Author Topic: Rail replacement at Peterborough Station (Read 3137 times)

RM471 · « **on:** June 09, 2018, 07:24:19 PM »

The collapse of the railways in Britain is very distressing to me.

Bus companies and taxi operators are benefiting from the chaos.

It was interesting to to see this visitor from Purfleet at Peterborough station this afternoon

dennisdart · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2018, 08:31:20 PM »

I have been backwards and forwards all week for rail replacements and it seems
I miss all the good ones! There were two Ensign DDs a week or so ago and I missed
them as well.

Ah well never mind

RM471 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2018, 06:08:39 PM »

I'm posting this in the Ensign section as all three buses shown here at Peterborough station this afternoon are sub-contracted to Ensign for Rail Replacement.

The Travelmasters coaches have traveled all the way from the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The blue Decker is from International Coachlines, Thornton Heath.

I bought my first RM from International Coachlines in 2002, It was being used as party bus!

busman · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2018, 06:55:10 PM »

There has been a plain white Plaxton bodied B10M seen on rail replacement work in Peterborough Has anyone got the details of it please? Registration number is S756 CKO. I have seen it twice as it has gone past me today in St Neots. There is an A4 size of paper in the lower window on the door. Which I think showing Candy Coaches.

dennisdart · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2018, 07:57:43 PM »

You are correct, it is showing Candy Coaches, 48 Ashridge Way, Morden, SM4 4EF - a 1998 Volvo B10M

dennisdart · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2018, 08:08:31 PM »

Quote from: RM471 on June 13, 2018, 06:08:39 PM

I'm posting this in the Ensign section as all three buses shown here at Peterborough station this afternoon are sub-contracted to Ensign for Rail Replacement.

The Travelmasters coaches have traveled all the way from the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The blue Decker is from International Coachlines, Thornton Heath.

I bought my first RM from International Coachlines in 2002, It was being used as party bus!

When I was down there earlier, there was also a coach from Intenational Coachlines (AO02RBZ), which used to run on the Eastern Counties X1 service and a short TEMSA (YJ67CXC) belonging to Luxury Transport of Hayes.

One of the Travelmasters in the picture pulled into the hotel at Peterborough services at around 1930 hours this evening so I assume he will
be on standby again tomorrow.

Cheltonian · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2018, 11:59:36 AM »

Managed to get a photo of S756CKO the other day. It was new to London Coaches in December 1998, later operated for DeCoursey, Coventry re-registered MJI2370, now owned by Candy Executive Travel, Morden.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cheltonian1966/42668954071/in/dateposted/

busman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2018, 02:34:31 PM »

S756 CKO Candy Coaches, Morden, SM4 4EF
Seen in St Neots yesterday

dennisdart · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2018, 04:33:17 PM »

NMC785 depicted in RM471's picture was replaced today by UWR498 formerly LF52ZRT of Go Ahead London, still
red and carrying WVL35 fleet number.

Wolsztyn · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2018, 04:55:28 PM »

Slightly off topic but 4 replacement buses in St Neots car park this morning, seen from passing train.

Wolsztyn · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2018, 04:18:49 PM »

Spoke to one of the drivers involved with the bus replacement service, seemingly Thames link only have two local bus companies on there books for Rail Replacement in this area, one being Young's. I can't remember the other. Explains all the buses from down south.

Seemingly some of the replacement services don't make Hitchin before the next southbound from Peterborough departs. Makes one wonder if they are required!!

centralsimon · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2018, 05:32:41 PM »

Passed a Volvo Gemini in LT colours with Rail Replacement on the front along the Peterborough parkways at lunchtime. Assume its on the GTR work.

dennisdart · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2018, 07:10:35 PM »

Quote from: Wolsztyn on June 15, 2018, 04:18:49 PM

Spoke to one of the drivers involved with the bus replacement service, seemingly Thames link only have two local bus companies on there books for Rail Replacement in this area, one being Young's. I can't remember the other. Explains all the buses from down south.

Seemingly some of the replacement services don't make Hitchin before the next southbound from Peterborough departs. Makes one wonder if they are required!!

I understood that the actual contract is with Ensign. Coach of Langtoft have been one of the local companies on standby, and Fowlers actually did a run
to Hitchin last week between contracts.

Most of the local operators are heavily involved in school and college contracts during the week and do not have the capacity to operate rail replacements as well, also some local operators elect not to do rail replacement for various reasons.

dennisdart · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2018, 07:12:33 PM »

Quote from: centralsimon on June 15, 2018, 05:32:41 PM

Passed a Volvo Gemini in LT colours with Rail Replacement on the front along the Peterborough parkways at lunchtime. Assume its on the GTR work.

This would be UWR498 as I reported yesterday. It was in residence again today outside the railway station.

dennisdart · « **Reply #14 on:** June 19, 2018, 07:23:51 PM »

A couple of other operators have turned up this week, and today we had a contrast with a very scruffy
double decker - LK04CTU still in Metroline red and the only clue to identify it was the disc which said 'Club Class Bus Ltd.,
and loading up when this arrived was YR17RHJ a 2017 Scania/Higer belonging to Hallmark, although the legals say
Wessex, and it also carries Rotala branding!

