia was expected to win and so its parent company was bought by First Group a few weeks before the franchise decision was made.
I'm not surpirsed Anglia where said to be one of the most popular in the country, they very rarely had any techincal problems. First Group ran Great Eastern quite well up until the last 3-6 moths when they kept getting delays. The main problem stems from the traingular shaped trains (if people understand what I mean by that, the slam shuts which are been rplace are a rounded square shape looking face on) if you don't understnad what I mean by the shape, then the ones with the big rubber buttons.

These keep having problems with doors sticking, which means First GER kept putting "Not In Use" stickers on them. They keep breaking down alot as well so prehaps these are next to go. The old slam shuts are actually quite reliable but age is the problem, I think they may be over 35 years old
Larry Scutta
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue 16 Sep, 2003 00.52

Mind you reliability and perfromance aren't necessarily the fault of the company involved. they are only working with what they've been given. They are just operators, the infrastructure isn't theirs and in most cases that is crap.

The most reliable train company apparently is the one on the Isle of Wiight..... not surprising seeing as they only have about 4 stations
James Hatts
Posts: 309
Joined: Sat 16 Aug, 2003 23.34
Location: London

They also have some of the oldest trains on the Isle of Wight!
Aston
Posts: 278
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 14.28
Location: London

James Hatts wrote:They also have some of the oldest trains on the Isle of Wight!
They use old London Underground stock on the Isle of White, so any Tube buffs who want to see old underground trains, head over to the White Isle!
Chris
Posts: 845
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 19.03
Location: Surrey

Aston wrote:
James Hatts wrote:They also have some of the oldest trains on the Isle of Wight!
They use old London Underground stock on the Isle of White, so any Tube buffs who want to see old underground trains, head over to the White Isle!
I can't see a bunch of tube buffs going on an 18-30 holday to some Spanish island :lol:
Anonymous

Aston wrote:
James Hatts wrote:They also have some of the oldest trains on the Isle of Wight!
They use old London Underground stock on the Isle of White, so any Tube buffs who want to see old underground trains, head over to the White Isle!
I wonder if "TOX-03" has made his way over there yet, he seems to have graffitied most of the London Underground especially the Metropolitan Line
James Martin
Posts: 1011
Joined: Sun 15 Feb, 2004 19.26

The new Virgin Voyager and Pendilino trains are fantastic - faster and more comfortable than the old sort. Some good bevvies on them too.
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Gavin Scott
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Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 13.16
Location: Edinburgh
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Flava wrote:Some good bevvies on them too.
Do you mean like bottled beer and alcopops, or is "bevvies" a euphemism for something else?
Anonymous

Flava wrote:The new Virgin Voyager and Pendilino trains are fantastic - faster and more comfortable than the old sort. Some good bevvies on them too.
Great Eastern trains have Strawberry Milkshakes all over the floor & mc donalds chips stamped in the seats
cat
Posts: 513
Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 13.48
Location: The Magic Faraway Tree

At Cambridge station the other week, listening to the dreadfully cheery announcer.

Unfortunately, the new 'One' brand does not appear to have been successfully implemented.

With announcements running to the format of "the [time] [operator] to [destination]..."

So it sounds like "the 10.30 one service to Manchester...", which makes you think it is "The 10.31 service to Manchester".

It gets really annoying after a while, honestly...
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