Virgin to lose West Coast?

[teccuk]

If buses are not turning up, you should complain to the operator and your local council - I did once in Durham and got a free journey coupon.

I would, but this is Stoke-on-Trent. The council literally does nothing. The bus driver could pull up, kick me in the shins, gob in my face and run over a pensioner and the council would merely shrug and say "not our department".

Unless the service is contracted as 'socially necessary' or in some way subsidised councils, outside of the ITAs, have zero power over bus services and can't do anything even if they want to. All you can do is refer to traffic commissioner, who i would imagine, is deluged.

[audigex]

I'm gonna partially jump to First's defence here: their buses seem crappy to me wherever I've used them, but Transpennine Express are decent: normally punctual (apart from the times when the whole WCML is having problems due to signalling, or when they get shunted in behind a late running Virgin), decent trains and staff, pretty clean and I've really had no complaint with them in the last 4/5 years I've been using them heavily. The only problems I have are

a) Overcrowding - not really their fault as there's been massive growth on the TPE routes and they just don't have the stock for it.
b) Cutting services from the less heavily used lines (ie Barrow, Windermere, Blackpool) in order to double up on busier routes... mostly because they're trying to respond to higher demand as mentioned in a), a bit of a catch-22 situation with them. If TPE had enough 8 car trains to run as many services as they'd like to, I wouldn't be able to fault them.

I'd put TPE and Virgin pretty much on a par for the most part - if the First West Coast or whatever it ends up being named is run along similar lines they'll do okay.

[Dave]

Still a farce.

[Redirect Left]

I'm gonna partially jump to First's defence here: their buses seem crappy to me wherever I've used them, but Transpennine Express are decent: normally punctual (apart from the times when the whole WCML is having problems due to signalling, or when they get shunted in behind a late running Virgin), decent trains and staff, pretty clean and I've really had no complaint with them in the last 4/5 years I've been using them heavily. The only problems I have are

a) Overcrowding - not really their fault as there's been massive growth on the TPE routes and they just don't have the stock for it.
b) Cutting services from the less heavily used lines (ie Barrow, Windermere, Blackpool) in order to double up on busier routes... mostly because they're trying to respond to higher demand as mentioned in a), a bit of a catch-22 situation with them. If TPE had enough 8 car trains to run as many services as they'd like to, I wouldn't be able to fault them.

I'd put TPE and Virgin pretty much on a par for the most part - if the First West Coast or whatever it ends up being named is run along similar lines they'll do okay.

I would have to actually agree with this post. I use First buses nearly every day, the majority of them are pretty decent, being a bus nut I could bore you with models and all sorts, but this is mainly a train forum, they're no worse than the other bus companies in this area (Arriva, Centerbus/K-Line, Stagecoach/Huddersfield Bus company). I use First TPE nearly weekly, and they're punctual and i have to say, pretty well cleaned, and the staff are always helpful. Sadly, it is a bit of a different story down south, the few times i've used First Capital Connect it's been slightly more bleh, doesn't help I hate those train models that FCC use.

Whilst i do personally think Virgin would do better, i have no real quarrel if First did take over, although it seems like First have quite a big enough share in trains anyway, and should share it out a bit

[Geo Ghost]

Sadly, it is a bit of a different story down south, the few times i've used First Capital Connect it's been slightly more bleh, doesn't help I hate those train models that FCC use.

The 365s and 321s are pretty good. 365 interiors are at least comfortable as well and they certainly don't hang around. 321s are much the same but come in at a second place.
the 317s do the job fine but could do with a touch-up inside. They are pretty ghastly at times. The 313s... god. Don't get me started on those flimsy tin cans. I swear most of the doors don't even shut properly!



What are people's views on this?

[Illegal_Alien]

I think its a good thing to do, most of the transport company1s here in the Netherlands did that too with succes. (RET, GVB and HTM in some form of it.) And yes also our privatised line shave problems and some of them need more money because they cant handle it.)

[Nawdic]

Virgin really want to keep the WCML for themselves... i like that.

[JamieLei]

I'm sitting in the WCML at the moment. There's printed leaflets by the entrance encouraging people to sign the online petition for them to stay.

[Chris]

I'm sitting in the WCML at the moment. There's printed leaflets by the entrance encouraging people to sign the online petition for them to stay.

So many things wrong with that sentence .

[teccuk]

I think its a good thing to do, most of the transport company1s here in the Netherlands did that too with succes. (RET, GVB and HTM in some form of it.) And yes also our privatised line shave problems and some of them need more money because they cant handle it.)

A lot of people watched all that with great interest.

You just needed to look across the north sea to see what out-right privatisation would do, to what is widely considered here, to be one of the best system's in the world.

[JamieLei]

I'm sitting in the WCML at the moment. There's printed leaflets by the entrance encouraging people to sign the online petition for them to stay.

So many things wrong with that sentence .

Haha - Virgin Trains First Class Lounge at Euston I meant! With Chrilly

We're now on the Bendydildo, for Birmingham New Street.

[Geo Ghost]

We're now on the Bendydildo

I'm not the only one who thinks Pendolinos look like that then
Well, I hope that's what you're talking about. Otherwise, I do not want to know what you two are getting up to in London.

[Nawdic]

I'm sitting in the WCML at the moment. There's printed leaflets by the entrance encouraging people to sign the online petition for them to stay.

75000+ sigs can't go wrong...

Edit: Eat my dust, 90,000-odd... a difference of 15000 in a little over 3 hours...

[teccuk]

I thought everyone used to complain about Virgin? Their turn up and go peak prices were a running joke, there was even that 'Top Gear' challenge when they bought, insured and feuled cars for less than a single.

Is this love of Virgin or fear of First?

[JamieLei]

Only 3,500 signatures to go to get to 100,000. Please do sign.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/37180

[Geo Ghost]

Only 3,500 signatures to go to get to 100,000. Please do sign.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/37180

This might just be me being cynical but considering how many people travel with Virgin Trains, if everyone is really hard-set about them staying then shouldn't we have reached 100,000 and surpassed it by now?

[Illegal_Alien]

We're now on the Bendydildo

I'm not the only one who thinks Pendolinos look like that then
[...]

I would rather ride a dildo then riding a dustbuster*

Also a Virgin using dildo-look-a-like trains... Hmmm...

* Fyra V250

[Geo Ghost]

Also a Virgin using dildo-look-a-like trains... Hmmm...

*face palm*
That was bad. You should feel ashamed sir

[Kevo00]

I thought everyone used to complain about Virgin? Their turn up and go peak prices were a running joke, there was even that 'Top Gear' challenge when they bought, insured and feuled cars for less than a single.

Is this love of Virgin or fear of First?

Very true. Commuters and general rail passengers will complain about everything. I even remember people protesting against the WCML upgrade because they thought the introduction of Pendos would put prices up.

I don't see the point of campaigning for Virgin to continue because their bid was pretty unsustainable too - just not as silly as First's.

[Nawdic]

Okay, according to the Facebook page of the petitition, they were going to make 100,000 sigs by 1pm... It has passed with 150 still to go. New dealine set of 1800 BST.