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West Coast Partnership: Awarded to First Trenitalia

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GrimShady

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I don’t seem to recall the VTWC offer receiving any significant downgrade of late.

While you may dislike the ‘childish, wacky’ advertising, there is no doubt to say it has worked. London-Glasgow passengers tripled. Growth continuing to exceed expectations - not exactly an image that continues on the rest of the railway. Virgin hasn’t been perfect; but you can not argue it hasn’t been one of the better TOCs (you don’t attract brand loyalty like they have by being thoroughly mediocre).

A whole generation has grown up with Virgin being the only operator on ICWC - and during that time, they have been by in large competent and made travel an experience. That’s what train travel needs to be on IC railways to destroy the air market; a better experience, rather than just A-B.

VTWC has been a downgrade its entire existence. There has been a tripling of traffic across the network not just WTVC, how do you explain that without the daft advertising?

Reduced journey times, increased frequency which is more down to Chris Green, nothing to do with Virgins nonsense.

Virgin have done exactly that, brand loyalty by being mediocre. What have the excelled on? Smelly trains, poor seating, bad food and ever increasing fares?

You don't beat the airlines by replicating them. Those traveling by train do so because they want a train, not a train masquerading as a 737.
 
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GrimShady

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Indeed, curious as to what this definition of 'standard' is. Thick padded seats, 'classic colours' and reassuring smatterings of long sentences in serifed typefaces in ads may have been de rigueur in the late 80s or early 90s. Unless some here haven't noticed, in three and a bit weeks it'll be 2020. Times, markets, attention spans and tastes have all changed. Deal with it, move on.

Well if you can't tell the difference between a plush interior vs cheap crud then there's not much I can do to help you out.

Deal with the fact there are those who are not satisfied with what most TOCs offer up.

Let's hope Avanti can sort out Virgins shortcomings, I doubt it but we'll see.
 

RealTrains07

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VTWC has been a downgrade its entire existence. There has been a tripling of of traffic across the network not just WTVC, how do you explain that without? Reduced journey times, increased frequency which is more down to Chris Green, Nothing to do with Virgins nonsense.

Virgin have done exactly that, brand loyalty by being mediocre. What have the excelled on? Smelly trains, poor seating, bad food and ever increasing fares?

You don't beat the airlines by replicating them. Those traveling by train do so because they want a train, not a train masquerading as a 737.
But thats gonna happen anyway

Plus i dont know what you expect to change. Avanti are not gonna suddenly reduce the amount of services just to speed others up? It was bound to happen. Virgin just actually brought new life to the WCML rather than leave it without modifications and without the pendolinos
 

GrimShady

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But thats gonna happen anyway

Plus i dont know what you expect to change. Avanti are not gonna suddenly reduce the amount of services just to speed others up? It was bound to happen. Virgin just actually brought new life to the WCML rather than leave it without modifications and without the pendolinos

Well for a start they should rip out the Pendolinos interiors and start again. Below the solebar they're good trains, above trash. They have always suffered from bad seats and fittings. Lighting wise hasn't been so bad unlike the dross that's coming from Hitachi. You beat the airline's on things they can't compete with, luxury.

Regardless of who operator was change was coming. Network Rail played it's part
 

pt_mad

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Well for a start they should rip out the Pendolinos interiors and start again. Below the solebar they're good trains, above trash. They have always suffered from bad seats and fittings. Lighting wise hasn't been so bad unlike the dross that's coming from Hitachi.

Regardless of who operator was change was coming. Network Rail played it's part
I believe the plan, from all the news, appears to be to take the Pendolino back to shell and start interior from scratch.

Although VT should of course be celebrated for its success, which is what's going on at the moment, it obviously has to be recognised that another operator was chosen to take the franchise.
If the current quirky working themes are planned to stay, and the top level team are remaining, it does make you wonder what the problem was with VT taking it again other than Pensions?
Normally a new strategy would come, but many seem to be debating that similar strategies are to apply with the same leadership, which begs the question what even is the point of the change of operator, other than a change of shareholders, branding or change of financial plan?
 

RealTrains07

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I believe the plan, from all the news, appears to be to take the Pendolino back to shell and start interior from scratch.

