The problem with all three failed franchises on that route was that they had to over-bid in order to actually get the franchise, then when they were unable to make the payments, they ended up handing back the keys. I would say it is a failure of the franchising process rather than the three individual operators involved.
I remember this childhood train company I miss GNER turning up at my station with ethier 225 or 125 at Selby. GNER is also was my first train company I've went with in 2000s
It was unfortunate that two fatal accidents tarnished its reputation in 2001. As a TOC it did more during its franchise, than some other TOCs. First Class Pullman lounges were refurbished and the GNER lounges were very plush indeed. It wasn't a cheap refurb like Virgin Trains did to their lounges. This expanded onboard when the HSTs were first refurbished and decked out in sumptious wood interiors. Named trains were retained; Scottish Pullman, Northern Lights etc. Investment in staff training was clear to see. And it had one of the leading reward loyalty programmes of any TOC. Much missed but well respected and certainly not a failure.
I used to beg my parents to take a GNER service to Stevenage and change to another train get to our town (instead of take a direct train from King's X) as a kid. We ran once for an Intercity 125 and jumped on the first carriage, we walked through first class, and omg I was amazed. No first class I've ever been on nor even seen since, has been as good. The lighting was fancy and all pre-booked seats had a shortbread and menu already laid out on the table - a kind woman gave me her walkers shortbread and I've been hooked since a kid.
GNER were very good when they took over, catering was excellent, many trains had Restaurant service available to all passengers (1st and Standard Class)This disappeared rapidly when National Express took over the franchise and has never been replaced.
People tend to look at GNER with a sense of nostalgia probably because they associated it with the original LNER but that's like people associating the modern North Yorkshire with the North Riding of Yorkshire.... pretty much unconnected entities!
I travelled between Glasgow and London quite a few times in 1997-1998 to attend job interviews that led to my first proper job, and their service was really good back then. Certainly much better than Virgin West Coast which was the alternative. Nowadays LNER don't really run any services to Glasgow, whereas back then LNER and Virgin West Coast were both hourly, and Virgin Cross Country ran one train per day between Glasgow and Paddington.
People look back with nostalgia because it was a strong TOC with a real focus on the passenger. Great customer service, some of the best refurbs in history.
Yes, I take your point. But imo GNER remains one of the best TOC's since the railways were privatised in 1996. It was far better than National Express, East Coast, or Virgin East Coast. LNER is the best TOC to operate out of Kings X, since GNER. But it's not better than GNER was. Sadly, the demise of GNER was largely down to Railtrack being responsible for the maintenance of the tracks. It failed miserably to do this - prioritising pleasing shareholders over paying customers and safety Had Network Rail existed for much of GNER"s existence, then I'm fairly sure that GNER would not have failed in the way that it did. Its failure was largely down to the policies of Railtrack.
The failed franchise series is a brilliant one and I've enjoyed everyone of them. I've been looking forward to this Mini series for the ECML. I'm looking forward to next weeks episode and then the week after
Superb video! I used to use GNER from Peterborough to Kings Cross and back every weekday. The problem I and my travelling colleagues always had was capacity (yes, it happened then too!). Despite catching the same trains every morning and evening, you never knew how many Standard Class carriages would be available to use. Carriages would "disappear" regularly from sets; "Pullman" units (as they were known) had far too many First Class carriages and the number of seats reserved on all trains was phenominal leading to standing and "jump seat" (in the vestibules) travel virtually the whole time. One evening, on the KX - Leeds service, GNER provided a 125 with just two Standard Class carriages, one of which was a yellowed (inside) "Smoker". The shortened "Chunnel" trains were useful but were still packed to the rafters and difficult to detrain due to their extra length that Peterborough couldn't cope with. The 225 sets often had only three Standard Class carriages as two others had gone "missing". Same thing applied during weekends and leisure time with far too many reserved seats and missing carriages. TBH, I was glad when GNER went to the wall, yet what followed........?!
I do think people look back on these old franchises too fondly sometimes! A service on the ECML having 2 standard class coaches seems crazy! However, like you said, what followed wasn't much better... Thanks for your comment :D
Okay these failed franchises are actually brilliant, the facts mixed with bits of odd information and tidbits making these enjoyable, i hope theres a few more failed franchises left for... well... failed franchises XD
I do miss GNER especially when they hired some of the Eurostar Class 373 E300s that were mainly used on London King’s Cross-Leeds. Wish that LNER would have had the Class 373.
