Virgin Trains International video

[Intermodal]

Virgin Trains have posted a video on their Stafford Station facebook page, which is unlisted on YouTube so maybe not intended for general consumption, which shows from their point of view where they've come from, what they've done and where they are going, it seems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p-jckJte0U

One of the quotes that got me in the video:

The maxim is let's keep it simple. Let's not make it complicated, because moving people by train, offering the right product, is not a complicated business for the passenger.

 

[ushawk]

A woman towards the end said "i have never been on a delayed Virgin train before" - how many has she been on then as ive been on quite a few and ive been delayed a fair few times or maybe im unlucky.

 

[umontu]

Hmm. After the experience I had with virgin over the summer that video insults me in a huge way. I doubt I'll ever forget that journey and the anger I had build up thanks to them.

 

[shinkansen1966]

4 mins 52 secs "the maxim is, let's keep it simple"

shame this maxim is not carried into Virgin Train's fares structure.

There's a 13 fold difference between the cheapest and dearest return standard class fares between Manchester and London, with numerous fares in between and ever more restrictive off peak walk on fares.

 

[jon0844]

A woman towards the end said "i have never been on a delayed Virgin train before" - how many has she been on then as ive been on quite a few and ive been delayed a fair few times or maybe im unlucky.

I was not on a delayed Virgin train or the whole of 2011, or even 2010. In fact, I've not been on a delayed Virgin train this year so far.

The above is 100% honest too!!

(I just forgot to mention I've not been on any Virgin trains in 2010-2012!)

 

[dvboy]

Pendolinos through the channel tunnel? Trains in space? ...riiight....

To be fair though, there's not a lot wrong with that video. Their trains are generally clean and on time most of the time. The only bad experiences I have with VT are overcrowding still on evening Birmingham-Scotland trains.

Or perhaps I've been lucky. Some of the stations they manage still need some work.

 

[Fincra5]

I have Mainly when the tilt failed but... :P

 

[Temple Meads]

I've not been on a delayed Virgin service for 3 1/2 years.


I've also not been on a Virgin service for 3 1/2 years... :

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Good video.
Designed to show off with the new franchise competition about to start.
What would First, Keolis and Abellio show us?

Not sure about the Virgin Group TV ad I saw last night though to mark the takeover of Northern Rock.
Was that really a Pendolino running without any wires on single track?

 

[northwichcat]

A woman towards the end said "i have never been on a delayed Virgin train before" - how many has she been on then as ive been on quite a few and ive been delayed a fair few times or maybe im unlucky.

From my experience of using Virgin services:
57.1% departed on time and arrived on time
14.3% departed late but arrived on time
28.6% departed late and arrived late (half of those over an hour late)

 

[Schnellzug]

isn't "i have never been on a delayed Virgin train before" and similar silly statements rather defusing the argument for HS2, since the argument is that the WCML is so crowded? Now virgin are apparently saying that it's all working perfelty satisfactorily ...

 

[northwichcat]

isn't "i have never been on a delayed Virgin train before" and similar silly statements rather defusing the argument for HS2, since the argument is that the WCML is so crowded? Now virgin are apparently saying that it's all working perfelty satisfactorily ...

The WCML is crowded in terms of the number of trains using it. LM, XC, Northern and TPE also run services on the WCML, even though the Pendolinos in and out of London are the most well publicised WCML users and signallers frequently hold other operators services to allow Virgin through first even when the other service is running to time and Virgin are late.

 

[Schnellzug]

I wonder if Virgin, from a corporate point of view, would be pro HS2 or indifferent? By the time it is completed, after all, the WC franchise would probably have been renewed twice over, so it wouldn't make a great deal of difference to them for the foreseeable future. When it is completed, it'd make a big difference to whoever the WC franchise holder was by then, assuming that the franchise system was still in place, so would the then franchise holder be keen to see most of their traffic going to the high speed line?

 

[northwichcat]

Post-HS2 I imagine we'll see some Pendolino services but not as many and probably more stops per service, given that HS2 will provide the fast Intercity links.

Maybe something like:
London-Lancaster 1tph
London-Liverpool 1tph
London-Wilmslow-Manchester 1tph
London-Macclesfield-Manchester 1tph
London-Birmingham-Wolverhampton 1tph
London-Chester 1tph with some trains continuing to North Wales.

 

[Railguy220]

5 car Pendolino at 1:09 !?!?!

Passengers In space? Not too sure about that one, I think they will be getting some complaints if they're flinging passengers into space!

 

[Eagle]

Passengers In space? Not too sure about that one, I think they will be getting some complaints if they're flinging passengers into space!

London to space is about as far as London to MKC. Could a Pendo do it in under 35 minutes?

 

[WestCoast]

I've not been on a delayed Virgin service for 3 1/2 years.


I've also not been on a Virgin service for 3 1/2 years... :

Well there you go. I've been on many a delayed Virgin service, most of them have been infrastructure issues though.

 

[jon0844]

Passengers In space? Not too sure about that one, I think they will be getting some complaints if they're flinging passengers into space!

I'd not like to turn up at Mars International or Lunar Parkway and find that I left my railcard at home.

 

[tsr]

London to space is about as far as London to MKC. Could a Pendo do it in under 35 minutes?

I'm not sure why, but NRE doesn't seem to recognise that destination.

 

[HH]

I wonder if Virgin, from a corporate point of view, would be pro HS2 or indifferent? By the time it is completed, after all, the WC franchise would probably have been renewed twice over, so it wouldn't make a great deal of difference to them for the foreseeable future. When it is completed, it'd make a big difference to whoever the WC franchise holder was by then, assuming that the franchise system was still in place, so would the then franchise holder be keen to see most of their traffic going to the high speed line?

Actually the completion of the London-Birmingham section supposedly happens by the end of the new Franchise. In the meantime there will no doubt be considerable disruption caused by works around Euston and possibly around Birmingham. I doubt that whoever holds the franchise will be a big HS2 fan - unless they get the right to run it!

 

[wintonian]

I'm not sure why, but NRE doesn't seem to recognise that destination.

High speed 3 perhaps?

Wonder if they would introduce a HS3 and Not HS3 fare?

 

[RAPC]

I travel on Virgin once or twice a week from either Manchester or Preston to London and back, plus the occasional weekend trip to either London or Edinburgh. Probably been delayed 3 or 4 times in the past year. The only problem is that when you are delayed, you are typically well delayed thanks to some event or another. (Fire near the line and a suicide being the reasons for the 2 big delays last year)

 

[tsr]

High speed 3 perhaps?

Wonder if they would introduce a HS3 and Not HS3 fare?

Oh, of course. Also, what are the restrictions on taking bicycles into space?