JoeFF
New Member
- Joined
- 24 Aug 2012
- Messages
- 2
Hi there everyone, I'm new to this forum so go easy on me
We've all heard Richard Branson's claims about Virgin's past. But i'm interested in one in particular:
I've been doing some research on this to find these past three occasions in which Virgin has failed. Here's what I've got: [do point out if I've missed anything]
1) East Coast main line 2005: Great North Eastern Railway (won) vs Virgin, First Group, DSB
2) East Coast main line 2007: National Express (won) vs Virgin, First Group, Arriva
3) Cross Country rail 2007: Arriva (won) vs Virgin, First Group, National Express
Now obviously GNER and National Express made a mess of things and relinquished their franchise. However Arriva haven't, and there's no obvious evidence for the operator having "come nowhere close to delivering their promised plans and revenue, and has let the public and country down dramatically".
Hence, why I'm here. Does anybody have or know of any evidence (reliably sourced) to suggest that Arriva have broken promises or let people down? Any help would be awesome, thanks!
[p.s. I'm a researcher by profession, but not transport-specific. I do however know a reliable source from a bad one, so anecdotes about bad service etc. won't cut it for this I'm afraid ]
We've all heard Richard Branson's claims about Virgin's past. But i'm interested in one in particular:
"This is the fourth time that we have been out-bid in a rail tender. On the past three occasions, the winning operator has come nowhere close to delivering their promised plans and revenue, and has let the public and country down dramatically."
I've been doing some research on this to find these past three occasions in which Virgin has failed. Here's what I've got: [do point out if I've missed anything]
1) East Coast main line 2005: Great North Eastern Railway (won) vs Virgin, First Group, DSB
2) East Coast main line 2007: National Express (won) vs Virgin, First Group, Arriva
3) Cross Country rail 2007: Arriva (won) vs Virgin, First Group, National Express
Now obviously GNER and National Express made a mess of things and relinquished their franchise. However Arriva haven't, and there's no obvious evidence for the operator having "come nowhere close to delivering their promised plans and revenue, and has let the public and country down dramatically".
Hence, why I'm here. Does anybody have or know of any evidence (reliably sourced) to suggest that Arriva have broken promises or let people down? Any help would be awesome, thanks!
[p.s. I'm a researcher by profession, but not transport-specific. I do however know a reliable source from a bad one, so anecdotes about bad service etc. won't cut it for this I'm afraid ]