Virgin looses west coast main line

opinions4u

Tilt wrote: »

Sorry i've edited my post. we can't all be perfect.

It's not a case of perfection.

The two words in question mean the exact opposite of each other.

So a bit of clarity was justified.

keystone

I'm all for anything that wipes that condescending, supercilious smirk off Beardies face TBH.

Cheers

Livingthedream

keystone wrote: »

I'm all for anything that wipes that condescending, supercilious smirk off Beardies face TBH.

Cheers

Keystone, I see your not one for sitting on the fence with your posts

keystone

Livingthedream wrote: »

Keystone, I see your not one for sitting on the fence with your posts

:rotfl:Nope. I tell it how I see it. Sometimes that makes people a tad uncomfortable though.

Cheers

jblack_2

If you want to try and make a difference why not sign the petition;

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

keystone

jblack wrote: »

If you want to try and make a difference why not sign the petition;

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

Why would I sign something that has a paragraph in it that is fundamentally untrue:

Any previous time Virgin have lost a bid in a rail tender the winner has failed to deliver promised plan and revenue - the East Coast is still under Government ownership.

it seems to me that Cross Country Trains is doing quite well and Virgin lost that franchise to Arriva in 2007. The East Coast claim just sounds like manoeuvering or sour grapes. As none else seems to want the ECML (govt been waiting for a bid since 2011) why hasn't Virgin had a go at that one then if they are so good?

Cheers

claire16c

First Late Western/First Worst Western whatever you want to call them are horrendous.

I dread to think what First will do to this route. Thank god I dont give them anymore of my hard earned money.

jblack_2

keystone wrote: »

Why would I sign something that has a paragraph in it that is fundamentally untrue:

it seems to me that Cross Country Trains is doing quite well and Virgin lost that franchise to Arriva in 2007. The East Coast claim just sounds like manoeuvering or sour grapes. As none else seems to want the ECML (govt been waiting for a bid since 2011) why hasn't Virgin had a go at that one then if they are so good?

Cheers

Maybe it's because the Cross Country Trains are 80% subsidised by the Government as a result of being unable to deliver their bid promises made in 2007. Sour grapes?

Mids_Costcutter

claire16c wrote: »

First Late Western/First Worst Western whatever you want to call them are horrendous.

I dread to think what First will do to this route. Thank god I dont give them anymore of my hard earned money.

But the passenger doesn't choose which company runs their train service. What is the point in the franchising system in rail? What does it achieve? Richard Branson claims that Virgin just spent £14m bidding unsuccessfully for the WCML franchise.

I'd like to see the government take over franchises when they expire. That would save everyone in the UK a lot of money.

wealdroam

jblack wrote: »

Maybe it's because the Cross Country Trains are 80% subsidised by the Government as a result of being unable to deliver their bid promises made in 2007.

You seem to be suggesting that Arriva Cross Country are getting an extra subsidy over and above that agreed in 2007.
Is that so?