🚀 go-pugleaf

"charles hobbs" <chobbs@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:3BE59F0C.AACE2204@socal.rr.com...
> and lost to Amtrak....(btw, Caltrain is the San Francisco-San Jose
> commuter rail line)
>
> As far as I know, this is the first time Connex has tried to bid
> on any
> American operations (correct me if I'm incorrect)
>
> http://www.caltrain.com/caltrain/whatsnew/amtrak.html
>
>
> I hope they don't  get it - last time I used Caltrain it all ran
perfectly. I won't tell you what happened when I used Connex!!!
John Law

JOHN LAW wrote:

> "charles hobbs" <chobbs@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:3BE59F0C.AACE2204@socal.rr.com...
> > and lost to Amtrak....(btw, Caltrain is the San Francisco-San Jose
> > commuter rail line)
> >
> > As far as I know, this is the first time Connex has tried to bid
> > on any
> > American operations (correct me if I'm incorrect)
> >
> > http://www.caltrain.com/caltrain/whatsnew/amtrak.html
> >
> I hope they don't  get it - last time I used Caltrain it all ran
> perfectly. I won't tell you what happened when I used Connex!!!
> John Law

So, JOHN LAW, when's the last time you rode Caltrain? And what's your
definition of "perfectly"?

-- 
Nature abhors a vacuum, but she'll tolerate a Dust Buster.

charles hobbs wrote:
> 
> As far as I know, this is the first time Connex has tried to bid
> on any
> American operations (correct me if I'm incorrect)

For them as doesn't know what Connex is: try

http://www.connex.co.uk

					Silas Warner

"David Nebenzahl" <nobody@but.us.chickens> wrote in message
news:3BE5B72C.CC59FF20@but.us.chickens...
> JOHN LAW wrote:
>
> > "charles hobbs" <chobbs@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
> > news:3BE59F0C.AACE2204@socal.rr.com...
> > > and lost to Amtrak....(btw, Caltrain is the San Francisco-San Jose
> > > commuter rail line)
> > >
> > > As far as I know, this is the first time Connex has tried to bid
> > > on any
> > > American operations (correct me if I'm incorrect)
> > >
> > > http://www.caltrain.com/caltrain/whatsnew/amtrak.html
> > >
> > I hope they don't  get it - last time I used Caltrain it all ran
> > perfectly. I won't tell you what happened when I used Connex!!!
> > John Law
>
> So, JOHN LAW, when's the last time you rode Caltrain? And what's your
> definition of "perfectly"?
>
> Just the once, May 2000. We went all the way to San Jose, then stopped off
at various stations (for various brew pubs) on the way back to San
Francisco. A great day out.

"Perfectly" - on time, clean, friendly, efficient. None of these words
spring to my mind for Connex!

John

JOHN LAW at john-mightycat@lineone.net wrote on 11/4/01 12:28 PM:
 
> "charles hobbs" <chobbs@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:3BE59F0C.AACE2204@socal.rr.com...

>> and lost to Amtrak....(btw, Caltrain is
>> the San Francisco-San Jose commuter rail line)
> 
>> As far as I know, this is the first time Connex has tried to bid on any
>> American operations (correct me if I'm incorrect)
>> 
>> http://www.caltrain.com/caltrain/whatsnew/amtrak.html

> I hope they don't  get it - last time I used Caltrain it all ran perfectly. I
> won't tell you what happened when I used Connex!!! John Law
 
They didn't get the contract.  The article quoted above says that both
Connex and Herzog lost to Amtrak (for both maintenance and operations).

Merritt

In article <3BE5B72C.CC59FF20@but.us.chickens>, David Nebenzahl 
<nobody@but.us.chickens> wrote:
 
> So, JOHN LAW, when's the last time you rode Caltrain?

I haven't, but I know people who have, and "perfectly" isn't the words 
they used.  Slow, rough, smelly, and undesireable were, though...

> And what's your definition of "perfectly"?

Same as every other commuter fan in the US, a 4 car double decker going 
60mph over bad track once every 3 hours.  It's no wonder systems out 
west get no ridership.

