dk1
Veteran Member
Cannot think of a single thing.
Window seats with no window
This is definitely one of the most annoying things especially as quite a few windows are taken up by luggage racks instead of seats.Window seats with no window
I like this. Travelling 2/3 times a week I pick out the non-window window seat when I don't have a reservation as I'm pretty much guaranteed to get both seats to myself. All I want to do is settle down with Netflix for 90 minutes. I've seen what's out of the window plenty of times before now.
Agree. If you're a regular passenger the view means less with every journey. If you really want a window seat, reserve one.
I agree with this but Virgin Trains are much better than some operators at least showing on their online seat selector which seats have a limited/no view (you can also download the seating plan with this on).This is not made easy by no TOC marking windows on their seating plans.
This is not made easy by no TOC marking windows on their seating plans.
This is not made easy by no TOC marking windows on their seating plans.
Agree. If you're a regular passenger the view means less with every journey. If you really want a window seat, reserve one.
Can you do that with an advance ticket?
Yes and if you book through the Virgin Trains website you can pick the exact seat you want on whatever ticket type you have chosen.Can you do that with an advance ticket?
Yes and if you book through the Virgin Trains website you can pick the exact seat you want on whatever ticket type you have chosen.
Thanks, that's useful to know. Years ago when I bought advance tickets traveling to Manchester, I assumed I had to take whatever was allocated, and I went through a period when I regularly got one of the few seats without a window.
That one does annoy me when waiting at Wigan NW or Warrington BQ although I'm usually there only for photographs.And at stations the ATOS Anne special VT add on about "you can find the shop in coach C for delicious......"
I do wonder what the "beep-beep, beep-beep, beep-beep" is?
It is perhaps most annoying to know that your money is, in part, going to Richard Branson.
I do wonder what the "beep-beep, beep-beep, beep-beep" is?
I hate the narrow 1st class seats.
I hate the drunk stag and hen parties in the quiet carriage.
How many of the things listed here, both pro and con are actually a function of the franchise being run by Virgin?
The annoying zaniness (talking toilets, rhyming shop attendants et al) clearly are.
The prices are - it doesn't seem that long ago that it was possible to get Advances between Manchester and London for £13, now anything less than £30 is a major result.
The faster journeys than were previously possible on the WCML - well, the line would have been upgraded whoever the TOC was, wouldn't it?
The issues with the trains (small windows, poor luggage storage, tilting if it bothers you, smelly toilets) - isn't it the DfT that specifies the trains? If so, again the issues would have been there with or without Virgin.
Does anybody know (and is in a position to share) whether there are any operational decisions Virgin make that distinguish their services from others? I don't use them that often (4-5 times a year) and the actual operation seems fine - I can't remember when I last had a train cancelled or significantly delayed - I don't think I've ever done a delay repay claim from them, unlike some of our other long distance operators.
When selecting seats on Virgin Trains I do use the information that their online seat selector gives but before hand I look at this seating plan to get a good idea of which seats have a view, it is also useful if you don't have a reservation to have the best chance at getting a seat with a view.
Interesting thing about those plans is that the seats with the view have the power points. I would have thought the ones without the view might need them more.
Yes I have noticed that as well and at least in Standard class I think it is because only table seats have Power Points and they usually line up with windows quite well, though I don't know why only table seats have them.Interesting thing about those plans is that the seats with the view have the power points. I would have thought the ones without the view might need them more.