gazthomas
Established Member
Smell of poo, annoying talking toilets and similarly annoying noise about Beam. And staff using coach K as their own personal space
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Most annoying aspect of travelling on Virgin Trains
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Facing Back
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I normally find coach K quite a pleasant space on a later train. I have had one occasion where there was a member of staff in my reserved seat and got a startled look when I told them to hop it. And one occasion when I was told I might be more comfortable in J, which I ignored - that was quite annoying.
But the other 50 times ive sat in it over the last year or so I've always found it fine - and much easier to get that extra G&T on the late train on a Thursday night.
I'm not going to mention alternative virgins but I did laugh out loud.
I haven't had most of the experiences described here. No smelly toilets, tattered décor, dark trains or windowless views. I find the staff are usually pleasant and helpful. Of course the loo is annoying but I tend to tune it out now.
But the other 50 times ive sat in it over the last year or so I've always found it fine - and much easier to get that extra G&T on the late train on a Thursday night.
I'm not going to mention alternative virgins but I did laugh out loud.
I haven't had most of the experiences described here. No smelly toilets, tattered décor, dark trains or windowless views. I find the staff are usually pleasant and helpful. Of course the loo is annoying but I tend to tune it out now.
Fast Track
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Travellelled Virgin Edinburgh to London a couple of years ago on a Monday lunchtime and very impressed with the train, service, food, red wine and train staff not in that order - travelled first class at a very reasonable fare.
Went Pendlino London to Coventry Recently standard class and underwhelmed. Seating was cramped and interior panels just rattled relentlessly. Very irritating. Didn’t see a trolley or any staff. Had no idea where the buffet car was as no buffet announcements. Felt claustrophobic and disappointed after great East coast journey.
Went Pendlino London to Coventry Recently standard class and underwhelmed. Seating was cramped and interior panels just rattled relentlessly. Very irritating. Didn’t see a trolley or any staff. Had no idea where the buffet car was as no buffet announcements. Felt claustrophobic and disappointed after great East coast journey.
xotGD
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My problem is feeling queezy due to the tilt. First time I've had that problem on a train.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Yes, the coach K issue is a nuisance, particularly as it contains the majority of the prized single seats.
Its announcement for beam after every stop .For me
Masboroughlad
Established Member
Need an internal makeover.
Seats next to walls not windows REALLY annoy me!
Seats next to walls not windows REALLY annoy me!
Good job
Few and far between I find these days.
Where is the split between London and Glasgow?
Yeah , more single seats in first would nice
Preston in my case today.
The guard semi-jokingly told me that "legally" I was supposed to exit the train and get back on again there "but we don't make people do that". I just laughed and said "oh OK" (he's incorrect about that). He did correctly point out that you need to be careful that the train actually calls at the station where you make the split.
Facing Back
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I'll add never-ending announcements to my brief list
The clue to the route is in their username. And they're spot on, I have exactly the same experience
And I think I'll add to my list the habit of a manual announcement about 10 seconds after an auto announcement, giving exactly the same information. They seem to do that on approach to every station.
Have to say I travelled first class a year or two back and it was pretty good (although the food portions were laughably tiny).
Have to say I travelled first class a year or two back and it was pretty good (although the food portions were laughably tiny).
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
That's become quite common, and I have wondered if it was guards who wished to justify their continuing role against the possibility of a certain controversial three letters by improving their customer service, of which manual announcements is only one aspect I guess.
You’ll be glad to know nothing has changed. This “picnic box” on Tuesday really made me giggle. Why they bothered with the single cherry tomato is beyond me.
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philthetube
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Lots of comments about talking toilets, however they virtually always work. I wonder if this is because they talk ?
I caught the 0605 Euston to Glasgow (Coach B) to the recent Crewe open day and can confirm that not only does the toilet smell linger in the vestibule, when the sliding door opens it wafts into the car. I will try to avoid high numbered seats to avoid this. I was in 57. Also people were in the wrong seats as usual, and confusion reigned. The Government has banned discharge toilets but happily allows this pong to happen in a train. If a restaurant smelled of toilets no one would use it! How do they get away with it?