-- 
To email me, remove the XXXX from my address, and replace it with "mail"

JOHN LAW wrote:

> "David Nebenzahl" <nobody@but.us.chickens> wrote in message
> news:3BE5B72C.CC59FF20@but.us.chickens...
> > JOHN LAW wrote:
> >
> > > "charles hobbs" <chobbs@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
> > > news:3BE59F0C.AACE2204@socal.rr.com...
> > > > and lost to Amtrak....(btw, Caltrain is the San Francisco-San Jose
> > > > commuter rail line)
> > > >
> > > > As far as I know, this is the first time Connex has tried to bid
> > > > on any
> > > > American operations (correct me if I'm incorrect)
> > > >
> > > > http://www.caltrain.com/caltrain/whatsnew/amtrak.html
> > > >
> > > I hope they don't  get it - last time I used Caltrain it all ran
> > > perfectly. I won't tell you what happened when I used Connex!!!
> > > John Law
> >
> > So, JOHN LAW, when's the last time you rode Caltrain? And what's your
> > definition of "perfectly"?
> >
> > Just the once, May 2000. We went all the way to San Jose, then stopped off
> at various stations (for various brew pubs) on the way back to San
> Francisco. A great day out.
>
> "Perfectly" - on time, clean, friendly, efficient. None of these words
> spring to my mind for Connex!
>

I caught a Connex train just once, back in October when I was visiting London...

rode it between Lewisham and Elmers End (on my way to go play with the
Croydon trams)...

Not absolutely horrid, although the equipment (and stations) have probably seen
better days.
That and the 3+2 seating reminded me of the Long Island Rail Road in New York,
a little bit...

Philip Nasadowski wrote:
> 
> In article <3BE5B72C.CC59FF20@but.us.chickens>, David Nebenzahl
> <nobody@but.us.chickens> wrote:
> 
> > So, JOHN LAW, when's the last time you rode Caltrain?
> 
> I haven't, but I know people who have, and "perfectly" isn't the words
> they used.  Slow, rough, smelly, and undesireable were, though...
> 
> > And what's your definition of "perfectly"?
> 
> Same as every other commuter fan in the US, a 4 car double decker going
> 60mph over bad track once every 3 hours.  It's no wonder systems out
> west get no ridership.

What are you talking about ??? Caltrain runs every hour and ridership
rivaling what they got in the 1950's, about double of 20 years ago.

My considerable comparative experience in the UK and California suggests
that it is best for Connex, which has made a mess of some of its UK
services, to just stay across the pond. Anyone who takes cheap shots at
Caltrain without taking a close look at Connex has no real perspective.
Tis privatization at its worst.

Philip Nasadowski at nasadowsk@XXXX.hartford.edu wrote on 11/4/01 3:40 PM:

> In article <3BE5B72C.CC59FF20@but.us.chickens>, David Nebenzahl
> <nobody@but.us.chickens> wrote:
> 
>> So, JOHN LAW, when's the last time you rode Caltrain?
> 
> I haven't, but I know people who have, and "perfectly" isn't the words
> they used.  Slow, rough, smelly, and undesireable were, though...
> 
>> And what's your definition of "perfectly"?
> 
> Same as every other commuter fan in the US, a 4 car double decker going
> 60mph over bad track once every 3 hours.  It's no wonder systems out
> west get no ridership.

With 80 trains a day and only one line, it's a bit difficult to see how
Caltrain runs only once every 3 hours.

I suppose you aren't familiar with Southern California's Metrolink service.
130 daily trains, operating immaculate and comfortable equipment, and
reliably running on time.  And it is mostly good track and top speed is 79
mph (except on portions of Coaster and Metrolink's San Diego line, where the
top speed in 90 mph).

Metrolink serves 49 stations on 416 route miles, and has about 33,000 daily
riders.

Metrolink may not be the size or have the ridership of Metro-North or NJT,
but it is very good at what it does, the riders appreciate it, and it
continues to grow.

