Cross country garbage.

[charlie873]

This week I've been on several xc trains and was unimpressed by their standards. For example, the luggage space on the HST's is shockingly inadequate. Unless your lucky enough to board the train at the large luggage space then forget it, as the the space at the end of the coach is pointless. Might as well rip it out and cram another pair of seats in. Also, I don't think anyone would be offended if the toilets got emptied from time to time. Rant over.

 

[voyagerdude220]

It annoys me that VT have done a good job at making their 221's smell ok, whereas XC as far as I can see haven't done anything at all to their 220/221's. Also no sign of the promised 'hot plated food' in FC. I don't call the microwave stuff fantastic. Why can't XC buy ovens like VT?

 

[Butts]

It annoys me that VT have done a good job at making their 221's smell ok, whereas XC as far as I can see haven't done anything at all to their 220/221's. Also no sign of the promised 'hot plated food' in FC. I don't call the microwave stuff fantastic. Why can't XC buy ovens like VT?

And more importantly why don't the tightwads serve Free Alcohol in 1st Class like Virgin and East Coast

 

[charlie873]

I'm not privileged enough to travel in FC, vestibule class for me. All the way from Derby to Southampton. At least I wasn't alone though, at one point there was 13 of us in the vestibule.

 

[wintonian]

I suppose were due for another bash XC Voyagers and first class thread, which just goes to show how carp they are compared to other operators.

I shall chip in my usual moan that more often than not you can be conveyed from Bournemouth to at least Banbury and be lucky to be offered a hot drink let alone anything that consists of food.

I rarely do it now but I was amazed in the spring to be offered a tea/ coffee when travelling from Winchester to Banbury for a change to High Wycombe.

I was even more amazed to be offered a sandwich after getting on at Southampton, also earlier this year - I was only going to Winchester.

 

[All Line Rover]

And more importantly why don't the tightwads serve Free Alcohol in 1st Class like Virgin and East Coast

Perhaps because VT/EC are London-centric TOCs with high profit margins, whereas XC is a regional/commuter TOC with surprisingly low profit margins and short journey times?

 

[Greenback]

I shall restrict my contribution to my usual statement that due to many factors I now prefer to avoid XC Voyagers wherever I can.

In no particular order I dislike their fares, seat reservation system and policies, the cramped trains, the smell of the toilets and the lack of luggage spaces.

I do find the seats better than some other operators, but I must confess I find the Cardiff - Birmingham services quite nice to travel on!

 

[Butts]

I'm not privileged enough to travel in FC, vestibule class for me. All the way from Derby to Southampton. At least I wasn't alone though, at one point there was 13 of us in the vestibule.

Believe me it's not that much of a privilege.....two words...

Advanced First

 

[charlie873]

Proves how tight they are when the man forced the overly priced trolley through the rammed coaches then had to return to his kitchen area via the platform where I had to help him lift it back on the train because it was too heavy. Bloody useless!

 

[Butts]

I shall restrict my contribution to my usual statement that due to many factors I now prefer to avoid XC Voyagers wherever I can.

In no particular order I dislike their fares, seat reservation system and policies, the cramped trains, the smell of the toilets and the lack of luggage spaces.

I do find the seats better than some other operators, but I must confess I find the Cardiff - Birmingham services quite nice to travel on!

Would you agree it was a mistake to remove this franchise from Virgin and give it to Cross Country.

It certainly was for 1st Class Passengers - Lounge and Booze for starters !!

 

[All Line Rover]

I don't recall Virgin offering free alcohol under XC. It was a disgusting 'snack box,' which you had a 1 in 5 chance of getting, and the catering stopped at Preston, Newcastle, Bristol and Reading.

 

[12CSVT]

I'd hate to think what state the toilets of the 0820 off Aberdeen are in by the time it reaches Penzance. After 13 hours use without being emptied I'd imagine the retention tanks are overflowing.

 

[Greenback]

Would you agree it was a mistake to remove this franchise from Virgin and give it to Cross Country.

