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Post by ServerKing on Aug 15, 2012 20:48:09 GMT
Bad bad news for anyone using the WCML. If First run it anything like their shockingly poor Capital Connect/Thameslink service, then the trains will be filthy, overcrowded, expensive and massively unreliable. Listening to the analysis on Radio 4 this morning, it sounds like in two years we'll have another ECML situation with First having to hand back the keys. Dont forget FGW. Nearly every time ive used a 165, its stuffed full and theyre absolutely Filthy. Doesnt look like theyve given em a clean for ages  Not to mention at times, you ahve to wait over Half an Hour just for a train to Paddington TBH Virgin have their fingers in a lot of pies at the minute, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Money, Virgin Media, Virgin Mobile, and, at least until December, their railway... TBH my experience of Virgin Media wasn't pleasant, disrupted phone and TV service, and if you're late with a bill, you have to wait 48 hours before someone in Mumbai will re-instate your services Thank goodness for Sky ;D Time will tell how First West Coast will be, though I'm surprised they can walk away from Great Western, and just pick up another franchise just like that (and trouser £800mil in the process) - but that's our corrupt Tory Government for you They need to re-nationalise the railways - we spend 15% of our salaries on travelling to work by train, but this is on 35-year-old filthy rolling stock   |
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Post by onthebuses on Aug 15, 2012 21:43:09 GMT
So trains are the opposite to bus tenders. The higher the price wins? Generally TFL go for the lower cost tender with buses? Sorry if that sounds thick!  |
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Post by greeny253 on Aug 15, 2012 22:29:31 GMT
Let's not write off First Group as a TOC just yet people. Capital Connect aside, from experiences they seem to be doing alright with ScotRail and that's a national job. Let's see how it pans out.
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Post by joefrombow on Aug 16, 2012 4:20:25 GMT
So trains are the opposite to bus tenders. The higher the price wins? Generally TFL go for the lower cost tender with buses? Sorry if that sounds thick! The higher the price the company reckons they will pay the government back in revenue , and I think it's a shame Virgin Trains has always been a luxurious experience for me everyone I've traveled with them same as Virgin Atlantic. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2012 12:46:48 GMT
Had a ride on a Southern 377 a while ago and their trains are great. Clean, Quiet  . Hopefully First dont win it and screw everything up like FGW. Filthy trains, Crappy Stations. Just look at how confusing Paddington is. IMO, when crossrail arrives, its gonna screw FGW. Passengers are probably gonna go use crossrail for paddington services |
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Post by john on Aug 16, 2012 14:01:03 GMT
FGW are pretty decent when it comes to their intercity services though. Never had a problem using them between London and Plymouth. However, I'd much prefer Virgin, they really do know how to run services. Never had any problems using Virgin between London and Coventry and really feel for them. Still, I'm sure Beardy Branson can get hold of something else......the ECML maybe???
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Post by ServerKing on Aug 17, 2012 6:57:17 GMT
FGW are pretty decent when it comes to their intercity services though. Never had a problem using them between London and Plymouth. However, I'd much prefer Virgin, they really do know how to run services. Never had any problems using Virgin between London and Coventry and really feel for them. Still, I'm sure Beardy Branson can get hold of something else......the ECML maybe??? He says he's not doing any more in the railways after this.... (major strop ;D) so perhaps after he's calmed down and finished his tantrum we can cajole him into another rail franchise.... Essex Thameside is up as well (as we know it, C2C)... or he could re-deploy his Virgin Rail staff into UK Call Centres so at least ringing Virgin Media (to pay a bill or add services) isn't such a painful experience |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2012 22:17:38 GMT
FGW are pretty decent when it comes to their intercity services though. Never had a problem using them between London and Plymouth. However, I'd much prefer Virgin, they really do know how to run services. Never had any problems using Virgin between London and Coventry and really feel for them. Still, I'm sure Beardy Branson can get hold of something else......the ECML maybe??? He says he's not doing any more in the railways after this.... (major strop ;D) so perhaps after he's calmed down and finished his tantrum we can cajole him into another rail franchise.... Essex Thameside is up as well (as we know it, C2C)... or he could re-deploy his Virgin Rail staff into UK Call Centres so at least ringing Virgin Media (to pay a bill or add services) isn't such a painful experience If he still had the chance, he could bid for the GWML but its far too late for him now |
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Post by vjaska on Aug 18, 2012 0:55:10 GMT
He says he's not doing any more in the railways after this.... (major strop ;D) so perhaps after he's calmed down and finished his tantrum we can cajole him into another rail franchise.... Essex Thameside is up as well (as we know it, C2C)... or he could re-deploy his Virgin Rail staff into UK Call Centres so at least ringing Virgin Media (to pay a bill or add services) isn't such a painful experience If he still had the chance, he could bid for the GWML but its far too late for him now He said he isn't bidding anyway unless the arse that is Cameron apologises...............which won't happen IMO. Expect the government to spout their usual drivel on the matter instead. I mean, they screwed Bombardier over! |
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Post by ServerKing on Aug 18, 2012 7:18:20 GMT
If he still had the chance, he could bid for the GWML but its far too late for him now He said he isn't bidding anyway unless the arse that is Cameron apologises...............which won't happen IMO. Expect the government to spout their usual drivel on the matter instead. I mean, they screwed Bombardier over! Remember vjaska, we're all in it together |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2012 9:15:49 GMT
Whenever I've used FGW services (when I was younger I used to live in the pathetic town of Newbury so you'd understand) I've just never really gripped their service intervals.
South West Trains either every 30 minutes or every 60 minutes to any destination from Waterloo. And same for Romsey services and Portsmouth local services.
Yet FGW make totally random timings up it seems with no continuity or pattern. I'd be interested if this was continued by First for the WCML.
Loving it how so many people think that an online petition will change the governments minds!
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Post by smiler52 on Aug 21, 2012 9:28:10 GMT
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Post by VPL630 on Aug 28, 2012 15:23:55 GMT
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Post by VPL630 on Sept 3, 2012 18:25:49 GMT
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Post by ServerKing on Sept 4, 2012 18:33:36 GMT
I thought this would happen I wonder how long things will be on ice for until the franchise is sorted out? I know Virgin are upset for missing out by a couple of billion on the bid - they claim First over-bid and won't be able to deliver the service for the duration of the franchise.... saying that, First are selling off bus operations around the country (I know stuff in Devon went, as well as NPK ), and apparently they issued a profit warning earlier in the year.... hmmm... doesn't sound too promising. I guess we'll wait and see... I never knew 160,000 signed a petition to keep things as they are  |
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Not to mention at times, you ahve to wait over Half an Hour just for a train to Paddington
. Hopefully First dont win it and screw everything up like FGW. Filthy trains, Crappy Stations. Just look at how confusing Paddington is. IMO, when crossrail arrives, its gonna screw FGW. Passengers are probably gonna go use crossrail for paddington services 
