John Grainger@john_grainger

Joint Head of Performance East Coast Partnership for LNER and Network Rail. Views generally my own...

 York, UK
Joined October 2011
222 Photos and videos
After a tough few weeks for performance, the end of a much better week. Our named Azumas look the part, here 'Darlington' on the left off 1E01 meets 'Gresley 150' about to work 1D10. Great to see plenty of customers travelling through King's Cross too! @LNER @NetworkRailEC
Azuma 801207 'Darlington', left, meets 801228 'Gresley 150' on the right

ALT Azuma 801207 'Darlington', left, meets 801228 'Gresley 150' on the right
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Another overhead line update from Alnmouth on on 27/08, which also disrupted services the following day. This was a ceramic bead insulator failure-forensic analysis is being undertaken by @NetworkRailEC & @LNER now has PANDAS-V OLE monitoring kit fitted to 5 of our Azuma trains
Overhead line and pantograph damage due to a defect near Alnmouth in August. Forensic analysis is being undertaken to understand the failure mode and corrective actions will be put in place

ALT Overhead line and pantograph damage due to a defect near Alnmouth in August. Forensic analysis is being undertaken to understand the failure mode and corrective actions will be put in place

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Cable theft is a big issue on the railway at the moment-on the East Coast @NetworkRailEC & @LNER are working together to help overcome this, benefiting all users of the route, both passengers and freight. Read more here 👇 networkrailmediacentre.co.uk…

£110k committed to strengthen fight against cable theft and railway crime

A £110,000 investment is helping to tackle cable theft, vandalism and trespass on the East Coast Main Line through proactive security patrols.

networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
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John Grainger retweeted
David Horne
@DavidHorne
Sep 3
In The Cab - Digital Signalling Goes Live on the East Coast Main Line A really insightful report on the latest progress with the East Coast Digital Programme from @SRichardBowker and the team at Green Signals! Featuring @LNER driver Tara and our Engineering & Safety Director Dr Linda Wain plus other industry experts - well worth a watch! @_ECDP @greensignallers piped.video/sYyrB1GXfk0?is=-2vc…

In The Cab - Digital Signalling Goes Live on the East Coast Main Line

A major milestone was reached on 31st August 2026 when the Welwyn t...

youtube.com
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Update on the Hitchin overhead line incident on 16/8-a ceramic insulator failure on a wire run, with recent heat likely to be a factor. We're around 65% into replacing these with more reliable polymeric ones, but are reviewing how we can acclerate this work @NetworkRailEC @LNER
Update on the Hitchin overhead line incident that occurred on Sunday 16 August

ALT Update on the Hitchin overhead line incident that occurred on Sunday 16 August

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As we move towards an East Coast Integrated Business Unit the @LNER @NetworkRailEC Joint Ops Team visited @GBRailfreight at Doncaster today. So interesting to hear more about the challenges of operating freight on rail, explore how we can help and get to see new Class 99 locos!
New Class 99 bi-mode loco 99008

ALT New Class 99 bi-mode loco 99008

Joint Ops Team meets GBRf

ALT Joint Ops Team meets GBRf

New Class 99 cab interior

ALT New Class 99 cab interior

Class 66 maintenance underway

ALT Class 66 maintenance underway

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Yesterday's @LNER @NetworkRailEC Joint Ops Business Review included a visit to the NX signalling panel training facility at Doncaster, followed by a trip to the actual box. Great to get some experience on the simulator, then meet the team who actually keep the East Coast moving!
NX signalling panel simulator at Doncaster

ALT NX signalling panel simulator at Doncaster

Working through the plan!

ALT Working through the plan!

Doncaster NX signalling panel

ALT Doncaster NX signalling panel

Grantham area panel at Doncaster

ALT Grantham area panel at Doncaster

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Details of weekend engineering work coming up to renew East Coast infrastructure between Newcastle and Edinburgh during Sept and Oct. Once again @LNER will be diverting some services via Carlisle and the West Coast 👇
Network Rail East Coast@NetworkRailEC
Aug 18
We’re delivering a £7m programme of rail upgrades between Newcastle and Scotland from 19 September. Over three weekends, engineers will renew track, improve drainage and upgrade overhead line equipment to help improve journeys. ⬇️Full details gloo.to/FhGN
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Apologies to everyone affected by yesterday's incident which caused disruption for @LNER and other customers for much of Sunday, and to a lesser extent also today. More detail below, engineers will be going in tonight to fully repair the damage for a full service tomorrow
Network Rail East Coast@NetworkRailEC
Aug 17
We’re really sorry to passengers for the disruption yesterday (Sunday 16 August) caused by damage to the overhead line equipment on the East Coast Main Line near Biggleswade. 1/6
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End of another busy week at @LNER @NetworkRailEC - already we're one week into Period 5 of the 26/27 rail year! Anyhow, here's a nice shot of 91110 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' working this afternoon's 1N09 to Newcastle at York @225groupuk
91110 heads todays 1N09 1433 King's Cross to Newcastle service at York