Merritt

Connex plan to use VEP's and CEP's I expect on this franchise if they win
it!


"Philip Nasadowski" <nasadowsk@XXXX.hartford.edu> wrote in message
news:nasadowsk-8D89B6.18403304112001@news.rcn.com...
> In article <3BE5B72C.CC59FF20@but.us.chickens>, David Nebenzahl
> <nobody@but.us.chickens> wrote:
>
> > So, JOHN LAW, when's the last time you rode Caltrain?
>
> I haven't, but I know people who have, and "perfectly" isn't the words
> they used.  Slow, rough, smelly, and undesireable were, though...
>
> > And what's your definition of "perfectly"?
>
> Same as every other commuter fan in the US, a 4 car double decker going
> 60mph over bad track once every 3 hours.  It's no wonder systems out
> west get no ridership.
>
> --
> To email me, remove the XXXX from my address, and replace it with "mail"

Silas Warner <silas@value.net> schreef in artikel
<3BE5B7FB.CFB78618@value.net>...
> 
> 
> charles hobbs wrote:
> > 
> > As far as I know, this is the first time Connex has tried to bid
> > on any
> > American operations (correct me if I'm incorrect)
> 
> For them as doesn't know what Connex is: try
> 
> http://www.connex.co.uk

That's only the website of Connex in Engeland, who operates the SouthEast
railway franchise. The company is much larger. I believe it's based in
Sweden, but it is owned by French company Vivendi / CGEA. Other Connex
businesses include 
- Connex Australia http://www.connexaustralia.com.au/ (trains, even a
monorail)
- BBA Connex, http://www.bba.nl (buses in the Netherlands)
and more.

Regards,
David

"Mike Foxtrot" <tangokilo@foxtrot.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9s5gub$dh1$1@neptunium.btinternet.com...
> Connex plan to use VEP's and CEP's I expect on this franchise if they win
> it!


Well, slam door coaching stock could sure speed passenger loading and
unloading; reducing dwell times!
US lawyers would love it!  : )


Kenneth Lin

On Mon, 5 Nov 2001 08:02:37 -0000, "Mike Foxtrot" <tangokilo@foxtrot.co.uk>
wrote:

>Connex plan to use VEP's and CEP's I expect on this franchise if they win
>it!
>
>
No I heard they were going to buy the 4BIL and use it.... pulled by the
MethoDic of course.

On Mon, 5 Nov 2001 08:02:37 -0000, "Mike Foxtrot" <tangokilo@foxtrot.co.uk>
wrote:

>Connex plan to use VEP's and CEP's I expect on this franchise if they win
>it!
>

Sorry that was the 4BIL pulled by the MetroVic.

On Mon, 05 Nov 2001 07:42:43 -0700, swamped wrote:

>On Mon, 5 Nov 2001 08:02:37 -0000, "Mike Foxtrot" <tangokilo@foxtrot.co.uk>
>wrote:
>
>>Connex plan to use VEP's and CEP's I expect on this franchise if they win
>>it!
>>
>
>Sorry that was the 4BIL pulled by the MetroVic.

<pedant>
BILs only ever came in a 2 car variety (2BIL)
</pedant>

-- 

Bill

They sure would!  The jolt when the train holts and the noise! Long live
Ceps and Veps!


"kenneth lin" <Kenneth.Lin@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:BPvF7.173604$W8.5594065@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "Mike Foxtrot" <tangokilo@foxtrot.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:9s5gub$dh1$1@neptunium.btinternet.com...
> > Connex plan to use VEP's and CEP's I expect on this franchise if they
win
> > it!
>
>
> Well, slam door coaching stock could sure speed passenger loading and
> unloading; reducing dwell times!
> US lawyers would love it!  : )
>
>
> Kenneth Lin
>
>
>
>

Are Connex trying to bid for the Transpennine franchise?

Connex also have acquired Limebourne and Travel London to add to the current
Connex Bus fleet.


