• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

XC Management on Facebook, Live on Tuesday

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
8 Jun 2009
Messages
595
This starts at 4pm today.

Meet the Manager on Facebook with CrossCountry

Do you have a burning question, a point to make or perhaps some praise for CrossCountry? Well now is the chance to air your views on the issues that matter.

Between 4pm and 7pm on Tuesday 1st November, members of CrossCountry’s management team will be LIVE on Facebook to answer your questions. During the three-hour session they will answer as many questions as possible and if need be, come back to you if a question needs a more complete response.

Check out CrossCountry’s Facebook for further updates over the coming days.

So...... what will you ask?
 
Last edited:
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

swt_passenger

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Apr 2010
Messages
31,263
Nothing, basically because like millions of others I'm not on facebook, so maybe you could pass this on... :D

Why not just use a normal internet webchat setup like some other TOCs do?
 

route:oxford

Established Member
Joined
1 Nov 2008
Messages
4,949
Nothing, basically because like millions of others I'm not on facebook, so maybe you could pass this on... :D

Why not just use a normal internet webchat setup like some other TOCs do?

The Press Office, media advisers and journalists are all on Facebook...

That's what matters.
 

pmgarvey

Member
Joined
25 May 2011
Messages
83
As a long distance train service that avoids London (so involves less bussiness passengers) I'd be surprised if Cross Country's demographic wasn't largely young people (those older are more likely to own a car) who almost certainly have facebook. I suppose what they really want to do is make sure that these people are likely to be average passengers, if it's somewhere else there's a much higher chance it'll be mostly enthusiasts.
 

scotsman

Established Member
Joined
6 Jul 2010
Messages
3,252
As a long distance train service that avoids London (so involves less bussiness passengers) I'd be surprised if Cross Country's demographic wasn't largely young people (those older are more likely to own a car) who almost certainly have facebook. I suppose what they really want to do is make sure that these people are likely to be average passengers, if it's somewhere else there's a much higher chance it'll be mostly enthusiasts.

XC seem to know this - they created a page called 'Student Rail Deals' and it's the biggest PR flop I've seen on facebook for quite some time
 

swt_passenger

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Apr 2010
Messages
31,263
As a long distance train service that avoids London (so involves less bussiness passengers) I'd be surprised if Cross Country's demographic wasn't largely young people (those older are more likely to own a car) who almost certainly have facebook.

Try a Bournemouth/Southampton to Reading service on a weekday though - it's more like a pensioner's outing...
 

route:oxford

Established Member
Joined
1 Nov 2008
Messages
4,949
As a long distance train service that avoids London (so involves less bussiness passengers) I'd be surprised if Cross Country's demographic wasn't largely young people (those older are more likely to own a car) who almost certainly have facebook. I suppose what they really want to do is make sure that these people are likely to be average passengers, if it's somewhere else there's a much higher chance it'll be mostly enthusiasts.

Fewer business passengers?

Perhaps there is little or no commerce in Birmingham. It would definitely explain why no business organisation has encouraged late operation of inter-city services from Birmingham to permit business people to enjoy a post-work drinks and dinner, then travel home the same evening.
 

quarella

Member
Joined
7 Dec 2009
Messages
815
Fewer business passengers?

Perhaps there is little or no commerce in Birmingham. It would definitely explain why no business organisation has encouraged late operation of inter-city services from Birmingham to permit business people to enjoy a post-work drinks and dinner, then travel home the same evening.

Maybe people who work in Birmingham have a life and friends outside of work.:D
 

pmgarvey

Member
Joined
25 May 2011
Messages
83
None is different from fewer. There are still far more people going to London on business than Birmingham.

Cross Country's routes cover all the major university cities (bar London). It was just a guess that this probably meant XC have a higher proportion of young passengers. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but presumably XC think that most of their target market is on Facebook (or was I just giving them too much credit).
 

Mojo

Forum Staff
Staff Member
Administrator
Joined
7 Aug 2005
Messages
20,382
Location
0035
I often ask myself just exactly what people do in Birmingham and what goes on here as I'm clueless myself! But then again I see all these brand consultants (who seem to spend all lunchtime in the pub and fancy cafes) and so on in the West End and think the same thing.

There are a few key things for me on the CrossCountry InterCity network but these are more issues for the DfT rather than the franchisee:
- fares: unless you split it is too expensive, but with reasonably loaded trains there is no need for lower fares it could be argued

- speed: the trains are just so slow. I suppose it cannot be helped if you want to go via Leeds but it's a pain when going North of there. Is there perhaps scope for an additional ''stopping'' service Reading/Birmingham to Leeds? Calling Didcot, Oxford, Banbury, Leamington Spa, (Birmingham Int, Coventry,) Birmingham NS, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Wakefield & Leeds. This could allow a 2tph Birmingham - Newcastle service calling at Derby, Sheffield, (Doncaster 1tph), York only. Tamworth and Burton could be axed from the InterCity network with good connections provided at Derby and Birmingham. Linespeed improvements on the MML and between Birmingham and Exeter could help speed up services.

- busy trains: at times of the day, the services are just too busy. The ''relief'' train Birmingham - Leeds could help here, who knows what will happen to the much derided Voyagers?
 

ChiefPlanner

Established Member
Joined
6 Sep 2011
Messages
7,768
Location
Herts
Cross Country also has a major commuter markets into Bristol , Bham , Cardiff etc etc.

It probably has more city to city , town to town flows than any other operator. As a good operator friend said about WCML - about 85% of the passengers walk past the buffer stops at Euston , - which you cant say for XC !!!
 

tbtc

Veteran Member
Joined
16 Dec 2008
Messages
17,882
Location
Reston City Centre
Sounds like a good cheap way of communicating with "customers" directly, good to see a TOC taking this approach.

