Virgin Trains East Coast launch day

[Kite159]

All this talk of VTEC makes me think of early 90s kid's computers.

And Honda engines

I wonder how many extra passengers there will be on the final "DOR East Coast", than normal to say goodbye.

 

[Aictos]

Exactly what I see. Was amazed that an EC service as early as 07:03 existed off Kings X as has never done before on a Sunday.

Apologies but being half asleep I thought it was looking at Sunday, could have sworn it was 07:03 being the first one though..

Is anyone from here going to be on the 08:45 ex Kings Cross?

 

[jon0844]

And Honda engines

I wonder how many extra passengers there will be on the final "DOR East Coast", than normal to say goodbye.

The weird thing, because of how this franchise was set up, is that although it will clearly look all new once all the trains are given the Virgin treatment - the email I got earlier today makes it just sound like East coast is staying (technically it is I suppose) and there are just a few changes being made.

An exciting change is coming soon that's going to make travelling with us even better. But though we may be changing the way we look, we're not changing the way you book. So when you're looking to hop off for an Easter break don't forget to book in advance for the lowest fares.

You might even look upon it as if Virgin are just a sponsor adding their name to the current East Coast service.

 

[D1009]

From what I can see, nothing will change in the short term other than the branding. Is that the most important thing to the forum members?

 

[richardio123]

Well all the brochures/branding are on this website

http://www.yorkdigitalimageblogs.co.uk/?p=102

so that bit isn't so secret

 

[JaJaWa]

And Honda engines

I wonder how many extra passengers there will be on the final "DOR East Coast", than normal to say goodbye.

There seemed to be less advances than usual for today and tomorrow.

Well all the brochures/branding are on this website

http://www.yorkdigitalimageblogs.co.uk/?p=102

so that bit isn't so secret

Thanks for that. Surprised the "shocking new livery" hasn't leaked out yet...

 

[Hadders]

The weird thing, because of how this franchise was set up, is that although it will clearly look all new once all the trains are given the Virgin treatment - the email I got earlier today makes it just sound like East coast is staying (technically it is I suppose) and there are just a few changes being made.



You might even look upon it as if Virgin are just a sponsor adding their name to the current East Coast service.

Remember this isn't a 'normal' franchise change. East Coast is being purchased by Inter City Railways Limited (which is the official name of the Stagecoach/Virgin joint venture). There is absolutely nothing to stop them carrying on with the current brand and livery should they have wished.

Compare and contrast to (say) the other recent change when FCC lost their franchise in favour of Govia. FCC wasn't acquired by Govia, in fact FCC still exists but they don't run trains any longer!

 

[marks87]

There seemed to be less advances than usual for today and tomorrow.



Thanks for that. Surprised the "shocking new livery" hasn't leaked out yet...

From what we've seen so far, I'm going to take a punt on the 91s, DVTs and 43s being mostly red with the white Virgin logo. The rears of these then transition into the silver Pendolino-style livery for the coaches.

As I say, just a punt.

 

[Welshman]

Well all the brochures/branding are on this website

http://www.yorkdigitalimageblogs.co.uk/?p=102

so that bit isn't so secret

Isn't there something rather worrying about a printing company which advertises on its website that it is producing publicity material for there[sic], [i.e Virgin's], takeover of the East Coast Main Line?

 

[Deerfold]

Isn't there something rather worrying about a printing company which advertises on its website that it is producing publicity material for there[sic], [i.e Virgin's], takeover of the East Coast Main Line?

Wow their whole blog appears to be designed to put people off using their services.

Spelling mistakes.
Random double spaces.
Random capitalisation.
Inability to use full stops or apostrophes.

Wow.

 

[IanXC]

Isn't there something rather worrying about a printing company which advertises on its website that it is producing publicity material for there[sic], [i.e Virgin's], takeover of the East Coast Main Line?

We produced A4 and A5 brochures, A4 Photographic cards, various documents and put together 100 media packs for their takeover launch of the east coast main line.

Wonder if someone's been reading

 

[Retorus]

Wow their whole blog appears to be designed to put people off using their services.

Spelling mistakes.
Random double spaces.
Random capitalisation.
Inability to use full stops or apostrophes.

Wow.

Sorry!

 

[Deerfold]

Wonder if someone's been reading

Looks much better (though they've only corrected this post - ther rest of their blog is littered with mistakes).

Wonder why they've decapitalised East Coast Main Line?

 

[JaJaWa]

Well that's the new Twitter handle confirmed!

 

[jon0844]

Who is Nico Dubois?!

 

[JaJaWa]

Who is Nico Dubois?!

I presumed it was some kind of pun? No idea!


I like how clear they have made the Stagecoach ownership... "we're a Virgin company".

 

[Saint66]

What's the final EC service this evening then?

 

[jopsuk]

I saw an (8 carriage) EMT set at Kings Cross early evening, presumably this is hired in this weekend partly due to diversions but also due to sets being out for re-branding?

 

[Aictos]

I saw an (8 carriage) EMT set at Kings Cross early evening, presumably this is hired in this weekend partly due to diversions but also due to sets being out for re-branding?

VTEC will be hiring in a HST set from EMT which will be captive to a Neville Hill diagram meaning it be in service Sunday to Friday, this is to cover for a Mk4 set going off to be refurbished.

This is in place from the 1st March 2015 though and will be hired until the entire Mk4 refurbishment programme is completed.

 

[scotsman]

Any idea what the branding on the sets will look like from tomorrow?

 

[dfurn]

All ready for tomorrow then!

 

[Saint66]

Any idea what the branding on the sets will look like from tomorrow?

Sounds like we won't find out till Monday, when the official 'event' is.

 

[gavin]

Any idea what the branding on the sets will look like from tomorrow?

Posters starting to go up

 

[Hadders]

All ready for tomorrow then!

Interesting to see that the leaflet is 'Published by East Coast Mainline Company Limited... Registered Number 04659708. Registered Office friars bridge Court, 41-45 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NZ'

The Registered Name and Number is the same as the current East Coast operator. The registered address is changing though as EC's current one is at 5 Chancery Lane.

This demonstrates that it isn't a change of franchise (as evidenced by the lack of de-branding), rather a change of ownership of ECML.

 

[jopsuk]

Surely if the purple strip wqas removed it would be fairly trivial with vinyls to reproduce the Virgin WC livery on the grey base? That 91 looks... haphazard

 

[marks87]

This demonstrates that it isn't a change of franchise (as evidenced by the lack of de-branding), rather a change of ownership of ECML.

Isn't it more specifically a change of ownership of East Coast Mainline Company Ltd from a fully-owned subsidiary of DOR, to being 90:10 owned by Stagecoach/Virgin?

The ECML itself (that is, the infrastructure) will still be owned by Network Rail.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I take it that the current timetables tha are in use will still be issued as is?

 

[JaJaWa]

Surely if the purple strip wqas removed it would be fairly trivial with vinyls to reproduce the Virgin WC livery on the grey base? That 91 looks... haphazard

The purple bands will be covered by red ones within the next 3 days.

I take it that the current timetables tha are in use will still be issued as is?

Yes, not changing till May.

 

[dfurn]

I take it that the current timetables tha are in use will still be issued as is?

As far as I could see at the stations I was at today none of the old East Coast timetables were being removed. That'd be a waste of paper.

 

[Skimble19]

Went past Bounds Green a couple of hours ago and spotted a couple of rather red DVTs inside.. First Class Lounge at KGX has also been rebranded like the Newcastle one.