Virgin unveil their refurbished Mk 3 rake

[Snapper]

Virgin Trains have unveiled the new look for their refurbished Mk3 rake

Details and pictures here:

http://www.paulbigland.fotopic.net/c1719883.html

 

[bengley]

What routes are these trains used for?

 

[gordonthemoron]

they can use that colour scheme when they take over ECML

 

[Royston Vasey]

Cheers Snapper. I must admit I expected something a bit more extensive on the interior, i.e. new seats rather than just covers. That'll split opinion on here no doubt! I guess this set isn't likely to stay in use that long though

 

[anthony263]

What routes are these trains used for?

This set should be used as a spare set if any of the pendolinois fail or there is any services disruptions other than that the only do the fridays only 18:45 euston - preston service.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Cheers Snapper. I must admit I expected something a bit more extensive on the interior, i.e. new seats rather than just covers. That'll split opinion on here no doubt! I guess this set isn't likely to stay in use that long though

Well it looks a bit like the NXEA refurbished MK3's a little but of a lot higher standard. Which says a lot for National Express when there primary rolling stock has had a worse refurb than virgin's backup rolling stock.

National Express East Anglia still has old tables, no plug sockets, no wifi, so before any of you guys moan please bear in mind what it would be like if National Express had done it, simply new seat rags, new carpet and new wall coverings and thats it.

 

[richa2002]

Looks nice! Available for hire too which could provide much needed extra capacity at events for various TOCs.

 

[ukrob]

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p59294244.html

Shocking vinyling or shocking bodywork?

 

[MCR247]

I reckon its crap vinyling

 

[F Great Eastern]

Same here.

 

[Tugzrule]

Most of that looks like its dodgy bodywork, but there are some lines like the vinyls havent been put on correctly

 

[Metroland]

Should have had those of XC instead of those pesky voyagers 8 x MkIII and 67/90s.

 

[metrocammel]

Nice to see you at Wabtec today Paul!


There are some nice photos there, we were very lucky with the weather indeed!

For those who've asked about the useage of this rake (which is still designated WB64), it is primarily to be used for the FO Euston-Preston 'relief' train. It will also act as a 'hot spare' in case of any longer-term Pendo / Super Voyager failures. Virgin are also marketing it as a 'charter rake', that is to be hired out through the likes of Cargo-D, Riviera etc. It seems the majority of use is going to involve foot-ex type trains, similar to the recent Liverpool - Wembley / Euston jobs, and indeed the FA Vase train for the Whitley Bay fans.

I think it's great that they have retained 'period' features though, the 'Buffers' bar branding in the RFM must be from at least the mid-90!! :P

 

[87015]

So they've got network rail to pay for a rake to be refurbished (because NR were at fault for the Grayrigg nosedive) which will then be hired out commercially - nice gig if you can get it I suppose...!

 

[F Great Eastern]

Sucks that Virgin's backup MK3's are higher standard than NXEA's front line ones.

 

[kestrel]

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p59294244.html

Shocking vinyling or shocking bodywork?

bodywork matey most mk3's look like that take a look at FGW HST stock

 

[90019]

bodywork matey most mk3's look like that take a look at FGW HST stock

Have a look at this image.

 

[ukrob]

Have a look at this image.

Not really sure what you are trying to show? Looks like good bodywork to me, it is the lighting and reflections that are causing the marks.

 

[90019]

Not really sure what you are trying to show? Looks like good bodywork to me, it is the lighting and reflections that are causing the marks.

Its all the dents in the bodywork that are causing the lack of smooth reflections, just look at the glass above.
All the Mk3s are like that, they're not completely smooth sided at all, it's mostly just loads of little dents.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Awful livery though, but yeah it does look pretty dented.

 

[90019]

Awful livery though!

That's completely beside the point, and nothing to do with the point I was making.

 

[asylumxl]

I'm gonna guess, and say the sides are beaten sheet metal, it's small hammer dents from the shaping of the metal.

 

[90019]

I'm gonna guess, and say the sides are beaten sheet metal, it's small hammer dents from the shaping of the metal.

Most likely to be true, but the dents from the hammer will be more obvious on some coaches than on others.
Of course, the more obvious dents on the Virgin coach could be because something has hit it, or it could just be that it's more obvious becuase there is nothing around it to draw the eye away from the fact that it's there or to hide it.

 

[Railway]

Pictures from the July 1st press event:

http://www.upmain.fotopic.net/p59301934.html

http://www.upmain.fotopic.net/p59301932.html

 

[devon_metro]

Looks a bit of a bodge with green still present from WC days.

 

[schmoo_smith]

i think they look great

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

They look great if you ask me. I personally believe they would look good on the ECML Franchise - better than NXEC anyway.

 

[37401]

i like the Mk3`s but im still unsure of the DVT will take some getting used to, would like to se this put on the 390 replacement service, oh and for those wanting to know what the 90 would look like if they painted one well here is what it would look like..sorta if you look on that site im sure you will find a 90 in VT Red+Silver

 

[rail-britain]

From the press release
Only one coach has been refurbished internally (identical to a Class 390)
The others will be done ready for 26 July

The Press Release also advises that Class 90 or Class 57 may be used at weekends for hire along any of the Virgin Trains routes
Are there any major events, where this would be of benefit?

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Can I just ask how many HST's Virgin still have, how many 8-car sets of MK3s they have and if they still have any electric units (apart from Pendolino's)