Atomic Systems

As someone who travels Norwich - Birmingham I am more than interested in who operates the train. So far it has been the Norwich- Liverpool train as far as Ely or Peterborough & then the Stanstead - Birmingham train for there. As it is all Central Trains some good value through tickets have been available (£10 return at the moment). It now appears that the Stanstead - Birmingham service is to be part of the new Arriva cross country service but I have heard nothing about Norwich - Liverpool which is a very "cross country" service.

Does anybody know what is happening to the Norwich - Liverpool route?

Chris

as I understand, the route is going under the Stagecoach East Midlands franchise - there were talks of splitting the route into two sections/transfered to cross country, but I think this was dropped.

Rob.

Thanks for that. Yes, now that you have told me I have found the confirmation.

These franchises are all very well but they only work if your journey is on one operator. I guess it works for London.

No more cheap Norwich-Birmingham tickets I guess.

Chris

you'll still get through tickets, you'll just be paying what the operator at the starting station thinks the price is.

Personally i think the best way is to split the ticket journey in 2 like in area tickets it'd be cheaper.

salopiangrowler wrote:you'll still get through tickets, you'll just be paying what the operator at the starting station thinks the price is.

Are you sure? Virgin set the fares from Eastbourne to Birmingham, and GNER to Glasgow, also Midland Mainline to Sheffield.

Southern set they're own fares for thier own services.

while we are om about Liverpool to Norwich service. Why is this service being run by buses from Sheffield?

SuperOwl wrote:while we are om about Liverpool to Norwich service. Why is this service being run by buses from Sheffield?

Because Sunday is not part of the working week for Central Trains traincrew, and is crewed on a voluntary basis (voluntary in that traincrew are not required to work it, but any that do receive overtime-rate pay).

mattvince wrote:

SuperOwl wrote:while we are om about Liverpool to Norwich service. Why is this service being run by buses from Sheffield?

Because Sunday is not part of the working week for Central Trains traincrew, and is crewed on a voluntary basis (voluntary in that traincrew are not required to work it, but any that do receive overtime-rate pay).

So you won't find out untill the day that they'll actually run a service?

If you want tofind the operators betwwen two places simply use the Notwork Rail journey planner.

http://ojp1.nationalrail.co.uk/en/pj/jp


This gives the operator of each seperate change.

after november theres 4 operators to chose from.

Norwich-Peterborough: One, East Midlands
Peterborough-Sheffield: East Midlands
Sheffield-Liverpool: Northern, ???

IIRC, the whole route passed over to East Midlands. Which means me here in Warrington is going to get more Stagecoach trains that buses at the moment. First are level with 1 train and 1 bus.

I wonder what the 170s will look like in East Midlands colours? Unless its one of those horrible SWT Express colours...

East Midlands aren't getting any 170s.

Because Central nicked them all a few years back after MML declared them surpless to requirements.

I doubt the whole route would go over to East Midlands, the monopoly commision would be up in arms. Warringtons already choked with operators.

salopiangrowler wrote:Because Central nicked them all a few years back after MML declared them surpless to requirements.

I doubt the whole route would go over to East Midlands, the monopoly commision would be up in arms. Warringtons already choked with operators.

We get Virgin, Northern and ATW at Bank Quay, and also Northern, First TPE and Central Trains at Central Station.

Thats 5 different operators, and alot of travelling to do

salopiangrowler wrote:Because Central nicked them all a few years back after MML declared them surpless to requirements.

I doubt the whole route would go over to East Midlands, the monopoly commision would be up in arms. Warringtons already choked with operators.

Cross Country are getting 170s, most likely the ex-MML ones with first class, with London Midland getting the rest, and East Midlands are stuck with 158s for Liverpool to Norwich. At least they should all be 3 car though, and hopefully they will be first to get refurbished, since they are the most in need (although the ex-MML 170s are also in need, but that will be XC and LM's problem).