dk1
Veteran Member
I've got to get from Brundall to Bolton. Plan was via London but with only 2tph on the Manchester route it's going to be hideous. Will go direct from Norwich to Manchester or go via Doncaster or Leeds if I'm feeling fidgety.
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VTWC strike travel disruption info/advice
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I've got to get from Brundall to Bolton. Plan was via London but with only 2tph on the Manchester route it's going to be hideous. Will go direct from Norwich to Manchester or go via Doncaster or Leeds if I'm feeling fidgety.
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RailUK Forums
Metrailway
Member
Pretty bad from Coventry.
Appears to be no Virgin trains to Birmingham until 08:36 so everyone is crammed into 4 car LNR services.
Appears to be no Virgin trains to Birmingham until 08:36 so everyone is crammed into 4 car LNR services.
stuart100100
Member
I was booked on the 17.33 Euston to Liverpool which didn't run so got the 16.57 instead. Quite a few empty seats in coach U where I was. Not as bad as I was expecting it to be. Probably worse later on. Train manager in a high viz walked up and down the train for most of the journey for any questions etc
Phil from Mon
Member
Does anyone know which of these was actually happening? I’m travlelling up to N Wales from Oxford next month and it would be useful to know in advance, if the strikes are still going on. No info either about whether tickets will be valid via Shrewsbury - mine currently says via Crewe only - and it might be easier to do ATW direct from Brum.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
It has Arriva.
roversfan2001
Established Member
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Y Ddraig Coch
Established Member
Virign are a disgrace the way they left North Wales with a one service a day during the strikes whilst most other routes had a reasonable service.
To be honest, the lack of cheap advance fares, ageing trains, poor service in first class among other reasons mean Virgin WC has gone from possibly my favourite TOC to a mediocre at best.
To be honest, the lack of cheap advance fares, ageing trains, poor service in first class among other reasons mean Virgin WC has gone from possibly my favourite TOC to a mediocre at best.
roversfan2001
Established Member
Also, it's Arriva Trains Wales, not just 'Arriva'. Arriva own a number of TOCs.Please do.{CRINGE}
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Yes but to be fair it’s unlikely we’re going to see Chiltern Railways or CrossCountry in Chester!
roversfan2001
Established Member
However Northern do run to ChesterYes but to be fair it’s unlikely we’re going to see Chiltern Railways or CrossCountry in Chester!
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
However Northern do run to Chester
Oh I forgot about Northern!
Well my post stands for both!
If you want to get to Chester or North Wales you can rely on Arriva. ATW or Northern.
But who calls Northern Arriva?
The trains are newer than most of the Arriva Wales stock. It's just that the Virgin Voyagers are in need of refurbishment and refitted interiors.
47271
Established Member
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Back on topic.
I was due to travel with them this Friday (22 December) but the train's been cancelled with no reasonable substitute, or at least one that isn't almost certain to turn into a nightmare. I've made other arrangements that don't involve Virgin, luckily such a thing is easily possible in my case.
Two things:
- They're very keen to spam us with their awesomes and gloriouses but I've had no direct communication from them on the subject even though the booking was made more than a month ago. In fact, were it not for this forum I probably wouldn't even have known about the specific strike days.
- They tell me that I'm entitled to a refund. I spent quite a while online earlier and I'm convinced the only way to achieve this is to PHONE them. Is this right, it's like they're deliberately trying to deter me from asking for my money back? What's wrong with an online form?
Far from awesome.
I was due to travel with them this Friday (22 December) but the train's been cancelled with no reasonable substitute, or at least one that isn't almost certain to turn into a nightmare. I've made other arrangements that don't involve Virgin, luckily such a thing is easily possible in my case.
Two things:
- They're very keen to spam us with their awesomes and gloriouses but I've had no direct communication from them on the subject even though the booking was made more than a month ago. In fact, were it not for this forum I probably wouldn't even have known about the specific strike days.
- They tell me that I'm entitled to a refund. I spent quite a while online earlier and I'm convinced the only way to achieve this is to PHONE them. Is this right, it's like they're deliberately trying to deter me from asking for my money back? What's wrong with an online form?
Far from awesome.
All Line Rover
Established Member
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Ageing trains and poor service in first class? I'm not sure what mythical TOC you are comparing Virgin WC to but, in my experience, Virgin WC is one of the best franchised TOCs out there. That's not saying much considering the state of the 'competition' (only DOR East Coast betttered Virgin WC in some areas, though not all - e.g. the awful '70 minute rule' in first class) and Virgin WC is far from perfect, but still...
As for a lack of cheap Advance fares, the walk-up fares betweeen North Wales stations and London are exceptional value for money and the evening 'peak' Voyagers from London to those stations are full. If Virgin applied the Chester / Manchester / Liverpool / Birmingham peak restrictions to tickets from North Wales stations, then they might introduce cheaper (but not 'cheap'!) Advance fares.
All Line Rover
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No they're not. Compared to XC's Voyagers, and despite XC's supposed 'refurbishment', VT's Voyagers are in a fine state of repair.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
There isn’t much difference.
Virgin ones have a shop
Virgin ones have blue lights in the middle
Oh and cheap fake leather seats in first
That’s about it!
dk1
Veteran Member
That sounds like more than enough to me. Plenty good enough for the job.
CharlieSpotted
Member
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Aside from the above, in my experience, VT's Voyagers are in a noticeably better state of repair/maintenance. They have less visible wear and tear and generally look smarter inside. To me, the XC ones seem terribly neglected in terms of maintenance.
The difference is very significant. The carpets and trim are cleaner and newer in the VT sets, and they do not smell of toilet waste. Some of the XC ones have a slightly less overpowering stench admittedly but the VT ones don't have the same problem.
All Line Rover
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Yes, the XC ones are in a poorer state and tend to have litter scattered about. XC don't seem to have a dedicated cleaner on each service.
Is there a reason for that, do you know?
221129
Established Member
Not many trains have a dedicated clearer for its entire journey....
All Line Rover
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To my knowledge, all VTWC services with a duration exceeding 60 minutes have an on-board cleaner at some point during their journey. Often throughout the entire journey.
We're talking about a TOC with fares and journey times rivalling VTWC here. Not Northern or Thameslink.
We're talking about a TOC with fares and journey times rivalling VTWC here. Not Northern or Thameslink.
221129
Established Member
Most XC services see a cleaner at some point in their journey at least once, if not more.
All Line Rover
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Then it's a pity it doesn't show.
221129
Established Member
In your opinion. I've seen some dire Virgin East and West Coast trains before, doesn't mean I tar them all with the same brush.
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