GNER was my childhood back in my day and had one of the best rolling stock ever I remember riding a few class 373 Eurostar had one from Grantham to Doncaster in 2003 and from Doncaster to Leeds in 2005 they were the best ones and the refurbishment on the mk4s are the most amazing thing I prefer the blue and orange livery and the doors there is never going to be another good operator like GNER
I was working on the mess that was West Coast Route Modernisation at the time of Hatfield, the gold standard of the ECML was lost and the industry went into a state of meltdown.
Even as a relatively disengaged twenty something i could see what an unwinnable game they had made of the railways. Now as a grumpy older guy it smells like the kind of corruption we're seeing today with private equity tearing the hearts out of useful businesses in order to pull a tax and debt trick.
I was on a Virgin train once going from Derby to Edinburgh and this woman got on and told the woman in front of me that she was in her seat. The other woman was adamant so when one got the cunductor, she noticed that her ticket was for GNER and she'd got on the wrong train 😂😂😂
The reason GNER lost the franchise was due to the failure of its parent company Sea Containers Ltd. Due to the Sea Containers Ltd bankruptcy GNER was unable to continue as Sea Containers Ltd were the guarantor's for GNER. Under UK legislation it is illegal for a bankrupt company to act a guarantor. As a result of this GNER lost the East Coast Mainline franchise.
Eurostar had some shorter sets that were intended to be used on services between destinations north of London and the continent. These services never happened and the trains were stored. GNER had a shortage of trains due to refurbishments and losing two MK4 sets at Hatfield and Great Heck, so decided to hire in some of the North of London Eurostars to use firstly to York and later Leeds. When Virgin Cross County withdrew their HSTs, GNER acquired some of these and were able to replace the Eurostars. The Eurostars went back into storage.
GNER were one of the better franchise holders. While their initial HST refurb was naff (so much brown!), they knew how to deliver a good service. The hot food form the buffet (especially their Aberdeen Angus cheeseburgers with a white sauce/relish) was top notch and sadly unbeaten today.
Wouldn't say they wer a failed Company as they ran the Ecml successfully for quite a few years And refurbishing the Hst and 91 stock The thing that sadly Called it a day was the owners going Bankrupt
3:32 This GNER AKA British Rail Intercity 225 And InterCity 125 High Speed Trains Are A Bit Like The Japanese Bullet Train In Tokyo In Japan. Thanks Mate. X❤🚅🚄🚆🚂
GNER was great. I remember them coming through Tallington, Lolham, up to Peterborough. I didn't get them often, but I remember them being good. However, I didn't regularly use trains until the National Express and FCC days. GNER was the best of all the private franchises (and better then East Coast, IMHO) on that route. Sadly, east Coast franchises should be why the franchising/bidding process doesn't work. In my books it wasn't a failure.
GNER may have failed but I certainly wouldn't call them a failure. They had a few issues, most of them not of their own making, and are still very fondly remembered. Mention GNER (or East Coast) and it's met with nostalgia and fond memories. Mention NXEC or VTEC and people just shudder.
If you think that’s bad, then let me tell you about Penn Central. This was the failed merger of the Pennsylvania Railroad and New York Central Railroad. The company was plagued by mismanagement and hemorrhaged by union labor agreements. It eventually got so bad that they were losing about a million dollars a day. They eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1976, taking the American economy by surprise. Even the New York Central president, Mr. Alfred E. perlman, famous for saving many struggling railroad lines and making them profitable, was unable to remedy Penn Central’s problems.
Hey im a member loving the channel! Can you do a video on Central Trains they were truly awful however if you've taking exams recently i fear I'm too old 😂
Thank you Stu! I appreciate your membership truly :D I am certainly considering Central Trains for a future video, however it would most likely be after I finish the ECML mini series. Stay tuned though 👀
The annoying thing was that franchises like GNER failed, yet poor franchises like Central Trains kept getting extensions. The only good thing about Central was that I got loads of free trips out by using delay vouchers. Their 158s in particular seemed cursed.
