Virgin / Stagecoach win East Coast

[Tommy1581]

Sorry if this has already been covered but:
When does Stagecoach/Virgin start the East Coast franchise?

 

[gordonthemoron]

1st March I think

 

[Tommy1581]

1st March I think

Ah, thank you

 

[Aictos]

1st March I think

It is indeed the 1st March fella.

 

[Tommy1581]

I've got less than a month to get photos of all EC branded locos... This is going to take some effort! Does anyone know when the locos and coaches get de-branded?

 

[ash39]

91117 is already de-branded. Well, the East Coast lettering has been peeled off, but you can see the white remains. Both sides so seems deliberate.

 

[Rhydgaled]

91117 is already de-branded. Well, the East Coast lettering has been peeled off, but you can see the white remains. Both sides so seems deliberate.

If it is only 91117 though, given East Coast's history with Skyfall and Sky advertising liveries, could another possibility be that they are preparing it for use for HALO 5 advertising?

 

[ModernRailways]

If it is only 91117 though, given East Coast's history with Skyfall and Sky advertising liveries, could another possibility be that they are preparing it for use for HALO 5 advertising?

Halo 5 isn't likely to be out until the back end of this year so highly unlikely.

 

[thealexweb]

Over the least two years Virgin Trains West Coast has been showing a lot more attention to Edinburgh Waverley by offering a bi-hourly London Euston service, albeit via Birmingham New Street. Should we expect this 'competition' between the WCML and ECML to informally end now that both routes are entirely controlled by Virgin and Stagecoach?

 

[gordonthemoron]

I hope not

 

[Deerfold]

Over the least two years Virgin Trains West Coast has been showing a lot more attention to Edinburgh Waverley by offering a bi-hourly London Euston service, albeit via Birmingham New Street. Should we expect this 'competition' between the WCML and ECML to informally end now that both routes are entirely controlled by Virgin and Stagecoach?

I think this was more about efficient use of train sets by connecting two routes at Birmingham - typical journey time of 5h41 is hardly competitive (and it's much faster to change to another Virgin service at Crewe - which was possible before the changes).

As it provides the fastest connection between Birmingham and Edinburgh I'd be surprised if it was withdrawn.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

You can earn points at my local Esso but no idea if you can use points. Presumably the money off thing doesn't work either.

The new (Tesco) pumps are excellent as you can now get the money off even when paying at pump.

AIUI you can earn clubcard points at Esso , but they don;t accept clubcard vouchers or the current 'fuel save' promotion against purchases

 

[hibtastic]

I think this was more about efficient use of train sets by connecting two routes at Birmingham - typical journey time of 5h41 is hardly competitive (and it's much faster to change to another Virgin service at Crewe - which was possible before the changes).

As it provides the fastest connection between Birmingham and Edinburgh I'd be surprised if it was withdrawn.

This service better not go - I travel between Edinburgh and Birmingham International every week. Great service and well used. I don't think many will use it to get to Euston from Edinburgh though.

 

[Chrism20]

I think this was more about efficient use of train sets by connecting two routes at Birmingham - typical journey time of 5h41 is hardly competitive (and it's much faster to change to another Virgin service at Crewe - which was possible before the changes).

As it provides the fastest connection between Birmingham and Edinburgh I'd be surprised if it was withdrawn.

The capacity was needed on Birmingham to Scotland hence the Wolverhampton service now runs through to Scotland.

Virgin themselves said passenger numbers had soared in the last two years between Birmingham and Scotland so it either needs a double voyager or a pendo on some/most of the services.

The extra revenue must be eye watering as 1st in a pendo can be over 60% full leaving Edinburgh on some services and that is when the cheapest advance is £110 three months out from Edinburgh/Birmingham.

 

[ainsworth74]

I think those services are safe as they aren't about London - Edinburgh and are all about Birmingham - Edinburgh. It's a not dissimilar position to the East Coast London - Glasgow service which is more about destinations like York/Newcastle having a direct link to Glasgow rather than trying to complete on the London - Glasgow market.

 

[thealexweb]

I think those services are safe as they aren't about London - Edinburgh and are all about Birmingham - Edinburgh. It's a not dissimilar position to the East Coast London - Glasgow service which is more about destinations like York/Newcastle having a direct link to Glasgow rather than trying to complete on the London - Glasgow market.

Hasn't East Coast given up on Glasgow Central completely? And if not given up, only one or two services a day.

 

[jopsuk]

On service per day, with all Glasgow Central Cross Country services going via Edinburgh and Newcastle (once upon a time Virgin XC services went to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and further north, via Carlisle and Carstairs)

 

[thealexweb]

On service per day, with all Glasgow Central Cross Country services going via Edinburgh and Newcastle (once upon a time Virgin XC services went to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and further north, via Carlisle and Carstairs)

With the new East Coast franchise requiring hybrid units to server Aberdeen and Inverness, would it not have been simpler for Crosscountry to cease calling at Glasgow Central and instead take on East Coast's Aberdeen and Inverness routes with East Coast extending one Edinburgh Waverley service per hour to Glasgow Central. Crosscountry's DMUs would waste less time driving under wires and East Coast might have been able to get away with an EMU only fleet.

