London Midland Trains

[Stuharris 6360]

Oh of course, Nationalised British Rail, where the Chairman had to go to the government everytime he wanted to buy rolling stock. They would then take two years to decide, then only authorise about 2/3 of the stock requested, to be built by BR themselves taking another two years.

Much better system before privatisation. More stock is currently being built or on order than at anytime under Nationalsation, just even that isn't enough to cope with growth at the moment. Something BR never had to deal with.

Yes @Tony , but with there franchise due to run out next year, why would London Midland ask for any more stock. The franchises being allocated are for to short a time, look at Chiltern Trains, 20 years franchise and so you have seen investment.

[Tony]

Yes @Tony , but with there franchise due to run out next year, why would London Midland ask for any more stock. The franchises being allocated are for to short a time, look at Chiltern Trains, 20 years franchise and so you have seen investment.

Abellio Anglia only got 7-10 years, but have agreed to replace every single carriage on the franchise.

[Bob]

I don't think growth on many lines is commensurate with good service. The Chase line is only busy cos there's no alternative.  There's no bus service and the M6 is a car park. I don't think people get crammed like cattle on disgustingly inadequate trains cos they want to or like them.....

[Bob]

And as for stock, the massively popular chase line is getting 20 year old electric trains next year......investment indeed

[Kevin]

London Midland's "shortage of train crew" wheeled out yet again
20:34 from Liverpool to New Street cancelled
21:34 from Liverpool to New Street only going as far as Crewe
22:04 from Liverpool to Crewe cancelled

Somehow my dad has to come home today and he's gonna be livid when it turns out to be a rail replacement taxi
Again...
Pathetic.

[Tony]

London Midland's "shortage of train crew" wheeled out yet again
20:34 from Liverpool to New Street cancelled
21:34 from Liverpool to New Street only going as far as Crewe
22:04 from Liverpool to Crewe cancelled

Somehow my dad has to come home today and he's gonna be livid when it turns out to be a rail replacement taxi
Again...
Pathetic.

Tell him to get a Virgin Liverpool Stafford, Cross country home from Stafford

[Kevin]

Tell him to get a Virgin Liverpool Stafford, Cross country home from Stafford

20:48 Virgin service is his usual fall back in the week for when London Midland pull the inevitable, either to Stafford or Lichfield and then Cross city, alas it doesn't run on Saturday

[mikestone]

Rather amazingly Virgin seemed to have held the 18.52 Edinburgh-Birmingham at Crewe for the 21.48 Lime Street!

[T840MAK]

Yes @Tony , but with there franchise due to run out next year, why would London Midland ask for any more stock. The franchises being allocated are for to short a time, look at Chiltern Trains, 20 years franchise and so you have seen investment.

Also depends on the franchise spec though. TransPennine was an 8 year franchise and 125mph capable stock, winning bidder had a lot of brand new stock in their bid, Abellio East Anglia specified new stock but the winning bid replaces every single carriage with new stock - wasn't LM let as a no growth franchise too?

[mikestone]

according to the stakeholded conference it is no longer the intention to omit Coventry Arena stops on match days. I believe  the Saturday service is now regularly 2 x 153 - anyone seen extra cars on other days?

[Bob]

2 carriage train on 16.42 to Rugeley again. People squashed up the doors. Who the f##k decided to have so little diesel stock that passengers would be treated like this. Again if someone was to collapse etc it would be a health and safety issues.  Bloody appalling service

[Tony]

2 carriage train on 16.42 to Rugeley again. People squashed up the doors. Who the f##k decided to have so little diesel stock that passengers would be treated like this. Again if someone was to collapse etc it would be a health and safety issues.  Bloody appalling service

It's booked for a 2-car, so no surprise there then. Perhaps look right back to BR days when they replaced every 3 car 1960s DMU with a two car sprinter, and then split the two car 155s into single car 153s.

The 170s that currently work the line were then ordered by National Express group, above there franchise commitment to provide extra capacity. NEG were one of the original franchise holders to do this along with M40 Trains (Chiltern)

So imagine if it was still BR, chances are it would be even worse.

[Bob]

There were still old DMUS running at privatisation.  It wouldn't be worse. Those old DMU were more comfortable with far less cramped interiors than a 170. Even the sprinters were more spacious. A packed 170 is not pleasant especially with no air con on like today. And a two car booked for that trip Is a joke. Even more a joke when they repeatedly do it on the 7.20am one into brum like last Tuesday when the passenger collapsed the emergency button pressed and the conductor couldn't even get to her. Bloody joke

[Bob]

And considering the electric trains when they eventually come are to be well over 20 years old I'd say not much has improved since BR In fact they're BR stock! A few retrimmed seats don't pass off as modern!

[Tony]

There were still old DMUS running at privatisation.  It wouldn't be worse. Those old DMU were more comfortable with far less cramped interiors than a 170. Even the sprinters were more spacious. A packed 170 is not pleasant especially with no air con on like today. And a two car booked for that trip Is a joke. Even more a joke when they repeatedly do it on the 7.20am one into brum like last Tuesday when the passenger collapsed the emergency button pressed and the conductor couldn't even get to her. Bloody joke

Take the rose tinted glasses off Bob.

There were no old DMUs still running around the Midlands at privatisastion, only a few 1950s class 101 around Manchester, and if you actually try and sit on them you will find your knees wedged against the seat in front with 3+2 seats sou you had to move two other people just to get off at times.

Class 150s had similar awful arrangements, and because they are shorter than a 170 less seats.