ALT 91110 heads todays 1N09 1433 King's Cross to Newcastle service at York
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As part of today's Joint Operations Review session we visited the Gate Gourmet catering facility underneath London King's Cross station. Interesting to see another side of the @LNER operation supplying our customers with food and drink! @NetworkRailEC
Gate Gourmet's facility beneath King's Cross station

ALT Gate Gourmet's facility beneath King's Cross station

Joint Ops team visit

ALT Joint Ops team visit

Subway access to all platforms

ALT Subway access to all platforms

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Visit to Helpston box north of Peterborough this morning. This oversees a number of busy crossings on the ECML which can impact performance. Plenty to take away to improve comms between the box, signallers & drivers as we build a unified team before GBR @LNER @NetworkRailEC
Inside Helpston box

ALT Inside Helpston box

Helpston box panel

ALT Helpston box panel

Busy crossing for both road and rail users!

ALT Busy crossing for both road and rail users!

Always busy on the East Coast!

ALT Always busy on the East Coast!

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Good visit to @NetworkRailAng @greateranglia @c2c_Rail yesterday to share learning about improving performance in an integrated railway as we move towards GBR. As for all those Golden Whistles in the trophy cabinet we're coming for you! @LNER @NetworkRailEC
Reviewing performance improvement actions at the Anglia Performance Centre

ALT Reviewing performance improvement actions at the Anglia Performance Centre

Anglia Performance Centre

ALT Anglia Performance Centre

The Anglia Golden Whistles collection!

ALT The Anglia Golden Whistles collection!

Stratford station

ALT Stratford station

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Bit of a busman's holiday maybe for a few days away but Scotland is simply stunning in this weather-why go anywhere else? Thanks to @ScotRail @NetworkRailSCOT for ferrying us around, and if you're planning a trip from further south @LNER will take you there in style!
ScotRail Class 156 at Oban

ALT ScotRail Class 156 at Oban

Stunning Oban sunset

ALT Stunning Oban sunset

Glenfinnan Viaduct for all the Harry Potter fans!

ALT Glenfinnan Viaduct for all the Harry Potter fans!

Beautiful journey to Mallaig

ALT Beautiful journey to Mallaig
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Nice touch on the screens at York station this morning - good luck from all of us at @LNER @NetworkRailEC 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
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While there have been some challenging days for us lately, @LNER and @NetworkRailEC @NetworkRailSCOT work hard every day to improve things and have a comprehensive plan to make your journeys more reliable. Read more here! lner.co.uk/news/working-toge…

Working together to deliver faster, more reliable rail journeys | LNER

lner.co.uk
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Our close collaboration is reaping benefits as we head towards GBR and @LNER @NetworkRailEC were delighted to be Highly Commended for our Dec 25 timetable implementation at todays Rail Innovation Awards, a huge cross-industry effort and a massive thank you to front line teams!
With Cheryl Wells, NR East Coast Programme Manager with our certificate today - thank you to everyone for such a seamless December 2025 timetable introduction!

ALT With Cheryl Wells, NR East Coast Programme Manager with our certificate today - thank you to everyone for such a seamless December 2025 timetable introduction!
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Even this picture looks hot, with temps in the Kings Cross trainshed around 40C! Here customers join 1S19 1403 to Aberdeen. Its been a difficult few days with the heat-thank you to customers for their patience and @LNER @NetworkRailEC colleagues for keeping everyone safely moving
Customers join this afternoon's LNER 1S19 1403 King's Cross to Aberdeen service

ALT Customers join this afternoon's LNER 1S19 1403 King's Cross to Aberdeen service

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Back to York after a weekend visit to Tunbridge Wells-lovely stn, and I like the way it retains some of its Connex branding from another era (one best forgotten?)-a little bit of railway nostalgia you should keep it @SteveWhiteRail? All far better now with @Se_Railway though!
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Its been a tough few weeks for customers & colleagues with disruptive events inc overhead line,train defects & sadly fatalities.We have 61 perf plans for 26/27, and we'll learn from these events. Apologies to our customers, seen here leaving & joining @LNER trains at Kings Cross
Customers arriving in London earlier off 1E11 0752 from Aberdeen, right, while joining 1S22 1530 to Edinburgh, left. We've had a poor run of performance lately but we're focused on improvements and will recover!

ALT Customers arriving in London earlier off 1E11 0752 from Aberdeen, right, while joining 1S22 1530 to Edinburgh, left. We've had a poor run of performance lately but we're focused on improvements and will recover!

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