Virgin to lose West Coast?

[Chris]

Jamie - Didn't know XC hadn't changed their interior. Though to be fair, if it does the function then why spend x-amount of money changing it

Because many managers live under the false pretence that passengers actually give a flying crap about what brand train they're travelling on.

[beeb375]

Is it just me, or does this article sound horribly opinionated and biased? I know it's in the website's 'Magazine' section, but still, it sounds unnecessarily harsh to me:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19268724

[Redirect Left]

Is it just me, or does this article sound horribly opinionated and biased? I know it's in the website's 'Magazine' section, but still, it sounds unnecessarily harsh to me:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19268724

haha. I was about to post that same link here with a similar mention to its bias. It does seem horribly harsh indeed. Although the comments do seem to be fairly praising.

[Geo Ghost]

does this article sound horribly opinionated and biased?

Welcome to the world of media.

Only a few paragraphs into that "picture this scene" intro and I am convinced the person writing that report is a compete toss pot.

[61653]

(143s, admittedly better than 142/144s here...)

Slightly off-topic, but in what way are 143s better than 144s? (other than possibly being cleaner than Northern's overworked units?), they are largely similar, though 144s seem to be less prone to bursting into flames! 142s, I agree, are horrible things.

[Redirect Left]

(143s, admittedly better than 142/144s here...)

Slightly off-topic, but in what way are 143s better than 144s? (other than possibly being cleaner than Northern's overworked units?), they are largely similar, though 144s seem to be less prone to bursting into flames! 142s, I agree, are horrible things.

I find the 142 & 144s to be very unreliable, often turning up with out of service doors, or limping about on one engine, whereas this is yet to occur to me whilst using a 143, admittedly though of course, being a northern lad, it's not too often i'm around the 143s. I also think 143s look slightly nicer, they also (in my experience at least) are slightly nicer looking internally and comfier, although that is probably just First Great Western with more money to burn on refurbishments.

I'm often left to wonder just how broken a train has to be before Northern finally decide to take it out of service, with how much things have gone wrong and it's still turned up and gone as normal on its journey.

[Pilot]

Sorry, this is just stupid:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... rable.html

[Nawdic]

So why did they go with First then??

I'm sure Beardy Branson will win his appeal.

[JamieLei]

Absolutely crazy. How can the DfT objectively justify its decision now?

[Geo Ghost]

So why did they go with First then??

One word - money.
I hate this world sometimes. Everything is so money driven now. What ever happened to quality?

Looking at that article, I would love to know where DFT gets their information from.
I don't even need to comment on it. It speaks for itself. Virgin have proved that they can deliver, I don't think FirstGroup proved that. I don't understand how on earth they can say FirstGroup is rated higher for customer service. Absolute bollocks. Same with delivery of trains. Virgin replaced their entire fleet with new trains. First are still running pacers in some places and don't have many new additions to their fleet.

[61653]

Typical Tories- they know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

[Kevo00]

Sorry, this is just stupid:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... rable.html

I smell a rat. Time for a public enquiry (there won't be one of course).

Money is not a good reason to have gone for First, it will end up costing the Treasury and institutional investors a lot more than under the Virgin bid.

I really couldn't give two hoots about Virgin or First as companies, as who runs a franchise is quite inconsequential, but I do as a taxpayer giving up £700+ of my income to the treasury a month (before VAT and other duties).

[Nawdic]

Do you know where they get the money from??

The US, probably.

[SquireJames]

91s aren't feasible for the WCML as the route is too 'bendy' (for use of a better word) for them to run effectively at top speed. The 91s were developed for the ECML specifically Thus Pendolinos wouldn't really be much use on the ECML.

I figured this was the case. I just wasn't sure how it all worked these days. Call me old fashioned, but it was simpler back in the day that everyone owned their own locomotives and rolling stock. At least it wasn't repainted into someone elses branding every week.

So, it'll be First livery on a Pendo then. Wonder if anyone has mocked that up yet (knowing a few sites that specialise in that sort of thing). This appeal sounds interesting though. Do we here on the TT Forums suspect foul play? They could not possibly have got the money from the US though 47; the US hasn't any money to give

[Kevo00]

Do you know where they get the money from??

The US, probably.

Do you mean their Greyhound and school bus businesses?

[JamieLei]

I was under the impression that their US business was rather profitable. After all, it's recession proof. Leisure passengers will downgrade from trains to Greyhound, and school buses will run regardless of the state of the economy.

[EXTspotter]

I thought that Greyhound was facing increasing competition in key sectors in the North East from the Chinatown type operators. Even if they are currently weakened due to recent bad press, having a low end competitor poaching custom on your routes can't be great in the long run for First or Greyhound's bottom line.

[JamieLei]

The scope of their route network however, combined with not enough passengers for two competing operators, put them in a pretty good position overall though.

[61653]

Though don't Stagecoach/Megabus have a bit of a foothold in the US now, too?

[Redirect Left]

Some people are really going for it, new website has popped up; http://www.reinstatevirgin.co.uk/

Though don't Stagecoach/Megabus have a bit of a foothold in the US now, too?

Yes, Megabus now operates in many US states.

Edit: Infact, after a quick look on the USA website - seems its only eastern and central USA.