"David Eerdmans" <D.Eerdmans@student.kun.nl> wrote in message
news:01c165f3$64e6f340$5461ae83@jg3barten5...
>
>
> Silas Warner <silas@value.net> schreef in artikel
> <3BE5B7FB.CFB78618@value.net>...
> >
> >
> > charles hobbs wrote:
> > >
> > > As far as I know, this is the first time Connex has tried to bid
> > > on any
> > > American operations (correct me if I'm incorrect)
> >
> > For them as doesn't know what Connex is: try
> >
> > http://www.connex.co.uk
>
> That's only the website of Connex in Engeland, who operates the SouthEast
> railway franchise. The company is much larger. I believe it's based in
> Sweden, but it is owned by French company Vivendi / CGEA. Other Connex
> businesses include
> - Connex Australia http://www.connexaustralia.com.au/ (trains, even a
> monorail)
> - BBA Connex, http://www.bba.nl (buses in the Netherlands)
> and more.
>
> Regards,
> David
>

Bill Hayles <billnot@wanadoo.es> wrote in message
news:5lmdutgpp88hl2e2avrgfco0g8jipmjj0a@4ax.com...
>
> <pedant>
> BILs only ever came in a 2 car variety (2BIL)
> </pedant>
>

Isn't this because BIL means "Both Lavatory" (as opposed to NOL (No
Lavatory) or HAL (Half Lavatory))?

--
Tim

On Mon, 5 Nov 2001 19:03:50 -0000, "Tim Fenton"
<timfenton@btinternet.com> wrote:


>Isn't this because BIL means "Both Lavatory" (as opposed to NOL (No
>Lavatory) or HAL (Half Lavatory))?

Yes. But then there was the 4 LAV which only had two.

-- 

Bill

On Mon, 05 Nov 2001 19:30:41 +0100, Bill Hayles <billnot@wanadoo.es> wrote:

>On Mon, 05 Nov 2001 07:42:43 -0700, swamped wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 5 Nov 2001 08:02:37 -0000, "Mike Foxtrot" <tangokilo@foxtrot.co.uk>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>Connex plan to use VEP's and CEP's I expect on this franchise if they win
>>>it!
>>>
>>
>>Sorry that was the 4BIL pulled by the MetroVic.
>
><pedant>
>BILs only ever came in a 2 car variety (2BIL)
></pedant>

Thanks for the correction, I'm only a poor dumb Yank so please bare with
me.......

swamped wrote:
 
> On Mon, 05 Nov 2001 19:30:41 +0100, Bill Hayles <billnot@wanadoo.es> wrote:
> 
> >On Mon, 05 Nov 2001 07:42:43 -0700, swamped wrote:
> >
> >>On Mon, 5 Nov 2001 08:02:37 -0000, "Mike Foxtrot" <tangokilo@foxtrot.co.uk>
> >>wrote:
> >>
> >>>Connex plan to use VEP's and CEP's I expect on this franchise if they win
> >>>it!
> >>>
> >>
> >>Sorry that was the 4BIL pulled by the MetroVic.
> >
> ><pedant>
> >BILs only ever came in a 2 car variety (2BIL)
> ></pedant>
> 
> Thanks for the correction, I'm only a poor dumb Yank so please bare with
> me.......

OK, as long as you *promise* not to go bear naked ... I couldn't bare that.

-- 
When cryptography is outlawed, only outlaws
will qwertzuio pasghdfjkl yxcvbnmkl

On Mon, 05 Nov 2001 12:43:13 GMT, kenneth lin is alleged to have said:
>"Mike Foxtrot" <tangokilo@foxtrot.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:9s5gub$dh1$1@neptunium.btinternet.com...
>> Connex plan to use VEP's and CEP's I expect on this franchise if they win
>> it!
>
>Well, slam door coaching stock could sure speed passenger loading and
>unloading; reducing dwell times!
>US lawyers would love it!  : )

The lawyers would particularly love it when they discover that the VEPs and CEPs
don't meet FRA crashworthiness requirements...