I've got to agree about that new announcement. It's as daft as a radio advert with the "watch your favourite telly" and "aaaaah" bit at the end. Terrible.
I think this it is.
It's great bring a friendly TOC but when you stray into the "zany" areas... it's a bit strange. They're a TOC, not a kids TV entertainment company.
Journeyman
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I actually think the interior design of the Pendolino, including the colours, is very pleasant. Unfortunately, as others have mentioned, Virgin's corporate culture and ZANY!!!!!!/WACKY!!!!! ethos makes my teeth grind and is enough to make me not use them if there's an alternative. I'm glad the VTEC influence on East Coast is gradually fading and they're going back to being a proper, grown-up TOC. I won't shed any tears for Virgin disappearing. I hope whoever takes over tones everything down immediately.
IanD
Established Member
Very few restaurants in my experience are required to store their customers' waste products on their premises, let alone swirl it around at 140mph.
RailWonderer
Established Member
I’m not surprised about the forum’s annoyance to the marketing and branding of VT. They cater to families and occasional travelers who like these novelties, not so much regulars and business people. They could do with being more ‘neutral’ like LNER services and EMT. I haven’t had talking toilets many times but the fact too many seats are aligned to pillars irritates me, and maybe the cushions are too spongy and soft. Some of them look very dirty, as of late.
Impressive. I just about manage daily...
Sprinter153
Member
The over- familiar, 'best-mate' publicity has infected other TOCs (particularly WMT).
It particularly grates when often the TOCs are anything but your friend; the VT Euston barrier checks are about as entertaining as a colonoscopy. And at least at a colonoscopy they give you laughing gas!
It particularly grates when often the TOCs are anything but your friend; the VT Euston barrier checks are about as entertaining as a colonoscopy. And at least at a colonoscopy they give you laughing gas!
3rd rail land
Member
I am leisure traveler with Virgin. I use them on average once a year for a return trip to whatever staycation, before you ask I do go abroad, I have booked.
The 2 main annoyances for me are the auto announcements about Beam after every stop and the limited luggage space.
I found the former annoying and that was after 1 journey from Wolverhampton - Euston so regular users must be driven to insanity by it.
As for luggage space I had to re-arrange the luggage in the racks on both the outbound and return journeys, on a Voyager, this year just to get my mid sized suitcase in. If I had been unable to get my suitcase into the rack I am not sure what I would have done, possibly left it in the vestibule area and annoyed people getting on and off at each stop. Plus of course that would lead to the issue of it rolling/sliding about as I had a reserved seat so wouldn't have stayed with it for the duration of the journey.
The 2 main annoyances for me are the auto announcements about Beam after every stop and the limited luggage space.
I found the former annoying and that was after 1 journey from Wolverhampton - Euston so regular users must be driven to insanity by it.
As for luggage space I had to re-arrange the luggage in the racks on both the outbound and return journeys, on a Voyager, this year just to get my mid sized suitcase in. If I had been unable to get my suitcase into the rack I am not sure what I would have done, possibly left it in the vestibule area and annoyed people getting on and off at each stop. Plus of course that would lead to the issue of it rolling/sliding about as I had a reserved seat so wouldn't have stayed with it for the duration of the journey.
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StaffsWCML
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To be fair they are better than most of the alternatives.
The Voyagers are quite annoying.
The trains are looking tired now and need a good refurb.
If we end up with the incompetent jokers at Firstgroup running the WCML we will be longing for the days of Virgin.
They have been a saviour for me along with EMT with the complete cock up that is Abellio running LNR.
The Voyagers are quite annoying.
The trains are looking tired now and need a good refurb.
If we end up with the incompetent jokers at Firstgroup running the WCML we will be longing for the days of Virgin.
They have been a saviour for me along with EMT with the complete cock up that is Abellio running LNR.
StaffsWCML
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Be friendly and familiar if you are anyway capable of delivery a service for all I care, if you cant get a clean train to turn up on time don't bother.
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