Still a good operator?! | LNER - ECML operators #5

Hello and welcome to the fith episode of my mini series on the East Coast Mainline and its operators. Today I am looking at LNER and discuss whether or not LNER should be classed as a successful franchise.
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[@Vanmanyo]

Thanks for watching this series! Do let me know what you want to see next! As always huge thanks to those who have given me permission to use footage; Hugh Hillier (Mis-spelled in the video!): www.youtube.com/@TheTFLThree RoscoTrain207: www.youtube.com/@RoscoTrain107 Thameslink319/Josh Rubio: www.youtube.com/@THAMESLINK319

[@AberdonaiBrum101]

Trying to say all the operators: LOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[@AberdonaiBrum101]

Btw what’s next? :D

[@Vanmanyo]

@@AberdonaiBrum101 My members are currently voting on what's next!

[@AberdonaiBrum101]

@@VanmanyoNice! :D

[@Juris_21]

Loving all of these vids, they’re actually feel like real documentaries. Could you possibly do a video on the old South West Trains or First Great Western as they ended services not too long ago and it would be nice to hear some more of the South and west side of rail in the UK

[@simonwest9450]

It’s a shame the 225s have been reduced to going as far north of York. I live further north and miss them, much more comfortable than the Azumas

[@DKS225]

With your next mini-series Vanmanyo. Perhaps you should put that to a vote. I could suggest railways in The Midlands out of St Pancras.

[@Vanmanyo]

Ooh good shout! I didn't even think of the MML!

[@nikwood028]

second this, especially around the constantly delayed MML electrification

[@mattevans4377]

I support a vote too. I'd suggest for 'northern'

[@whatdoyoumeanbro4964]

Yeah could you make a video on East Midlands Trains

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

In April I came home from a cycling holiday in France with an Interrail ticket. I didn't know how long it would take to get from the ferry in Portsmouth to either Euston or King's Cross so I could catch a train home to Scotland. At Euston the process for getting a last minute cycle reservation was useless, so I went on the LNER website and got a cycle reservation and first class seat for a train leaving from King's Cross in 20 minutes time! The food on LNER was much better than I'd had on Avanti when travelling down a fortnight earlier. So I gave LNER 10/10 and Avanti maybe 5/10 (which was mainly because of the super-friendly Glasgow based on-board staff on Avanti).

[@aidengillag]

The first time I've heard the Azuma's pronounce as Aszumas. The revised Intercity livery on the 225 sets is so classy. I think it would even look brilliant on the Azumas.

[@DKS225]

Now that would be a brilliant idea with the direct services to Cleethorpes as it's been nearly 40 years possibly longer since BR axed the service.

[@JubileeDi]

Great Video. Ive travelled on LNER a few timed towards Leeds and their 1st class is top tier. Great food and friendly staff which makes the customer like myself satified. Its a really great rail company on the ECML based on customers service, 1st class and varieties of trains.

[@simonboulton4490]

Your last 4 videos have been very interesting and full of facts and information about the past 4 franchise operators. Your last one in the series was still full of facts and information on LNER and I really think it should remain in government control as the services are good with very high customer service and a good catering provision on there services.

[@Vanmanyo]

Thank you Simon! I appreciate your kind words and hope you have enjoyed my videos! I agree with your words and would be very shocke if LNER ever returned to private control - especially with the new government.

[@AbsoluteTVYT]

The 90 min flex tickets are actually being expanded to additional stations around those already announced, including "& Connections" journeys on some TOCs.

[@usedtobeabn0rmal]

I’d love to see a South Western franchise soon!

[@JackGourdon-je4ze]

I hope you do the West Coast mainline next. i am waiting for FGW or Great Western Trains. great video keep it up!

[@nicholasjones9705]

Makes me want to travel on one to Edinburgh as I've wanted to go there for years.

[@William-ty2lt]

This was a couple of months ago back in May this year but I went on the very first LNER Azuma service and the seats in standard class were extremely hard, barley had any padding. I went to see an LNER Intercitty 225 train and the seats in standard class were OMG, beyond brilliant. They were so soft, I felt as if I was sitting on a cloud. Such a shame that LNER have sort of ruined it with the AZUMA seats. I even prefer the XC 220/s seats compared to the standard class AZUMA seats. Also great video, really enjoy it. And in general I really enjoy your other videos as well. Keep up the good work 🙂

[@Andrewjg_89]

I still think that LNER should continue on with their services as they have introduced new trains on the East Coast Main Line. And perhaps run more services to other destinations including Scarborough.

[@londonbus_46]

nice video and i hope lner have new train (when they have new on service pls do a video)

[@andrewgee5449]

As always a brilliant and informative video

[@theaverageteleporter7435]

Excellent video. It would be nice to see some more on other companies on the east coast mainline like grand central.

[@Vanmanyo]

Thanks! Yea GC is on the board for the future! I have done hull trains and some of the others such as WAGN!

