http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8127851.stm

The Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, announced this morning that the Government was to take the East Coast rail franchise away from National Express.

This can only be a good thing as far as passengers are concerned. The East Coast mainline was previously a flagship line, run by GNER, who prided themselves on excellence in customer service and, from wi-fi internet to dining cars on most trains, maintained the highest standards that have characterised Britain's railways in past years.

National Express took over the running of the line less than two years ago. In that time they have managed to undo much of what GNER had achieved. Restaurant cars are now a rare sight. Most audaciously of all, in recent months they have introduced a surcharge for the privilege of ... wait for it ... sitting down! (The line runs from London to Leeds, Edinburgh and Aberdeen so a seat would be quite an attractive offer.)

Last night, Richard Bowker, the Chief Executive of National Express resigned in disgrace. Now they have been plunged into the red, it beggars belief that they wonder why passenger-numbers declined.

I sincerely hope that the Government will, in establishing this line as a temporarily state-run business, distance itself from National Express's mean bare-bones operation, which has held passenger comfort in contempt for too long. We want railways Britain can be proud of.

posted by Axel John Landin # 00:45

Comments :

As a regular traveller on the East Coast Mainline I was always impressed with the service offered to me by National Express East Coast. Free internet access was a positive start and I never had a problem finding a find as there were always more than enough carriages. I wouldn't say the restaurant car was a rare sight and it was always a popular service.

While I do believe the whole network should be nationalised, I am sorry that National Express East Coast as ended in this way and I very much hope the Government continues to run the great service I came to expect from National Express East Coast.

# posted by

Sam Ellis : 3 July 2009 at 02:43

NXEC are a disgrace.

# posted by

Anonymous : 31 August 2009 at 10:14

Agree with Sam Ellis, as a student at Edinburgh University but my home in London I use the National Express East Coast line quite a lot and my experiences are basically consistently positive. Sockets to charge your phone/laptop, free wi-fi, nice staff, smooth running of the service, nice rolling stock - I odn't think I've ever been on a service that didn't have a buffet coach and I never had to pay extra to sit down. Perhaps my experiences are an exception but I think it unlikely.

# posted by

Anonymous : 21 September 2009 at 14:05

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