Will the nationalisation of NXEC mean no cheap tickets for a while?

hopefulfooluk

As the thread title suggests really. National Express East Coast is losing their franchise as of tomorrow night, after which time the line will be operated by the government. On NXEC's website it says:

East Coast Customer Statement

The Department for Transport has advised us that that the East Coast franchise will transfer to Directly Operated Railways at midnight on 13 November 2009. We want to reassure our customers that National Express East Coast will continue to operate all its current services on the East Coast route to current timetables until this handover. All existing tickets and new tickets, for travel before and after this handover date, will continue to be valid and honoured. Customers can continue to book tickets in advance for future journeys.


I travel on this line regularly from Durham to Kings Cross - probably every couple of weeks - and would be totally lost were it not for the £55ish return I can get if I book a few days in advance.

Do you think that the cheap advance fares that NXEC routinely offer will be continued by the government or will I be forced to pay the £100+ standard return to line Mr Brown's pockets?

dzug1

Don't know.

But if you can get to Sunderland (not that far is it?) Grand Central have an off peak walk on fare of £71 return - a bit less from further south

aah

(and grand central will get you there without breaking down? )

This seems to be a problem. I am used to doing the same, booking reasonably cheap tickets a few days in advance from Ncl to London (splitting at Peterborough if necessary) and they have vanished! They seem to be around if you book well in advance but of course we can't always do that.

Do post again if you hear any more... but where is the evidence it's lining Mr Brown's pockets??