For a couple of weeks of sun. No posts likely from me for the best part of early July. Best of luck on the tracks all. On recent experience, your gonna need it.

See you all circa July 16th.

Fenyke.

Looks like it's more of the same today and from the looks of the news reports, delays are likely to be all too common this week and maybe running into next. Every GNER service was delayed this morning and yes they cited the flooding oooop North as the main cause.

I joined coach C on the 07.20 which arrived into Tinsel Town at 07.57 and it was standing room only in 1st and 2nd. On board I was asked by a very nice but very Pregnant lady why there weren't any seat reservations. I exoplained that in these circumstances it was normal for seat reservations to be removed. 'But I can't stand all the way to Kings Cross' came the reply. Everyone around us could see how far gone she was but only one bloke (who was woking on his lap top and had papers all over the table) offered his seat. The lady declined and as I intended to use one of my upgrade vouchers, I suggested she follow me down to 1st to ask the guard if they would allow her to sit there. And so we very slowly pushed passed all the people stood in the isles and vestibules. During the BIG PUSH to 1st, it has to be said that only one other person offered the lady their seat which I thought was dispicable. The womans heavily pregnant for gods sake and all 100's of people could do was look anywhere but at the lady as we passed. Disgusted I was.

10 minutes later we arrived at the whole doors of 1st class. One GNER crew serving in the dining car said there weren't any seats left and tried to stop us going any further. I took one look at him, pointed at the ladies belly and frowned. He scurried off in the direction of first and returned smiling 30 seconds later and offered her the last seat on the train in the next coach. We walked through only to see my mate making a beeline for the spare seat. Richard is a lovely lad and he took one look at the lady, backed off imediately and returned to the vestibule. The lady took her seat and I joined Richard in the vestibule and stood for the next 45 mins into Kings Cross.

Thankfully for me I only have one more day in London before I'm off on my hols for 2 weeks. After the last 2 weeks, I can't bloody wait. Having said that it will just be my luck to get stuck at Stanstead.

Finally, in response to Deisels earlier comments I would just like to publically acknowledge the work frontline GNER staff have put in over the last few days. I for one appreciate your efforts (despite not being able to travel) and it can't have been much fun. It's just a shame your office based colleagues can't sort out their customer communications. I realsie this is pretty much an invuitation for Ron and others to berate you and I, but what the hell, I'm a big boy now and I can take it.

To say I'm annoyed with GNER today is an understatement. I arrived at P'boro station this morning about 08.25 intending to catch the 08.33. Instead I find every GNER service cancelled and no platform staff available to ask what's going on. I did manage to find out that FCC were running a limited service but I was warned to expect delays as there was likely to be unscheduled stops.

What really pissed me off was the total lack of information from GNER. I see on their web site it says the ECML is closed between Donny/York and Donny/Leeds due to flooding. However it also says they're running a 1/2 hourly service between Donny & Kings Cross calling at Grantham, Retford, P'boro and Stevenage. So why wasn't this apparent at the station? I've just left there believing that there was only a limited FCC service today only to find that's wrong.

It's fairly clear that in times of trouble, you can always rely GNER to cock customer communications right up. FCC on the other hand are at least able to say what they're doing and roughly when.

The 06.15 this morning arrived into KX 10 mins later than its timetabled to, which is really 15 mins later than the average due to the creative timetables that GNER now run to. There was no reason given for the slow journey and no apology. That in my eyes is just bad manners, and not providing a good customer service. Or is 10 mins now an acceptable delay?

P.S I have not mentioned this for a while because I even find it boring now. But my season ticket which is now 8 months old will be renewed for the 7th time this evening due to those bloody ticket machines at King Cross. I am sick of queueing for a new ticket and I am sure the ticket staff are sick of issuing replacements. WILL GNER/NETWORKRAIL AND TFL SORT THIS PROBLEM OUT.

Is it or isn't it?

Somebody has just e-mailed me and said Kings Cross is flooded and passengers are being advised not to travel. Thankfully I haven't but many of my fellow commuters have and I can't find one bit of info on the web to confirm if Kings Cross is open or closed. All indications are that it's open but the GNER Web site does say that disruptions due to flooding can be expected but doesn;t say where. The link on this site to the incident board is displaying a few delays due to flooding but doesn't mention Kings Cross.

Any news will be greatfully received.

I have just finished reading Frankie Dettori's autobiography. Towards the end of the book he tells a story about group of jockeys who drove from Newmarket to Peterborough to get a train to Newcastle for a days racing. One unnamed member of the party bought the train tickets but bought Frankie a child ticket, he was made aware of this once on the train by his mates but still decided to blag it.He says he slunk down is his seat, smiled nicely to the guard....and got away with it. He would have been in his ealry 20's at the time, although being 5ft helps I guess.

Birds, bloody birds you could not make it up. Have we only just got birds in this country?? This even beats "the wrong type of snow". If they can blame the birds we will be doomed for ever. I can hear the announcements now "sorry for the delay to your service this evening its not our fault its the birds"

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news?articleid=2967320

Like Penforld I got had today as a result of the line failure between Huntingdon & Tinsel Town. To make matter worse I was meant to be going to Royal Ascot, as a guest of one of my suppliers, in their lovely plush box which is right next to the Royal Enclosure. I'm sure you'll agree, that would have been a nice day and I get paid for the privalidge.