[@shodan2958]

Nice to see this finally come up and shame to hear about your troubles with LNER. I suppose my luck of the draw with them on the times I've used them has resulted in a good service. Hopefully soon at some point they will get better reliability, maybe with the coming rail changes in the horizon. Be interesting to see what that involves, is everything going to come under one big "British Rail" style organisation again or is this fragmented style of operating going to continue? If it's the former, I'd imagine LNER will be absorbed into it and thus end the branding.

[@Anonymoususer_2023]

LNER (London North Eastern Railway) should still continue to operate services on the East Coast Main Line and to expand their services by operating more new services. Such as to Grimsby Town, Cleethorpes, Scarborough, Hartlepool & Whitby and should have kept the Sunderland service which is now run and operated by Grand Central.

[@sglenny001]

Great too see donny footage

[@owenbuddery3441]

I hope to cover the Central trains franchise

[@mlpderick]

Good video LNER have been a solid operate for the ECML and I do hope that the Labour government do keep their word of having the private TOCs being returned to public ownership as for the next series I'm thinking of either SWML or MML

[@davidty2006]

well it's mainly no renewal of the contracts. Though supposedly there is reports on them terminating them early if TOCs breach their contract.

[@stationshunter]

This is going to be grand now just time to wait until the next mini series.

[@ajsgaming8003]

would love to see ya do a video on the history or the Northen company in all its interations (not sure if its always been the same company runing nothern)

[@gethinbowen2211]

Get rid of the Class 801, and bring back the Class 225 for all the routes back, because they are classic, and more comfortable!

[@EuroDC1990]

I like LNER but their fares seem to have crept up far more than is reasonable and the Azumas are decent trains but very poorly thought through in terms of short sets operating in multiple and questionable interior layouts. What's really needed is a proper upgrade of the ECML for 140mph running of express trains and greater capacity to allow an operation similar to LNWR. Regular semi-fast services on the ECML serving say Kings Cross, Finsbury Park, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Grantham and then services from there to Nottingham, Sheffield via Worksop, Doncaster and Lincoln would be fabulous. Possibly add one train an hour going south from Doncaster and branching off at Peterborough to serve March, Ely, Cambridge and Stansted as well.

[@davidty2006]

idk why wait till the 225s replacement when the 225 was designed back in the 90s to be ready for 140mph operations? would be better to just setup the new signalling system while they are still running...

[@andrewnelson4057]

There was indeed a London to Middlesbrough direct service until around 1998

[@ajfrostx]

I take LNER trains fairly frequently and I think it is the best train operator in the UK. All the downsides are external factors, mostly due to the Tory government policies (including the ticketing changes where the Tories decided to use LNER as a testbed for the new pricing levels).

[@AberdonaiBrum101]

Also lads! Any guesses on what’s up next?

[@benalowery]

Lumo aren't allowed to be in direct competition with LNER. They market themselves as an alternative to air travel, in particular the London to Edinburgh route. This is why They have limited stops and don't stop in York. Apart from Newcastle their other stopping points aren't regular stops for LNER

[@Vanmanyo]

I would still say they rival LNER from London to Scotland!

[@benalowery]

@@Vanmanyo well if they ran more than a handful of services then perhaps but if one of their services is cancelled then you have to wait hours for the next one.

[@maimadha]

It would be better if LNER kept the 43s and 91s instead of replacing them with Azumas

[@ludwigtails]

Honestly the one thing I hate on LNER for is really just the utterly uncomfortable seats on IETs. They are expecting you to sit on what’s an equivalent of an iron board seats for 6 HOURS from London to Edinburgh. Even Lumo has a slight advantage over this for both dispute the fact that IETs are simply horrid trains with horrid ride qualities. Even then while I am impress on their acceleration, the seat is honestly a major stain in their reputation and they should really invest in new seats right now or yet as soon as possible. Their first class is not a good talking point either you might as well put them as standard class and make new comfortable seats for first class. Also not having the class 91 running up to Newcastle is still a big old piss off but understandably they are getting older so.

[@davidty2006]

well old stock isn't a bad thing in britain long as it's works and gets refitted every now and then. as you can see between quallity of mk 4 seats and the IETs.....

[@Vanmanyo]

The 225s aren't even that old in comparison to some of the other stock in our network right now!

[@ludwigtails]

@@Vanmanyo is it though?? Yet here we are with LNER wanting to retire them by 2026. With poor quality built trains. IET and CAF trains have horrible ride quality. No matter what you say. They suck. As much as how it’s a nice change over the IET. I am still confuse as to why LNER ordered the 397 as TRI-MODEs. WHAT USE DO THEY NEED FOR 3rd rail????? WHEN THE NETWORK YOU RUN ON IS JUST ELECTRIC AND DIESEL???

[@Vanmanyo]

@@ludwigtails tri mode does not mean third rail neccessarily! Surely it is going to be a battery, electric and diesel train?

