Which is your favourite TOC and why?

[JDi]

So, you have a favourite TOC and why?

 

[Bletchleyite]

So, you have a favourite TOC and why?

SWT - they just seem to me to be that bit more professionally-run than the others.

 

[Railsigns]

My favourite is GTR, for putting paid to the idea that private sector TOCs can do no wrong and for boosting the case for renationalisation.

 

[les.]

VTEC for me, first class especially. Have traveled on most other TOC's and no one comes close to VTEC's first class service.

 

[SA_900]

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 5 characters.

 

[TheEdge]

AGA, every four weeks they deposit money into my bank account.

 

[3141]

SWT. I think they do an efficient and effective job in difficult circumstances. I admire them for recognising the need for additional rolling stock and terminal capacity at Waterloo and getting the DfT to authorise the necessary work. Of course in a complex operating situation some things won't work so well and some people will be dissatisfied with them, but overall I think they are the best.

 

[rebmcr]

DOR, their reward scheme is brilliant!

Oh, wait...

 

[Robertj21a]

Any run by Stagecoach - just so much more professional.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Northern. They pay my wages and do very well with what they have. Just a shame the near future is blighted by the threat of DOO (but thats for another thread)

 

[GW43125]

In terms of services, my local SWT are (usually) very reliable and we've got a lot of extra capacity on its way.

Though customer service wise, I find that VTEC&VTWC are the best in that respect, both on-train and social media.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Did Alex Hynes run over your cat? You've made similar comments before and Northern really isn't that bad.

He promises things on a huge scale that he inevitably fails to deliver and does not pay any attention to the basics at all. Northern is in my view mediocre at best - a polished turd, one could say.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Any run by Stagecoach - just so much more professional.

Yes, I think Stagey do a professional job - though SWT is I think that little bit better than the others.

 

[313103]

It is very difficult to say what is the best as each of them have their own issues and problems. Some are good at what they do, same are just coping with what they have got, one or two are just bad at nearly everything they do.

I very rarely travel by train other then by ATW or FGW so i cannot really comment on how others are doing. ATW will now only do what is stated in their franchise agreement from 2003 and the fact that their tenure of said company is coming to an end, means they just make do and mend. FGW in my area and the service i often travel on seem to be pretty good but they suffer from loads of engineering works, and loads of signalling problems that means reliability on the SWML is not very good.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

He promises things on a huge scale that he inevitably fails to deliver and does not pay any attention to the basics at all. Northern is in my view mediocre at best - a polished turd, one could say.

Well he has gone now (today was his last day as MD) to be fair we have had a lot worse. (From an employees point of view) Have to admit his timing was exceptional

 

[Bletchleyite]

Well he has gone now (today was his last day as MD) to be fair we have had a lot worse. (From an employees point of view) Have to admit his timing was exceptional

It will be most interesting to see what his replacement changes.

 

[387star]

SWT- maintain a consistently high standard of train presentation and have mostly comfortable well laid out trains

Chiltern railways are of course also excellent but I might put them second as their operation is about as simple as they come whereas SWT shines despite one of the most complex operations in the UK

I think FGW are excellent in parts but in the past have neglected anything outside of HSS... but the launch of GWR looks promising and the refurbished trains are looking very smart now. They are far from excellent though as they suffered terribly in around 2007 but have come a long way since then

I also think SouthEastern are much improved now they are refurbishing their electrostar fleet

From what I can see Abellio Greater Anglia have great potential with high quality recent refurbishments to their 317/6s for example and I get the impression the MD (James Burles?) really cares about the region he serves

 

[Bletchleyite]

Chiltern are reasonably good, though AIUI they led the attempt to abolish the Network Railcard that led to the weekday minimum fare, so for that they get a nice big black mark.

FGW/GWR appear to be operationally very competent (other than their total inability to solve the Class 166 aircon issue) but their customer-facing side (such as lying that said aircon issue was fixed when it wasn't) needs a lot of work. In some ways very little changed from BR.

 

[al78]

Virgin, they get me to Manchester in good time, I find the trains reasonably comfortable and last time I had a major delay they were very good at making passengers aware of delay repay. The other time when the train departed Euston without any staff for the shop because the staff had been delayed on an incoming train, they handed out those little snack boxes which helped moderate the hunger a little. I do get the impression that the staff do their best to assist in times when things go tits up.

The only other company I have much experience of is Southern, so that says it all about my preference.

 

[yorkie]

DOR, their reward scheme is brilliant!

Oh, wait...

DOR was never a TOC.

 

[507021]

For me, it has to be Merseyrail. The on board and station staff are always polite and helpful, as well as well presented. From my experience, the services are very reliable, and the trains are always clean and tidy internally. Personally, I find it extremely difficult to fault Merseyrail, my only issue with them is I think certain peak time services are bizarrely short formed, whilst other services which are six car could probably manage with three cars.

I like East Midlands, London Midland and Northern as well, I've always had positive experiences with those TOCs.

 

[yorkie]

Virgin, they get me to Manchester in good time, I find the trains reasonably comfortable and last time I had a major delay they were very good at making passengers aware of delay repay. The other time when the train departed Euston without any staff for the shop because the staff had been delayed on an incoming train, they handed out those little snack boxes which helped moderate the hunger a little. I do get the impression that the staff do their best to assist in times when things go tits up.

I find Virgin Trains staff to be very mixed, but mostly positive. Sadly they do not consistently offer good levels of customer service.

Their reluctance to use a West Coast suffix has caused confusion, though they do seem to be using it more now. I think it is important they distinguish between the companies as they have completely different policies in many areas.

The only other company I have much experience of is Southern, so that says it all about my preference.

Not a TOC any more , but the new company, GTR is under the same owning group. In their early days they were actually not that bad, but right now GTR are dire.

 

[dgl]

SWT for me although I do not travel that often, seem to be reliable, have Guards on EVERY train, and have high standards. Plus they have Express Sprinters with working A/C!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Yes, I think Stagey do a professional job - though SWT is I think that little bit better than the others.

Interesting how SWT gets a majority vote (so far), and yet their boss is one of the most reviled on this forum (second only to Mr Branston).
They have had 21 years to get it right [nearly as many as the Big 4], but might exit very soon if the competition goes against them (however good they might have been).

For me there is still too much variation between TOCs within the same owning group, and a mish-mash of brands.
I think VTWC would have rebranded if they had known they would get repeated 1-2 year extensions.
No point now before the WCP rebid.

 

[prod_pep]

Virgin Trains West Coast for me. Usually reliable and they've been excellent when things go wrong in my experience. Maybe I've been lucky but I've never had anything less than great customer service from them.

East Midlands Trains would be a close second.

 

[Minilad]

Cross Country.

They pay me

 

[Mag_seven]

British Rail!

 

[Robertj21a]

Interesting how SWT gets a majority vote (so far), and yet their boss is one of the most reviled on this forum (second only to Mr Branston).
.

I presume that is just your personal opinion rather than a known fact ?

 

[HowardGWR]

Interesting how SWT gets a majority vote (so far), and yet their boss is one of the most reviled on this forum (second only to Mr Branston).

see bold. I suppose he is always in a pickle with people on this forum. What about Mr Branson though?

 

[JDi]

My favourite is East Midlands Trains to London. St. Pancras is my favourite station.