National Express

Roos Eisma said:

Just heard on the news that National Express will take over the East coast
train line from GNER by December.
We have used GNER as a fast and easy option with our bikes and were
planning on starting more trips that way.
Does anybody know what NE's attitude towards bicycles on trains is? I
can't find anything about them running trains, it all seems to be about
coaches.
Maybe I'll send them an email in case they don't realise I what I want to
use their trainline for.

Turned up at Oxenholme station yesterday after a grand day out off-road
in the Lake District and asked the ticket office for a cycle reservation
on the next Virgin train (18:00) for one stop to Preston. "Sorry, fully
booked, can't do that, the earliest I can get you a reservation is
19:30". However he did try hard to work round it and finally suggest I
tried to see if there was space. Train arrives, bicycle bay completely
empty so I hung my bike up and sat down.

Ticket collector checks ticket, carries on to the end of the carriage
then comes running back. "Is that your bike?" "Yes" "Have you got a
reservation for it" "No, couldn't get one because the system said it
was fully booked". Then proceeded to lecture me about having a
reservation for a bike.

He eventually gave up and stumped off when I pointed out that I had no
idea what train I would be catching beforehand and I would have had a
reservation if their reservation system was not clearly broken and
listing an empty bicycle cabin as fully booked.

Tony

Roos Eisma said:

Just heard on the news that National Express will take over the East coast
train line from GNER by December.
We have used GNER as a fast and easy option with our bikes and were
planning on starting more trips that way.
Does anybody know what NE's attitude towards bicycles on trains is? I
can't find anything about them running trains, it all seems to be about
coaches.
Maybe I'll send them an email in case they don't realise I what I want to
use their trainline for.

Left feedback and asked questions through:
http://www.youreastcoast.co.uk/?page_id=8

Lots of blurb about how they are going to improve the service, including
car parking that can be reserved but nothing about for example secure
bicycle parking or carrying bikes on trains. Not even in their "A
responsible approach to the environment" section.

If I get a reply I'll post it.

Roos

On 14 Aug 2007 07:28:47 GMT someone who may be Roos Eisma
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Does anybody know what NE's attitude towards bicycles on trains is?

When they were running trains in Scotland they tended to let the
management in Glasgow get on with most things and not interfere too
much. They were once described to me as largely being "a fax machine
in Birmingham". The management in Glasgow did win some money for
bike improvements from various sources.

If they adopt the same approach this time then I would suggest
looking more at the existing management. They have a very good
public relations man at Waverley station who could probably point
you in the right direction.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Tony Raven said:

Roos Eisma said:

Just heard on the news that National Express will take over the East coast
train line from GNER by December.
Does anybody know what NE's attitude towards bicycles on trains is? I
can't find anything about them running trains, it all seems to be about
coaches.

Ticket collector checks ticket, carries on to the end of the carriage
then comes running back. "Is that your bike?" "Yes" "Have you got a
reservation for it" "No, couldn't get one because the system said it
was fully booked". Then proceeded to lecture me about having a
reservation for a bike.

He eventually gave up and stumped off when I pointed out that I had no
idea what train I would be catching beforehand and I would have had a
reservation if their reservation system was not clearly broken and
listing an empty bicycle cabin as fully booked.

It doesn't seem to matter which company runs the trains when they continue to
employ staff who seem to lack any hint of common sense :-(

John B

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:27:01 +0100

John B said:

It doesn't seem to matter which company runs the trains when they
continue to employ staff who seem to lack any hint of common sense :-(

It's all about job training. They may still have the common sense
at some level, but lack the self-confidence to apply it.

--
not me guv

Roos Eisma said the following on 14/08/2007 08:28:

Quoted message said:

Just heard on the news that National Express will take over the East coast
train line from GNER by December.
We have used GNER as a fast and easy option with our bikes and were
planning on starting more trips that way.
Does anybody know what NE's attitude towards bicycles on trains is? I
can't find anything about them running trains, it all seems to be about
coaches.
Maybe I'll send them an email in case they don't realise I what I want to
use their trainline for.

Roos

Midland Mainline (Sheffield - London) have been run by National Express
for many years. Bikes are free and reservations are required (4 bikes on
HST's, 2 bikes on meridians First Great Western can get 6 bikes on
their, identical, HST's.

Midland Mainline staff have in general been very relaxed about bikes -
they rarely if ever ask to see reservations. The downside of that is
that they are rarely around if you need help getting your bike on and
off. They certainly haven't gone in for this business of locking the
bike space and making you hang around until an officious guard turns up
that GNER have gone in for. Im an ideal world you would have the level
of customer service that GNER go in for - with the on-line form for
booking that they have, even if it does just mean someone rings you back
- along with the relaxed attitude of MML staff. We'll see.

Simon

--
"Just because the world's getting hotter, you can't pin that on global
Warming!

Roos Eisma said the following on 14/08/2007 08:28:

Quoted message said:

Just heard on the news that National Express will take over the East coast
train line from GNER by December.
We have used GNER as a fast and easy option with our bikes and were
planning on starting more trips that way.
Does anybody know what NE's attitude towards bicycles on trains is? I
can't find anything about them running trains, it all seems to be about
coaches.
Maybe I'll send them an email in case they don't realise I what I want to
use their trainline for.

Roos

Midland Mainline (Sheffield - London) have been run by National Express
for many years. Bikes are free and reservations are required (4 bikes on
HST's, 2 bikes on meridians First Great Western can get 6 bikes on
their, identical, HST's.

Midland Mainline staff have in general been very relaxed about bikes -
they rarely if ever ask to see reservations. The downside of that is
that they are rarely around if you need help getting your bike on and
off. They certainly haven't gone in for this business of locking the
bike space and making you hang around until an officious guard turns up
that GNER have gone in for. Im an ideal world you would have the level
of customer service that GNER go in for - with the on-line form for
booking that they have, even if it does just mean someone rings you back
- along with the relaxed attitude of MML staff. We'll see.

Simon

--
"Just because the world's getting hotter, you can't pin that on global
Warming!

Roos Eisma said:

Just heard on the news that National Express will take over the East coast
train line from GNER by December.

Quoted message said:

Does anybody know what NE's attitude towards bicycles on trains is? I
can't find anything about them running trains, it all seems to be about
coaches.

Try the National Express Group website - the normal NatEx one is just
for their coach services.

Extant GNER are the biggest jobsworths I have had the misfortune to
experience with regards to bikes. Hopefully NXEC will be an
improvement.

Cheeky said:

Extant GNER are the biggest jobsworths I have had the misfortune to
experience with regards to bikes.

We only ever had good experiences with them, always willing to help and
go out of their way to help get us on board, even when we just turned up
at Kirkcaldy needing to get on with no reservations.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Quoting Roos Eisma <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Left feedback and asked questions through:
http://www.youreastcoast.co.uk/?page_id=8

Bloody "your" disease. It's not my East Coast. If it was, you'd be able to
take lots of bikes on it.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> flcl?
Today is Gorgonzoladay, July - a weekend.