Although VT should of course be celebrated for its success, which is what's going on at the moment, it obviously has to be recognised that another operator was chosen to take the franchise.
If the current quirky working themes are planned to stay, and the top level team are remaining, it does make you wonder what the problem was with VT taking it again other than Pensions?
Normally a new strategy would come, but many seem to be debating that similar strategies are to apply with the same leadership, which begs the question what even is the point of the change of operator, other than a change of shareholders, branding or change of financial plan?
Exactly, most new TOCs would at least change the MDs and other staff at the top

First are probably worried they would mess up? Avanti is gonna be quite the contrast to GWR which they have royally messed up in the past.

Just shows how much an impact virgins way of running things has had
 

GrimShady

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I believe the plan, from all the news, appears to be to take the Pendolino back to shell and start interior from scratch.

Good to hear! I've been deliberately avoiding these things for that last twenty years due to the fit out.

Hopefully the Butlins uniform will go to be replaced with some thing fitting.
 

142blue

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Curious how it will work with reservations as layouts and seat numbers could be different so what if you reserve seat D70 and on a refitted train it no longer exists
 

mpthomson

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Curious how it will work with reservations as layouts and seat numbers could be different so what if you reserve seat D70 and on a refitted train it no longer exists

Curiously it’s just possible that they may think about that....
 

CeeJ

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Curious how it will work with reservations as layouts and seat numbers could be different so what if you reserve seat D70 and on a refitted train it no longer exists
One would hope they would also move the reservation system! Hopefully installing the traffic light system as exists on the class 80xs.

Hopefully the Butlins uniform will go to be replaced with some thing fitting.

All staff will exclusively wear morning dress, and facial expressions will be strictly limited.
 

142blue

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Curiously it’s just possible that they may think about that....

With the current TPE issues where seat reservations were stopped due to different rolling stock I'm wondering if the same will apply whilst the internal refit happens
 

Bletchleyite

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With the current TPE issues where seat reservations were stopped due to different rolling stock I'm wondering if the same will apply whilst the internal refit happens

It was said upthread that other than minor changes such as fitting extra luggage capacity the actual seating layout would not change because moving the reservations displays is too costly. So it'll just be a case of blocking out reservations on seats that don't exist in both layouts.
 

nlogax

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Deal with the fact there are those who are not satisfied with what most TOCs offer up.

I highly doubt that VTWC have been overly concerned about your individual opinions about fit-out in Pendolinos in the light of their 22 years of fairly successful with growing passenger numbers and revenue growth. If AWC don't make changes you want to see, will you avoid them too?
 

boxy321

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One would hope they would also move the reservation system! Hopefully installing the traffic light system as exists on the class 80xs.



All staff will exclusively wear morning dress, and facial expressions will be strictly limited.
The more recent uniform design was very popular among staff, as it was highly optional (apart from gateline staff in the obvious red): skirts, trousers, grey, red, black.
 

liam456

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At the risk of sounding like a railway boomer type, usually seat comfort goes down, not up as stock is refurbished, or new stock procured it seems.
 

RealTrains07

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Good to hear! I've been deliberately avoiding these things for that last twenty years due to the fit out.

Hopefully the Butlins uniform will go to be replaced with some thing fitting.
Wouldnt say they are butlins uniforms but okay, cant see avanti making much improvements apart from colour changes. Bit unfair to judge virgin if you haven’t even Travelled on a pendolino?
 

RealTrains07

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At the risk of sounding like a railway boomer type, usually seat comfort goes down, not up as stock is refurbished, or new stock procured it seems.
That has been the trend in the last few years. Avanti’s new seats for the pendolinos will be awful
 

Mathew S

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At the risk of sounding like a railway boomer type, usually seat comfort goes down, not up as stock is refurbished, or new stock procured it seems.

That has been the trend in the last few years. Avanti’s new seats for the pendolinos will be awful

All subjective though isn't it. To me, for example, the 195/331 seats, and the standard class 80x seats, are some of the most comfortable I've travelled on. Whereas the seats on the Chiltern MK3 sets, which some people love, I cannot abide. Whatever seats you put on a train, some people are going to hate them.
 

Bletchleyite

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Wouldnt say they are butlins uniforms but okay, cant see avanti making much improvements apart from colour changes. Bit unfair to judge virgin if you haven’t even Travelled on a pendolino?

The red uniforms are useful in picking out a member of staff on a crowded platform when you need one. The First option of having them wearing hi-vis also works (and I expect we'll see that) - but it is a bit industrial.
 

