| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1248 Written by Lee on Monday, 21st August 2006 The RMT have called for GNER to be brought back under public control (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/bring_gner_back_inhouse_to_sav.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1257 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 22nd August 2006 Quoting a part of that article ... [quote]..... mainline franchise ...... should be brought back under public control immediately to stop jobs and rail services falling victim to the financial ...... The call was made by RMT as speculation grew that .......... rail operations would mean further sharp fares hikes, service cuts and a wholesale attack on jobs and conditions. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1262 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 23rd August 2006 Here is a link to a further analysis of the GNER issue. http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/gner_judicial_review_what_real.html#more And here is one on discontent over rail fares and overcrowding. http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/passenger_discontent_over_rail.html#more Quote from the above link : "The travails of commuters in the south-east of the country were also shared by passengers to Cardiff and Bristol, as the ORR warned that the long distance service operated by First Great Western had "deteriorated" over the past 18 months and was performing well below the national average. First Great Western and Network Rail, which runs the UK rail infrastructure, have drawn up a plan to turn around the service and will implement it next month, the ORR said." Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1267 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 23rd August 2006 The GNER crisis shows no sign of abating (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/union_calls_for_public_ownersh.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1270 Written by Lee on Thursday, 24th August 2006 [quote author=Lee link=topic=423.msg1262#msg1262 date=1156322824] Here is a link to a further analysis of the GNER issue. http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/gner_judicial_review_what_real.html#more And here is one on discontent over rail fares and overcrowding. http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/passenger_discontent_over_rail.html#more Quote from the above link : "The travails of commuters in the south-east of the country were also shared by passengers to Cardiff and Bristol, as the ORR warned that the long distance service operated by First Great Western had "deteriorated" over the past 18 months and was performing well below the national average. First Great Western and Network Rail, which runs the UK rail infrastructure, have drawn up a plan to turn around the service and will implement it next month, the ORR said." [/quote] Rail travellers lament ticket costs (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/rail_travellers_lament_ticket.html#more First Great Western "savaged" by the Office of Rail Regulation for the age of its fleet (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/watchdog_savages_ageing_train.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1274 Written by Lee on Friday, 25th August 2006 Pensioners 'refused' first class train seats (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/pensioners_refused_first_class.html#more Poor timekeeping on First Great Western's long-distance express services is under investigation by the Office for Rail Regulation (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/great_western_running_late.html#more Quotes from the above link : "The ORR said that part of the cause of delays to FGW's express services was the large-scale track renewal programme on lines from London Paddington." "However, it said that track and signals operator Network Rail and FGW had drawn up joint plans to tackle the problems, which should be in place next month." "Among the ideas already implemented is for teams of FGW and Network Rail managers to 'adopt' poorly-performing services to identify why they are suffering delays and tackle the causes." Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1289 Written by Lee on Saturday, 26th August 2006 GNER is paying the penalty for a "staggeringly ambitious bid" to run the route, says Virgin (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/gner_paying_price_for_high_bid.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1301 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Sunday, 27th August 2006 [quote author=Lee link=topic=423.msg1289#msg1289 date=1156595966] GNER is paying the penalty for a "staggeringly ambitious bid" to run the route, says Virgin (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/gner_paying_price_for_high_bid.html#more [/quote] The franchise system is, unfortunatley, set up to allow for "staggeringly ambitious" bids to be accepted. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1323 Written by Lee on Thursday, 31st August 2006 [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=423.msg1301#msg1301 date=1156647917] [quote author=Lee link=topic=423.msg1289#msg1289 date=1156595966]GNER is paying the penalty for a "staggeringly ambitious bid" to run the route, says Virgin (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/gner_paying_price_for_high_bid.html#more [/quote] The franchise system is, unfortunatley, set up to allow for "staggeringly ambitious" bids to be accepted. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1332 Written by Lee on Friday, 1st September 2006 Job fears at GNER have been raised by the RMT after the troubled train operator removed three directors in the biggest boardroom shake-up since its launch a decade ago (links below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/09/fears_of_jobs_cull_as_gner_rem.html#more http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/metcalfe_takes_the_controls_at.html#more http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/rmt_will_resist_job_cuts_says.html#more GNER has cut the price of rail fares between Scotland and London to their lowest in decades in an attempt to boost income (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/gner_is_driven_to_cut_fares_to.html#more Quotes from the above link : "A spokesman said: "We have challenging targets that have to be met, and this is one of the ways we can stimulate passengers to switch from other modes of transport." "He said improvements to the firm's website had been made since Chris Garnett, GNER's then chief executive, admitted to MPs in November it was losing business to airlines because passengers were "fed up" trying to find its cheapest fares online." Virgin Trains is believed to be ready to pay Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1337 Written by Lee on Friday, 1st September 2006 The Yorkshire Post has launched a referendum on whether GNER's franchise should be taken over by the Government (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/09/union_threat_as_gner_shakes_up.