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1st Class VT Lounge-Preston
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Failed Unit
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I suspect that you will need to wait for the next franchise (if ever)
Other places I find it strange that no lounge exist are Glasgow (which was closed under vt) and York.
Other places I find it strange that no lounge exist are Glasgow (which was closed under vt) and York.
WestCoast
Established Member
There are certainly no plan that I am aware of about a VT First Class lounge at Preston. It's most likely due to space limitations but having said that I am sure they could fit one if they really wanted to - somewhere in the old buffet or they could have incorporated it into the new car park facility they have built.
Yes Runcorn is only served by one VT an hour whereas Preston is double that - plus Preston is also a major interchange point for local services something that Runcorn is not.
Yes Runcorn is only served by one VT an hour whereas Preston is double that - plus Preston is also a major interchange point for local services something that Runcorn is not.
Johnny Lewis
Member
I believe East Coast have plans to open a First Class Lounge at York. I have always found it strange that the other Yorkshire stations have Lounges - even Wakefield Westgate. The former Model Railway building at York may possibly be the site of the new Lounge...???
The old Model Railway looks like it will be some sort of coffee shop or other food joint - plus it is in the wrong location (quite a distance from where first class is normally situated). I'm looking out for planning details but I don't think it has been sold just yet.
Failed Unit
Established Member
What happened to the model railway (formally rail riders world) did it close down or move?
Johnny Lewis
Member
I think it closed down. Not sure why... perhaps no-one was going to it anymore.
I'm not sure when it actualy shut, although could have been some time ago. More than likely due to a lack of passing business, especially since the footbridge direct to the NRM opened. Plus it was in a rather out of the way location from most of the rest of the station.
WestCoast
Established Member
Rather bizarre - a very major halt on the ECML without lounge. Does the location really affect patronage - I would have thought visits would be pre-planned.
MidnightFlyer
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Mojo, I think, said something last May on here about Virgin being seriously pi**ed off when asked to let the 1st Class Lounge stay open for Sleeper passengers, and promptly closed it.
The trouble with preston is that you can't really put it anywhere. Of the Virgin services using the station:
The only place logically for a new lounge is the old buffet at the London end of p3/4, but that is well out of the way for London passengers, who I dare say would make up to 3/4 of Virgin patronage there.
The trouble with preston is that you can't really put it anywhere. Of the Virgin services using the station:
- Glasgow (both those from london and those from Birmingham) use p3, along the 2-hourly Edinburgh Voyagers;
- Birmingham trains use p4, but can also use p6, which they do about 20-40% of the time;
- Euston services use p6, but, like the New St trains, can switch platforms, using p4 about 20% of the time.
The only place logically for a new lounge is the old buffet at the London end of p3/4, but that is well out of the way for London passengers, who I dare say would make up to 3/4 of Virgin patronage there.
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