"Serious Threat" To Virgin (from 2004)...

[ECML180]

...hold on a minute...nope, no threat at all.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...-Im-going-to-run-him-right-off-the-rails.html

It is a move that will strike a chord with fed-up rail commuters across the country. A businessman has become so dissatisfied with the performance of Virgin Trains that he is launching his own rival service.

Steven Howard is spending £20,000 hiring a locomotive and 13 carriages to run between London and Manchester. Tickets on the new, no-frills service, called Swift Line, will be considerably cheaper than Virgin's: a first-class return will be £70 compared with up to £280 with Virgin, while standard-class tickets are £60, as against up to £106 with Virgin.

I know it's outdated and I don't believe it ever can to fruition...but if only the railways were that simple! I wonder what Mr Howard is doing now?

 

[Yew]

I really hope he manages it! I guess he's looking at a 47 and rake of mk2's..


Edit: Just realised its 10 years old! I should have realised as the Vermin prices are only shockingly high, not flabbergastingly extortionate!

 

[telstarbox]

http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/local-news/drunk-eccentric-who-resisted-female-2532859

 

[WatcherZero]

http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/local-news/drunk-eccentric-who-resisted-female-2532859

<Insert jaw dropping silence>

 

[ECML180]

When I read the first article I was considering using the term 'nutter' but following the second I can't choose between nutter and eccentric

 

[455driver]

When I read the first article I was considering using the term 'nutter' but following the second I can't choose between nutter and eccentric

How about winker (misprint)!

 

[Alistair G.]

I've always wondered why we don't have "easy train" (or a similar brand!) Virgin run the WCML and it's only recently that LM have managed to get an "old line" path (rugby -MKC via weedon), but even that's only hourly.

There are opportunities for a company who are willing to take the chance but I don't believe there is the support for an open access company on the WCML

 

[455driver]

Where the paths that they are going to run in?

 

[Alistair G.]

During the peak there isn't much to be fair, but on the hour on the up there is a 11 minute gap that could be filled. Ok, doesn't sound like much, but on the WCML, 11 minutes is a life time.

On the down between rugby and Nuneaton (not looking at the paths via birmingham) every hour between 26 and 42 there is a gap, again, another possible margin, enough to probably get to colwich, or if not Amington and run from there

Just suggestions!.

 

[455driver]

At 95mph top speed (and slow acceleration) I dont think so!

 

[Skimpot flyer]

When I read the first article I was considering using the term 'nutter' but following the second I can't choose between nutter and eccentric

Someone with little personal wealth, displaying signs of madness, is a 'nutter'. If you display similar symptoms, but are wealthy, you are 'eccentric', dear boy

 

[cambsy]

I don't know if it could be done, but get the old APT at Crewe and refurbish it up to main line standard, re wire and repair electrics, fit TASS to it, then run it on WCML as an open access operator, be cheaper than new build and a hella lot of fun