Also present was A8FTG (FB07AAF) of Hallmark, the driver of which apparently had never seen anyone photograph
a bus or coach before and wanted to know what I was doing.

TCD813 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 19, 2018, 07:59:34 PM »

Quote from: dennisdart on June 19, 2018, 07:23:51 PM

Also present was A8FTG (FB07AAF) of Hallmark, the driver of which apparently had never seen anyone photograph a bus or coach before and wanted to know what I was doing.

Where's that driver been? In a Hallmark card shop?

dennisdart · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2018, 07:22:32 PM »

More of the same today - at least when I was around.

However, popped into Huntingdon to see what was loitering as standby there and
all that produced was another very scruffy vehicle in the form of a white 1997 B10M/Van Hool
belonging to Coach Hire, Surrey (XAZ807 prev P845WUG). This left empty at 15.00 hours.

So a bit of a wasted journey really, as Huntingdon bus station is practically deserted these days, although
did manage a picture of a Whippet single decker and Dews double decker that had previously eluded me.

Cheltonian · « **Reply #17 on:** June 20, 2018, 09:20:05 PM »

Did manage to get a picture of yet another International Coachlines t/a Hire Your Transport WVL112 JGZ5912 (prev LX03EEA)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cheltonian1966/28055478187/in/dateposted/

dennisdart · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2018, 09:21:28 AM »

As if rail passengers hadn't suffered enough, some of the stuff that is appearing
must be even more discouraging for rail travellers. Some operators make their
older vehicles look respectable, but some just don't seem to care.

TCD813 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2018, 10:23:19 AM »

Quote from: dennisdart on June 21, 2018, 09:21:28 AM

As if rail passengers hadn't suffered enough, some of the stuff that is appearing
must be even more discouraging for rail travellers. Some operators make their
older vehicles look respectable, but some just don't seem to care.

True. But GTR should be held responsible for what they hire in.

dennisdart · « **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2018, 09:57:20 AM »

A quote from Ross Newman in response to an email on another forum,
which clarifies a couple of points.

"This is an Ensign job, we also have Buses at Hitchin, St Albans, Stevenage, Hatfield, Welwyn GC plus St Pancras and 3 Bridges overnight. It’s about 45 buses per day, will run until 22 July at least."

Ross
Sent from my iPhone

dennisdart · « **Reply #21 on:** June 24, 2018, 09:35:54 AM »

Quote from: dennisdart on June 22, 2018, 09:57:20 AM

A quote from Ross Newman in response to an email on another forum,
which clarifies a couple of points.

"This is an Ensign job, we also have Buses at Hitchin, St Albans, Stevenage, Hatfield, Welwyn GC plus St Pancras and 3 Bridges overnight. It’s about 45 buses per day, will run until 22 July at least."

Ross
Sent from my iPhone

Just to follow up on the above comments, if up to 45 buses are required then I suppose some 'scruffy stuff' is bound to turn up as perhaps that is all that is available.

A couple of further comments from Ensign that seem to re-enforce that,

"It’s not easy to cover these requirements at this time of the year, and after all it’s not a planned rail replacement job
Peter
EBC"

"Just to add to my last posting we were asked to supply 10 buses this morning to operate Northampton - Rugby, which is well out of our territory

We couldn’t do 10 but we managed 3
Peter
EBC"

(Posted Saturday)

Yesterday, International Coachlines UWR498 was being driven by a drive from Chorley near Preston.

She said she is a freelance driver who "goes where the money is", and next month she is off to Malta
to drive coaches over there.

So it looks like a shortage of available drivers as well as vehicles

RM471 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 25, 2018, 02:52:19 PM »

Today's lunchtime selection

MIB · « **Reply #23 on:** June 28, 2018, 01:06:09 PM »

Are any olympians actually performing in service rather than just static exhibits for people to ogle?

Cheltonian · « **Reply #24 on:** June 29, 2018, 08:30:06 PM »

Yes, all of them

dennisdart · « **Reply #25 on:** July 01, 2018, 04:30:09 PM »

Coach of Langtoft had their ex Stagecoach Trident on standby today - S803BWC

dennisdart · « **Reply #26 on:** July 03, 2018, 05:37:11 PM »

Reading Buses 1401 (FJ57KHO Scania/Caetano new to National Express in 2007)

joined the line-up today

bristolsrus · « **Reply #27 on:** July 04, 2018, 09:59:59 PM »

Quote from: dennisdart on July 03, 2018, 05:37:11 PM

Reading Buses 1401 (FJ57KHO Scania/Caetano new to National Express in 2007)

joined the line-up today
[/quote

This one ran for Whippet back in 2014/15 when they won their first National Express contract... the 010.

ChrisB

RM471 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 06, 2018, 09:24:13 AM »

Yesterday lunchtime.

dennisdart · « **Reply #29 on:** July 11, 2018, 07:57:37 PM »

Seems we have a 'new' Volvo B7TL nearly every day, with BX55XMH in residence today - first time I have seen it anyway.

I was told earlier that the rail replacement will definitely cease on 22nd July. The controller I talk to is then
moving onto Derby for the duration of that operation.

News:

Author Topic: Rail replacement at Peterborough Station (Read 3137 times)