could xc be stripped of franchise

[MCR247]

Thats the point I was trying (and failing!) to get across, because on EMTs side, to cover for the loss of HSTs, that is how much 220s EMT, and losing 26 voyagers wouldn't go in XC favour.

So that wouldn't help anyone

 

[route:oxford]

It's probably best to wait until the cross-rail service starts operating (ideally from Reading) before considering electrification of the GWML.

The passenger routing dynamic might change considerably - especially if the electric services also travel at 125mph.

Who'd want to trek around platforms at Paddington and head underground, when all you need to do is stand where you are or at most cross platforms at Reading?

 

[hello]

apparently its to do with the bombardier edmu, amd adding an extra 2 coaches to there voyager sets and with the possible mml electrification i would have thought it would make sense

 

[Lampshade]

apparently its to do with the bombardier edmu, amd adding an extra 2 coaches to there voyager sets and with the possible mml electrification i would have thought it would make sense

This is the railway

 

[TDK]

If XC is handed back I bet DB will be celebrating as it opens the door fully for the WCML

 

[220010]

XC = Xtra Crap
They are fine if doing short distances
Chelt to Brum or vice versa
I think Go Ahead could run it better!

 

[MCR247]

XC = Xtra Crap
They are fine if doing short distances
Chelt to Brum or vice versa
I think Go Ahead could run it better!

And why is that? What could Go-Ahead to that Arriva (DB) cant?

 

[tbtc]

And why is that? What could Go-Ahead to that Arriva (DB) cant?

Go Ahead would paint the trains in a different colour.

Other than that it'd be the same units at the same times with the same ticketing.

There is no magic wand for XC, and a change of provider will be barely noticed by passengers (as I've said, I know a few in Sheffield who use XC often who still call it "Virgin")

 

[mumrar]

Please tell me how Go-ahead, the overseers of the two highest cancelling TOCs, would be so much better? London Midland at various stages have been an absolute shambles, cancelling well over 100 trains on a single Saturday. Yep, bring them in cos Arriva have been so much worse.

 

[Greenback]

Go Ahead would paint the trains in a different colour.

Other than that it'd be the same units at the same times with the same ticketing.

There is no magic wand for XC, and a change of provider will be barely noticed by passengers (as I've said, I know a few in Sheffield who use XC often who still call it "Virgin")

Agreed. Arriva is not without its faults as a company, but the XC problems are far deeper than who is actually running the trains!

 

[mickey]

Other than that it'd be the same units at the same times with the same ticketing.

Not necessarily. LM has introduced a significant number of TOC-specific tickets at lower fares on competing routes, and that's even without their regular special offers. They also have more availability for Advance tickets than others. All of which would be a remarkable change for XC after Arriva.

 

[YorkshireBear]

There is no magic wand for XC, and a change of provider will be barely noticed by passengers (as I've said, I know a few in Sheffield who use XC often who still call it "Virgin")

yep i even know people who have an interest in trains (not too much but you know they know alot of stuff) and they always say virgin i correct them regularly

Whoever takes over are they not gonna struggle with exactly the same problem? short trains that are not fit for purpose? cos that for me is there only problem

 

[387star]

Its not that loud :?

And why would EMT want voyagers?

EMT have 13 HST sets I think. In return XC would need to give EMT 26 voyagers to make EMT no worse off, although it still isn't idea at all for them. They'd have to hire extra staff etc. Its not that good now is it.

I was only messing around hence the joke that I am biased. In my late night slumber I failed to remember how short formed the voyagers are in relation to HSTs!!

They are very noisy though (I guess depending where you sit..) Riding on one from Manchester to Southampton is dreadful

 

[MCR247]

I have done Newcastle - Reading, and the noise didn't bother me at all.

So you can't say as a fact they are very noisy, it is just difference in opinion I suppose

 

[387star]

Perhaps it is. Perhaps I'm too used to 377s !

 

[MCR247]

Perhaps it is. Perhaps I'm too used to 377s !

lol, to me they seem loud when another train passes at high speed, they are almost as loud as the 319s!

 

[tbtc]

Not necessarily. LM has introduced a significant number of TOC-specific tickets at lower fares on competing routes, and that's even without their regular special offers. They also have more availability for Advance tickets than others. All of which would be a remarkable change for XC after Arriva.

LM can sell cheap tickets from Birmingham to London because they are the "underdog" - nobody* would sit on a frequently stopping EMU via Northampton when there's a 390 every twenty minutes unless the ticket was a good bit cheaper.

Whilst LM run trans with lots of spare seats, the same cannot be said of XC. A few posters on here criticise XC for not doing BARGAIN fares, but the trains are already full with full price ticket holders. Why give away £5 tickets when trains are already full of people paying £50?

(* - well, nobody except a troll called Justin)

 

[mickey]

Whilst LM run trans with lots of spare seats, the same cannot be said of XC. A few posters on here criticise XC for not doing BARGAIN fares, but the trains are already full with full price ticket holders. Why give away £5 tickets when trains are already full of people paying £50?

But not all XC trains run full or even approaching it. Yes lots do at busy times, but evening and even some morning trains are often less than half full. Add into that the perennial problems of 1.everyone booking for the train that goes via Leeds and refusing to use the one via Doncaster and 2.trains that terminate at Reading (changing in December I know, but they're rarely full through Banbury) and my point starts to become clearer. A decent company with good yield management techniques would tempt passengers over with lower fares on emptier trains (as Virgin has done on the WC) but Arriva has consistently failed to realise this.

 

[mumrar]

I've just worked a packed 2 car 170 from New Street-Stansted, seating capacity 120 - 85 reservations of which over 60 were for Advance tickets. On a Friday afternoon this is just reckless, to have over 40 full fare customers standing and that many bargain basement travellers sat in seats.

The following train will have been even worse, another 120 seat unit with 97 reservations on from New Street, I admit that some of these reservations may start later than New Street, but how can a company justify so many cut price fares on trains that are so busy?

 

[mickey]

I admit that some of these reservations may start later than New Street, but how can a company justify so many cut price fares on trains that are so busy?

True, but don't forget that it's quite hard to know how much all those people paid for their tickets - for orcats purposes TOCs quite often make more money from the higher end of the advance market than they do from any permitted tickets where revenue is shared.

But I do understand your frustration, particularly on late afternoon trains ex.BHM. If only there were spare units knocking around to strengthen capacity.