Re: GSR-Keswick

[Tony Albert <root@DELETESPAMaalbert.demon.co.uk>]

In article <mauried.70.34A8A355@commslab.gov.au>, Maurie Daly

Snip
> Anyone know much about GSRs previous experiances with running trains.

I believe GB Rail is one of the partners in GSR. GB Rail has won a single
franchise in the UK, Anglia. This franchise covers an "inter-city" route
from London to Norwich - NE of London - (around 120 miles long) and operated
with rakes of electric hauled air-con coaches with an hourly frequency,
increased at peak times. There are also a handful of rural lines in Suffolk
and Norfolk operated by DMUs. Also DMU operated are the Ipswich - Cambridge
and Ipswich - Peterborough services. A day-time London - Ipswich service has
been started to block a rival franchise from occupying departure times that
rival would like. (The times are not designed to be of benefit to the
passenger rather to take the rival passengers.)

The IC services are generally OK but suffer from old equipment which is not
fully reliable. The DMUs are modern and, generally, reliable. Timekeeping on
the Ipswich-Felixstowe branch is dire (i.e.almost the worst in the country)
but the track is shared with Freightliner who operate trains for containers.

The MD of Anglia is an old BR hand. Unlike many of the franchise holders,
Anglia is not connected to a bus company. An order of new trains (DMUs to
replace electric) has been imminent for many months: rumour has it that they
can not make up their minds and take the plunge. New trains is a franchise
commitment. I suspect that the franchise is easier than most as it has a
fairly simple route structure and only one mainteneance depot. There are
complaints about connections between the branch line trains and IC
services. Anglia have shown no inclination to develop services from Ipswich
to Cambridge and Peterborough both of which businesses could be grown.

Hope this gives you some background.

PS There PR newspaper had quite a lot about the Indian-Pacific and Ghan in
the middle pages.

--  
Tony Albert Holebroc Doomsday Book 1086