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1344 Written by Lee on Friday, 1st September 2006 Passenger Focus is calling on the government to intervene after train operator GNER increased charges in 10 station car parks (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5305796.stm Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1368 Written by Lee on Monday, 4th September 2006 GNER will ditch its franchise if there is no progress on talks this month over a new contract (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/09/gner_threat_to_dump_franchise.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1384 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 5th September 2006 GNER last night insisted it had no intention of walking away from the East Coast rail franchise - despite speculation it was trying to renegotiate the Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1450 Written by Lee on Friday, 15th September 2006 Rail passengers waiting for the last southbound train of the day at a North East station were left stranded when the driver failed to stop (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5349620.stm GNER's Edinburgh to York Service sped through Durham station after the driver was given the wrong instructions. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1492 Written by Lee on Friday, 22nd September 2006 Grand Central , GNER's long - time nemesis , has announced ambitious plans for future rail services (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/09/off_to_london_from_huddersfiel.html#more These include : Linking Huddersfield and Bradford with Euston in London via the West Coast main line. Direct link from Huddersfield and Bradford which would go via Standedge Tunnel and join the West Coast line at Stockport. Hourly service between Bradford and Doncaster calling at Halifax , Brighouse , Wakefield Kirkgate and Pontefract. The company is due to start running thrice-daily services between London and Sunderland from December 10. It now wants to add a fourth daily service on that route , which operates on the East Coast main line. Grand Central also wants to run four trains a day between Bradford and King's Cross in London , independently of the Sunderland service. The proposals were unveiled after the Office of Rail Regulation asked train operating companies for a list of new services they want to introduce in the coming years. By encouraging rail companies to be more transparent about their aspirations , railway chiefs aim to draw up a long-term vision for the network in full knowledge of possible developments. Mike Cartwright , of Brad-ford Chamber , welcomed the extension of rail services. He said: "While we applaud what GNER have done over the last few years with their franchise, we also think there should be more competition introduced and Grand Central are willing to step up to the mark." Grand Central are an open access operator. The hourly "stopping" service between Bradford and Doncaster calling at Halifax , Brighouse , Wakefield Kirkgate and Pontefract is very similiar to our own Westbury - Swindon open access proposal (link below.) http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/open.html Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1569 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 4th October 2006 Hundreds of jobs at GNER , the train company that runs the London to Edinburgh high-speed service , are likely to be cut in the next fortnight as the rail company moves to reduce its cost base (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/hundreds_of_jobs_likely_to_go.html#more Pressure increased on the country Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1587 Written by Lee on Sunday, 8th October 2006 Grand Central is expected to miss its planned launch date of 10 December this year for the company's long-awaited new London-Sunderland rail link (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/sunderland_rail_link_start_dat.html#more After a prolonged but ultimately successful campaign to be allowed to run trains along the East Coast Main Line , the open access operator is now struggling to obtain the rolling stock required for the new service. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1588 Written by Lee on Monday, 9th October 2006 It would appear that Grand Central are to use HST's as an interim rolling stock solution for their new Sunderland to London service (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6032759.stm Ian Yeowart , managing director of Grand Central , said 125mph trains would be used to launch the new service , with new 140mph trains expected to be drafted in by 2009. When Grand Central initially announced plans to operate services in 2004 it was envisaged that surplus Class 222 trains would provide the rolling stock , but a series of continuing delays meant that option could not be taken , and they were leased elsewhere. Mr Yeowart added: "Although this stock is seen as an interim solution, it is a fact that high speed trains are still regarded by many as the premier train on the network." "The challenge will be to ensure that its replacement in a few years rekindles that iconic status." Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1598 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 10th October 2006 Here is a further article on Grand Central's rolling stock problems (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/rail_link_date_in_doubt.html#more It was also reported at the weekend that GNER would have no choice but to give up what is left of its 10-year franchise and hand over day-to-day running of the route to the Government , possibly by the end of the week. Department of Transport officials have confirmed they already have a plan in place to take over control of the route should GNER decide to back out of its Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1602 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 11th October 2006 GNER faces an uncertain future as its parent company approaches a deadline to repay huge debts (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6038734.stm Sea Containers Ltd has until Sunday to pay off debts of Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1619 Written by Lee on Friday, 13th October 2006 The US parent of GNER is on the verge of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6048122.stm Sea Containers , the passenger and freight transport business , said that it is unlikely to be able to pay a $115m ( Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1636 Written by Lee on Monday, 16th October 2006 GNER's parent company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US (links below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6054090.stm http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/the_cash_cow_no_longer_1.html#more http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/uk_government_says_will_not_re.html#more http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/sack_seacontainers_not_gner_wo_1.