Virgin Trains has promised the biggest upgrade to the tube ever if it is allowed to operate the service. Richard Branson has reportedly written to London Mayor Sadiq Khan with proposals to introduce Advance fares and various innovations designed to grow passenger numbers.
A new headline service would be introduced on the longer distance lucrative Amersham and Chesham routes, which have vast untapped potential, running non-stop from Rickmansworth to Baker Street and would include buffet facilities, in the form of a shop selling light refreshments along with copies of the Daily Mail, and first class accommodation including the usual Virgin complementaries. On weekends this would be replaced with a Weekend 1st offering, including miniature snack box.
Advance fares would be available on the same basis as the company's "Power Hour" promotion, which was trialled between Doncaster and London in 2016, which allowed passengers to obtain a hefty discount if they specify a one-hour time window in which their journey must be made, without being tied to a specific train. This would grow the business and ensure that the tube becomes profitable.
However the plans would not put any risk on Virgin Trains and the financial risk would still be with taxpayers. Christian Wolmar warned of the dangers: ‘What is the point of franchising if the risk is never with the private company, and the promised gains to the taxpayer are clearly just theoretical?’
A new headline service would be introduced on the longer distance lucrative Amersham and Chesham routes, which have vast untapped potential, running non-stop from Rickmansworth to Baker Street and would include buffet facilities, in the form of a shop selling light refreshments along with copies of the Daily Mail, and first class accommodation including the usual Virgin complementaries. On weekends this would be replaced with a Weekend 1st offering, including miniature snack box.
Advance fares would be available on the same basis as the company's "Power Hour" promotion, which was trialled between Doncaster and London in 2016, which allowed passengers to obtain a hefty discount if they specify a one-hour time window in which their journey must be made, without being tied to a specific train. This would grow the business and ensure that the tube becomes profitable.
However the plans would not put any risk on Virgin Trains and the financial risk would still be with taxpayers. Christian Wolmar warned of the dangers: ‘What is the point of franchising if the risk is never with the private company, and the promised gains to the taxpayer are clearly just theoretical?’
