Talk:National Rail

Franchise

I am looking for information on how and from whom an operating company obtains its franchise. Laurel Bush 4 July 2005 10:59 (UTC).

The organisation responsible for franchising is currently the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). As I understand the process, the SRA, in consultation with other bodies, decides what the franchise should be (what area it should cover, what targets and requirements it has, etc) and then companies that want to operate the service bid for the right to do so. Obviously its more complicated than this, but I've not found more information on it on wikipedia. The SRA website would seem like a good place to look for more detail, but I've not found it on there yet. Thryduulf 4 July 2005 12:04 (UTC)

Thanks. Laurel Bush 4 July 2005 12:57 (UTC).

Congratulations

Just a note to thank all the shapers of this article for an excellent concise, and precise, guide to some difficult-to-pin down concepts. Even National Rail's own site does not really define "National Rail", and with Network Rail also being "NR" (not to mention Northern Rail too!) the level of clear disambiguation presented here is very necessary. -- Picapica 10:40, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

Grand Central Trains

I've seen several articles in which it is stated that Grand Central Trains will be starting its services from Kings Cross to Sunderland/Bradford in 2007, but also recently read (last week) that the debate was still ongoing as to who would get the available paths out of Kings Cross. Does anyone know what the current situation is? Willkm 16:10, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

The latest I've seen is that they have been provisionally awarded the right to run the Sunderland - King's Cross (to be confirmed sometime in the next couple of weeks - I get the impression this is just a formality), the Bradford service either has been rejected or the decision postponed. GNER were complaining that they hadn't been given the paths to expand their KX - Leeds service, with the implication being that they have been awarded to GCT instead. I think I read this in a Guardian Unlimited article and the GCT website, but I don't have links to either handy. Thryduulf 17:05, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

Cheers. I'll look out for more info when my next Rail instalment arrives on Saturday where I'm sure all will be explained. Willkm 17:37, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

Ticketing Structures

I realise that this is an enormous topic to cover, but would it be appropriate to try and disambigulate the range of tickets and fares available amongst ATOC operators? Or would it be easier to start once the government whittle down the categories to 4? Steve 1pm, 8 March 2008 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.112.77.231 (talk) 13:11, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

London-Gatwick Ticketing

There is no London-Gatwick ticket that can be used on all three main operators between these two stations. There is a ticket that is valid on all operators except Gatwick Express (which can also be used on services that otherwise would not be available for London-Gatwick passengers, such as the Virgin services between East Croydon and Gatwick). But if you want to travel Gatwick Express you have to buy a Gatwick Express ticket. What makes the situation more complicated is that through tickets that involve the London-Gatwick line are valid on Gatwick Express (as well as other operators on the line) unless stated otherwise. The difficulty is how to explain this succinctly... Flagboy 10:56, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

To easily explain the situation with a station beyond Gatwick Airport is valid on the GEX is by stating that a ROUTE ANY PERMITTED is valid on the Gatwick Express with stations beyond Gatwick. London - Gatwick does have an Any Permitted ticket, which is the Gatwick Express ticket valid on all three operators. Tubechallenger 15:28, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

Timetables

I have shown the OAG Rail guide as an alternative to the discontinued National Rail Timetable. It is available from Middleton Press. Is it permissible for me to add a link or will this be regarded as advertising? Biscuittin 12:01, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

Enquiries

Just one actually. Should there be a section dealing with the website? Simply south 21:43, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

There already is the paragraph "An online version of the timetable and journey planner is accessible via National Rail's website which includes the facility to book tickets online. The website also provide realtime information about running of services in selected routes". What else would you suggest? Dupont Circle 17:39, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Font

The article states that the National Rail font is Logotype which looks like a bolded version of comic sans. Is this correct? None of the examples on the page appear to be anything like Comic Sans (except for being Sans-Serif)... Is this another font it's refering to? EAi (talk) 12:09, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Are we sure we know what it is?

I presume many of the editors involved with this article are at least aware of the publication Railway Magazine. Those of you who read one of the more recent editions may remember a spread in that on this very subject. Rather unhelpfully, it came to the conclusion that while the name 'Network Rail' is fully understood and properly applied, 'National Rail' seems to be a term applied willy-nilly to almost (but importantly, not quite) every passenger rail service in Great Britain. Unfortunately I can't remember which edition it was and I don't have access to them at the moment, but I suggest someone with access to copies has a look to check my memory... --Peeky44 (talk) 22:20, 18 September 2008 (UTC)

Related article nominated for deletion

The related article National Rail Communication Centre has been nominated for deletion. Please comment at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/National Rail Communication Centre. Thryduulf (talk) 17:04, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

I've used some discretion and closed the discussion early, deleting the article as it would be the obvious outcome. The numerous problems with that article were also present in the National Rail Enquiries and so I've reverted back to a redirect to here. An appropriate description of the NRE service can probably be provided within this article. Adambro (talk) 17:42, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

I'm aware that there were (significant) problems with the National Rail Enquiries article previously created and subsequently removed. However I'm keen that this article should state more about NRE than just provides journey planner, fares and live departure information. Being new to this, would anyone care to assist in creating a paragraph within this article? Kath2049 (talk) 13:22, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Open Access operators

Are non-franchise operators like First Hull Trains, Grand Central Railway etc members of NR? They're listed on the National Rail website, but then so are Heathrow Express, Eurostar and London Underground. Smurrayinchester 10:55, 8 June 2015 (UTC)

London Overground own track

The article says:

LO now also possesses some infrastructure in its own right, following the reopening of the former East London line of London Underground as the East London Railway of LO.

I was under the impression that the infrastructure of the ex-LT part of the East London line was still owned by London Underground, rather than LOROL, even though they no longer operate any trains on it. That certainly makes more sense than transferring ownership to the private sector LOROL, whose expertise and capital structure are those of a train operator rather than a railway owner. Have I misunderstood/misremembered?. -- chris_j_wood (talk) 11:35, 26 January 2016 (UTC)