Actually (IMHO) that's a major reason that commuter rail in the US isn't more
popular. Because the passenger trains have to share track with US freight trains
(which are much bigger and heavier than their European counterparts) they have
to be built like tanks, which makes them (a) more expensive both to build and to
operate, and (b) slower.

I could rant on about this stuff for a while (like 'why don't they Sprinterise
commuter rail in MA, where I live, and why is there no train between 0853 and
1108 from Framingham to Boston, which is essentially equivalent to Lichfield to
Birmingham', and 'why on earth does a 150mph train take 3.5 hours to travel 200
miles from Boston to New York'). Oops, I just did :(

Alistair

Alistair Bell wrote:

> On Mon, 05 Nov 2001 12:43:13 GMT, kenneth lin is alleged to have said:
>
> I could rant on about this stuff for a while (like 'why don't they Sprinterise
> commuter rail in MA, where I live, and why is there no train between 0853 and
> 1108 from Framingham to Boston, which is essentially equivalent to Lichfield to
> Birmingham', and 'why on earth does a 150mph train take 3.5 hours to travel 200
> miles from Boston to New York'). Oops, I just did :(

Or why a 125mph train [1] takes 3.5 hours to cover a similar distance between London
and Leeds? Answer: a. the line speed isn't 125mph (110 maximum), b. it makes lots of
stops serving intermediate cities, and c. It tends to detour via Doncaster on its
way between Sheffield and Leeds for some obscure reason.

Or does the Acela express really have 150-155mph linespeed track, completely
segregated, and not stop very often?

[1] Which is known to be able to travel as fast as 143mph

A.Boodoo

A.Boodoo <A.H.Boodoo@lboro.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:3BEA9B78.CD5F1E13@lboro.ac.uk...
>
> Or does the Acela express really have 150-155mph linespeed track,
completely
> segregated, and not stop very often?
>

Doubt it. The line beyond New Haven twists a bit doesn't it? Anyway it's
a sight better than the 4hr42 best (but usually a bit longer) pre
electrification timing. Perhaps there will be more performance
improvements later, but on the busiest stretch (ie NY to Washington)
capacity could be a problem.

--
Tim

> A.Boodoo <A.H.Boodoo@lboro.ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:3BEA9B78.CD5F1E13@lboro.ac.uk...
> 
> Or does the Acela express really have 150-155mph linespeed track,
> completely segregated, and not stop very often?

Yes, Amtrak does have 150 mph track and runs at that speed, but only for
relatively short segments between New Haven and Boston.  The problem is
mostly between New York City and New Haven, where the tracks are owned by
commuter authorities and cannot support the high speed.

Between New York and Washington, speed is limited to 135 mph because of
catenary limitations.

Merritt

In misc.transport.rail.americas Silas Warner <silas@value.net> wrote: 

> charles hobbs wrote:

>> As far as I know, this is the first time Connex has tried to bid
>> on any American operations (correct me if I'm incorrect)

> For them as doesn't know what Connex is: try

> http://www.connex.co.uk

That mostly seems to cover British operations.

Their worldwide site is http://www.connex.tm.fr/

According to http://www.connex.tm.fr/html_uk/05_monde/fmonde.htm
connex is right now active in Europe and Asia/Pacific. In most
countries, they are only operating buses.

Their German site is http://www.connex-gruppe.de/

-- 
tobias benjamin k�hler _______________ tk2@rcs.urz.tu-dresden.de
   ____________  ______________  __>___________  ______________
,'' H=========H||H============H|| ===== H=====H||H ===========H|
`-oo--------oo-'`-oo--------oo-'`-oo--------oo-'`-oo--------oo-'
   european railway pictures - http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/pix/

Tim Fenton schrieb:


> Doubt it. The line beyond New Haven twists a bit doesn't it? Anyway it's
> a sight better than the 4hr42 best (but usually a bit longer) pre
> electrification timing.

AFAIK, the Merchant's Limited needed about 4 hours in steam days.

hajo



-- 
                    No doubt F's 24-34 were used to designate 
                    all them captured alien spacecraft.

                                                Chris Douglas