[@arsenalfantv1001]

@@Vanmanyo pretty sure that's the intention

[@AFCManUk]

While the red and white livery on the LNER Azuma is a bit plain, have to say the do look very clean - on the outside, at least.

[@whatdoyoumeanbro4964]

Can you please make a video on London Midland and Virgin Trains West Coast?

[@paulinegeorge289]

New video idea- Thames Trains (AKA: Thames Turbo) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_Trains.

[@Vanmanyo]

Thanks Paul. I do want to cover Thames Trains and FGW Link etc but that wont be an immediate priority!

[@HighFell]

Azuma is an awful train, uncomfortable seats, terrible ride, no Wi-Fi and no windows that line up with seating. When LNER asked for feedback on a trip from Durham to Kings X and back, amazingly they didn’t even bother to apologise. Zero customer service. 125 might have taken 10 mins longer but much better experience for customers

[@trainman305team]

Can you do a South Western Railway Video, I think that’ll be a great video

[@lonun67]

In summary, in order to run a good privatized Intercity East Coast Franchise, the DfT and the operator shouldn't be too greedy, and should focus more in passenger experience and treating their crew well. If only the bidding contest in 2005 didn't get cancelled, the East Coast Services would have seen many improvements in comfort, speed and reliability as its West Coast counterpart. As well as the IC225 to be transferred to Greater Anglia to replace their Class 86 and Mark 2 fleet and to allow HSTs and other Mark 3 stock to be used by Wales and open access operators like Hull Trains. It can be expensive but it is a worthy investment that they frustratingly don't want to make :(

[@ajf3202]

When they do bring in ETCS does that mean the 80xs and the new CAF units would be permitted to run at 140? Or is it purely for added capacity

[@facesh1elds253]

The thing I think is that we need to change the term "new services to london" to "new services from london to.." London is already overpopulated and far too busy. It gets majority of the money, instead we should be trying to encourage southerners to head north and to boost the economy up there, rather than staying in London

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Hi again Dan, if you're planning a film about ScotRail I can help out with some clips if you're short of moving footage. Let me know if you need anything.

[@Vanmanyo]

Cheers Clive! I do want to do SR one day for sure so I'll give you a nod if I need some footage!!

[@Rob_Star]

@Vanmanyo can you do London Midland please

[@Vanmanyo]

Well my members are currently voting on the next series and that is one of the operators they're voting for!

[@Rob_Star]

@@Vanmanyo fair enough :) , thankyou for the reply

[@theovip5254]

Other then the class 165 what is youre favorite type of train?

[@Vanmanyo]

Well Theo I like the class 168s and the class 390s! All trains are great though of course 🫡🫡

[@katrinabryce]

Class 387 is my favourite. Class 165 is my second least favourite 🤮.

[@user-xh3lz9xt4l]

LNER should not be running 1 train a day through Sunderland, just let Grand Central run an extra train each day.

[@Vanmanyo]

Well that's the thing - the LNER service isn't being replaced by anything so all hope of commuting to London has been wiped out now!

[@nickyevans83]

​@@Vanmanyo not quite as grand central run 5 trains a day in each direction but it does mean a reduction in around 300pax on the route

[@Vanmanyo]

I mean the early LNER service isn't being replaced so you can't get to London before 10ish

[@user-xh3lz9xt4l]

@@Vanmanyo you can from Sunderland,Grand Central gets you there early.

[@Vanmanyo]

@@user-xh3lz9xt4l only after 10 though! Over an hour after the Lner one!

[@stuartVS3011]

I love LNER

[@Maunico0809]

I’d personally say LNER has surpassed GNER when it was in its glory days

[@class313]

The 2021 Timetable and its lack of implementation isn't down to ETCS or lack of it

[@Vanmanyo]

My bad - I meant ETCS will be able to change the TT even more on the ECML!

[@class313]

@@Vanmanyo the complete rewrite of the ECML TT doesn't encompass ECTS, it's years off still anyway

[@Vanmanyo]

@@class313 Ah Thanks! Just a quick question, would I be able to use some of your awesome footage for some future videos? Your footage would be very useful and I would of course use credit like I do currenty!

[@class313]

@@Vanmanyo yeah that's okay, I assume you can pull the footage directly from KZbin?

[@Vanmanyo]

@@class313 Yep I should be able to - thank you!!!

[@somax1259]

They replied to my comment once on a video so I have to say they are

[@ballzfansixtynin215]

not first

[@AberdonaiBrum101]

Nice work! Now labour goverment! Everything might be ginna get fully nationalised if some contracts end in time! avanti will be tho!

[@mlpderick]

Avanti will probably be losing their contract here very soon the bosses have been called in for a meeting with the transport secretary to discuss their performance

[@AberdonaiBrum101]

@@mlpderick it so unfair aswell! Scotrail by Abellio got nationalised cos of some complaints and all Avanti have done and they get to stay!