Did GNER really go bankrupt. I thought that they were doing well and sadly got replaced by National Express East Coast. Plus GNER used to hire some of the Eurostar Class 373 that were used on London King’s Cross-Leeds.
I don’t say them being a failed franchise as ever operator after gner went and gone all because of the budget they are having GNER was a big shock when they were gone even for some people who was born in 2000s like me I’ve survived ever ECML operators that carried it ever since GNER was rated one of the best operators with the amazing rolling stock brilliant staff service just it was the budget cost that killed GNER NXEC East coast and VTEC it was too much for them I still miss GNER today it was my childhood like I said in the previous comment there is never gonna be another good operator like GNER
The problem with all three failed franchises on that route was that they had to over-bid in order to actually get the franchise, then when they were unable to make the payments, they ended up handing back the keys.
I would say it is a failure of the franchising process rather than the three individual operators involved.
Overall a fair assessment of a train operator that tried and generally succeeded, ultimately being derailed by events outside of its control.
Thank you
I remember this childhood train company I miss GNER turning up at my station with ethier 225 or 125 at Selby.
GNER is also was my first train company I've went with in 2000s
A 225 at Selby?
@@OfficialRyanx I was little back then it could be 125 or 225 but i couldn't work out what i was travelling on.
That’s pretty close to Great Heck, where a 66 and 225 collided in 2001 I believe.
It was unfortunate that two fatal accidents tarnished its reputation in 2001. As a TOC it did more during its franchise, than some other TOCs. First Class Pullman lounges were refurbished and the GNER lounges were very plush indeed. It wasn't a cheap refurb like Virgin Trains did to their lounges. This expanded onboard when the HSTs were first refurbished and decked out in sumptious wood interiors. Named trains were retained; Scottish Pullman, Northern Lights etc. Investment in staff training was clear to see. And it had one of the leading reward loyalty programmes of any TOC. Much missed but well respected and certainly not a failure.
It was Sea Containers going bust that finished it off.
I used to beg my parents to take a GNER service to Stevenage and change to another train get to our town (instead of take a direct train from King's X) as a kid. We ran once for an Intercity 125 and jumped on the first carriage, we walked through first class, and omg I was amazed. No first class I've ever been on nor even seen since, has been as good. The lighting was fancy and all pre-booked seats had a shortbread and menu already laid out on the table - a kind woman gave me her walkers shortbread and I've been hooked since a kid.
Hooked on Walkers shortbread, or hooked on first-class rail travel? 😁
@@beeble2003 Walkers shortbread, first class at the moment doesn't meet my that standard...
I used to tickle my pickle to the red bird in angry burds
GNER were very good when they took over, catering was excellent, many trains had Restaurant service available to all passengers (1st and Standard Class)This disappeared rapidly when National Express took over the franchise and has never been replaced.
People tend to look at GNER with a sense of nostalgia probably because they associated it with the original LNER but that's like people associating the modern North Yorkshire with the North Riding of Yorkshire.... pretty much unconnected entities!
I travelled between Glasgow and London quite a few times in 1997-1998 to attend job interviews that led to my first proper job, and their service was really good back then. Certainly much better than Virgin West Coast which was the alternative. Nowadays LNER don't really run any services to Glasgow, whereas back then LNER and Virgin West Coast were both hourly, and Virgin Cross Country ran one train per day between Glasgow and Paddington.
People look back with nostalgia because it was a strong TOC with a real focus on the passenger. Great customer service, some of the best refurbs in history.
Yes, I take your point. But imo GNER remains one of the best TOC's since the railways were privatised in 1996. It was far better than National Express, East Coast, or Virgin East Coast. LNER is the best TOC to operate out of Kings X, since GNER. But it's not better than GNER was.
Sadly, the demise of GNER was largely down to Railtrack being responsible for the maintenance of the tracks. It failed miserably to do this - prioritising pleasing shareholders over paying customers and safety
Had Network Rail existed for much of GNER"s existence, then I'm fairly sure that GNER would not have failed in the way that it did. Its failure was largely down to the policies of Railtrack.
@@katrinabryce The one (each way) remaining LNER Glasgow-London service is scheduled to be withdrawn in December.
