XC Being Very Detailed

[466.networkers]

Just noticed this on the CrossCountry live updates page:

08:30 Penzance to Dundee due 20:25This train has been delayed and is now 58 minutes late from Durham.This is due to a train fault, Defective Speedo. Set swap at Edinburgh using 220007 off 9S61.
Most people reading this won't have the foggiest what they mean.
This isn't your handiwork is it Damon?

 

[voyagerdude220]

I noticed what is IMO the very good journey update section on the XC website, but is it me or is it:

That Voyagers seem to be having train faults alot more than before? It's just that the New XC website seems to be constantly flooded with delays caused by train faults? What i'm wondering, is what kinds of faults are delaying them? (** No silly plastic answers please**)

I also notice this on the NRES website.

It could just be that VT didn't report things on their website though.

 

[87015]

I noticed what is IMO the very good journey update section on the XC website, but is it me or is it:

That Voyagers seem to be having train faults alot more than before? It's just that the New XC website seems to be constantly flooded with delays caused by train faults? What i'm wondering, is what kinds of faults are delaying them? (** No silly plastic answers please**)

I also notice this on the NRES website.

It could just be that VT didn't report things on their website though.

Correct, Arriva are just publicising it...

 

[me123]

Nice of them to give such detailed info; better than the usual rubbish that we get anyway.

I have noticed that this page is usually rather full. Is this normal, or are Arriva just mucking things up already? Of course, with a "broken down train between Oxford and Banbury", a lot of the serices will be disrupted in addition to the norm.

 

[466.networkers]

Well, I have noticed that a lot of cancelations on Southeastern have been train faults (both Networkers and Electrostars) and lack of fit rolling stock.
Wonder what will happen if they run out of 466s? What trains will come in on the lines that use them i.e., my line (Sheerness Line)?

 

[Tom]

508s if there is a spare one.

 

[466.networkers]

I hoped that wouldn't be the case ....
The timetable change is nearly among us and I was expecting the 466s to be replaced with some of the refurbished 508s, but it seems all is well so they are staying put ...... for now.
Kinda hard to believe it's nearly a year since the 508s went and the 2Nets replaced them.

 

[1D53]

Maybe Arriva are instructing on board staff to consult it so they have a better overall idea of the situation.

 

[Coxster]

This isn't your handiwork is it Damon?

I don't have a clue what you mean I just take information directly from the TOCs themselves and reword it into something suitable for the public

 

[mrcheek]

maybe Virgin sabotaged all the units before the handover

 

[devon_metro]

I noticed what is IMO the very good journey update section on the XC website, but is it me or is it:

That Voyagers seem to be having train faults alot more than before? It's just that the New XC website seems to be constantly flooded with delays caused by train faults? What i'm wondering, is what kinds of faults are delaying them? (** No silly plastic answers please**)

I also notice this on the NRES website.

It could just be that VT didn't report things on their website though.

The fact that Arriva aren't up their arse at how good their awful trains are and are happy to reveal the fault with them.

 

[First ScotRail]

maybe Virgin sabotaged all the units before the handover

Wouldnt surprise me!

 

[djw1981]

Somehow though I feel Liam's explanation might be more realistic!

 

[87015]

The fact that Arriva aren't up their arse at how good their awful trains are and are happy to reveal the fault with them.

Good man

 

[voyagerdude220]

The fact that Arriva aren't up their arse at how good their awful trains are and are happy to reveal the fault with them.

I challenge you to PM me the relevent problems caused by VXC, which made the Voyagers "awful" trains.

That's if you can manage it! :roll:

They just need more carriages & luggage space in FC IMO, the former definately not being VXC's fault.

I'd rather have a shop, than a crap trolley which doesn't have HOT food on it, and 20 extra seats..

Edit: When are AXC planning on taking the shops out of the Voyagers which they've been given?

