National Express East Coast: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|UK train operating company}}

{{dablinkHatnote|This article discusses a former train operator. For its successor, see [[East Coast (train operating company)|East Coast]].}}

Sea Containers emerged as the victor, being awarded a new seven-year franchise by the [[Department for Transport]], commencing in May 2005, along with an option for a three-year extension dependent on performance targets being met.<ref>{{cite pressrelease |url=http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200503220700260427K |author=Strategic Rail Authority |title=Biggest Deal in European Rail History Marks East Coast Franchise Announcement |date=22 March 2005 |access-date=18 October 2012 |work=Financial Express |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213238/http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200503220700260427K |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/gner-wins-second-franchise-term.html |title=GNER wins second franchise term |date=1 May 2005 |access-date=18 October 2012 |journal=Railway Gazette |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213205/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/gner-wins-second-franchise-term.html |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the awarding was subject to criticism that, amid aggressive bidding between the competing companies, GNER had committed itself to fulfilling an overly generous arrangement that may not be financially realistic, and was accused as having overbid to secure the franchise.<ref name = "grail rail2015"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2912584/GNERs-blockbuster-bid-clinches-East-Coast-Line.html |title=GNER's blockbuster bid clinches East Coast Line |work=Daily Telegraph |first=Alistair |last=Osborne |date=23 March 2005 |access-date=18 October 2012 |location=London |archive-date=7 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007022858/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2912584/GNERs-blockbuster-bid-clinches-East-Coast-Line.html |url-status=live}}</ref> During the original franchise, the company had been receiving [[subsidies]] from the British government to support its operations; however, the terms of the second franchise reversed this to have the operator making payments to the government, specifically a £1.3-billion premium which was due to the Department for Transport over a ten year period.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Milmo |title=Ex-GNER chief says high bids threaten franchises |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/sep/27/transportintheuk.travelnews |date=27 September 2006 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309172838/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/sep/27/transportintheuk.travelnews |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1486190/GNER-pays-1.3bn-for-East-Coast-franchise.html |title=GNER pays £1.3bn for East Coast franchise |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=22 March 2005 |access-date=18 October 2012 |location=London |archive-date=26 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026045617/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1486190/GNER-pays-1.3bn-for-East-Coast-franchise.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = "grail rail2015"/> Within two years, the company's financial difficulties had become a public concern, particularly those of its parent company.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6054090.stm |title=GNER owner makes Chapter 11 move |date=16 October 2006 |access-date=18 October 2012 |work=BBC News Online |archive-date=5 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205024236/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6054090.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>

The service between King's Cross and Leeds was generally half-hourly, with all trains serving Wakefield Westgate, most trains serving Peterborough and Doncaster and some serving Stevenage, Grantham, Newark and Retford.{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2020}}

These trains generally ran as limited-stop expresses between London and Newcastle, all trains called at York, and most at Peterborough and Darlington, though afternoon and evening departures from King's Cross ran non-stop to Doncaster or York. The trains leaving King's Cross on the half-hour generally terminated at Newcastle and served Stevenage, Grantham, Newark, Retford, Northallerton, Doncaster and Durham as well as Peterborough, York, and Darlington.{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2020}}

There were four trains per day serving Aberdeen departing Leeds at 07:10 and King's Cross at 10:30 (''[[Northern Lights (passenger train)|The Northern Lights]]''), 14:00 and 16:00 and Aberdeen at 07:52, 09:52 (The Northern Lights) and 14:50 for King's Cross and 18:16 for Edinburgh with a journey time from King's Cross of just over seven hours. These services were operated by HSTs, as the [[Edinburgh–Aberdeen line]] was not electrified.{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2020}}

The ''[[Highland Chieftain]]'' ran between Inverness and King's Cross with a journey time of just over eight hours, departing Inverness at 07:55 and King's Cross at 12:00. This service was operated by a HST, as the [[Edinburgh to Dunblane Line|Edinburgh – Dunblane]] and [[Highland Main Line|Dunblane – Inverness]] lines were not electrified.{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2020}}

There was a 06:55 departure from Skipton and Keighley to King's Cross with an 18:03 return. This was an extension of a Leeds – King's Cross service. Though the line was electrified, the service was operated using a HST because the electrical infrastructure on the line was insufficient to support a Class 91 locomotive and the Class 333 EMUs that operate the local services. The Saturday running of the southbound service was the only NXEC southbound service from Leeds not to call at Wakefield Westgate. This service departed from Leeds and headed along the [[Leeds and Selby Railway|Leeds-Selby Line]] to join the East Coast Main Line at Hambleton. This was to retain driver route knowledge for diversionary services.{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2020}}

There was a 06:30 service from Bradford Forster Square to King's Cross with a 17:33 return. This was an extension of a Leeds – King's Cross service and was operated by an InterCity 225 set.{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2020}}

There was a Monday-Saturday 07:28 departure from Harrogate to King's Cross. However, there was no return journey. This was operated by an InterCity 125.{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2020}}

NXEC inherited a fleet of [[InterCity 125|High Speed Trains]] and [[InterCity 225]] sets made up of [[British Rail Class 91|Class 91s]] hauling [[British Rail Mark 4|Mark 4 Carriages]] and a [[Driving Van Trailer]] from GNER. The High Speed Trains were part way through an overhaul program with the [[British Rail Class 43 (HST)|Class 43]] power cars being repowered with [[MTU Friedrichshafen|MTU 16V4000R41]] engines at [[Brush Traction]] and the [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3 Carriages]] refurbished to ''Mallard'' standards at [[Wabtec]], [[Doncaster]]. This was completed in 2009.{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2020}}

During 2009, a [[InterCity 125|High Speed Train]] that had been on lease while the fleet was refurbished, was returned to [[Porterbrook]] and sent to [[First Great Western]].{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2020}}

{{reflistReflist}}

{{commonsCommons category|National Express East Coast}}