One of the Class 91s in GNER days was named Reverend W Awdry, after The Railway Series author.
The failed franchise series is a brilliant one and I've enjoyed everyone of them. I've been looking forward to this Mini series for the ECML. I'm looking forward to next weeks episode and then the week after
Superb video! I used to use GNER from Peterborough to Kings Cross and back every weekday. The problem I and my travelling colleagues always had was capacity (yes, it happened then too!). Despite catching the same trains every morning and evening, you never knew how many Standard Class carriages would be available to use. Carriages would "disappear" regularly from sets; "Pullman" units (as they were known) had far too many First Class carriages and the number of seats reserved on all trains was phenominal leading to standing and "jump seat" (in the vestibules) travel virtually the whole time. One evening, on the KX - Leeds service, GNER provided a 125 with just two Standard Class carriages, one of which was a yellowed (inside) "Smoker". The shortened "Chunnel" trains were useful but were still packed to the rafters and difficult to detrain due to their extra length that Peterborough couldn't cope with. The 225 sets often had only three Standard Class carriages as two others had gone "missing". Same thing applied during weekends and leisure time with far too many reserved seats and missing carriages. TBH, I was glad when GNER went to the wall, yet what followed........?!
I do think people look back on these old franchises too fondly sometimes! A service on the ECML having 2 standard class coaches seems crazy! However, like you said, what followed wasn't much better... Thanks for your comment :D
Okay these failed franchises are actually brilliant, the facts mixed with bits of odd information and tidbits making these enjoyable, i hope theres a few more failed franchises left for... well... failed franchises XD
Thank you!
Vanmanyo, this is one of my favourite failed franchises videos you made great effort!
I do miss GNER especially when they hired some of the Eurostar Class 373 E300s that were mainly used on London King’s Cross-Leeds. Wish that LNER would have had the Class 373.
Another good video in the failed franchise series. Really interesting viewing. Thanks.
Thank you!!!
GNER was my childhood back in my day and had one of the best rolling stock ever I remember riding a few class 373 Eurostar had one from Grantham to Doncaster in 2003 and from Doncaster to Leeds in 2005 they were the best ones and the refurbishment on the mk4s are the most amazing thing I prefer the blue and orange livery and the doors there is never going to be another good operator like GNER
I was working on the mess that was West Coast Route Modernisation at the time of Hatfield, the gold standard of the ECML was lost and the industry went into a state of meltdown.
Even as a relatively disengaged twenty something i could see what an unwinnable game they had made of the railways. Now as a grumpy older guy it smells like the kind of corruption we're seeing today with private equity tearing the hearts out of useful businesses in order to pull a tax and debt trick.
I was on a Virgin train once going from Derby to Edinburgh and this woman got on and told the woman in front of me that she was in her seat. The other woman was adamant so when one got the cunductor, she noticed that her ticket was for GNER and she'd got on the wrong train 😂😂😂
The reason GNER lost the franchise was due to the failure of its parent company Sea Containers Ltd.
Due to the Sea Containers Ltd bankruptcy GNER was unable to continue as Sea Containers Ltd were the guarantor's for GNER.
Under UK legislation it is illegal for a bankrupt company to act a guarantor. As a result of this GNER lost the East Coast Mainline franchise.
I remember there's a certain rolling stock on the gner rail is the Eurostar class 373 which is now with the Eurostar but they scrapped some of it away
Eurostar had some shorter sets that were intended to be used on services between destinations north of London and the continent. These services never happened and the trains were stored. GNER had a shortage of trains due to refurbishments and losing two MK4 sets at Hatfield and Great Heck, so decided to hire in some of the North of London Eurostars to use firstly to York and later Leeds. When Virgin Cross County withdrew their HSTs, GNER acquired some of these and were able to replace the Eurostars. The Eurostars went back into storage.
GNER were one of the better franchise holders. While their initial HST refurb was naff (so much brown!), they knew how to deliver a good service. The hot food form the buffet (especially their Aberdeen Angus cheeseburgers with a white sauce/relish) was top notch and sadly unbeaten today.
GNER first class was awesome, but as usual a bungled privatisation meant they over bid, like virgin and co did as well.
