DarloRich
Veteran Member
i think most of us are able to use a seat without defecating on it.
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West Coast Partnership: Awarded to First Trenitalia
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i think most of us are able to use a seat without defecating on it.
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4-SUB 4732
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Are we to make a reasonable assumption that the Liverpool trains, if they can get them, will be the xx33 off London and probably with a stop at Rugby? Let the xx40 go past at Brinklow and then it can call at pretty much anywhere north of there as the nearest train will be the xx00 fast to Stoke?
Howardh
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Pretty well what I think. The pendos are showing their age, first class is pretty dull and needs a refurb (and seats without a window arm rest please) and I've never been too keen on the chunky seats in standard. But as you say, minor issues.
What we'll have to see is how the Italian Job prices tickets on the day and in advance which will be the key as to whether I use them or not.
But - but - but ..... one company running one line (basically), and the only competition from the environmentally-unfriendly airlines. That's all wrong IMO.
diffident
Member
I can't see this coming to pass. Between now and the franchise start date, there is some tasty political battles coming up, plus beardy's legal team will almost certainly plough forward with their legal challenge. Much will go on before this franchise comes to fruition.
StaffsWCML
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Its happening now. It seems to me Branson has thrown in the towel on this one. They will get some compensation off the government and customers will be stuck with a deteriorating service once First Group management get their feet under the table.
First have a tough act to follow. This will either be the making or breaking of them but they really need to step their game up which involves skipping most of their current management dross, If they make cost synergies they would be a well to keep the Virgin Management TUPED and ditch their own teams. I doubt that will happen sadly and I can see quite a lot of the successful teams leading Virgin being cost synergised a short way down the line.
sikejsudjek
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Great another Carillion fiasco to follow. Give all the franchises to a firm with known financial problems, and sit back and watch it collapse. Oh well will make re-nationalisation easier assuming the Tory headbangers don't get back in....
StaffsWCML
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Suppose there isn't much choice unless you want a far left anti British lunatic in charge!
RealTrains07
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Wouldn’t surprise me
Who could’ve seen that coming?
Ironic how soon 60% of our railways will be owned by international companiesBletchleyite
Veteran Member
"London Eastern Railway" which was the actual name of the franchise (but not a brand it ever used).
cactustwirly
Established Member
Traveled with Trenitalia on a few occasions, they are pretty decent tbh.
Much better than some UK ToCs
WideRanger
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Even if your criticisms of the company are justified, doesn't this strike you as a bit inconsiderate to describe the employees of the company in these terms? These are real people, worried about they will make a living, like all of us. Some of them probably read this forum. Some of their children probably read this forum. I would hope that you wouldn't express it that way if you were face-to-face with them or their families. In effect, you are.
tell that to the rest of them! I wouldn't give the British public anything new or sacred. Whinge and whinge about the state of the railway etc yet treat what's there like dirt.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Wouldn’t surprise me
Who could’ve seen that coming?
Why? 95% of our car industry is in international hands.
Many UK companies are foreign owned.
It looks like British Steel (which makes nearly all Network Rail's rail) will be owned by a Turkish company soon.
And conversely we own many companies in other countries (eg Rolls Royce owns MTU of Germany which supplies diesel power packs for Hitachi bi-modes).
It's called free trade and inward investment and generally considered a good thing.
There is some flexibility in the accounting rules given the actual SWR circumstances, they chose to recognise as much of the potential future losses up front as possible.
WatcherZero
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Article in the Times Newspaper today
First say they expect under the profit share arrangement the government will receive a steady premium of about £250m per year and First/Trenitalia will make a profit of £50m per year, They will continue to make about £50m per year profit under the management contract post HS2. They also seem to believe Dft have guaranteed them a profit margin of between 3 and 4% after historic pensions obligations are calculated (I.e. The liability would be taken out of the franchise premia) and that historic pensions liability will return from First to the Dft once the management contract begins.
Elsewhere says MTR is considering a possible legal challenge as they cant see how the First/Trenitalia bid could have been better value.
First say they expect under the profit share arrangement the government will receive a steady premium of about £250m per year and First/Trenitalia will make a profit of £50m per year, They will continue to make about £50m per year profit under the management contract post HS2. They also seem to believe Dft have guaranteed them a profit margin of between 3 and 4% after historic pensions obligations are calculated (I.e. The liability would be taken out of the franchise premia) and that historic pensions liability will return from First to the Dft once the management contract begins.
Elsewhere says MTR is considering a possible legal challenge as they cant see how the First/Trenitalia bid could have been better value.
ashkeba
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Why would you presume that? Alstom's videos make it look like the axis is well below centre.
ashkeba
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Thank you. I had not seen https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/wcml-new-rolling-stock-discussion.188847/
I took the Thello sleeper in June. Thello is owned by Trenitalia and it was was the worst train journey of my life and one the worst experiences I've ever had. Air con wasn't working in our compartment during the June European heatwave. I have a photo of the temperature monitor in the corridor showing 37.4 degrees Celsius. Staff didn't care and Thello haven't replied to my complaint within the specified 30 days. They haven't responded to my compensation request for late arrival in accordance with the conditions either. Hope West Coast do better.
The Rail Settlement Plan. TOCs don't get paid ticket revenue directly.
Class 170101
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Its not being run by Gavin Williamson is it.
anamyd
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That seems to have not been clear to a few users on here; I understood it straight away
anamyd
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are they losing Great Western Railway and ceasing their open access Hull Trains operation then...?
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Good question but I don't know is the answer as it's not something I have to worry about.
All depends on what my priority is at that time I guess.
Perhaps this service isn't just directed at commuters but people who don't really want to change.
For example the amount of people changing at Chesterfield "because you don't have to change platform" is enormous, despite reservations and journey planners suggesting either Derby or Sheffield. Their priority is to make their journey less complicated.
You'll be surprised by the amount of people who will change plans if it means they only have to change once, even if it means a longer journey.
Quick reminder. Rolling stock issues in relation to the new franchise can be found for discussion in this thread. If you want to talk about the new rolling stock for this franchise please use that thread to do so. There was a discussion in this thread about tilt and whether tilt helps keep trains on the track. That was off-topic but interesting and can now be found in it's own thread here.
dk1
Veteran Member
Which is such a shame.
StaffsWCML
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To be fair I have had dealing with First Management (we are only talking about the management here) so can speak from experience, some of them are very nice people but as managers they are incompetent; hence the business results and performance. I would tell them that face to face because its true, the figures speak for themselves, they will never drive for improvement or become better if they do not realise there performance is not excellent at the levels required, and managers need to be a the top of their game; else what hope do the front line staff have. This kind of molly coddling is why we consistently accept and protect mediocracy in this country - in case we offend someone.
It makes no odds anyway, I expect some of the much better managers at Virgin will be jettisoned in the name of business rationalisation and we will see more of the same old formula that has consistently delivered at best mediocre results from First. First are very unlikely to get rid of their own except in extreme circumstances.
And yet.....
Not an axle has turned under First Group so its pretty poor form to write them off before thats happened - never mind what has gone on elsewhere...
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