hexagon789
Veteran Member
Mostly Pendolinos tbh, but they should arguably have ordered those mini-Pendolinos some years back.
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Most annoying aspect of travelling on Virgin Trains
- Thread starter trebor79
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Mostly Pendolinos tbh, but they should arguably have ordered those mini-Pendolinos some years back.
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ArchieWoodbine
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I find that any journey on VTWC is like stepping into children’s breakfast TV set from c.2004.
Gaudy colours and lighting; plastic as far as the eye can see and all crammed into as minimal a floor space as possible; overly-enthusiastic scripts read in a “friendly” manner; staff dressed in garish outfits; constant advertising and self-publicity.
It pains me to say it, but I almost prefer the DfT utilitarian grey ethos that is the mainstay of new stock.
Gaudy colours and lighting; plastic as far as the eye can see and all crammed into as minimal a floor space as possible; overly-enthusiastic scripts read in a “friendly” manner; staff dressed in garish outfits; constant advertising and self-publicity.
It pains me to say it, but I almost prefer the DfT utilitarian grey ethos that is the mainstay of new stock.
VT 390
Established Member
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- 7 Dec 2018
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I find Virgin Trains very nice to travel on and I really like the seats I just wish more had a window view. The only things that actually can be annoying is the amount of announcements and that on Pendolinos only table seats in standard have charging points.
Do you have an example of an over-inflated leg?
If they are doing this, then is it not cheaper to get the cost of the over-inflated leg down by further splitting?
I understand TOCs will increase prices if they realise they are too cheap, but if they increase them too much, they open up other ways to get around it.
IanD
Established Member
Since the wifi has become free, I have never been able to connect as it has always shown up as unavailable.
It doesn't do it in all of them!
Tetchytyke
Veteran Member
1. The price-gouging.
2. The beneficiaries of the price-gouging being a tax dodger and a gay basher.
3. The price-gouging.
2. The beneficiaries of the price-gouging being a tax dodger and a gay basher.
3. The price-gouging.
If all we can moan about is some talking toilets (which seem to be the most of the moans on here) then there can’t be that much wrong!
When these threads appear I often wonder if I use a different Virgin to other people.
I've never thought a train was tatty or threadbare, and have never heard anyone else say the same other than on here and usenet. On the contrary, most people I know still think they're flashy, modern trains despite their age.
Plenty of comments about overcrowding and luggage space on the other hand, which are valid criticisms but hardly unique.
The smelly toilet strikes me as another Internet truism from two decades ago which has somehow stuck. Unless you're stood next to one, you can't smell it. All train toilets will smell, they're used by hundreds of people who aren't you.
I've never thought a train was tatty or threadbare, and have never heard anyone else say the same other than on here and usenet. On the contrary, most people I know still think they're flashy, modern trains despite their age.
Plenty of comments about overcrowding and luggage space on the other hand, which are valid criticisms but hardly unique.
The smelly toilet strikes me as another Internet truism from two decades ago which has somehow stuck. Unless you're stood next to one, you can't smell it. All train toilets will smell, they're used by hundreds of people who aren't you.
Y Ddraig Coch
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- 1 Nov 2013
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For example I can / could often get Llandudno Junction to Crewe virgin only advances for approx £8.00 or £14.00 first class and then Crewe to London Euston advance on virgin for approx £18.00 ish. Often on the same train.
Now I find if the leg to Crewe is a good price the price from Crewe on the same train is basically full single price I could have paid from LLJ or if I pay full price to Crewe I can get a better value advance price from Crewe but not both legs.
They seem to make both legs cheaper so long as you actually have to change trains.
This has been my finding of it in the last couple of years at least.
I hope this makes a little sense. It's difficult to put in to words.
We were on the same train, but I was in steerage! I think it's only the accessible toilets that do the talking.
matt_world2004
Established Member
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- 5 Nov 2014
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- 4,504
I dunno if it has changed but a few years ago the hosts that controlled the entrance to the platforms at Euston were terrible at recognising tickets that were valid on their services.
Or other services that used the same patform entrance as them
Or other services that used the same patform entrance as them
fishtastic
Member
- Joined
- 29 Aug 2018
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- 19
I suspect there may be something wrong with your nose, the corridor the toilets are in stinks and have done since the introduction of those trains. I don't know how Virgin have managed this when it isn't the case on other trains.
theironroad
Established Member
Lack of power sockets. Considering this is long distance service, they could have been retrofitted by now.
The toilet talking doesn't exactly bother me as I'm there for less than a couple minutes.
I do find them a bit gloomy and almost claustrophobic, especially compared to other trains with bigger windows.
While tilit didn't use to bother me, the last few years I've found I've become more susceptible to feeliing it, not in a good way.
The toilet talking doesn't exactly bother me as I'm there for less than a couple minutes.
I do find them a bit gloomy and almost claustrophobic, especially compared to other trains with bigger windows.
While tilit didn't use to bother me, the last few years I've found I've become more susceptible to feeliing it, not in a good way.
I wondered if we might've been when I saw your earlier post. I managed to grab a Seatfrog upgrade
For anyone wondering it was an excellent run up, arriving 4 mins early into Euston.
My train from Euston to Glasgow yesterday also arrived early.
I wondered if we might've been when I saw your earlier post. I managed to grab a Seatfrog upgrade
For anyone wondering it was an excellent run up, arriving 4 mins early into Euston.
My train from Euston to Glasgow yesterday also arrived early.
I've never heard of seatfrog. Sounds like I need to do some investigating!
It was indeed a good run, aside from the broken seat cushion and alcoholic sat next to me from Wigan all the way to Euston. And I think I only heard that silly WiFi announcement 3 times.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
TBH I'd just have gone for another few full size ones (and all 9s to 11). The mini ones wouldn't have been as good for the Scottish service as it is now. There'd then have been enough Voyagers for an hourly Bangor.
FrodshamJnct
Established Member
Talking bogs are really annoying. Other than that I don’t find anything else intolerable.
hexagon789
Veteran Member
Perhaps 57 11-car and maybe 10 extra 9-car. Then you have more available 221s for strengthening North Wales/increasing frequency.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
All 11-car. There are huge benefits in a fully homogeneous fleet.
theironroad
Established Member
I vaguely recalled the seatfrog thing, but just looked at their website. At least for lner , the ticket must be an Advance purchase directly from lner, so rules out many who turned up for a walk up ticket and paid a lot more....
hexagon789
Veteran Member
True, how many more Pendolinos would one need though?
I suppose we could add another annoying aspect is a habit of ordering trains that then turn out to have insufficient capacity, but that's old news now
Siemens Trains
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- 29 Nov 2018
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- 624
Thought I'd stumbled across the wrong forum for a minute there!
nlogax
Established Member
Not a great deal of issues when traveling on Virgin. Same as others - occasionally yammering loos and the poor wifi, free though it may be. Phone tethering is more reliable. I usually opt for Virgin over LNER for monthly round trips to Scotland. Not sure if that will change once the 800s and 801s start doing the Waverley runs, will have to give those a go.
FrodshamJnct
Established Member
I think you should see a doctor if you have an over-inflated leg.
Reminds me of this...
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