National Express Rip Off!!

poliss · National Express Rip Off!!

National Express is to charge £2.50 for reserving a single, or £5 for a return ticket, from this weekend on its East Coast and East Anglia franchises.

Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8045270.stm

Even older tom

They've taken a leaf out of SquezyJet's book. The ticket costs £xxx .... but if you want any extras (like a seat in this case

) it'll cost yer.

As you say Pol, a rip off.

RetroGoth

.. or like RyanAir who want lots of money to spend a penny (which is taking the p**s, literally).

They think they can get away with these disgraceful charges to abuse the marketplace dominance.

Will

The only reason Nat Ex are charging for reservations is because they are a failure! They can't afford the franchise and will soon be gone and hopefully it will get run properly again.

RetroGoth

I had heard that NX wanted to bail out now that you mention it, Will. I seem to recall that they would rather pay the fines for breaking the terms of the franchise rather than do what was expected of them.

Nationalise the lot I say!

Will

Agree with you there. But, if they lose the East Coast franchise, rules say they have to lose East Anglia and C2C.

RetroGoth

Which one is C2C? Don't think I heard about that one before. What a fragmented system there is.

Another example of today's life being far more complicated than it need be I bet.

And bring the buses back under public ownership as well!

poliss

C2C is the line to Southend, I think.

Teleman

There site
http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/about_us

Will

It's so complicated that when something is wrong, they play the blame game. 'It's not our fault, we just run trains' etc. C2C stands for the Coast 2 City - it's meant to be one of the most punctual companies in the country.

poliss

Don't get me started on 'punctuality'. TOCs don't know the meaning of the word!!!!

RetroGoth

Merseyrail used to be very good, very reliable but figures they publish themselves are sliding downwards. Trouble is, the refurbished EMUs look as if they are wearing out. They were supposed to last seven years but they are in an awful mess. I wonder how the 508s that Arriva got rid of are shaping up compared to what we have?

Will

Merseyfail are high on the leaderboard aswell. (It was published in Metro recently). I think the 508s have quite a few more years left in them. Northern Rail are still using 142s and they have about 4 or 5 years before they meet the scrapman.

RetroGoth

I frequently come through Birkenhead North, where the TMD is and the patchwork on the outside of the bodies is rather extensive. Insides are still rather good though.

The refurbishment was supposed to be a seven year life extension until new units arrived. The refurbished units arrived back in 2002 so anyone know what the current suburban EMU offering is?

Will

To be honest, the DfT will try to use stock that we already have rather than buy new. There isn't much stock though in the UK that could be used. Maybe 450s, 465s or some other 3rd rail untis.