First win Intercity West Coast franchise

[YorkshireRider]

Its all relative.

Leeds and Manchester have seen plenty of new buses over the years. Here in Sheffield we have had fewer, and most of the new buses that we have had over the past decade (53, 06, 57, 08 plate Geminis) have been transferred elsewhere.

The grass is always greener, but with Leeds seeing plenty of post-Olympic investment I'd swap their problems for ours!

I'm comparing them to other bus operators in Leeds and Manchester, such as Transdev, Stagecoach and Arriva, who all seem to offer a far better, and in most cases cheaper service, and by all accounts treat there staff much better. Ive no compaints over the age of the buses in Leeds, buts thats not much good if they dont turn up. If you are telling me its worse in other cities then you are really confirming my point about First bus operations.

 

[tbtc]

https://twitter.com/Joey7Barton/statuses/237992673804423169 - so now you can be against Bob Crow, Richard Branson and Joey Barton at the same time? If that doesn't make people learn to love First Group then I don't know what will!

 

[David10]

https://twitter.com/Joey7Barton/statuses/237992673804423169[/url] - so now you can be against Bob Crow, Richard Branson and Joey Barton at the same time? If that doesn't make people learn to love First Group then I don't know what will!

Scraping the bottom of the barrel if they need Joey Barton's support, next they will be enlisting the support of Ronnie Biggs.

 

[PR1Berske]

It's notable, though, that there's a palpable sense of 'injustice'

 

[jimm]

Sorry, I have to share this:


Originally Posted by VT Facebook wall comment...
Virgin Rail should be kept on and not have another american taking over

Right, the Scottish company with an American MD you mean. Isn't said American MD also considered one of LUL's best ever managers?

That's my daily visiting done there, I'll return tomorrow when my blood pressure has returned to normal.

The said American is also becoming a British citizen this very week... see http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/ma...ns-hysterical-response-West-Coast-defeat.html

First also confirm railcard easement to stay -
This is good news (for me, at any rate).
I would like to understand the logic, though.
If it is good for the West Coast franchise (VT or FWC), why is it not used on other similar franchises, notably FGW and TPE, and maybe EC and XC (ie the longer-distance TOCs)?
There doesn't seem to be much consistency between TOCs, even if they are owned by the same group.

I did point out back down the thread - but it probably got lost many pages ago - that there are certain FGW journeys in the peak periods where off-peak tickets are valid and railcards are accepted when buying them, for various local/historical reasons. It is not an across the board policy but nor does FGW operate a blanket one-rule-fits-all approach that you keep suggesting it does.

 

[Wath Yard]

It's notable, though, that there's a palpable sense of 'injustice'

I'm sure they'll get bored when the first contestant gets kicked off X Factor.

One final one from Facebook -

390 052 "Virgin Knight" really blew me away last time I travelled upon her (Euston to Preston in UNDER 90 mins!)

I make that an average of 139 mph. So we did get PUG2 after all.

 

[LE Greys]

I'm comparing them to other bus operators in Leeds and Manchester, such as Transdev, Stagecoach and Arriva, who all seem to offer a far better, and in most cases cheaper service, and by all accounts treat there staff much better. Ive no compaints over the age of the buses in Leeds, buts thats not much good if they dont turn up. If you are telling me its worse in other cities then you are really confirming my point about First bus operations.

I could make similar comparisons between First and Stagecoach in Aberdeen, although that would not be entirely fair, since they serve different markets. However, First's 'optimistic' service frequency and their somewhat awkward fares do not help very much.

However, it isn't entirely relevant, since I would expect an operation somewhat closer to FGW's main line section, and that has very little to do with First Bus. I was rather hoping to see ICWC merged with London Midland but it seems that will not happen.

 

[YorkshireRider]

I could make similar comparisons between First and Stagecoach in Aberdeen, although that would not be entirely fair, since they serve different markets. However, First's 'optimistic' service frequency and their somewhat awkward fares do not help very much.

However, it isn't entirely relevant, since I would expect an operation somewhat closer to FGW's main line section, and that has very little to do with First Bus. I was rather hoping to see ICWC merged with London Midland but it seems that will not happen.

I agree its not relevant to how First will run WC, my only point was to suggest why some of the public may have a bad impression of the company, hense why the negative comments on the internet about them. In some ways the company has only itself to blame for this, why can it run TOCs well but not buses?

 

[tbtc]

I agree its not relevant to how First will run WC, my only point was to suggest why some of the public may have a bad impression of the company, hense why the negative comments on the internet about them. In some ways the company has only itself to blame for this, why can it run TOCs well but not buses?

Buses are dependant on traffic. Your impression of a bus service is largely dependant upon the driver, who has to deal with city centre traffic and take fares - a job that sounds a lot harder than checking tickets on a train but is paid a lot less.

As I said a couple of times on this thread, Virgin are "fun" (cinemas, planes, beauty, mobile phones, television etc), First provide a boring/ necessary service which is a lot less fun.

However, First seem pretty good at running long distance trains (getting better reliability from their HSTs than Virgin do from their much younger trains) - maybe that matters a lot more?

