• The forum upgrades are now largely complete.
    Please read this thread for more details.
    New user registrations are currently disabled.

Northern trains


11:50 from Billingham, normally my earlier than usual so expected a quite journey up to meet mate & son.
Unfortunately train was quite busy so had to sit in the last seat available, next to a mother and son.
Had 2 cans Madri btw.
Opposite a group from Middlesbrough I assume 12/16 lads and lasses, snorting lines of coke on the table. Children sat opposite so couldn’t see.
7:00!train back was fine
 
Cross country Sheffield to York yesterday ,9 carriages, back 4 out of use due to staffing shortages. Standing room only all the way up with the train carrying on to Edinburgh. Return journey just as bad Standing room only and 1 bog in use for 5 carriages .
 
Just had a reply from Matt Vickers about Northern…


We have been experiencing some real challenges along the Durham Coast recently, and these have been exasperated at weekends when there have been football matches on affecting local North East teams. The confused and inaccurate messaging on the day has been raised with our control office. ‘Communication during disruption’ is now one of our key performance metrics and we are striving to improve our performance in this area with improved Customer Information Screens, better PA announcements and we will soon be piloting a communication tool that links into a passenger’s favoured social media platform so that ‘push’ messages will be easily available to them.

The good news is things are set to improve. With the introduction of the May 2023 timetable change, we have requested that the 0918, 1118 and 1218 services are all strengthened to 4 carriages on an ongoing basis, along with the 1018 which is already in the schedule. In addition, with effect from 8th July (upon completion of the new platform at Hartlepool) we will be able to run a semi-fast service at 1016 and 1216 from Middlesbrough to Newcastle (both 2 carriage services). This will significantly increase the capacity along the Durham Coast and should go a long way to alleviating the overcrowding issues along this route allowing passengers to board services without concern.

Kind Regards
 
Just had a reply from Matt Vickers about Northern…


We have been experiencing some real challenges along the Durham Coast recently, and these have been exasperated at weekends when there have been football matches on affecting local North East teams. The confused and inaccurate messaging on the day has been raised with our control office. ‘Communication during disruption’ is now one of our key performance metrics and we are striving to improve our performance in this area with improved Customer Information Screens, better PA announcements and we will soon be piloting a communication tool that links into a passenger’s favoured social media platform so that ‘push’ messages will be easily available to them.

The good news is things are set to improve. With the introduction of the May 2023 timetable change, we have requested that the 0918, 1118 and 1218 services are all strengthened to 4 carriages on an ongoing basis, along with the 1018 which is already in the schedule. In addition, with effect from 8th July (upon completion of the new platform at Hartlepool) we will be able to run a semi-fast service at 1016 and 1216 from Middlesbrough to Newcastle (both 2 carriage services). This will significantly increase the capacity along the Durham Coast and should go a long way to alleviating the overcrowding issues along this route allowing passengers to board services without concern.

Kind Regards
Just in time for the season finishing
 
Just had a reply from Matt Vickers about Northern…


We have been experiencing some real challenges along the Durham Coast recently, and these have been exasperated at weekends when there have been football matches on affecting local North East teams. The confused and inaccurate messaging on the day has been raised with our control office. ‘Communication during disruption’ is now one of our key performance metrics and we are striving to improve our performance in this area with improved Customer Information Screens, better PA announcements and we will soon be piloting a communication tool that links into a passenger’s favoured social media platform so that ‘push’ messages will be easily available to them.

The good news is things are set to improve. With the introduction of the May 2023 timetable change, we have requested that the 0918, 1118 and 1218 services are all strengthened to 4 carriages on an ongoing basis, along with the 1018 which is already in the schedule. In addition, with effect from 8th July (upon completion of the new platform at Hartlepool) we will be able to run a semi-fast service at 1016 and 1216 from Middlesbrough to Newcastle (both 2 carriage services). This will significantly increase the capacity along the Durham Coast and should go a long way to alleviating the overcrowding issues along this route allowing passengers to board services without concern.

Kind Regards
Recently :lol:

It’s been the case for 20 years
 
Back
Top