LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Er, it's obviously Chris "Failing" Grayling.
I see the joke now.
Ho. Ho.
Er, it's obviously Chris "Failing" Grayling.
I see the joke now.
Ho. Ho.
How will they exclude people from using route any permitted anytime returns on their services though? Also will booking offices and systems block the sale of a ticket for that service if someone shows up half hour before for it, but all reservations are taken?It says in the VT press release (linked from post #128) that the “service” will be the most advanced, not the trains as such. The PR there is all about the booking system, with a seat for everyone, as proposed by them recently.
No idea to both points, although important. I was really only commenting about the lack of any evidence for new trains.How will they exclude people from using route any permitted anytime returns on their services though? Also will booking offices and systems block the sale of a ticket for that service if someone shows up half hour before for it, but all reservations are taken?
How will they exclude people from using route any permitted anytime returns on their services though?
Also will booking offices and systems block the sale of a ticket for that service if someone shows up half hour before for it, but all reservations are taken?
The problem being that the ticket traditionally sold as and valid on any operator (i.e. the premium ticket so to speak) will presumably not be valid on those services if the seats are already fully booked. How someone prevents them from boarding at the station however I have no idea. Especially with the calls proposed in the Trent Valley. The train pulls away and crew start realising there's people standing?The "white R" i.e. "reservations compulsory". Presently the only UK domestic trains that have that (that I know of) are the Caledonian seated coaches, but it can be applied to other trains and has been in the past.
They will be unable to obtain a reservation, so due to the above travel will not be possible.
The problem being that the ticket traditionally sold as and valid on any operator (i.e. the premium ticket so to speak) will presumably not be valid on those services if the seats are already fully booked. How someone prevents them from boarding at the station however I have no idea. Especially with the calls proposed in the Trent Valley.
Beat me to itEr, it's obviously Chris "Failing" Grayling.
I thought the main sales point of HS2 in terms of line relief, was for more capacity for local services...?Anyway, if there is no capacity at HS2 partial opening, new entry or existing service expansion is OK.
Although whether the average reader realises that I have no idea? Some probably don't even know the DFT awards and oversees the see franchises?Er, it's obviously Chris "Failing" Grayling.
Interesting... I would've thought that some electric trains would've been used.The ex Virgin Trains Voyagers are the intended stock for the er... Virgin Trains open access hourly Liverpool service, there’s a track access application appeared:
https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pd...s-limited-daft-track-access-contract-form.pdf
If that’s allowed, (it is either that or Avanti getting the 2nd Liverpool paths), it knocks a few speculative proposals on the head, how many units would they need?https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pd...s-limited-daft-track-access-contract-form.pdf
That’s the sort of spin you’d have expected when it was first mentioned, but in the cold light of day very few open access plans involve brand new stock...Interesting... I would've thought that some electric trains would've been used.
The ex Virgin Trains Voyagers are the intended stock for the er... Virgin Trains open access hourly Liverpool service, there’s a track access application appeared:
https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pd...s-limited-daft-track-access-contract-form.pdf
If that’s allowed, (it is either that or Avanti getting the 2nd Liverpool paths), it knocks a few speculative proposals on the head, how many units would they need?
When they would be better with XC, but when is logic ever used in these situations anyway?So much for the Class 91s...
This'll be great for the environment, running one of the most polluting DMUs on a line that's entirely electricified.
True, I can only think of First's East Coast Trains as open access with new stock.That’s the sort of spin you’d have expected when it was first mentioned, but in the cold light of day very few open access plans involve brand new stock...
Big firm with deep pockets, I guess. But pretty much required if intending to use similar stock to fit the allocated paths. “New Virgin Trains” won’t even have an operating licence or safety case as it’s gone to Avanti with the staff; and I don’t think “Virgin” actually put money in...True, I can only think of First's East Coast Trains as open access with new stock.
Good point. I was expecting Virgin to use 801s, but I suppose they are limited in funding. Surprising when you consider the success of Virgin away from trains.Big firm with deep pockets, I guess. But pretty much required if intending to use similar stock to fit the allocated paths. “New Virgin Trains” won’t even have an operating licence or safety case as it’s gone to Avanti with the staff; and I don’t think “Virgin” actually put money in...
Good point. I was expecting Virgin to use 801s, but I suppose they are limited in funding. Surprising when you consider the success of Virgin away from trains.
It’s a big decision for ORR and DfT will no doubt be issuing “sound advice”...I assumed this was dead when the successful Avanti bid included a second hourly Liverpool service. Is that still dependent on them getting the paths?
Well I suppose that’s one side effect of all but ignoring suddenly popular open access destinations for over twenty years...Would be great to see VT back and disrupting - they more than anyone must know where the gaps in the WCML market are
Maybe, but as they are being replaced with non tilting stock, it's probably not a priority. Some avanti Liverpool services are going to use AT300s.My only theory as to why Voyagers have been chosen is that they're the only train available that can tilt. Perhaps they want to keep journey times competitive?
Would be great to see VT back and disrupting - they more than anyone must know where the gaps in the WCML market are
The places Virgin could serve were tightly controlled in the franchise agreement. They couldn't have been served unless the DfT approved - and changed the subsidy/premium arrangements.Indeed, they did their damndest to avoid them for over 20 years. Now they want plug them, how convenient.
The ex Virgin Trains Voyagers are the intended stock for the er... Virgin Trains open access hourly Liverpool service, there’s a track access application appeared:
https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pd...s-limited-daft-track-access-contract-form.pdf
If that’s allowed, (it is either that or Avanti getting the 2nd Liverpool paths), it knocks a few speculative proposals on the head, how many units would they need?
What's even more interesting about this is the person whose signature is in that document....