Additional London to Ipswich Service

In light of the potential overcrowding on the 17:00 BST and 17:30 BST London to Norwich services on the 21st and 22nd May (see previous entry) there will be an additional service on both days.  Leaving Liverpool Street at 17:28 it will call at Manningtree and Ipswich only.

Peak Trains Fully Booked For Holiday Weekend

Travellers have been advised to avoid peak-time trains from Liverpool Street to Norwich on Thursday (today) and Friday.

National Express East Anglia have warned passengers to avoid the 1700 BST and 17:30 BST trains from London which are already fully booked.  Notices at Liverpool Street say that this is due to the bank holiday weekend.

In an attempt to placate angry commuters NXEA has said it will lay on an extra train going as far as Ipswich.

MRUA AGM Elections

At the MRUA AGM held on Monday 18th May the following officers were elected:

Chairman - Neil Skinner

Vice Chairman - Derek Monnery

Treasurer - Val Pretty

Summer Timetable

A reminder that the summer timetable is now in operation.

Commuters Finding Alternative Parking Arrangements

Adverts in local shop windows suggest that more and more people are renting out space in their driveways for Manningtree commuters.  Despite the extension to the station car park, the excessive cost of parking at Manningtree is forcing motorists to make alternative arrangements.  

Reports in the media suggest that Manningtree is not alone in this.

Seat Reservations Charges To Be Introduced

Starting with effect from Sunday 17^th May – the day the new summer timetable starts - National Express East Anglia will start charging for seat reservations on their London to Norwich services.  A charge of £2.50 will be levied for each journey.  However it is noted that  these charges will not apply to any advance purchase tickets, first class tickets, season tickets, customers with a disabled railcard or assisted passengers. 

It has been apparent for many years that a significant proportion of passengers do not take up their seat reservations, leading to reserved seats left empty while people stand.  It is hoped that by charging for this facility the instance of seats left empty will be reduced.

MRUA AGM

A reminder that the MRUA AGM will be held in the station buffet at 7:15pm on 18th May.

National Express Revenue Growth Slows

National Express have reported a slow down in revenue growth for the first three months of the year on their East Anglian franchise, NXEA, to 3.8%.

Revenue growth has also fallen on their other rail franchises, East Coast and C2C, 0.3% and 4.6% respectively.

National Express Franchise Problems Continue

Further reports in the press  suggest that National Express are still trying to renegotiate their East Coast franchise.  The government are adamant however that franchises not open to renegotiation which may leave National Express with no option but to hand back the franchise.  Press reports also indicate that this could well have an impact on their other franchises - C2C and NXEA.

Inter City Downgrade?

The additional class 321 units (Green sliding door trains) that are due to start arriving from London Midland in 2009 are due to provide longer trains on the London to Ipswich, Clacton, Colchester and Southend lines.  However reports in the railway press suggest they will also be used  to "... help provide additional capacity on services between Norwich and London...".  

Could this be another indication that the London to Norwich line is to be downgraded from Inter City status?