It certainly was for 1st Class Passengers - Lounge and Booze for starters !!

Not sure actually. I don't remember the trains being any better under Virgin. The toilets smelled then and the luggage space was even worse. The shop never seemed to have much in it either.

I only went FC once, and I never even got a newspaper!

 

[Butts]

I don't recall Virgin offering free alcohol under XC. It was a disgusting 'snack box,' which you had a 1 in 5 chance of getting, and the catering stopped at Preston, Newcastle, Bristol and Reading.

I'm sure they used to , but may be confusing them with Voyagers on EDB to BHM

 

[wintonian]

I don't recall Virgin offering free alcohol under XC. It was a disgusting 'snack box,' which you had a 1 in 5 chance of getting, and the catering stopped at Preston, Newcastle, Bristol and Reading.

it may have been a 1 in 5 chance snack box but that IMO far better than the current 1 in 50 hot drink and 1 in 100 sandwich.

In my experience yes the franchise was better under Virgin and even more so pre Voyager days.

 

[All Line Rover]

I'm sure they used to , but may be confusing them with Voyagers on EDB to BHM

The Birmingham to Scotland service is much better now (VWC) than it was under VXC. At least two rounds of food and four rounds of drinks! It used to be a 'snack box' and a drink after Wolverhampton, another drink just before Preston, then nothing for the rest of the journey.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

it may have been a 1 in 5 chance snack box but that IMO far better than the current 1 in 50 hot drink and 1 in 100 sandwich.

In my experience yes the franchise was better under Virgin and even more so pre Voyager days.

The problem with XC is stock control. Come 10am the availability of anything other than a biscuit is hit and miss!

 

[Butts]

Not sure actually. I don't remember the trains being any better under Virgin. The toilets smelled then and the luggage space was even worse. The shop never seemed to have much in it either.

I only went FC once, and I never even got a newspaper!

I rarely travel 2nd Class on "Long Haul" - but I believe East Coast have set the benchmark for the 1st Class Advanced Package in terms of fares and onboard catering.

Anyone travelling from Aberdeen to Penzance in XC 1st Class let alone "cattle" needs a lobotomy

 

[charlie873]

The first class on the Southern Trains service from Bromley South to London Victoria makes me laugh. It's in the same coach as standard class not even a door seperating it and the only difference is there's a little cloth over the headrest that says first class, also there's no guard or buffet service on there anyhow so why pay more?

 

[sprinterguy]

I'd hate to think what state the toilets of the 0820 off Aberdeen are in by the time it reaches Penzance. After 13 hours use without being emptied I'd imagine the retention tanks are overflowing.

I wouldn't imagine they would be overflowing: Completely different market, but the tanks on the 357s at c2c will last three days between being emptied. As long as they are emptied before the weekend, where the passenger market becomes much more leisure based and greater demands are placed on the toilets and tanks, they make it through to the end of the weekend just fine. I can't imagine that the retention tanks on Voyagers are smaller than those on 357s.

 

[transmanche]

The first class on the Southern Trains service from Bromley South to London Victoria makes me laugh. It's in the same coach as standard class not even a door seperating it and the only difference is there's a little cloth over the headrest that says first class, also there's no guard or buffet service on there anyhow so why pay more?

Well that's obvious - it's to get a better chance of having a seat in busy periods.

 

[Butts]

I'd hate to think what state the toilets of the 0820 off Aberdeen are in by the time it reaches Penzance. After 13 hours use without being emptied I'd imagine the retention tanks are overflowing.

The toilets on the plane are fine and the fares often cheaper

Why does everyone hate XC ???

 

[Greenback]

Anyone travelling from Aberdeen to Penzance in XC 1st Class let alone "cattle" needs a lobotomy

I agree. It is vastly more comfortable, probably faster and usually cheaper to travel via London uisng East Coast and FGW!

The toilets on the plane are fine and the fares often cheaper

Why does everyone hate XC ???

Perhaps the entire concept of the franchise and the services it operates need to be redefined.