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1645 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 17th October 2006 A couple of Parliamentary Written Questions have been asked on this (link below.) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmordbk2/61018o01.htm Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that the Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1650 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 18th October 2006 The owner of GNER yesterday warned that making money from rail franchises had become too hard and Chris Grayling says that the rail franchise system is becoming "unsustainable" in the article linked to below. http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/rail_firms_being_squeezed_says.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1711 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 24th October 2006 Stephen Ladyman revealed last night that the Government is poised to take over the running of the East Coast main line from troubled rail operator GNER if the current financial crisis worsens (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/rail_franchise_hangs_in_balanc.html#more Doesnt anyone find it rather odd that Dr Ladyman keeps straying off his non - rail brief , just as he did when he answered a recent Melksham - related Parliamentary Written Question? [quote author=Lee link=topic=528.msg1609#msg1609 date=1160652755] [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=528.msg1577#msg1577 date=1160105368] [quote author=Nick Field link=topic=528.msg1575#msg1575 date=1160080492]I look forward to the answer, although I suspect the question will be dodged and they will talk about how much they have spent on the west coast or something[/quote] I can see four possible approaches to an answer - answering a different question is, indeed, one of them but I suspect that we'll see one of the other approaches, acknowledging what the question actually says. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1726 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 25th October 2006 [quote author=Lee link=topic=423.msg1645#msg1645 date=1161084921]A couple of Parliamentary Written Questions have been asked on this (link below.) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmordbk2/61018o01.htm Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that the Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1729 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 25th October 2006 Upcoming PWQ : Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with officials of GNER since 1st October. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1732 Written by Lee on Thursday, 26th October 2006 Here is a further GNER - related article (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/government_may_take_over_gner.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1774 Written by Lee on Monday, 30th October 2006 Here is a Christian Wolmar article on this issue (link below.) http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/yorkshire/oct20,06.shtml Also , here are links to a couple of his latest articles. http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/oldie/nov,06.shtml http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/pubfinance/oct27,06.shtml Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1787 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 31st October 2006 [quote author=Lee link=topic=423.msg1729#msg1729 date=1161773982]Upcoming PWQ : Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with officials of GNER since 1st October.[/quote] Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with officials of GNER since 1 October. Mr. Tom Harris: GNER have had discussions with officials in the Department, they have had none with Ministers. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1873 Written by Lee on Thursday, 9th November 2006 Ticketing staff at GNER are to take industrial action , claiming the company is unfairly imposing job cuts (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6131498.stm GNER says it expects to reduce staffing over the next five years but that there would be no compulsory redundancies. From Friday , TSSA members will refuse to issue tickets bought online , and customers must collect them from automated ticketing machines. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1920 Written by Lee on Sunday, 12th November 2006 Talks are continuing in an attempt to resolve a dispute between GNER and the rail firm's ticket sales staff (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6140992.stm Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1974 Written by Lee on Friday, 17th November 2006 Around 1,500 members of the RMT at GNER are to be balloted for strike action over the company Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/1983 Written by Lee on Saturday, 18th November 2006 Any strike action could hit GNER services over Christmas (links below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/11/rail_staff_to_vote_on_strike.html#more http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6157680.stm Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/2009 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 21st November 2006 Grand Central's new rail service from the North East to London has been delayed for several months (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6168002.stm It had hoped to begin operating on 10 December 2006 , but has been unable to obtain rolling stock in time. The service will now start on 20 May 2007. Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/2092 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 28th November 2006 The Government has agreed to tear up GNER Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/2100 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 29th November 2006 Here is the RMT view on this (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/11/dont_reward_sea_containers_fai.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/2141 Written by Lee on Saturday, 2nd December 2006 An Early Day Motion has been put down on this (links below.) http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=31994&SESSION=885 http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/12/mps_call_for_failed_gner_franc.html#more Re: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" - 423/2153 Written by Lee on Sunday, 3rd December 2006 GNER has taken its battle against the ORR and Grand Central to Europe (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/12/gner_goes_to_europe_in_fight_o.html#more link to index of articles |
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham. Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome. The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users. We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can. -- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021 | |||
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