One thing that probably focuses the mind is the increase of a maximum penalty for a data breach from £500,000 (under the Data Protection Act) to £17,000,000 or 4% Global Annual Revenue (whichever is greater).
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Virgin Trains East Coast franchise to end 24 June 2018 and is temporarily re-nationalised
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One thing that probably focuses the mind is the increase of a maximum penalty for a data breach from £500,000 (under the Data Protection Act) to £17,000,000 or 4% Global Annual Revenue (whichever is greater).
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ForTheLoveOf
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Though, as with present penalties, these maximums, let alone any DPA/GDPR fine at all, will take some serious negligence or malice to 'earn'.
lincolnshire
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If when Virgin East Coast runs out of money or what ever happens and if the Government then give them a management contract to carry on running it till the end of the franchise or which ever is the sooner. I think as part of the management contract all reference to Virgin should be removed from trains and station etc. as they are the failed franchise holder, so that the travelling public know just who is running the service for them.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
VTWC/XC ran for years as a management contract (twice in fact), still branded Virgin, while DfT sorted out new franchise contracts.
GTR is on a management contract.
If DfT want Virgin to continue to market the interim service then they will have to pay for it.
I doubt they will want the cost of rebranding everything for a limited time until the next generation of franchise comes in, but it's up to them.
And I don't believe the VTEC franchise has "failed". More like "terminated by mutual agreement" I would suggest.
neontrix
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Honestly I expect that branding, rightly so, is last on the list of the DfT's priorities. Saving the face of the franchise system, however, is certainly the top.
If Stagecoach/Virgin are allowed to continue on a management contract - which in my opinion would be the best option for the line I think it would stupidity to insist on a rebranding (or debranding) on a fleet of trains that will be gone from the line within the next couple of years.
The Azumas are another matter though and if I were the DFT I’d take the opportunity to stipulate that from now on it’s called East Coast Trains (Or something similar) and stipulate the logo/design that is to be used on all future contracts/franchises. It seems to work with ScotRail and the operator can have their “Operated by.....” logo on the door.
Doing anything before the Azumas start to come online would cost a lot of money for simply proving a point.
The Azumas are another matter though and if I were the DFT I’d take the opportunity to stipulate that from now on it’s called East Coast Trains (Or something similar) and stipulate the logo/design that is to be used on all future contracts/franchises. It seems to work with ScotRail and the operator can have their “Operated by.....” logo on the door.
Doing anything before the Azumas start to come online would cost a lot of money for simply proving a point.
So you want the public to know Virgin are running the service by making them remove all reference to Virgin..... riiiiiight.
I can imagine the reaction of they try to put a 5-car train on Aberdeen services.
Most of these, contrary to the opinion of some people, are not carrying several carriages of fresh air.
For me, the Azuma brand - "Its Fast - Crazy Fast" - needs to be ditched ASAP to send a decisive goodbye message to VTEC and their PR BS.
The new trains will be no faster than the existing HST sets which have been running the same routes for 40 years.
paul1609
Established Member
The new trains will be considerably faster in acceleration where they are electrically hauled than a HST
Technically, they will have higher acceleration in electric mode, but without track/signalling changes they will not be going significantly faster than before.
Not just in electric mode. Check the comparison below between a GWR HST & IEP on diesel, it’s impressive.
The big time savings rely on the upgrade work that is still to happen but they can still save some time with the new rolling stock if it’s like that. The 91s aren’t quick at accelerating either so there should be an improvement across the board not just with the HSTs
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Branding is one thing, but you can hardly blame VTEC for the fact that the trains will still be 125mph.
The trains were specified and procured by DfT with a 140mph capability (nothing to do with VTEC).
NR cannot implement a higher speed without fitting ERTMS and spending a fortune upgrading the track and OHLE, which is years away if ever (because of HS2).
On branding, no doubt the Azuma thing will just be dropped if VTEC doesn't run the operation - none of the trains are in service after all.