Really, there's not a lot that XC can do (no spare trains, few empty seats to justify "bargain" fares), but at least they are trying to talk to their passengers.
 
Joined
9 Feb 2009
Messages
807
As a good operator friend said about WCML - about 85% of the passengers walk past the buffer stops at Euston , - which you cant say for XC !!!

More like 40%....huge numbers use West Coast services for shorter journeys such as Stoke- Manchester, Wigan - Warrington & Coventry - Birmingham.

The contrast to XC still stands though.
 

Phil6219

Member
Joined
15 Jul 2011
Messages
578
Location
Manchester, UK
Cross Country also has a major commuter markets into Bristol , Bham , Cardiff etc etc.

It probably has more city to city , town to town flows than any other operator. As a good operator friend said about WCML - about 85% of the passengers walk past the buffer stops at Euston , - which you cant say for XC !!!

Very True, when I lived in Crawley I used to have to take 2 trains and the tube to get to Three Bridges from Manchester, VXC (as it was) still ran a service to Brighton so I could get to my destination so much quicker (with only one quick change at Gatwick) to get home rather than the long waits at Victoria and hassle of getting the tube when lugging cases.

It only ran on a Saturday by this point so I only ever got it once, oddly enough to Gatwick and then straight onto a flight to Greece & Back...

Why did they axe the Manchester - Brighton route? I figured it was just a much shortened version of the Brighton - Edinburgh route from the Intercity days.

Phil 8-)
 

Eagle

Established Member
Joined
20 Feb 2011
Messages
7,106
Location
Leamingrad / Blanfrancisco
Why did they axe the Manchester - Brighton route? I figured it was just a much shortened version of the Brighton - Edinburgh route from the Intercity days.

Because it wasn't included in the franchise specification for XC in 2007. (Presumably because it went way out of zone, which for such a rare service is perhaps not worth it.)
 

tbtc

Veteran Member
Joined
16 Dec 2008
Messages
17,882
Location
Reston City Centre
Why did they axe the Manchester - Brighton route? I figured it was just a much shortened version of the Brighton - Edinburgh route from the Intercity days

Partly because they didn't have enough stock to run a good enough service on their "core" area, partly because they've had to find additional units to cover things like Glasgow Central - Newcastle/York.

Ideally I'd have Brighton and Gatwick on the XC map, but there's probably more chance of a direct service to Birmingham being an extension of the SN "West London" service than there is of XC having the spare stock to use on something so far from their main operating areas.

Really, the XC management are stuck trying to make the best of a bad situation, with everything they do being a "least worst" decision (e.g. not ideal to get rid of the shops on Voyagers, but the space was more of a priority for luggage/ seats, due to the size of the trains).
 

heart-of-wessex

Established Member
Joined
11 Jun 2005
Messages
3,008
Location
Trowbridge
I'd ask to finally make a deal to create an XC off peak single from Birmingham NS - Bristol TM, hated paying for a Anytime Single at 21:00 on a Saturday! I could have got an Off Peak VT single...via Euston!
 

HH

Established Member
Joined
31 Jul 2009
Messages
4,505
Location
Essex
Because it wasn't included in the franchise specification for XC in 2007. (Presumably because it went way out of zone, which for such a rare service is perhaps not worth it.)

It's a while ago now, but I don't recall this being specified in the ITT. What I do recall is that the Brighton trains were problematic. Low use on the Brighton section and the train crew manning was very inefficient. I would suspect that Arriva found better uses for the rolling stock.
 

LexyBoy

Established Member
Fares Advisor
Joined
23 Jan 2009
Messages
4,478
Location
North of the rivers
I'd ask to finally make a deal to create an XC off peak single from Birmingham NS - Bristol TM, hated paying for a Anytime Single at 21:00 on a Saturday! I could have got an Off Peak VT single...via Euston!

You know the answer would be that you should have bought in advance...

The Off Peak Return is £2 more than an Anytime Single, so even if there were an Off Peak Single it would cost the same as an Anytime Single anyway. Unless you're suggesting making off peak singles half the price of a return, which is obviously a completely ridiculous idea! :roll:


Oh, and linky to the page :)
 

Mojo

Forum Staff
Staff Member
Administrator
Joined
7 Aug 2005
Messages
20,382
Location
0035
XC seem to know this - they created a page called 'Student Rail Deals' and it's the biggest PR flop I've seen on facebook for quite some time
You mean like how it took them 6 days to respond correctly to a question they don't operate trains from London to Totnes!
 

pemma

Veteran Member
Joined
23 Jan 2009
Messages
31,474
Location
Knutsford
First answer has just gone up.

Basically saying they cater more the needs of the passenger making a 90 minute journey and not the needs of those making a 3 hour or longer journey.

The second answer is now up as well saying they plan to solve overcrowding by attracting passengers to use quieter services opposed to adding extra capacity.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Looks like they are only answering questions posted after 4pm so if you posted before you might want to try reposting.
 

heart-of-wessex

Established Member
Joined
11 Jun 2005
Messages
3,008
Location
Trowbridge
You know the answer would be that you should have bought in advance...

The Off Peak Return is £2 more than an Anytime Single, so even if there were an Off Peak Single it would cost the same as an Anytime Single anyway. Unless you're suggesting making off peak singles half the price of a return, which is obviously a completely ridiculous idea! :roll:


Oh, and linky to the page :)

I should have got an advance yes, but as I was bailing off a tour that was timed at the last minute (as usual) to arrive into Bristol TM later than my last train home, the option on the day was to speed off on a Voyager, so walk up fare only.

It would be good to have half price and at least in some parts it does exist, like Paddington to Trowbridge £18.50 single or somewhere around £36 for a return. Why that route and not on other legs like BHM to Bristol, I don't know :?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top