virgin trains west coast and virgin trains

[mrredrunner100]

hi
if this is the wrong section then please feel free to move it

i am booking trains through the trainline.com, from euston to birmingham new street, i have found a few trains and i hover over the option and it says this ticket is only valid on virgin trains west coast. from what i know there is only one TOC related to virgin and that is virgin trains (with the pendolinos and voyagers). is the west coast part of the name, just a longer part of the name but it uses the same route and its just like that or is it a different route and different trains (not pendolinos and voyagers (trying to get on one of them)) or is it the exact same? bit confused :-?

mrredrunner100

 

[Cherry_Picker]

It's the same. There used to be Virgin West Coast and Virgin Cross Country. Arriva took over the Cross Country franchise/brand about five years ago leaving Virgin with the West Coast franchise. Virgin Trains and Virgin West Coast are interchangeable brands, like Coke and Coca Cola are.

I would imagine you restriction is highlighting that your ticket is not valid on London Midland trains between London Euston and Birmingham New Street or Chiltern Railways trains between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street.

 

[Goatboy]

i am booking trains through the trainline.com

Don't do this, because they charge a booking fee. Use the Virgintrains website, which is free and offers exactly the same ticket.

I don't understand why people use thetrainline.com.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

West Coast Trains Ltd is the official name of the TOC.
It trades as Virgin Trains.

 

[telstarbox]

If you use a Virgin ticket machine it appears as "West Coast Trains" on a bank statement.

 

[mrredrunner100]

Don't do this, because they charge a booking fee. Use the Virgintrains website, which is free and offers exactly the same ticket.

I don't understand why people use thetrainline.com.

thanks for all the resposes, not confused now

i will probably book it through virgin trains, as it shows the exact same journey would i be able to pick the tickets up from colchester (on GA TOC) as that is where i am starting from, so in other words will i be able to pick them up from colchester on greater anglia machines even though there booked through virgin?

 

[neilm]

Yep do not use train line as they charge.

 

[455driver]

I don't understand why people use thetrainline.com.

because they dont read the small print on their (rather annoying) advert that says they are comparing their advance purchase tickets with buy on the day tickets, thats why!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

because they dont read the small print on their (rather annoying) advert that says they are comparing their advance purchase tickets with buy on the day tickets, thats why!

I saw a Northern poster today telling people not to be "fleeced" by paying the trainline booking fee (with sheep in background), and to book on NT's web site instead...
But I don't think the public take very kindly to the idea of being called sheep by either the trainline or NT!

 

[telstarbox]

thanks for all the resposes, not confused now

i will probably book it through virgin trains, as it shows the exact same journey would i be able to pick the tickets up from colchester (on GA TOC) as that is where i am starting from, so in other words will i be able to pick them up from colchester on greater anglia machines even though there booked through virgin?

The Virgin Trains will show an "are you sure" warning in red text if you ask to collect tickets from a different station to where the ticket starts (ie Colchester instead of Euston), but just click Continue when this appears.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Don't do this, because they charge a booking fee. Use the Virgintrains website, which is free and offers exactly the same ticket.

I don't understand why people use thetrainline.com.

because they dont read the small print on their (rather annoying) advert that says they are comparing their advance purchase tickets with buy on the day tickets, thats why!

Also doesn't help when it's recommended by professional or official bodies. For example, I was having a flick through The Sunday Times Travel magazine the other day and in a feature on the Cotswolds (or somewhere) the article simply informed readers to consult TTL for ticket matters...

 

[455driver]

Also doesn't help when it's recommended by professional or official bodies. For example, I was having a flick through The Sunday Times Travel magazine the other day and in a feature on the Cotswolds (or somewhere) the article simply informed readers to consult TTL for ticket matters...

Probably because the Trainline pays them to say it!

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....is the west coast part of the name, just a longer part of the name but it uses the same route and its just like that or is it a different route and different trains (not pendolinos and voyagers (trying to get on one of them)) or is it the exact same? bit confused :-?

mrredrunner100

As noted Virgin Trains is the trading name of West Coast Trains, however, they have also traded as Virgin West Coast and their Advance tickets (and a few 'walk up' fares) are still routed VWC. Coupled with this is many people's belief that Virgin Trains still operate the Cross Country franchise.

 

[island]

Also doesn't help when it's recommended by professional or official bodies. For example, I was having a flick through The Sunday Times Travel magazine the other day and in a feature on the Cotswolds (or somewhere) the article simply informed readers to consult TTL for ticket matters...

Probably because the Trainline pays them to say it!

Doubtful, they would have to disclose this. It's more likely ignorance or poor research on the part of the writers. I wrote in once and had a letter published recommending people use TOCs' websites or RSH.