34067 - The Atlantic Coast Express 10-06-12

Hi everyone,

I can't see a thread here about the ACE, but if there is then feel free to delete/move this one to join it.

Just read on RTC's website that the return leg of the run on the 10th June will now return via Newbury, not Salisbury as previously advertised. Therefore, the train will return to London PADDINGTON, not Waterloo. If you were due to get off the train at Basingstoke, you must alight at Reading for a commuter train back to Basingstoke. If you were due to get off at Woking, then you must also alight at Reading for a coach back to Woking. The outward leg is expected to run as planned (out via Honiton), thanks to the new signalling scheme along the Salisbury - Exeter line.

The tour should run like so: London WATERLOO - Basingstoke - Salisbury - Exeter - Taunton - Westbury - Newbury - London PADDINGTON

Thanks

James at SVN - all the usual terms and conditions etc... Please don't shoot the messenger if the tour runs via Salisbury in the evening, it is only what I have read on the RTC website!

 

It won't be returning to Paddington or any other terminus in London as the trip has been cancelled due to pathing difficulties.

 

Not that I am denying it, but where does it say it is cancelled?

 

Had a letter from Rtc saying it was cancelled on Saturday.

 

More NR incompetence.

 

At least they gave more than 1 minute's notice for once.

 

I'm not one for defending incompetence but how is it NR's fault? Maybe I'm missing something.

Its strange given that Clan Line went to Exeter and back on a weekday.

Is it no pathway, or a cover for some other reason? Can't see how it couldn't be patched in the same way.

SG

 

I assume it is a pathing problem. It was a pathing problem that meant it was diverted through Newbury apparently.

James at SVN

 

It was always a strange idea to take time to turn the loco at Westbury as that would take a lot of time and need a platform I am guessing.

 

They accepted the proposal, then they could not path it hence it is their fault. If it was a non starter due to complicated reversal then they should have rejected the initial proposal. It is, after all their (our!) network and they should be able to spot a major problem instantly.

 

I hear from a very reliable source that NR have recently moved their train planning department from Leeds to Milton Keynes, and a significant proportion of the staff have decided not to make the move. The department is, therefore, understaffed and overworked at the moment, and has had it's collective mind on other things for quite a while in the run-up to the move. It's no excuse, but it does explain a few things.

 

It was the same a few years ago when the staff moved to Leeds, took a few months but it all settled down again. Plus there's the Olympics coming up and all the extra trains that will entail, so more work for NR.

 

Any sensible organization would not have moved this department, at this time, with the Olympics coming up! Just goes to prove how incompetent the top Management (i.e. those wishing to pay themselves obscene bonuses) actually are. Evidently no SWOT analysis was carried out.

 

Have NR actually started moving into their new Milton Keynes HQ though? I thought they were still finishing it off.

Chris

 

They've been moving in progressively for a while now. I know of a few staff who have been in MK for nearly a year now.

 

Where are they going to end up at, for next year's move?