Having not had a lot to say for a little over a week, I'm finding i've got too much to say today and really should get some work done instead of blogging. Still I'm going to blog some more anyway.

You may remember that I applied for my season ticket benefits on Spet 21st and was promised they'd be delivered within 2 weeks. On Oct 12th, 3 weeks after I applied nothing had arrived so I wrote to GNER to enquire where they were. The very next day my vouchers and ticket wallet arrived and I forgot all about my e-mail - Until now.

In response to my Oct 12th enquiry, I've litteraly just received the following communication from GNER: -

Thank you for your email. I have referred your e-mail to our Season Ticket Benefits team who will respond to you directly in due course. GNER Season Tickets
Tel: 08457 225 333
Email: season.tickets@gner.co.uk

Thank you for taking the time to write to us.

Kind regards

Anna
Customer Relations
*www/000/AL/1210/2410

Not only has it taken them another 12 days to reply, they haven't even bothered or attempted to answer my question. I wonder if it will take another 12 days for the season ticket people to reply.

Anybody looking for advice on how to Frack up a perfectly good business should be following GNER's lead. Having won the ECML franchise in 1996 the company prospered as it milked the line for all it was worth. Now, having got all their projections disasterously wrong, re-negotiated the franchise and overpaid for the privalidge, they've faultered to such an extent that they are now on the brink of collapse. I should also point out that they've done this at a time when their parent company, Sea Containers, are up shit creek without a paddle too so there's little or no chance of them bailing them out. Bailing out seems to be a more favourable option.

We should however remember that the line is still profitable despite the payments GNER are due to make to UK Gov PLC.

I've just read this article with a warning that the government are still refusing to re-negotiate and are ready step in should GNER decide to give up the ghost.

http://www.leedstoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=39&ArticleID=1838648

I haven't had too much to say about GNER these last few days. Until this morning all the trains I've caught have run pretty much on time and there's been nothing else worth mentioning. This morning was differant though.

The first bit of excitement came when the 07.20 arrived into Tinsel Town 5 mins late. This was apparently due to a freight train on the line between York and Donny though it still escapes me what the hell a freight train is doing on the fast line.

The next bit of entertainment occured when a young lady came out of the coach D toilet and had a word with the bloke running the trolly. It was obvious what was wrong because we could clearly hear the sound of running water hitting the toilet floor. Yep. It was flooding. The trolly man called the guard and the guard did what guards do in these circumstances - Turn the water supply off, lock the toilet door and pretend it's not happening. By the time we arrived into KX the carpet outside the toilet door and about 6 feet into coach D looked like an elephant had just emptied it's bladder. (There's no way the lady who reported the problem would have had a big enough bladder to leave that lot).

Next incident happened when we slowed as we passed through Welling. No explanation as to why and no apparent reason though I suspect it was yet another case of a slower train in front holding us up.

As we drew near KX we came to a complete stop just north of Finsbury Park for about 3 mins. This time we were told we had to stop to allow a train to pull out of the station. Once again, the question has to be asked why it had been routed onto the fast line when there was a fast train approaching and all other platforms apparently clear.

Finally we arrived into KX. As we approached I walked into the vestibule end to see the guard checking his watch and then announce that we were 9 minutes late. He then turned to a fellow passenger and for all to hear admitted that was OK because the train wasn't officially late. We've heard it before but for those who don't yet know, in order to be officially late a train has to be delayed by 10 mins or more. Add this to the extra time GNER build into their timetable (the 07.20 can be up to 10 mins early) and you'll find that, for the 07.20 at least, they actually have at least 20 minutes to spare before a train can be classed as late.