My first guess is that the bi-modes are going to be short (~5-car), and the EMUs will be full-length (9-car+).
I worry what they mean when they say ‘improved’.Said improved catering though and thought first has been reduced several times already
"New comfortable seats" are touted which I hope is in the spirit of the Northern refurb with the current, adequate, and already-comfortable ones reupholstered.
The dog that didn't bark! Suggests recognition that delivery of HS2 might be running a few years later than originally envisaged?
Hopefully this means some decent Italian cuisine in First Class
Remember that there might be 20 Voyagers but they spend a lot of time coupled up on the WCML proper. so I'd lay money on the 13 bimode Voyager replacements to be full length trains rather than 5-car trains as they are currently which when added to the 10 EMUs for Liverpool starts to sound more reasonable.
the buffet is completely rubbish!
whereas i hope they take the current seats in the Pendolino, rip out the seats, throw them in the bin and replace them with seats that have been designed with actual humans in mind.
That was always the planThe FAQs make reference to working with HS2 Ltd though not strictly referring to delivering HS2.
I get that seating is subjective. To me (with spinal issues) IC70 seats are dire, the Pendo seats are fine and god forbid that they retro fit 800-style seats.Good. More space for plebs like me
Yet Deganwy has made an appearance on the route map.Yes but the service route map just shows a connection from Gobowen northwards via Wrexham.
I can't see WCP stopping at Chirk/Ruabon, any more than they do at Shotton/Abergele.
I have to agree - I've always found the Cl390 seats to be very comfortable. Hopefully they see sense!I get that seating is subjective. To me (with spinal issues) IC70 seats are dire, the Pendo seats are fine and god forbid that they retro fit 800-style seats.
Clicked on the dft’s page - the only improvement shown for most stations is super voyagers being replaced. Possibly the most meh franchise announcement ever.
Timing seems weird given the stagecoach legal challenge. Will probably all end up being overturned anyway.
Will have to be a short train for there.
So I guess the brand colours are navy blue (black?) and orange?
According to the map Gobowen services are an extension of the Wrexham & will go via Crewe.Will have to be a short train for there.
Strange that Gobowen will have a service to London. Why would it not start from Wrexham?
The ten (electric) sets are the ones that I was guessing would be full-length, so wouldn't be doubled up. Though on reflection, thirteen bi-mode units (less a few on maintenance) wouldn't stretch very far when doubled up: five doubled-up diagrams would barely cover the Chester services...But unless you do some very funky diagramming then you're probably going to end up with a lot more 5-car running on the WCML proper as I'm not sure ten sets will be sufficient to run around doubled up after you factor in all the extra services into and around Wales!
Hope you aren’t expecting wood fired oven pizzasHopefully this means some decent Italian cuisine in First Class
14 August 2019
RMT Press Office
RMT slams West Coast political fix as public ownership is ignored and First Trenitalia are shunted in to replace Virgin/Stagecoach in midst of pension row
General Secretary Mick Cash said;
"The announcement this morning that First Trenitalia are being shunted on to the West Coast Mainline to replace Virgin/Stagecoach in the midst of the rail staff pension row is just another political fix by a Government whose privatised franchise model is collapsing around their ears.
"Instead of following the popular public sector route the Tories are taking yet another gamble on the crucial West Coast lines with one of the dwindling number of private operator consortia left in the game in a move that RMT believes is doomed to failure and sure to result in yet more rail chaos.
"RMT will take whatever action is required to protect out members pay, jobs, working conditions and pensions on these vital inter-city routes."
The ten (electric) sets are the ones that I was guessing would be full-length, so wouldn't be doubled up. Though on reflection, thirteen bi-mode units (less a few on maintenance) wouldn't stretch very far when doubled up: five doubled-up diagrams would barely cover the Chester services...
For comparison, in 2012 Virgin's plan was to replace the Voyagers with 21 6-car EMUs (to be hauled off the wires), whereas First planned to add 11 6-car EMUs for the Birmingham-Scotland route, and keep the existing Voyagers. Comparing this announcement with First's previous plan, the 20 Voyagers kept on in the old plan are replaced with 13 bi-modes, which would imply that the bi-modes will be significantly longer. But Virgin's old plan, a like-for-like replacement with 6-car units was seen as sufficient.
(There's actually very little in Wales that will be *new* services, and most of them are on weekends. A lot could be extending existing diagrams a bit. The later Euston train on weekdays could be the low-hanging fruit of extending the current last train beyond Birmingham.)
Ok, i can't seem to find the map. Is it on the FirstTrentalia site?According to the map Gobowen services are an extension of the Wrexham & will go via Crewe.
It can't be easy. Too radical a change and nobody believes it; more of the same and nobody sees the point.
The legal challenge could turn everything on its head, you're right.
The website says "West Coast Rail".What name will they use to operate has it been announced?
Horizon TrainsWhat name will they use to operate has it been announced?
More stops being added at Motherwell is great news for the people of Lanarkshire.
It was on the DfT site on Twitter. To be honest on a recent visit to Shrewsbury I chose to return to London via Crewe as it worked out quicker so would imagine Gobowen definatley will be via Chester.Ok, i can't seem to find the map. Is it on the FirstTrentalia site?
They are waiting for a convenient time to announce this, with the final brand to be announced. Horizon Trains anyone?What name will they use to operate has it been announced?
The RMT has condemned the decision as a "political stitch up."
I get that seating is subjective. To me (with spinal issues) IC70 seats are dire, the Pendo seats are fine and god forbid that they retro fit 800-style seats.
I have to agree - I've always found the Cl390 seats to be very comfortable. Hopefully they see sense!