Friday, 30 December 2011
Abellio "The Most Cost Effective Bid"
The Radio 4 programme 'You And Yours' today did a feature on the railways which included mention of the recent award of the Greater Anglia franchise to Abellio. The programme explained that as part of the bidding process the losing bidders - in this case Stagecoach and Go Ahead - are told why they lost out. Both companies were effectively told that their emphasis was on customer service rather than giving the government value for money. Abellio therefore apparently came top for putting the emphasis on value for money for the tax payer rather than the customer. Interesting times ahead possibly...
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Late Evening Timetable Changes - A Reminder
Passengers are reminded that on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9th January to 21st March the last train to Colchester and beyond from Liverpool Street leaves London at 22:30.
Passengers leaving on the 23:30 from Liverpool Street will find themselves in Billericay from where a coach will take them to Witham. A train will leave Witham at 00:50 calling at Colchester at 01:04 and Manningtree at 01:14. Passengers to Clacton and Walton are advised to check timetables.
Sadly NXEA have not yet widely publicised these changes which will no doubt cause inconvenience to theatre and concert goers alike.
Passengers leaving on the 23:30 from Liverpool Street will find themselves in Billericay from where a coach will take them to Witham. A train will leave Witham at 00:50 calling at Colchester at 01:04 and Manningtree at 01:14. Passengers to Clacton and Walton are advised to check timetables.
Sadly NXEA have not yet widely publicised these changes which will no doubt cause inconvenience to theatre and concert goers alike.
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Train Punctuality Just Below National Average
Trains last month were more punctual than last year.
However, National Express East Anglia was just below the national average, with 88.3% of trains arriving on time between November 13 and December 10. The national average was 88.4%. Last year National Express East Anglia had 84.4% punctuality for the same period.
However, National Express East Anglia was just below the national average, with 88.3% of trains arriving on time between November 13 and December 10. The national average was 88.4%. Last year National Express East Anglia had 84.4% punctuality for the same period.
Friday, 23 December 2011
Tell NXEA What You Think
National Express East Anglia are asking customers, staff and stakeholders for feedback on their service. Take part in the survey here.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
ERUF Attends Meeting With Abellio
Members of the ERUF Committee attended a meeting with senior managers from Abellio today to discuss their plans for the new Greater Anglia franchise.
Abellio took the opportunity to explain again that the short nature of this franchise - only 29 months - means that the emphasis will be on improving customer service rather than major projects such as acquiring new trains. A Customer Training programme will be provided to all operational staff and 1,650 PDAs will be distributed amongst customer facing staff to enable them to provide timely information to passengers. Regular customer surveys will be carried out to monitor service quality. A texting service will be reintroduced, as well as advising passengers via email of service issues.
Abellio will be launching a mobile phone application from which tickets can be bought and new, easier to use, ticket machines will be introduced by May 2012. A new website will be introduced from which tickets can be bought together with a 'print at home' service.
As has been widely publicised the Oyster Pay-As-You-Go service will be extended to Shenfield.
Abellio assures passengers that the reduction to the fleet of 8 carriages will not increase crowding as existing stock will be better utilised. This may mean that certain trains appear fuller than before i.e. trains previously 40% full may now be 80% full but this is due to better utilisation of existing carriages. Also timetables will be colour coded to identify crowded services to allow passengers to make better choices about those they use. Platform zoning will also be introduced to identify where the busy carriages are and also first class.
Abellio will also be taking steps to ensure services run smoothly during the Olympics.
Overall the impression given was promising but of course the proof will be in how they perform once they take over on 5th February.
Abellio took the opportunity to explain again that the short nature of this franchise - only 29 months - means that the emphasis will be on improving customer service rather than major projects such as acquiring new trains. A Customer Training programme will be provided to all operational staff and 1,650 PDAs will be distributed amongst customer facing staff to enable them to provide timely information to passengers. Regular customer surveys will be carried out to monitor service quality. A texting service will be reintroduced, as well as advising passengers via email of service issues.
Abellio will be launching a mobile phone application from which tickets can be bought and new, easier to use, ticket machines will be introduced by May 2012. A new website will be introduced from which tickets can be bought together with a 'print at home' service.
As has been widely publicised the Oyster Pay-As-You-Go service will be extended to Shenfield.
Abellio assures passengers that the reduction to the fleet of 8 carriages will not increase crowding as existing stock will be better utilised. This may mean that certain trains appear fuller than before i.e. trains previously 40% full may now be 80% full but this is due to better utilisation of existing carriages. Also timetables will be colour coded to identify crowded services to allow passengers to make better choices about those they use. Platform zoning will also be introduced to identify where the busy carriages are and also first class.
Abellio will also be taking steps to ensure services run smoothly during the Olympics.
Overall the impression given was promising but of course the proof will be in how they perform once they take over on 5th February.
Monday, 19 December 2011
Disruption Over Christmas - A Reminder
A reminder that services will be disrupted on certain days over the Christmas break. Overhead lines are being replaced between Ilford and Liverpool Street and as such there will be no services between Ingatestone and Liverpool Street on 24th, 27th and 31st December and the 1st and 2nd January.
As usual there will be no service on 25th and 26th December.
As usual there will be no service on 25th and 26th December.
Friday, 16 December 2011
ERUF Attends Rail Summit
Members of ERUF attended the much publicised Rail Summit at Portcullis House yesterday. The summit was arranged by East Anglian MPs to emphasise the need the major improvements to rail services in the region.
Network Rail came in for much criticism and indeed the start of the meeting was delayed due to attendees being held up by timely signalling problems at Stratford. Network Rail admitted that it is disappointed with its own performance and failure to properly maintain the infrastructure in the region. However they stated that the London - Norwich line had received relatively little new funding compared to other lines in the country.
It was agreed by all that investment in the Essex infrastructure would be of benefit to all along the Norwich line. It was also agreed that the train fleet had to be radically overhauled and / or replaced.
Network Rail came in for much criticism and indeed the start of the meeting was delayed due to attendees being held up by timely signalling problems at Stratford. Network Rail admitted that it is disappointed with its own performance and failure to properly maintain the infrastructure in the region. However they stated that the London - Norwich line had received relatively little new funding compared to other lines in the country.
It was agreed by all that investment in the Essex infrastructure would be of benefit to all along the Norwich line. It was also agreed that the train fleet had to be radically overhauled and / or replaced.
Mark Leslie (ERUF Secretary) Priti Patel (MP for Witham) and Derek Monnery (ERUF Chairman)
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