First win Intercity West Coast franchise

[Whistler40145]

I totally agree, it's time to forget about the past & look forward & hope that First West Coast can do the job.

 

[tbtc]

Incidentally, id love to know how Souter feels in all of this. As it's been stated, they never seemed the best of business partners - always the odd couple, and to have his Stagecoach brand being roped back into the Media with this Free Franchise idea?...

Good question - is Brian Souter happy for Stagecoach to work for "free" here?

So just in case I am confused here, Virgin, who claimed they could not give a penny more to the DFT as it would not be viable and would risk making the company have financial problems, are now offering to "donate" extra sums to charity if it will help them? Doesn't that kinda go against their whole argument?

In my view charity donations in connection with government contracts should not be permitted that is not just by Virgin, but by any company or industry. I give money to charity myself and my company does as well, but the difference is we donate money because we want to donate, not because of we are thinking what is in it for us.

I totally agree - if that was Virgin's best bid then how come he's found the capacity to do it all for free? Smacks of tokenism, smacks of Branson really.

 

[dosxuk]

If just 1-2% of these customers decide not to travel due to (perceived) inferior customer service under First, or loss of loyalty, these 10% growth predictions may become hard to hit.

I imagine several of those 1-2% will also express outrage at how Branson will be 'forced' to sell his pendolinos to First. I've already seen several comments calling on him to not sell them so First won't be able to provide the service.

 

[jon0844]

I got into an argument elsewhere with someone who is adamant that Virgin bought and paid for the trains, and without Virgin we'd still have the trains from the BR days.

They were also built entirely to Virgin's specification and Virgin came up with the tilt concept. Anyone would think Virgin upgraded the WCML too (oh wait, yes some people do!).

On that basis, no wonder people feel First is coming in and stealing everything from Virgin.

 

[Geezertronic]

I have to laugh at some of the "I'll never use a Virgin Train again" comments. Sometimes I don't know who is worse: people who spout bile like that, Virgin for their stance, people who sigh the petition on the basis of incorrect information etc...

I for one am a regular user of VT and am indifferent to the announcements

 

[Realfish]

I imagine several of those 1-2% will also express outrage at how Branson will be 'forced' to sell his pendolinos to First. I've already seen several comments calling on him to not sell them so First won't be able to provide the service.

...and many could be people for who the new franchise means they will take a time out to think again about their travel arrangements now their 'preferred supplier' has gone. 10 minutes longer from Brum to London via Chiltern / DB might not seem so bad, especially at it will be £45 cheaper (even after First's anytime fare reduction).

Worse, if First get it wrong - in terms of customer service; or the new MK peak-time calls result in the awful overcrowding that we had to endure before they were withdrawn many years ago; or First introduces high density seating to cope; that 1 or 2% attrition will only be the start of First's difficulties.

 

[junglejames]

So a Government isn't allowed to carry out a tendering process in the correct and legal manner if the public doesn't like the outcome? Opinion based on the voice of a high profile business leader working for a losing team?

Why not choose the company wanting to run the ECML by getting ITV to produce a TV show, hosted by Ant and Dec and produced by Simon Cowell. Let's ignore logistics and that rubbish and concentrate on things like staff uniforms and theme tunes for advertising campaigns.

Yep, apparently you should always take the publics perception of the company into account (even if it is an unfair perception).
So Virgin never need to make a good bid again. The clever PR means they should win every franchise hands down no matter what! Well thats the end of £14million bids. Just send it in on an A4 bit of paper with the words 'I am Virgin'. 2 mins later you are offered the franchise. Bobs your uncle.

Whatever you do, dont go and teach Connex good PR. We could all be shafted then!

 

[HH]

What people should really be concerned about is this nugget of information:
"FirstGroup assumes that the London to Scotland line will grow at a rate of 10.4pc a year, but a trading update from Stagecoach last week revealed the operation has experienced revenue growth of just 0.6pc since April."

Except that 0.6pc is based on a part year, and not a typical part year at that, since it includes the Olympics.

Lies, damn lies, statistics...

 

[Lawman]

Folks,
Was reading in the press that there are various petitions to have Virgin Trains reinstated to run the WCML Services.Could this happen if there is enough public support fot Virgin or has then Deal been signed from First Group.?lt would appear that Virgin had a good reputation with plenty of support from the public,better the devil you know in my opinion

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It's not done until the contract's signed. Which it will be imminently, I understand.

 

[dk1]

Tuesday is supposed to be the day of sighning. Sir Richard has offered to run the franchise for free for a few months if the deal is delayed & investigated.

 

[EM2]

...Virgin's customer service is very good...

If that's the case, why do they have more complaints per 100k passengers (258) than four First franchises (FCC FGW FTPE and FSR) combined (213)?
And reply to less than 60% of those complaints within the industry standard 20 working days?

