Virgin Trains to lose Cross Country in 2 years time!

45002 · Post by **45002** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:25 pm

On the BBC one,clock News it Said Virgin Trains are to loose Cross Country Services in Two years time due to Major shake up!

Thats all what was said,unless some else has any details?

MARTIN

Chris23 · Post by **Chris23** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:22 pm

I heard the report as well. When you combine it with Central Trains loosing their franchise it suggests wholesale reform.

It is interesting for where I live - Norwich - as Virgin CC were one of the supposed contenders for the Norwich - Manchester - Liverpool & Stanstead - Birmingham services.

Surely they cannot let "ONE" have this & become that big a monopoly?

45002 · Post by **45002** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:52 pm

With all theses changes, who looses out,us the Public who use Rail...

MARTIN

96smitro · Post by **96smitro** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:53 pm

Here is the relevent article on the BBC news site:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4352660.stm

It also looks like several other TOCs are affected, such as Silverlink and Midland mainline as well as Central anf Virgin XC...

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:04 pm

If taking maintainance inhouse is such a great money saver, why Don't Network Rail take running the trains inhouse?

They could also change the name to British Rail.

NorthernRail · Post by **NorthernRail** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:52 pm

ianmacmillan wrote:If taking maintainance inhouse is such a great money saver, why Don't Network Rail take running the trains inhouse?

They could also change the name to British Rail.

Sure If you want even later trains, rolling stock that is due to be replaced still running in another 20 years(even worse than now), poor wages for train crew, price hikes everytime the government has a shortfall in the budget etc etc

Fair enough things could be alot better, but they could also be a lot worse,
if it the government were still running things we would still be using sportis/aptis ticket machines in another 20 yrs (just an example)

45002 · Post by **45002** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:56 pm

It must be a bit of a kick in the Teeth for Richard Branson,all the money he has put into Building the Voyagers

I think he may say ,Stuff the lot of them and pull out of Rail all together?

MARTIN

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:34 pm

How much money has he actually put in ?
Not much.
The leasing company are the ones who really invested the money.
Beard just pays an amount per set per month/year.

dderek · Post by **dderek** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:19 pm

so whos going to run the cross country service down to bournemouuth ?
which one is that going to be part of?
Will they carry on with the same stock?

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:22 pm

dderek wrote:so whos going to run the cross country service down to bournemouuth ?
which one is that going to be part of?

Who knows.

dderek wrote:Will they carry on with the same stock?

Most people would hope not, Voyagers are not really suited to the long distance work.

dderek · Post by **dderek** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:27 pm

I quite like the Voyagers popping up to Reading as i do

skipperdipper · Post by **skipperdipper** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:38 pm

I would rather cross-country did Liverpool-Norwich as well. Central usually provide at 2-car Class 156, 158 or 170 for this service, and its usually very overcrowded. I remember having to stand from Liverpool to Manchester Piccadilly once. Maybe 220's or 221's would be more suited to this route?

Rob

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:53 pm

There is a simple reason.

Cross country does not go to London.

AlanP46 · Post by **AlanP46** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:57 pm

Check out this site for details on the proposed franchises:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/d ... 10020.hcsp

You could argue XC does go into Euston, as some of the Holyhead trains are run by XC stock (usually 5-car voyagers but sometimes 4 car).

I hope the voyagers are cascaded to the Stanstead - Brum services and new longer trains (of any kind) are introduced on the lower frequency routes...

Alan

allypally · Post by **allypally** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:59 pm

Cross Country does go to London

Kensington Olympia, that is!