I use to take gNER train to inverness. It was a good service
banger after banger after banger
Thank you!!!!
Skibidi after skibidi after skibidi @dawezer
I dislike this comment
@@Vanmanyo ?
@@dawezer ignore him 😭😭
Wouldn't say they wer a failed Company as they ran the Ecml successfully for quite a few years And refurbishing the Hst and 91 stock The thing that sadly Called it a day was the owners going Bankrupt
3:32 This GNER AKA British Rail Intercity 225 And InterCity 125 High Speed Trains Are A Bit Like The Japanese Bullet Train In Tokyo In Japan. Thanks Mate. X❤🚅🚄🚆🚂
How? They have exactly Foxtrot Alpha in common.
GNER was great. I remember them coming through Tallington, Lolham, up to Peterborough. I didn't get them often, but I remember them being good. However, I didn't regularly use trains until the National Express and FCC days. GNER was the best of all the private franchises (and better then East Coast, IMHO) on that route. Sadly, east Coast franchises should be why the franchising/bidding process doesn't work. In my books it wasn't a failure.
Lovely work you do! Loved the video! Can u do one about Scotrail? (IK they really didn’t fail I think they couldn’t find a bidder but Yh)
Thank you! I am planning on doing it at some point but I have other videos I'm prioritising at the moment! Stay tuned though
@@Vanmanyo ok :D Can’t see what’s to come!
they all failed but the dividends taken out were at the expense of the tax payer and customers
There was more - and still us - more services to Aberdeen then there was Glasgow.
GNER may have failed but I certainly wouldn't call them a failure. They had a few issues, most of them not of their own making, and are still very fondly remembered.
Mention GNER (or East Coast) and it's met with nostalgia and fond memories. Mention NXEC or VTEC and people just shudder.
"Mention NXEC and people just shudder"
If they even remember if lol
If you think that’s bad, then let me tell you about Penn Central. This was the failed merger of the Pennsylvania Railroad and New York Central Railroad. The company was plagued by mismanagement and hemorrhaged by union labor agreements. It eventually got so bad that they were losing about a million dollars a day. They eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1976, taking the American economy by surprise. Even the New York Central president, Mr. Alfred E. perlman, famous for saving many struggling railroad lines and making them profitable, was unable to remedy Penn Central’s problems.
Brilliant, cheers :)
Hey, was this in relation to me potentially using your content?
Nevermind I have just seen your email! Thank you!!!! :D
Hey im a member loving the channel! Can you do a video on Central Trains they were truly awful however if you've taking exams recently i fear I'm too old 😂
Thank you Stu! I appreciate your membership truly :D
I am certainly considering Central Trains for a future video, however it would most likely be after I finish the ECML mini series. Stay tuned though 👀
The annoying thing was that franchises like GNER failed, yet poor franchises like Central Trains kept getting extensions. The only good thing about Central was that I got loads of free trips out by using delay vouchers. Their 158s in particular seemed cursed.
They were just bad overall in the end even the staff didn't want to work for them 😂@@ChrisCooper312
great work keep it up
Thank you
Did GNER really go bankrupt. I thought that they were doing well and sadly got replaced by National Express East Coast. Plus GNER used to hire some of the Eurostar Class 373 that were used on London King’s Cross-Leeds.
Well the reason they got replaced is because they didn't repay their contractual money and their parent company went bankrupt
I don’t say them being a failed franchise as ever operator after gner went and gone all because of the budget they are having GNER was a big shock when they were gone even for some people who was born in 2000s like me I’ve survived ever ECML operators that carried it ever since GNER was rated one of the best operators with the amazing rolling stock brilliant staff service just it was the budget cost that killed GNER NXEC East coast and VTEC it was too much for them I still miss GNER today it was my childhood like I said in the previous comment there is never gonna be another good operator like GNER
I liked them and there trains to Stevenage.
Hope Rayner improves the Transport for the Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪
😭😭 thank you Oliver
interesting
Hopefully Wes Streeting can fix the trains in England 🙏 oh ahh up
I think Wes will be focusing on the NHS!
DANNY YOU LITTLE NERD
🤓☝️
did he 12th? but the title says 13, lol
Yep! I did say in the description but I just said twelfth not thirteenth
Take notes cross country
failure.