Bletchleyite

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All subjective though isn't it. To me, for example, the 195/331 seats, and the standard class 80x seats, are some of the most comfortable I've travelled on. Whereas the seats on the Chiltern MK3 sets, which some people love, I cannot abide. Whatever seats you put on a train, some people are going to hate them.

And I like ironing boards (195/331) but strongly dislike Fainsa Sophias (80x). OTOH both are better than the evil Mk3 "InterCity 70" seat, suitable only for skinny people with no legs.

That said, I don't recall ever having heard a single complaint about the Grammer E3000 "Desiro seat"? It's quite similar to the Fainsa Sophia but with the wings higher up and a larger, thicker base.
 

GrimShady

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I highly doubt that VTWC have been overly concerned about your individual opinions about fit-out in Pendolinos in the light of their 22 years of fairly successful with growing passenger numbers and revenue growth. If AWC don't make changes you want to see, will you avoid them too?

Yeah they'll be going back on the unsuitable TOC list.
 

GrimShady

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Wouldnt say they are butlins uniforms but okay, cant see avanti making much improvements apart from colour changes. Bit unfair to judge virgin if you haven’t even Travelled on a pendolino?

I haven't said I've never traveled on one. I've done it few times over the years as even I thought I was expecting to much from them. Each time I've regretted it look up the Coach Kilo saga.
 

RealTrains07

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And I like ironing boards (195/331) but strongly dislike Fainsa Sophias (80x). OTOH both are better than the evil Mk3 "InterCity 70" seat, suitable only for skinny people with no legs.

That said, I don't recall ever having heard a single complaint about the Grammer E3000 "Desiro seat"? It's quite similar to the Fainsa Sophia but with the wings higher up and a larger, thicker base.
I have never had a problem on the E3000 seats while the Fainsa and the ironing boards are equally the worst sets i have ever sat on. Especially on an 1 hour 30 minute journey.

but yes it always is based on opinion as is most things on the forum
 

snail

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yes I am prepared to pay the higher charges for a quality service and there's many other like me too. You'll find many posts about the portion sizes on LNER for example and the reducing range of foods available.
I can't remember the last time an employer paid for me to enjoy first class on a business journey. Patronage in first is still reasonably high but many business travellers are restricted to travelling in standard. So you are in a declining minority.

If you think the last days of BR were ok I encourage you to look for Victoria Wood's Great Railway Journeys documentary from 1996 on YouTube. Shows the then Regional Railways in all its gory tackiness. My memories from 20 years ago are sketchy but all I recall from InterCity were high fares and a declining service.
 

Bevan Price

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That has been the trend in the last few years. Avanti’s new seats for the pendolinos will be awful
It depends. If they just reupholster the existing seats, the comfort level may be little changed. If they are using completely new seats, DfT may insist that they comply to current fire regulations, which probably means hard seats similar to those used in 195s, 331s or 800s, etc.
 

Bletchleyite

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It depends. If they just reupholster the existing seats, the comfort level may be little changed. If they are using completely new seats, DfT may insist that they comply to current fire regulations, which probably means hard seats similar to those used in 195s, 331s or 800s, etc.

New seats in Standard, new cushions and covers only in First, I believe.

Just as I'd put money on 80x for the new stock, I'd put money on Fainsa Sophias for the seats.
 

GrimShady

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I can't remember the last time an employer paid for me to enjoy first class on a business journey. Patronage in first is still reasonably high but many business travellers are restricted to travelling in standard. So you are in a declining minority.

If you think the last days of BR were ok I encourage you to look for Victoria Wood's Great Railway Journeys documentary from 1996 on YouTube. Shows the then Regional Railways in all its gory tackiness. My memories from 20 years ago are sketchy but all I recall from InterCity were high fares and a declining service.

I pay for FC myself. I encourage you to watch Inside Story following the 225s for a taste of Intercity something that GNER continued.

I don't remember saying last days of BR were great at all. Many of RR trains are still in service today so privatisation hasn't cured that yet either 25 years later.
 

GrimShady

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New seats in Standard, new cushions and covers only in First, I believe.

Just as I'd put money on 80x for the new stock, I'd put money on Fainsa Sophias for the seats.

You're probably right.

What's your view of the Mallard FC seats?
 
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