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+--- Thread: LNER (Formerly Virgin Trains East Coast & East Coast) (/showthread.php?tid=230)
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - LeeCalder - 23 Sep 2015
(23 Sep 2015, 6:40 am)S813 FVK Surprised at this.
I noticed that the 'East Coast' was missing from the TV advert. Didn't realise it had been dropped completely though.
Yeah, I'm suprised they've dropped it completely.
I believe it is so they can create a joint brand between the west and east coast.
It was strange Saturday hearing Daz say "Virgin Trains service to" instead of "Virgin Trains East Coast service to"
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - omnicity4659 - 23 Sep 2015
Oh wow, that's a surprise!
Your tickets are only valid on Virgin Trains services, so no cheeky hopping on Virgin Trains or vice versa!
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - northern156 - 24 Sep 2015
(22 Sep 2015, 10:10 pm)LeeCalder On Saturday, Virgin Trains dropped the "East Coast" part of the name. Therefore meaning that the TOC is now called Virgin Trains and not Virgin Trains East Coast.
However, the code will remain as 'GR' which actuallty stands for GNER!
The dropping of the 'East Coast' part is to do with reducing confusion for customers. A quick look at both VTWC and VTEC Twitter accounts will show a rather large number of complaints/messages being sent to the wrong TOC.
"GR" is the ATOC code which relates to the franchise, not the operator. With GNER being the first operator to run the franchise since privatisation, this has stuck - likewise with Virgin Trains running the West Coast since privatisation.
"NT" for Northern Rail too; since they were originally Arriva Trains Northern since privatisation until 2004; running as Northern Spirit (with the exception of TransPennine Express services) since 1998.
Why others have changed since; such as London Midland being LM - this may have been to do with the splitting or formation of other franchises. London Midland was formed from Central Trains and Silverlink when it was formed in 2007.
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - Michael - 25 Sep 2015
New train service launched for Sunderland
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/business/new-train-service-launched-for-sunderland-1-7480538
Can't find if Virgin/East cost are doing more than just the new 5.40am departure, arriving in London King’s Cross at 9.08am. With the return service departing London at 8pm. Both services will be faster than existing direct trains to Sunderland, by seven minutes southbound and 11 minutes northbound.
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - omnicity4659 - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 11:03 am)Michael New train service launched for Sunderland
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/business/new-train-service-launched-for-sunderland-1-7480538
Can't find if Virgin/East cost are doing more than just the new 5.40am departure, arriving in London King’s Cross at 9.08am. With the return service departing London at 8pm. Both services will be faster than existing direct trains to Sunderland, by seven minutes southbound and 11 minutes northbound.
Yes, Virgin Trains (on the East Coast) are only doing the one outbound and one inbound service per day.
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - Michael - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 3:57 pm)GX03 SVC Yes, Virgin Trains (on the East Coast) are only doing the one outbound and one inbound service per day.
Hopefully they add more in the future... i don't have much interest in trains... any idea what they'll use on the service?
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - omnicity4659 - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 3:59 pm)Michael Hopefully they add more in the future... i don't have much interest in trains... any idea what they'll use on the service?
HSTs.
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - S813 FVK - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:00 pm)GX03 SVC HSTs.
Will all 9 carriages be able to fit on the platform or will it be a case of some overhanging/not reaching the platform?
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - Michael - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:00 pm)GX03 SVC HSTs.
Cheers, =)
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - NK53 TKT - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:00 pm)GX03 SVC HSTs.
Will they go via Newcastle or Eaglescliffe?
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - S813 FVK - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:05 pm)NK53 TKT Will they go via Newcastle or Eaglescliffe?
They will go to London via Newcastle.
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - NK53 TKT - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:08 pm)S813 FVK They will go to London via Newcastle.
Assuming there is no stop at Heworth then
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - S813 FVK - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:10 pm)NK53 TKT Assuming there is no stop at Heworth then
No haha! Non stop from Sunderland to Newcastle vice versa.
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - Michael - 25 Sep 2015
Its route according to the East Coast/Virgin website.
5:40am
Sunderland
Newcastle
Durham
Darlington
York
Peterboroug
London Kings Cross
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - Andreos1 - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:01 pm)S813 FVK Will all 9 carriages be able to fit on the platform or will it be a case of some overhanging/not reaching the platform?
The GC fit, but obviously they are a few carriages short, of a full VTEC set.
It will be interesting to see.
The other point to make, is that Sunderland has 4 platform numbers, despite only having one island platform.
I am wondering which platforms they arrive/depart from.
If using a southbound platform from London, is the driver going to change ends and head back to Heaton?
Or is it going to arrive on the Northbound platform?
The wiki, has the track layout. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunderland_station
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - Dan - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:19 pm)Andreos1 The GC fit, but obviously they are a few carriages short, of a full VTEC set.
It will be interesting to see.
The other point to make, is that Sunderland has 4 platform numbers, despite only having one island platform.
I am wondering which platforms they arrive/depart from.
If using a southbound platform from London, is the driver going to change ends and head back to Heaton?
Or is it going to arrive on the Northbound platform?
The wiki, has the track layout. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunderland_station
The Grand Central trains depart from the South Hylton bound Metro platform. When there are delays / timing 'collisions', the South Hylton bound Metros serve the Airport bound Metro platform.
I would imagine the same will apply?
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - citaro5284 - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:12 pm)Michael Its route according to the East Coast/Virgin website.
5:40am
Sunderland
Newcastle
Durham
Darlington
York
Peterboroug
London Kings Cross
It will do the current 0559 from Newcastle which is a HST, just starting at Sunderland.
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - Michael - 25 Sep 2015
(25 Sep 2015, 4:35 pm)citaro5284 It will do the current 0559 from Newcastle which is a HST, just starting at Sunderland.
Cheers Citaro, i have no idea about trains haha
RE: East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - LeeCalder - 25 Sep 2015
From what I've been told at SMT at Newcastle, they will go..
Newcastle - Sunderland - Newcastle
East Coast / Virgin Trains East Coast - LeeCalder - 25 Sep 2015
On another note...
Virgin Trains (East Coast) 91114 "Durham Cathedral" is almost ready for service!
![[Image: 420becd7b8c686a785ecf6e3b18d716c.jpg]](http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/25/420becd7b8c686a785ecf6e3b18d716c.jpg)