 

[Philip Elliott]

getting better reliability from their HSTs than Virgin do from their much younger trains

Seeing as Alstom & Bombardier maintain the fleet and will do for First it is out of the hands of the TOC for the most part.

 

[jon0844]

Can't believe I actually fully read and liked a Daily Mail story!

Also, has anyone seen this? https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/3403_10151055017713505_35147963_n.jpg

 

[F Great Eastern]

That is scandalous. Words Fail Me.

Ironic as well considering Virgin were involved in a serious crash as well.

Whoever is responsible for that is a sick b--tard, sorry to swear on this forum but I can't believe it if people are now going to try and use the loss of lives to try and further their agenda, that is well and truly sick.

 

[LE Greys]

As opposed to this?

<Lambrigg image now removed - I probably should never have put it up>

I would find the use of either image in a campaign for anything except railway safety somewhat offensive. People died in both crashes.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Can't believe I actually fully read and liked a Daily Mail story!

Also, has anyone seen this? https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/3403_10151055017713505_35147963_n.jpg

You know these are the type of people who should be eliminated from the gene pool!!! It angers me soo much.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It is an absolute damn disgrace to use that image as some sort of sickening propaganda against First. If Virgin win the East Coast franchise (whether or not Beardy goes for it), are people going to use the Lambrigg image and say 'If you let Virgin run East Coast this will happen'. It's absolutely disgusting. (My thoughts as always to all families etc involved and I'm sorry if they see that poster, I really am.)

 

[Geezertronic]

And I presume I am correct in saying that both accidents were caused by the infrastructure rather than the rail vehicles or the TOCs in question so it is wholly irrelevant

 

[F Great Eastern]

The sympathy I have for Virgin, which was very little in any case, is rapidly declining by the day, I don't think bad losers sum it up anymore it's now got to a terrible stage an It's important for me to say that I'm not saying any rail staff are involved in such pictures simply that it should not be used and it's sick.

 

[jon0844]

Let me add that this image isn't (just in case there is even just one person who might think otherwise) produced by Virgin.

However, I would hope that Virgin is quick to distance itself from it.

I'd very much like to find out who did create it though.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Let me add that this image isn't (just in case there is even just one person who might think otherwise) produced by Virgin.

However, I would hope that Virgin is quick to distance itself from it.

I'd very much like to find out who did create it though.

I've reworded my post as I agree it could be looked at the wrong way - but I would hope that Virgin would come out and distance themselves from it

 

[MidnightFlyer]

With regard to this e-petition bouncing around (http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/37180) with now well over 27,000 signatures and until late February to reach 100,000; does anybody have any predictions whatsoever as to what this could lead to? I know it must be discussed in the Commons, but does anybody think that it may actually lead to a reversal, and in what position this would leave FirstGroup?

 

[8J]

It actually has til 28th August as this is the date that pen goes to paper with first group. Until then, first have not signed any contract so it could be over-turned

 

[bnm]

The person responsible for that sick photo (incidentally, Ufton Nervet and absolutely no fault of FGW) was at one time, if my memory serves me correctly, a member of this forum.

The photo was originally attached to a Facebook post I believe, but on reading his timeline he has since deleted that post and apologised. But the damage has been done unfortunately and the picture remains in cyberspace.

 

[MK Tom]

Whoever made that poster needs to be shot. That's beyond disgusting. FGW's two accidents were caused by a signal failure and a car driver. At no point to my knowledge has any TOC been directly responsible for a fatal accident.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

According to First's FAQ they're planning free Wifi on all WC trains:

We know reliable WiFi on the train is an important service for many customers, so we are planning a major upgrade that will allow us to offer free WiFi access for all customers and better coverage for mobile phones once the upgrade is complete.

 

[Whistler40145]

Will the free WiFi be in a specific class or throughout the train?

 

[Nym]

Whoever made that poster needs to be shot.

Anywhere spesific? Geographically? Also, in front of anyone?

On a more serious note, it is nice to retain the railcard cheapness, just a shame that when I need to be doing many return journalese to Manchester from London I won't be eligible for a railcard any more, although I do suspect it will quietly be taken away and some rather nice PFs issued...

Regarding the poster, I would have the person who made that punished severely, just not outside in front of their families...

 

[Whistler40145]

I agree regarding the Poster, it's not pleasant & of not good taste.

 

[ainsworth74]

That poster truly is ridiculous FGW have not been culpable for any of the fatal accidents that have occurred during their tenure, just as Virgin are not for the only fatal accident during their tenure. Scaremongering and pure propaganda without any basis in fact, further the poster is far from being in good taste.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Whoever made that poster needs to be shot. That's beyond disgusting. FGW's two accidents were caused by a signal failure and a car driver. At no point to my knowledge has any TOC been directly responsible for a fatal accident.

Thames Trains did accept some blame for the Ladbroke Grove crash, there was no signal failure, it was showing red when the Thames train passed it, however there were various problems with the position of the signal.
The poster is in very bad taste.

 

[snail]

Will the free WiFi be in a specific class or throughout the train?

Dunno. All it says is 'free WiFi access for all customers'.