On a slightly more humourous level, is it because they is rubbish?

 

[Butts]

I agree. It is vastly more comfortable, probably faster and usually cheaper to travel via London uisng East Coast and FGW!



Perhaps the entire concept of the franchise and the services it operates need to be redefined.

On a slightly more humourous level, is it because they is rubbish?

If not flying your route would be preferable (vastly so) but due to my affliction it's a non-starter for me

It needs to be upgraded to offer similar 1st Class Service to the other "long haul" operators.

 

[ainsworth74]

Advanced First

If you can find one that's decent value and doesn't require travelling late at night I'll be very impressed. For example between Darlington and Edinburgh the cheapest XC First Advance is £30 whilst the cheapest EC is £21.35 (and I think we'd agree EC have the better offer), further the quotas on XC First Advances are very, very small so only one or two of those will be available and not on all services.

 

[Temple Meads]

I'm starting to get really bored with "I hate XC Voyagers" threads now, can we go a whole week without one?

Anyway, I was riding on a quiet, non-smelly 221 between Taunton and Bristol last night, and it was fine, I find the seats very comfortable, and there were few rattles on this one, coupled with the acceleration it was a very pleasant journey indeed, the only reason it wasn't as good as a HST is a lack of droplights (and not many people other than me really care about that, indeed some may see it as a good thing).

But I've said it many times before and I'll say it again, unfortunately too many Voyager's have smelly toilets/rattling interiors/serious overcrowding, solve these issues and there's nothing wrong with them.

 

[wintonian]

I wouldn't imagine they would be overflowing: Completely different market, but the tanks on the 357s at c2c will last three days between being emptied. As long as they are emptied before the weekend, where the passenger market becomes much more leisure based and greater demands are placed on the toilets and tanks, they make it through to the end of the weekend just fine. I can't imagine that the retention tanks on Voyagers are smaller than those on 357s.

Maybe that's why there's so many complaints about the smell from them.

 

[Butts]

Maybe that's why there's so many complaints about the smell from them.

Why can they can sort non-stinking toilets on Aircraft with minimal room compared to a Voyager
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm starting to get really bored with "I hate XC Voyagers" threads now, can we go a whole week without one?

Anyway, I was riding on a quiet, non-smelly 221 between Taunton and Bristol last night, and it was fine, I find the seats very comfortable, and there were few rattles on this one, coupled with the acceleration it was a very pleasant journey indeed, the only reason it wasn't as good as a HST is a lack of droplights (and not many people other than me really care about that, indeed some may see it as a good thing).

But I've said it many times before and I'll say it again, unfortunately too many Voyager's have smelly toilets/rattling interiors/serious overcrowding, solve these issues and there's nothing wrong with them.

The only decent (or half decent) seats in cattle on a Voyager are those extra room ones for the elderly

 

[tsr]

Why can they can sort non-stinking toilets on Aircraft with minimal room compared to a Voyager

Because the aircraft's hot exhaust gases are not (or, indeed, so I sincerely hope) pumped directly past the leaky ventilation system for the toilet.

And before some smart aerodynamics engineer or physicist wants to give me a lecture on the Coanda Effect, other fluid flow dynamics and their relevance on the flow of aircraft emissions past the rear of the cabin, please would they consider the effects of cooling on said emissions and also the insulation between said emissions and the onboard bogs. :P

 

[Butts]

Because the aircraft's hot exhaust gases are not (or, indeed, so I sincerely hope) pumped directly past the leaky ventilation system for the toilet.

And before some smart aerodynamics engineer or physicist wants to give me a lecture on the Coanda Effect, other fluid flow dynamics and their relevance on the flow of aircraft emissions past the rear of the cabin, please would they consider the effects of cooling on said emissions and also the insulation between said emissions and the onboard bogs. :P

Very droll - that could give a whole new meaning to the term "blowback"

 

[Rich McLean]

Caught the delayed 19:36 from Oxford to Birmingham New St, shown up at 20:03, and by god it was noisy. One of the loudest 220's I have been on from memory.