I would assume it would have to be done at the same time (or near enough anyway), so that they don't have some with shops, others without, and then no proper way of telling both passengers and retail staff what service will be provided in standard class.


Am i right in saying that Voyagers are getting at-seat service north of Preston from December? If so, it's not at all bad at all! I also look forward to 185's along the WCML, as I just can't get enough of them at the moment- They are in a league of their own!

 

[adambro]

Where in the quote was it implied that any problems with the voyagers were caused by Virgin, I'm not sure where you see it.

I'd much rather be on a voyager than a 185 having travelled extensively on both. Maybe the novelty of the 185 hasn't worn off for you. They are very nice trains yes but not really appropriate for long distance services.

I think it would be unlikely they would all be removed at once as that would require them all to be out of service, more likely they will just close the shops on all units and then gradually make the modifications.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I'd much rather be on a voyager than a 185 having travelled extensively on both. Maybe the novelty of the 185 hasn't worn off for you. They are very nice trains yes but not really appropriate for long distance services.

I fully agree with you about 185's, but i like the thrash which you get in FC, although i've never travelled SC, so can't comment about thrash, and/or the quality of seating on 185's in SC.

I think it would be unlikely they would all be removed at once as that would require them all to be out of service, more likely they will just close the shops on all units and then gradually make the modifications.

I was thinking that if AXC was desperate to make the alterations so soon into the franchise, they could do them over Christmas, if they could get people to do them over Christmas, and also depending on the amount of time it takes to remove one of two very decent parts of the Voyagers.

(the other being first class)

TBH people, if AXC do rip out the shop, I will personally go off the damaged Voyagers very strongly, and try to stick with VWC as far as possible.

At least on 185's, the trolley is usually based in FC at peak times anyway, so when you've got a very good conductor, who forces standing bitchy american women to stand elsewhere outside of FC, in the bit where the toilet is, I can relax whilst the trolley man provides a very good service.

I've been on very busy Voyagers before, and made my way down SC to the shop before, got served, and went back to my seat in First, without any problems getting food.

Now if there was a trolley, I would have to ask/search for the trolley, and hope that it was as near to FC as possible.

Does anyone know when AXC are going to introduce hot meals to FC?
Will they be available 07:30-18:30 on weekdays?
Will their be enough time to serve them on Voyagers which make frequent stops?

 

[First ScotRail]

I would prefer a trolley as i dont like leaving my things to go up to the shop and having to wait a long time if it is busy.
XC will introduce meals to first class, hot, i dont know
First Class will get its own trolley if im correct?

 

[djw1981]

I understood 2x trolleys, with the first class one based at the driving end of the coach, where there is room for the oven for hot food. Thus effectively becoming a buffet?

For standard there will be a trolley park where the shop is, next to the extended luggage and seating areas.

 

[voyagerdude220]

XC wont serve preston after december so why would they be operating a trolley service on the voyagers ?

Because, if you read my post correctly, VWC are running our Voyagers around Preston, with most VXC TM's moving to VWC on Voyagers, but also some of our TMs are learning Pendos!!

There's a bit of a difference between Voyagers and Pendos!

Edit: Our FC Hosts who are based at Preston, should be working north of Preston, because they won't be working Preston-Bristol/Reading direct anymore, and so they will fill in the un-served area north of Preston, to/from Glasgow and Edinburgh, to mirror Pendolinos, which I have always thought should be covered on Voyagers in the first place, especially on Edinburgh runs.

 

[First ScotRail]

Because, if you read my post correctly, VWC are running our Voyagers around Preston, with most VXC TM's moving to VWC on Voyagers, but also some of our TMs are learning Pendos!!

There's a bit of a difference between Voyagers and Pendos!

Our FC Hosts who are based at Preston, should be working north of Preston, because they won't be working Preston-Bristol/Reading direct anymore, and so they will fill in the un-served area north of Preston, to/from Glasgow and Edinburgh, to mirror Pendolinos, which I have always thought should be covered on Voyagers in the first place, especially on Edinburgh runs.