To say I'm not happy is an understatement. I've taken the decision to try again at 10 o'clock but if I can't get on a train by then, forget it. It's not worth going as I won't get there until gone 2pm. The only positive I can take from this debacle is that GNER are not to blame.

10.15 update:-
No GNER services into KX yet and they haven't said when they will.
FCC are running a few southbound services however expect delays of up to 1 1/2 hours I presume becasue trains are stopping at every station on route.

Dear old Queen Lizzie (if she's going to Ascot today) will have to do without the pleasure of my company.

11.25 update -

THIS IS ON THE FCC WEBSITE -Due to overhead power lines being down between Peterborough and Huntingdon, First Capital Connect train services are unable to operate North of Huntingdon. All FCC trains to and from London are starting from and terminating at Huntingdon.

From 1100 until approximately 1530 the line between Peterborough and Huntingdon will be closed to enable Network Rail to repair the overhead electric power lines. During this time, GNER will operate a limited diesel shuttle service between Peterborough and King’s Cross, which will call at Huntingdon and Stevenage only in each direction. FCC tickets will be accepted on these services. Rail replacement buses will continue to shuttle between Huntingdon and Peterborough.

First Capital Connect will operate services between Huntingdon and London King’s Cross, following the normal stopping patterns.

Tickets valid for travel between Peterborough and King's Cross station may be used on First Capital Connect Thameslink route services between Bedford and central London stations.

Subject to repairs being completed by 1530 services will then begin to return to normal. Inevitably there will be residual disruption and delays for the rest of the afternoon.

There is likely to be some overcrowding on the GNER diesel services between Peterborough and London King’s Cross and on the FCC services from Huntingdon to King’s Cross. Customers are advised not to travel unless absolutely essential.

Evening Peak Services
We hope to operate a full evening peak service out of London today.

AND THIS IS ON THE GNER WEBSITE: -
Due to a overhead line problem at Peterborough GNER services are being severely disrupted today
Passengers are advised not to travel unless their journey is absolutely necessary.
Tickets for today will be valid tomorrow
Midland Mainline. Virgin West Coast and First Capital Connect are accepting GNER tickets.

Obviously FCC are significantly better than GNER at giving their customers useful and accurate information which actually helps them make a decision as to the best course of action for them.

16.30 UPDATE.
Anybody got to go to the office or wondering if they're gonna get home? FCC website says services started to return to normal sometime after 3pm so get going now.

Overslept (I blame the new Wii!), and made it to the station by 7.10, in time for the 7.20, to see a train sat in the platform.

"Hrm," thinks I, "the 7.00's late."

Park the car. Train still hasn't moved, and folks are starting to flood back from the station itself.

"That," I observe to a passer by, "Doesn't look promising, Is that the 7.00?"

"No, mate. It's the 6.15. Lines down to the south."

Time to work from home, methinks.

Update: 0830: still no update on the GNER or FCC sites, despite local radio reporting all trains cancelled, and the live arrivals/departures board is just a complete joke.

I was passed, while standing in the buffet of the 6.15 last week, by someone muttering words to the effect of "thirty £$%^&*( quid, and I can't get a $%^&*() seat..."

Can't help feeling there are some over-inflated expectations at work here. For those of you who don't catch the 6.15 - um, please carry on not, ok? Standing and looking round coach H, just about everyone has the seat next to them free, unless by choice. And it's pretty much the same all up the train.

Whatever you might feel about the lack of elbow room in a standard class seat? There are definitely free seats!

I've been away for the passed few days and come back to see all the banter my last post generated. This got me thinking as to what I would do to imprve customer benefits if I were the top dog of the new franchise holder. I've often moaned how poor the GNER benefits are for season ticket holders and regular customers so I should have a few ideas. If GNER top brass do read this blog, maybe one day we might actually see one or two become a reality. Stranger things have happened?

Here's a few to kick us off: -

For Season Ticket and frequent customers only: -
Free Wifi access.
75% discount off car parking charges.
30% discount off all GNER tickets.
30% discount off buffet services.
Double the number of 1st class upgrades and/or invite season ticket holders into first class when it's standing room only in cattle class.
Scrap the season ticket discount for missing performance targets and introduce compensation which is paid out for all delays over 1 hour.

For everyone.
Hourly parking fees competative with local car parks.
A lost property service which deliveres lost property to the nearest ECML station to which the customer lives.
Vastly reduce the types of tickets available.
Give accurate, real time information at times of serious disruption.
Fix the fucking seat reservation ticket printer and buy a few back ups.

Though I'm not surprised that GNER have seen customer satisfaction fall 2% to 87%. What does surprise me is that 87% are satisfied. What with? Punctuality? Reliability? Seat Reservations? Toilet facilities and cleanliness? Staff? With the exception of staff, I've experienced problems with everything on this inside of the last month and I bet every commuter can say the same. Who are they asking these questions of? I'd bet good money that the majority aren't frequent travelers.

In response a GNER spokesman had the cheek to say that the company had achieved the highest average ratings for a long-distance operator since the surveys had begun. So what? What does that make you then? Best of a bad bunch perhaps? I think that at best it sayes they're the company thats made the most effort to improve or maintain existing service levels?

If they'd of asked me I think I'd have given an overall rating of about 75% for the simple reason that on about 25% of my journies, I encounter so sort of problem with Punctuality, Reliability, Seat Reservations, Toilet facilities or Staff?