East Coast goes private

veryintrigued

May have missed other posts on this subject but couldnt find any.

Interesting times ahead for the employees - hopefully they are protected as they can be under TUPE etc.

Whats the implications for its customers for those with a crystal ball next year?

The end of the Rewards scheme?
The end of East Coast rail booking site (and its no booking fees?)?
Any trains out of KX after 23:30 up North or is it still closed for business after this time each day?

daveyjp

Benefit is new rolling stock in time for completion of the electrification of Leeds to York line.

I will miss the HST 125 though. Still a pleasant travel experience even after 40 years in service.

agrinnall

daveyjp wrote: »

I will miss the HST 125 though. Still a pleasant travel experience even after 40 years in service.

I thought they were getting rather tatty last time I travelled from Edinburgh - London and back, and in First Class on the way down the air conditioning was out of action for the first half of the journey on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year, which wasn't a lot of fun.

Alan_Bowen

I admit that I love East Coast and think it is head and shoulders above Virgin who have won the franchise. In reality it is Stagecoach who will own 90% of the business they but think the Virgin name sounds better. Stagecoach run East Midlands Trains and I would hate to think they would fall to that level.

The new trains were coming anyway, so even if East Coast had continued the trains would have been replaced, the staff tell me they expect the free food and drinks will go for First Class and with that, the need for the current number of staff. The Rewards scheme I believe will be ending in a couple of months time, so use your points ASAP. The timetables won't change greatly, the earliest change I would think would be December but more likely May 2016 as getting new 'paths' for new trains takes a long time and the December 2014 timetable which starts in a week's time is almost exactly the same as the original 'big change' a few years ago.

I travel with them every 2 weeks and have been doing so for around 5 years, in that time only one train had long delays, there were profuse apologies on board and staff on the platform at Kings Cross with claim forms, the refund vouchers arrived 4 days after posting the claim. East Midlands on the other hand took 5 hours to London from Sheffield after spending 2 hours sitting in Oakham with no wi fi and no mobile signals, the two members of on board staff locked themselves in the office at the end of the train, the poor woman running the buffet was abused left right and centre but eventually they promised in view of the midnight arrival in London to provide taxis home. Needless to say St Pancras was devoid of all East Midlands staff, not a taxi to be had and a complete refusal to offer compensation. I have only travelled once again with them, and not by choice and although not delayed the train was poor and the staff likewise....

giraffe69

The Rewards scheme I believe will be ending in a couple of months time, so use your points ASAP.

That's interesting. Do you have any evidence for your assertion? They have announced that it will be less generous from early Jan so I have cashed in. If they are ending it I will book tickets from another operator.

notakid

It may be 90% Stagecoach but if it is operating under the Virgin name it will be run under their guidelines. Virgin are very aware of their brand and will not allow practices that go against their ethos.

Virgin are VERY customer focused. They realise that it was the customers outcry that allowed them to keep the West Coast. They will do anything to keep their customers onboard. (no pun intended! )

I don't think the East Coast customers have anything to worry about.