It was stupid ending the catering at Preston and making you walk to the shop from Preston anyway. I know VWC are getting the Brum-GLC/EDB routes from 9 December. Last I heard it was VWC's intention for the staff to be able to work both Voyagers and Pendolinos especially from Glasgow.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I understood 2x trolleys, with the first class one based at the driving end of the coach, where there is room for the oven for hot food. Thus effectively becoming a buffet?

For standard there will be a trolley park where the shop is, next to the extended luggage and seating areas.

I thought that. The old shop will become a storage area similar to those on the re-furb'd HD HST's on FGW.

 

[Jim]

I think the live updates is brilliant on there!

 

[Nym]

maybe Virgin sabotaged all the units before the handover

Wouldn't dowbt it, Virgin have rather good links with Bombarder on the voyagers, so there could be a clever way to start it without it breaking down based in the Mcrrlrs that AXC Don't know about, lol

 

[djw1981]

Given Bomardier are likely to get a punishment from Ruth Kelly (she's said almost as much) over their role as a shareholder in Metronet, and given that they (together with Siemens and Angel trains) are bidding for the Intercity Express (HST2) project, I wouldn't have thought they would be so stupid as to a)upset the entire British rail industry, b) annoy the public or c) jeopardise their working relationship with Arriva over the next 8 years.

Such behaviour with respect to class 220 and 221 units (bearing in mind Arriva are not calling them Voyagers/ SuperVoyagers) would be reckless and irresponsible, but also since some of the 221's are going to Virgin in 2008, could end up biting Virgin as well, since I assume the Virgin WC Voyagers will be serviced at Central Rivers as well as the XC 220/221 fleets.

With the Intercity project due soon, and worth millions of pounds to Bombardier over the next 30-40 years (including maintenance), i canlt see them putting that at risk just because they liked Virgin. After all, in business, relationships are made and broken every day.

 

[devon_metro]

Voyagerdude: There are numerous problems with the Voyager trains of which have all been disussed before.

Just to please you I shall mention the awful vibrations experienced upon departure causing some of the most hideous rattles, which often occur throughout the journey. Mk3s on the other hand are virtually silent, with the exception of the gangway door sliding open continuously.

 

[me123]

About the removal of the shop: I don't like it. I enjoy the ability to go for a wlak to the shop, which breaks the journey, and reduces the risk of a DVT. (Deep-Vein Thrombosis not the train!). But I can see why the trolley would be prefered by many; on some services it is really difficult/inconvenient/impossible to get to the shops with people sitting in the vestibules.

And I have to say that I haven't had any problems with Voyagers in the past. The only noise I hear is the tilt when activated on the 221s.

 

[djw1981]

DVT risk on a train journey only really kicks in after 4-6 hours. XC and DfT research has shown that the average XC journey is less than 3 hours (ie Few people travel all the way end to end, except coverage nuts).

Your greater risk is FGW HD coaches where you cannot eally stretch your legs at your seat.

 

[me123]

DVT risk on a train journey only really kicks in after 4-6 hours. XC and DfT research has shown that the average XC journey is less than 3 hours (ie Few people travel all the way end to end, except coverage nuts).

Your greater risk is FGW HD coaches where you cannot eally stretch your legs at your seat.

Yes, I presumed the risk was low, but some people will do a Penzance to Dundee run presumably. Still, by keeping your legs moving the risk should be reduced.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

well, thanks to a late running GNER service, (which pulled into Newcastle at 1729, leaving me with less than a minute to get across the bridge to catch the 1730 to Seaham... Yup, missed it) I was able to notice that the 1820 XC service to BNS was still Virgin Branded, even the shield on the nose (at the FC end) was still in place... it was a 221, also still had the nameplate one. I thought they all had to be debranded by the handover?

 

[Tom]

Those still branded are transferring to West Coast in December...