They are doing a great job of keeping the new name and branding under wraps as it must be all decided by now, must be time for staff roadshows soon where they should be told?
The roadshows are imminent. Sure the first one is tomorrow.
They are doing a great job of keeping the new name and branding under wraps as it must be all decided by now, must be time for staff roadshows soon where they should be told?
You're right there's no need for another Birmingham - Crewe but there's a genuine need for another Crewe - Preston via Wigan/Warrington. The paths are there, because they've been heavily used for testing/training over the last few months. All that's needed is to use some of those for passenger services.
It doesn't, but it could be done by extending the Trent Valley service instead, which is not really a regional service, it's more a sort of IR.
Route it via Earlestown as wellI am going to say extend the Birmingham to Crewe service to Preston rather the Trent Valley services due to their length being 8 cars mainly where I think only 4 cars are needed or possibly all thats viable depending upon station calls.
Yep. Hourly service each way. Would only require two extra units to do Crewe - Preston and, as I've said before, the paths exist.Route it via Earlestown as well
They are doing a great job of keeping the new name and branding under wraps as it must be all decided by now, must be time for staff roadshows soon where they should be told?
Only those trains have talking toilets. I wonder if the replacements will speak in suave Italian?
If anyone gets any info, we'd all very much love to see it
Let's not get too ahead of ourselves just yet!
Yes, First Rail Holdings trademarked the Avanti name earlier this year. (Just as the DfT trademarked both LNER and Azuma.) But we don't know exactly who has registered the domain names avantitrains.co.uk and avantitrains.com, although the domain does use the same name servers as the westcoastrail.co.uk holding site. (The registrar for both domains is cscprotectsbrands.com, a company that helps organisations 'protect their brands' online.)
So the balance of probabilities is tipping towards Avanti as the franchise name. But it could still just be the name of their new trains.
I'd love a less London-centric service, but the important part there is service. The name is, really, neither here nor there.Personally I'd prefer a name without "London" in it and I suspect there could be a few supporters of greater devolution for the Midlands and North who would prefer something less London-centric as well.
I think the most comprehensive survey is probably the National Rail Passengers Survey undertaken by Transport Focus.Has anyone got any analysis on how many Virgin customers are unhappy with the service and would welcome a new one?
On the other hand, what about customers who travel with Virgin and are happy with the service and would continue their relationship with the group?
Debranding continues.
I suppose they will have to de-name all those Class 390s with "Virgin" on the nameplate!
I think the most comprehensive survey is probably the National Rail Passengers Survey undertaken by Transport Focus.
In the most recent survey (Spring 2019), 91% of VT passengers were 'fairly satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with their journey. (50% of all passengers were 'very satisfied'.)
The full survey drills down on a number of features: the satisfaction levels are much lower when you ask about value-for-money, availability of seating or wifi!
Route it via Earlestown as well
I’ve even thought depending who it was run by it could also call at Winsford, Hartford and Acton Bridge fo improve connections plus speed up LNWR servicesIt would take some pressure of the WCML intercity services from those travelling between Wigan and Warrington. Plus, Newton-le-Willows would certainly have a market for (regular) direct connections to Wigan & Presto, and if you're going through that curve at Earlestown station at that speed you might as well stop there (and, full disclousre, my local station).
Something like hourly each way, Crewe-WBQ-Earlestown-Newton-le-Willows-Wigan-Preston?
I’ve even thought depending who it was run by it could also call at Winsford, Hartford and Acton Bridge fo improve connections plus speed up LNWR services
Quite right! You could keep LNWR services calling at Hartford hourly off peak with peak and evening extras. But transfer management of Hartford as well as Winsford and Acton Bridge to Northern (or whatever TOC would operate the Crewe - Preston stopper). That way the area still retains links to Liverpool but a much easier connection to places like Warrington, Preston and even on to Scotland. If the paths existed you could even run it Crewe - Carlisle and speed up Scotland - London services by removing their call at Penrith, albeit this could be controversialThat makes sense to me! To say Acton Bridge is not well connected to Warrington by train is being extremely generous. Sticking the two into Google Maps' train-only directions gives you something looking like a Tube map.
If the paths existed you could even run it Crewe - Carlisle and speed up Scotland - London services by removing their call at Penrith, albeit this could be controversial
our new catering offer will include free water refills.
Do they mean on the trains or is this just station bottle-fillers like many other operators' stations already have?This just in - the new franchise will offer free water refills.
https://www.westcoastpartnership.co.uk/plan.html
Do they mean on the trains or is this just station bottle-fillers like many other operators' stations already have?