 

[marks87]

On service per day, with all Glasgow Central Cross Country services going via Edinburgh and Newcastle (once upon a time Virgin XC services went to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and further north, via Carlisle and Carstairs)

Some but not all. The former Dundee-Penzance service went via the ECML, while the Aberdeen-Plymouth 3 hours later went via the WCML with a reversal at Edinburgh.

With the new East Coast franchise requiring hybrid units to server Aberdeen and Inverness, would it not have been simpler for Crosscountry to cease calling at Glasgow Central and instead take on East Coast's Aberdeen and Inverness routes with East Coast extending one Edinburgh Waverley service per hour to Glasgow Central. Crosscountry's DMUs would waste less time driving under wires and East Coast might have been able to get away with an EMU only fleet.

And remove the direct links to London from Aberdeen and Inverness (sleeper notwithstanding)?

No thanks.

 

[gordonthemoron]

With the new East Coast franchise requiring hybrid units to server Aberdeen and Inverness, would it not have been simpler for Crosscountry to cease calling at Glasgow Central and instead take on East Coast's Aberdeen and Inverness routes with East Coast extending one Edinburgh Waverley service per hour to Glasgow Central. Crosscountry's DMUs would waste less time driving under wires and East Coast might have been able to get away with an EMU only fleet.

The Dundee/Inverness/Aberdeen pax would not have been happy bunnies

 

[MidlandMainlie]

Over the least two years Virgin Trains West Coast has been showing a lot more attention to Edinburgh Waverley by offering a bi-hourly London Euston service, albeit via Birmingham New Street. Should we expect this 'competition' between the WCML and ECML to informally end now that both routes are entirely controlled by Virgin and Stagecoach?

IMO Virgin should do something with one of the three Manchester services per hour being to extended to Scotland (alternating bi-hourly between Glasgow/Edinbrugh) and the Scotland - Birmingham - Euston service. This could then free up TPE 350's for use on the Southen WCML.

 

[Deerfold]

IMO Virgin should do something with one of the three Manchester services per hour being to extended to Scotland (alternating bi-hourly between Glasgow/Edinbrugh) and the Scotland - Birmingham - Euston service. This could then free up TPE 350's for use on the Southen WCML.

And what do they use to extend the services to Scotland?

 

[gordonthemoron]

IMO Virgin should do something with one of the three Manchester services per hour being to extended to Scotland (alternating bi-hourly between Glasgow/Edinbrugh) and the Scotland - Birmingham - Euston service. This could then free up TPE 350's for use on the Southen WCML.

are there any spare pendolinos for this?

 

[MidlandMainlie]

are there any spare pendolinos for this?

Sorry I meant as part of the new franchise bid in 2017 assuming Virgin propose ordering more stock like they did in 2012.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Sorry I meant as part of the new franchise bid in 2017 assuming Virgin propose ordering more stock like they did in 2012.

sounds like a good idea to me, especially if it was the xx.20 departure from Euston

 

[thealexweb]

IMO Virgin should do something with one of the three Manchester services per hour being to extended to Scotland (alternating bi-hourly between Glasgow/Edinbrugh) and the Scotland - Birmingham - Euston service. This could then free up TPE 350's for use on the Southen WCML.

This is the view of many but the DfT just don't get it.

 

[Chrism20]

Sorry I meant as part of the new franchise bid in 2017 assuming Virgin propose ordering more stock like they did in 2012.

By that time a lot of the TPE network would be underwires and they would want to keep the 350s.

 

[MidlandMainlie]

By that time a lot of the TPE network would be underwires and they would want to keep the 350s.

Latest rumours are that TPE North electrifcation has been delayed beyond 2018 completion date (possibly up to 2021) so any new build of EMU would be completely different to the 350's on Scottish sevices. In those circumstances it would make sense for TPE to have a completely new class of EMU for all electric services and the small sub fleet of 10x 350's to be cascaded to the new proposed West Coast Connect franchise who will operate commuter services on the WCML (assuming the regional West Midlands services are split from London Midland and devolved to Centro).

 

[CallySleeper]

Is there a new website running yet? Will everything be added onto the current virgin.com/trains or will there be a new site.

You make it sound as though most rail travellers book their tickets via EC just for the points. I think that's a long way from reality.

With the exception of a very easy to use booking engine and online discounts, what is the reality?

 

[Stats]

Is there a new website running yet? Will everything be added onto the current virgin.com/trains or will there be a new site.

Its only carrying the FAQs posted up thread currently.
www.virgintrainseastcoast.com