Like A Virgin - Just For The Very Last Time....
Replies: 33 - Last Post: Oct 4, 2012 3:56 AM Last Post By: battybilly
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Like A Virgin - Just For The Very Last Time....
Virgin Trains has lost the West Coast Line this morning (15th August).It's gone to First group, starting in December.
First words that came out....
"We're introducing our new 125mph 6 coach trains." That could be interesting.
The ones Virgin presently use are 9 coach - and after Milton Keynes, it's standing room only.
However, fares have to go up in January by 4 times the rate of inflation, to continue improving services.
First got the new deal, because it offered more money for it.
Nowt to do with an improved service at all. It never was.
Still, all the time millions of passengers just have a little whine, then pay the increases - nothing'll change.
7
It's not just after MK, there is frequently (and particularly on summer Friday afternoons) standing room only all the way from London to the Lakes. One of the things that pisses me off about Virgin is the over proportion of 1st class - generally 4 of those 9 carriages.On the other hand, the most over crowded train I have - when it's unavoidable - to use is the First Glagow to Manchester Airport. Even two stops down the line, it's impossible to get a seat, and there are no sodding luggage racks, so even sitting on the floor is out of the question.
I notice that First have said they are going to strip the catering out, and thus presumably try and use trollies as they do on the Trans-Pennines routes. I look forward to laughing at them trying on a packed train. I don't look forward to a four hour plus journey starting at 5.30am without a cup of tea.
8
Try the Manchester to Crewe trains with Arriva. Two pitiful little carriages, and the trains are so heaving with people that the doors barely close. Nightmare! My only experience with First trains was the Crewe to Machester Airport service, or the all-stops service from Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly. Slower trains, but you could always get a seat.9
At the moment (until December, as already posted), Virgin do 9 car Pendelinos from Man Picc to Crewe.Reports about it today, have overshadowed both the Tia Sharpe case and latest unemployment figures.
There was this USA (First CEO) guy sniffling on about how good First was and that things will be great.
He said it's same route fares would be even cheaper than the current ones.
Wonder if that includes the £28.00 first class advance ticket from Euston to Picc.
Now where have we all heard that before?
11
I've watched reports on and off all day. It's been so all about business and nothing to do with service.Yep - First are adding trains and apparently adding either 12,000 or 21,000 extra seats. I don't remember.
I really hope it up's its first class service. Virgin sweeps the floor with it right now.
Oh - and I like tilting trains.
12
Judging by the job First are doing with Scotrail, I'll start flying to London again.ADVERTISEMENT
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