Virgin Trains Troubles

petermakosch · Post by **petermakosch** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:27 am

Just heard that Virgin are in a bit of trouble.
All 78 Voyager/SV trains have to be checked after one was found with a Transmission fault.
Trains between Glasgpw, Birmingham and London are affected.
Pete

hjp766 · Post by **hjp766** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:32 am

Oh joy,
as if constant power failures at New Street causing me to resort to going to York via Manchester because it is quicker when Virgin XC dies becasue there are no spare platforms or routes isn't bad enough.

Guess i'll be going to London on Chiltern this friday then. At least they run a great service.

HJ

Stooopidperson · Post by **Stooopidperson** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:09 pm

Probbaly this will tell Virgin that HSTs are better.

jjules · Post by **jjules** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:41 pm

Perhaps so...

Still, I stand by my belief that Voyagers are great trains. It is a pity that they are used in place of a train more suited to the type of service.

Hereford to BNS would be the perfect route for Voyagers, particularly on the way back between 1600 and 1800.

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:55 pm

On Radio 4 news this morning they claimed that the Voyager was the first all new train (in the UK) since the steam age.

I was wondering... That can't be right can it? What about the HST? And the class 90? EuroStar? Are the BBC just making up railway news headlines again or do they know something I don't?

thedarkness · Post by **thedarkness** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:12 pm

Southern units?
Alot of diesel and electric locos.
I think Fodda is correct here

Post by **martinhodgson** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:44 pm

It's only the 44 Super Voyagers affected, and Virgin were attemptiing to run a 70% service - no trains at Lancaster were cancelled as of 1610, and I saw a 221 run through at about 1530.

Also saw a Grid running up the bank south of Lancaster, great noise! And saw an Intercity 47 leave Lancaster light and return light 40 minutes later

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 6:10 pm

Virgin Trains do not have troubles. They have temporary interruptions in passenger service which is someone else's fault and will be corrected as soon as possible. Honest guv, would I lie?

A Virgin Trains spokesman stated

nwallace · Post by **nwallace** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:21 pm

I was wondering... That can't be right can it? What about the HST? And the class 90? EuroStar? Are the BBC just making up railway news headlines again or do they know something I don't?

Hm,
EuroStar is a development of TGV.
HST i woudl have thought that was all new.
Cl 90 could probably argue the Cl89
The voyager can't be all new really, surley its got sisters/cousins in other countries.

Virgin Trains do not have troubles. They have temporary interruptions in passenger service which is someone else's fault and will be corrected as soon as possible. Honest guv, would I lie?

A Virgin Trains spokesman stated

Totally true, they jsut run what Bombardier/Alstrom sell them.
Therefore its either the manufacturers making a faux paux in construction or the maintainence being pants.
[/quote]

Hymek · Post by **Hymek** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 8:21 pm

Oh joy, Guess who is scheduled to get me to and from the NEC for warley this weekend. Lets just hope they have enough 87s, 57's and MK2s left!

nightbeaver911 · Post by **nightbeaver911** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 9:10 pm

I am a victim of Virgins misfortune, i feel sorry for the guys standing, 3 train loads on one train... unlucky

and no first class at seat service because the galley was been decontaminated after someone found hazards bio-chemical material there earlier that day which is why the train was 30minutes late. Okay ill pass on the tea thanks

thedarkness · Post by **thedarkness** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 10:19 pm

Yep hands up, i got to use Virgin to get up the West Coast mainline this weekend, that'll be an experience, i'm already investigating flying home {seriously, Birmingham to Southampton}

john1024 · Post by **john1024** » Thu Dec 04, 2003 7:12 pm

Virgin are now operating a "normal" service again.

yorkie2k · Post by **yorkie2k** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:32 pm

thedarkness wrote: i'm already investigating flying home {seriously, Birmingham to Southampton}

If you did that then I'd have some strong words for you, considering how much damage unnecessary plane travel causes to our environment, almost tax-free. It's a totally uneven playing field between planes and trains

Train operators have to pay far more in tax than plane operators, despite being many many times better for the environment.

The sooner planes have their fuel taxed to reflect the damage they cause the better

Post by **martinhodgson** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:36 pm

Planes are actually more fuel-efficient than cars on a per-passenger basis.