Excellent day at the Hospitium in York, with the usual round of news and updates from LNER, but also clear indications as to the improvements we should see as the rail industry transitions to GBR. LNER can rightly say they are ahead of the game here, as they have already been in public ownership a long time. But most importantly, there was robust discussion with stakeholders able to contribute what we are expecting, and a real sense of listening and engagement from the senior managers present. I did not use the day as an opportunity to share our frustration with the new LNER timetable, which reduced services in Northumberland, as our concerns have already been discussed extensively in private meetings with LNER managers. But interestingly, delegates from other areas did, and there was a sense of LNER “getting the message” and accepting there would be a need to “re-visit” some of those places that did not do too well – hopefully opportunity will arise when the new LNER trains come on stream
