GNWR

[knutstransport]

RE: GNWR

(16/01/2020 07:13)wirralbus Wrote:  Just a question for consumption , is open access operation just a cherry picking exercise that just takes revenue from the franchised operator.

Lets not forget than two franchises have gone belly up on the east coast , wouldnt like to see that on the west coast.

Open track access applications have to pass a revenue generation and subtraction test. If a TOC applied to run Blackpool to London with calls at Preston, Wigan, Warrington and Rugby it would fail as that's a copy of what a franchise operator provides. It seems Blackpool to London with calls at Milton Keynes Central, Nuneaton, Preston, Kirkham & Wesham and Poulton-le-Fylde passes the test.

It's worth remembering the Crewe to Euston LNR service was effectively an open access service when it started under LM & Silverlink. LM also tried to start a Birmingham to Preston semi-fast but it only ended up being one service per day, not the hourly they were trying to run and that finished up getting withdrawn.

Also North Western Trains ran open access Rochdale to London and Manchester Airport to London services.

[knutstransport]

RE: GNWR

(16/01/2020 12:19)iMarkeh Wrote:  Blackpool is simply there as a coverup so they can say they are providing for a different market.

The West Coast franchise does run Blackpool to Euston services now, which started in response to an open access proposal. The original open access proposal included a lot of stops not served by the West Coast franchise, including Winsford but pathing constraints and not being able to use the brand new 'Polaris trains' meant there were issues with platform lengths due to mk4s not having SDO or being able to tilt - meaning no 125mph running, meaning the number of stations included was reduced.

[mikestone]

RE: GNWR

(20/01/2020 11:56)knutstransport Wrote:  .

It's worth remembering the Crewe to Euston LNR service was effectively an open access service when it started under LM & Silverlink. LM also tried to start a Birmingham to Preston semi-fast but it only ended up being one service per day, not the hourly they were trying to run and that finished up getting withdrawn.

I don't think that is correct - the Euston-Crewe service was first introduced as a replacement for the Trent Valley line bus service operated during the quadrupling work.

[knutstransport]

RE: GNWR

(20/01/2020 19:23)mikestone Wrote:  I don't think that is correct - the Euston-Crewe service was first introduced as a replacement for the Trent Valley line bus service operated during the quadrupling work.

The requirement was not for a Crewe to Euston through service though and initially there were only around 5 per day, with one morning one originating from Liverpool. It was a NX idea that DfT retained when the franchises were remapped as it was popular.

[childwallblues]

RE: GNWR
90026 has emerged fom the paint shop at Toton in all over black livery, Now awaiting decals.

Credit WNXX

[ant17612]

RE: GNWR

(07/02/2020 06:37)childwallblues Wrote:  90026 has emerged fom the paint shop at Toton in all over black livery, Now awaiting decals.

Credit WNXX

Went to Toton myself on the 7th it was nowhere to be seen so presumably gone back in the main shed.

[mikestone]

RE: GNWR
There is a shortened mk4 set in Wembley Yard.
.

[ant17612]

RE: GNWR
90026 has been dispatched back to Crewe ahead of this weekends trials. It is all over black but features a yellow stripe down the side as apposed to the orange seen on the Class 180s

[ant17612]

RE: GNWR

(18/02/2020 20:42)ant17612 Wrote:  90026 has been dispatched back to Crewe ahead of this weekends trials. It is all over black but features a yellow stripe down the side as apposed to the orange seen on the Class 180s

It is believed this has now been changed to Orange.

90019 and 90036 have begun driver training duties in Top & Tail formation between Crewe and Blackpool North.

[childwallblues]

RE: GNWR
Five DB Class 90s have been allocated to the service. These are 90020/21/26/29/39. 90029 has been sent to Toton for repainting.