New Cross Country franchise

[orudge]

I sampled a couple of Virgin's hot bacon rolls when I was on the XC from Edinburgh to Warrington Bank Quay, in a somewhat hungover state. They were quite nice, if a bit expensive. Luckily for me, it seems as though Edinburgh -> WBQ has simply become part of Virgin West Coast instead of Arriva, so I shall still be able to enjoy those if I need to. The only thing that's a bit annoying about the changes for me is that I can no longer get on a train at Leuchars and stay on it until Warrington, I have to change at Edinburgh or Haymarket.

[hippeebus]

Still, it will be interesting to see a HST set in Arriva colours.

[JamieLei]

Voila!

[Dave]

I want to see the real thing.

Virgin Voyagers have started being debranded and de-named.

Interesting that the Cross-Country Franchise now is mainly centred on the Cross-Country Route between Cardiff and York, whereas the old XC was a mix of the EC and WC Main Lines.

All old XC routes north of Birmingham have, I believe, become part of the West Coast Franchise?

This, I take it, removes all through services from cities north of Birmingham to those south of it?

[Parkey]

TransPennine are taking on some of the old XC routes aren't they?

[Dave]

Oh yes.. Forgot about those. Manchester-Glasgow/Edinburgh as I understand it.

[MjD]

I know TransPennine are planning a service from Manchester to Glasgow, so that could be it...

MD

[Dave]

Yeah it's to fit the gap that the XC crossover will create for that corridor.

[RFT]

I want to see the real thing.
All old XC routes north of Birmingham have, I believe, become part of the West Coast Franchise?

This, I take it, removes all through services from cities north of Birmingham to those south of it?

I think all ones going north-west will become VWC, with Crosscountry becoming more specifically South-West (ish) to North-East.