 

[jon0844]

If delayed, a lot of staff contracted to December will suddenly disappear leaving Virgin to carry on as normal without them.

 

[junglejames]

I got into an argument elsewhere with someone who is adamant that Virgin bought and paid for the trains, and without Virgin we'd still have the trains from the BR days.

They were also built entirely to Virgin's specification and Virgin came up with the tilt concept. Anyone would think Virgin upgraded the WCML too (oh wait, yes some people do!).

On that basis, no wonder people feel First is coming in and stealing everything from Virgin.

I was told I was a liar after pointing out the truth regarding FGW and their supposed handing back of the franchise.
But dont worry, ive also been accused of being a First employee, and of setting up an extra FB account to argue my point! All because there were 2 people trying to point out the errors contained on FB!
Ive also been asked why, if First are as good as Virgin, there is no petition supporting First!
You couldnt make it up could you!!

I dont mind if people have honestly had bad expeirences with FGW or the like. But when they cant accept the truth when they hear it, or when they throw all this crap back if people try and point out errors. Thats when I get annoyed.

 

[Geezertronic]

If that's the case, why do they have more complaints per 100k passengers (258) than four First franchises (FCC FGW FTPE and FSR) combined (213)?
And reply to less than 60% of those complaints within the industry standard 20 working days?

I happen to think they are crap, something they have in common with Virgin Media

 

[EM2]

I happen to think they are crap, something they have in common with Virgin Media

Funnily enough, I have never had a problem with VM! Nor have I with VT, but don't use them often. It's just that there's loads (well, over 100k so far ) telling how wonderful they are, when the figures just don't bear that out.

 

[Lampshade]

A comment from FB:

Which monumental idiot decided to give the West Coast Mainline franchise to First Group and scrap Virgin Trains? Hello two coach trains at peak times, slow services that take an hour to do 45 miles, which run late.

I was going to reply but it's easier to pander to ignorance.

 

[Whistler40145]

Exactly Lampshade.

 

[Pen Mill]

A comment from FB:



I was going to reply but it's easier to pander to ignorance.

Ah yes ,didn't you know Exeter-Barnstaple was in the West Coast Franchise this time , after all Barnstaple is on the West Coast.
I think they're looking at including the Cambrian Coast too but ATW have tweeted their twitters and petitioned against it.

Sorry , this is driving me insane !

 

[Whistler40145]

Call the men in white coats before we all go ga ga!

 

[jon0844]

Call the men in white coats before we all go ga ga!

What's that? Virgin has got Lady Gaga to support their bid now?!

 

[Lampshade]

What's that? Virgin has got Lady Gaga to support their bid now?!

Well there has always been a bit of a Bad Romance between Virgin and the DfT...









Sorry

 

[Whistler40145]

Very funny!

 

[F Great Eastern]

Branson can't help it, but to be a bad loser, he was just Born This Way

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Ok, yes, 98% of the people travelling on Friday, 7 Dec will travel again on Friday, 14 Dec. But Virgin really have built up a solid loyalty, particularly on the EBW and Manchester routes.

If just 1-2% of these customers decide not to travel due to (perceived) inferior customer service under First, or loss of loyalty, these 10% growth predictions may become hard to hit.

If those customers stopped travelling due to loyalty to Virgin, it would make a difference to growth rates in the first year of the new franchise, but no difference in any subsequent year. So over the lifetime of the franchise, it wouldn't be significant.

 

[RPI]

but is it just bransons poker face... sorry, couldn't resist....

 

[F Great Eastern]

He just feels he's on The Edge of Glory judging from his delight at the petition numbers

 

[HH]

If those customers stopped travelling due to loyalty to Virgin, it would make a difference to growth rates in the first year of the new franchise, but no difference in any subsequent year. So over the lifetime of the franchise, it wouldn't be significant.

It doesn't work like that. Those 1-2% either never return, or take many years to do so. That means you are 1-2% down for years, maybe the whole franchise.

Trust me, this will be worrying First. Expect (in the short term) even more sweeties to be thrown at the great travelling public.

 

[WelshBluebird]

It doesn't work like that. Those 1-2% either never return, or take many years to do so. That means you are 1-2% down for years, maybe the whole franchise.

Trust me, this will be worrying First. Expect (in the short term) even more sweeties to be thrown at the great travelling public.

Your logic is a bit off there.
If 1 or 2% decide to stop travelling in the first year, then that will hit the first years growth figures.
But after that, they make no difference to the growth figures because they were accounted for in the first year. Yes they would hit overall passenger figures (barely) but not growth figures (as again that essentially negative growth was accounted for in the first year).

 

[jon0844]

Who is going to boycott First to spite themselves when nobody else will care by then?

Signing a petition is easy as it doesn't take long and means you don't give up anything.