DfT has to tread very carefully with Virgin/Stagecoach if it doesn't want to wreck the West Coast and East Midlands franchise renewals as well as East Coast.
I'm not "blaming" anyone.
To say the trains are "crazy fast" is factually incorrect.
They will travel at no higher speed than the existing stock.
paul1609
Established Member
It'll be interesting to see what the new trains are like in terms of ride quality. My journeys on the East Coast Main Line mean I come in to London on a 395 at 140 mph the East coast ride quality is appalling by comparison at 125 mph.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
BR branded them IC225 which is equally bogus marketing.
43074
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You seem to have fallen for the spin, that video doesn't show the HST overtaking the IEP at 75mph when the IEP diesel engines run out of oomph: yes there's better acceleration but its higher speeds which matter on HST routes. Yes, on electric the IEP leaves the HST standing, granted, but this video is not the one I would use to prove that.
Let's not redo the IET vs HST performance argument on this thread. If anyone is really keen to talk about it then the Class 800 thread contains a significant amount of discussion already that you can add to.
This thread is about the future of the ICEC franchise after the announcement that the franchise is to be terminated later this year.
Many thanks,
ainsworth74
This thread is about the future of the ICEC franchise after the announcement that the franchise is to be terminated later this year.
Many thanks,
ainsworth74
Saw this reported by the Sun and Daily Mail this week. Couldn't see it in the rail forum.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....e-and-reminded-him-he-was-in-first-class/amp/
Looks like VT replied back on Twitter with its arrive awesome jovial style, and it didn't go down well.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....e-and-reminded-him-he-was-in-first-class/amp/
Looks like VT replied back on Twitter with its arrive awesome jovial style, and it didn't go down well.
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I have often cleared tables as I sat at them but I admit rarely in First. Personally I would probably never complain, but I can understand a passenger who did, and not at all a staff member who gave any sort of negative response. Whan I worked on the railways, the passenger was always right, and ,even when wrong, respected.
As it happens, from the 1980s, I have flown in First and executive with many airlines and have never had a negative comment, guite the contrary.
As it happens, from the 1980s, I have flown in First and executive with many airlines and have never had a negative comment, guite the contrary.
jyte
Member
I always clean my table and bin any bin-able waste whatever class I travel in. Never been told off for it.
There's ways to respond to this which wouldn't have annoyed people, even saying something like:
"Thank you for doing that, but you shouldn't have needed to as you are traveling in first class and we should have done that for you. While I clear those away for you, what would you like to drink sir?"
(Yes there would still be some who would have been irked by this as there was no apology, but it would have less likely been seen as a telling off)
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/2baf02af-0c20-4041-877a-152c98f2dca5
All discussed here, worth a watch. Sorry if already posted.
All discussed here, worth a watch. Sorry if already posted.
ForTheLoveOf
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No, this is new. Thanks for the link.
Martin Griffiths was being very weasel-worded IMHO. At the very least I don't think he was being entirely truthful when he claimed they didn't overbid, and had no incentive to, implying that this would have no point. Constantly not answering the questions properly.
I've only watched the first few minutes and that's already my impression. Why can't they admit that it's partially that their bid was very optimistic, and partially that the conditions were much worse than expected (partially of their own doing, some may argue), plus setbacks in the upgrades and Azuma scheme.
I don't think anyone is fooled by his polishing of the turd.
One of the more interesting revelations, I thought, was that Stagecoach knew they had a revenue problem within weeks of taking the franchise over in 2015.
And Network Rail quite frankly saying they've delivered their part of the deal on time which is in direct contradiction with some on the forums opinion.
Ha yes! Mark Carne was very very forthright on that wasn't he!!
MG11
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Could it be that he was wasting clean cups which there wouldn't be time to clean before other customers wished to use them?
matt_world2004
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I would hope they clean cups everyone they are put out for customers all rather than deciding to reuse them because they look clean.
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