Virgin looses west coast main line

Tilt

Well it's finally happened, virgin's chicken's have come home to roost.

From my experience I am not surprised and sorry to say (as I've always admired Branson) I welcome the news.

I used to use their services a lot travelling between Southampton and Wolverhampton. I used to book by phone (anyone tried that?) but found it a nightmare most of the time as I found it very hard to understand their customer service people and vice-versa. Half the time they didn't know where I was talking about either... once one of them told me that I would have to go via Holyhead to get to/from the Isle of Wight! Why use a non UK call centre for a UK train service??

And then there is the actual journey. Virgin Voyager's normally consisted of 5 coaches which were often full between Wolverhampton and Coventry (especially on a Sunday). And if you had seat reservations, you would think 'no problem, at least I have a seat'. But not if the electronic seat displays wern't working which was quite often. In fact even the exterior displays identifying which coach was which, sometimes didn't work!

And the fares... yes, used to be able to find 'advanced tickets' but they seemed to get rarer and rarer to find for travelling outward on a Friday and returning on a Sunday (to fit in with school times).

Tried complaining once but got the usual fobbed off reply.

Sorry Richard, but in my opinion, this part of your empire hasn't been quite the success as your others.

Lets hope that First Group do a better job although i'm not holding my breath on that either.

luckwudaveit

First will have the same set of trains, set I doubt that will solve the reservation system.

I too think that First won't see the franchise out and it will be back in public ownership. The government should come up with a livery to paint their trains in each time they re-takeover a franchise. BR Blue anyone?

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Id just like to point out that Virgin trains have not been the operator of Cross Country services for quite some time now... 5 years IIRC.. The people who have been running it have been arriva so that is who you have been travelling with.

So youre quite not clear on the facts of either who you were travelling with nor what Virgin Trains have just lost - which was the west coast mainline

Livingthedream

43k_in_43m wrote: »

Think you're right not to hold your breath - I give it 2 years of decline before they throw the towel in and seek a bailout

luckwudaveit wrote: »

I too think that First won't see the franchise out and it will be back in public ownership.

I'll think you'll find that First will be OK, the business model that people are seeing now is a short term one, if they don't get their profit margins 18 months from now expect one of two things to happen;
1. Very Large fare increases
2. A massive staff cull ie catering staff and train crew, which Virgin at the moment does have a surplus of.

luckwudaveit wrote: »

The government should come up with a livery to paint their trains in each time they re-takeover a franchise. BR Blue anyone?

That's what Transport for Scotland has done, all Scotrail trains will have Blue with white dot livery, whoever runs the franchise.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

luckwudaveit wrote: »

The government should come up with a livery to paint their trains in each time they re-takeover a franchise. BR Blue anyone?

Even though intercity services on both West and East coast lines used to be in grey until the demise of BR???

nearlyrich

I am sad that Virgin have been booted as I think they have done a good job on the Manchester to London route that I regularly travel. Clean well staffed trains, reasonably priced tickets, running on time.

My only experience of first is a grumpy bus driver who pulled out of a bus lane and almost took me out then swore at me for being where he wanted to be.

I am sure I will be driving to London more than I do now in the next few months.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

nearlyrich wrote: »

I am sad that Virgin have been booted as I think they have done a good job on the Manchester to London route that I regularly travel. Clean well staffed trains, reasonably priced tickets, running on time.

My only experience of first is a grumpy bus driver who pulled out of a bus lane and almost took me out then swore at me for being where he wanted to be.

I am sure I will be driving to London more than I do now in the next few months.

Why would an incident with a bus driver - which happen all over the country and not just the ones who work for First - put you off from going by train after december 9th? Oh you said next few months? so you think they have changed already do you? Rather silly of you isnt it.

What do you think will happen to all the staff who currently work with Virgin Trains? Are you under the impression that they will all be getting sacked and then new ones replaced? What do you thikn will happen to these staffs attitude once they swap uniforms? Do they automatically become bad people in both customer service and experience?

Bit naive of you to make all these assumptions and just stop travelling by train because a bus driver pulled out in front of you.

Rolandtheroadie

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

What do you think will happen to all the staff who currently work with Virgin Trains? Are you under the impression that they will all be getting sacked and then new ones replaced? What do you thikn will happen to these staffs attitude once they swap uniforms? Do they automatically become bad people in both customer service and experience?

I'd imagine they will be TUPE'd over to First. Sacked? No. Probably jobcuts, there wont be any replacements.

Staff attitude when they change uniform? Same at first, then the job cuts will come. Changes in working practices, less people to carry out the same work.

They dont become bad people, they just become less company focused. See their job as a necessary evil to pay the bills.

nearlyrich

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Why would an incident with a bus driver - which happen all over the country and not just the ones who work for First - put you off from going by train after december 9th? Oh you said next few months? so you think they have changed already do you? Rather silly of you isnt it.

What do you think will happen to all the staff who currently work with Virgin Trains? Are you under the impression that they will all be getting sacked and then new ones replaced? What do you thikn will happen to these staffs attitude once they swap uniforms? Do they automatically become bad people in both customer service and experience?

Bit naive of you to make all these assumptions and just stop travelling by train because a bus driver pulled out in front of you.

Do you really not recognise a tongue in cheek post when you see one ? Bet you are fun to meet down the pub :eek:

I was making a joky reference to my lack of experience with First as a company, of course I will still use the West Coast main line after December.

Tilt

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Id just like to point out that Virgin trains have not been the operator of Cross Country services for quite some time now... 5 years IIRC.. The people who have been running it have been arriva so that is who you have been travelling with.

So youre quite not clear on the facts of either who you were travelling with nor what Virgin Trains have just lost - which was the west coast mainline

Just proves what de-nationalising the railways has done. Cause confusion. But in any event, my comments about Virgin Trains still stands. Shambles.

Livingthedream

Tilt wrote: »

Just proves what nationalising the railways has done. Cause confusion.

What can be done? go back to the good old days of BR? with clapped out rolling stock, crumbling infrastructure and industrial action very couple of weeks. Nice

Tilt wrote: »

But in any event, my comments about Virgin Trains still stands. Shambles.

TBH I will miss Virgin trains, they brought a different approach to running a train company in the UK. Some say that they might bid for the East Coast network, only time will tell.