Why diesel

[Peter Lanky]

Does anyone know why Virgin operates diesel trains between Glasgow/Edinburgh and Birmingham, when the whole route has been electrified for years?

 

[SWT Driver]

Probably because there's no other option available.

 

[GNERman]

becuase they dont have any other available stock to run the services with, they should probably order more 390's with the DfT hwich are perfect for the route, thus allowing the Super Voyagers to be transferred elsewhere, like AXC and EMT.

 

[ukrob]

becuase they dont have any other available stock to run the services with, they should probably order more 390's but beardy branston doesn't care about the environment at all, that's why he also owns an airline company and a rocket company which will transport people to the moon...

You mean to tell me that Richard Branson is personally responsible for ordering and paying for new trains? Get a grip.

 

[generalvegitable]

the government have never heard of places like birmingham or glasgow, all they know is london, they know what side streets in central london do not have a tube station even though few exist, but they can't tell you whether a main line is electrified, thats why they have not done the GWML, they think its already done

 

[devon_metro]

becuase they dont have any other available stock to run the services with, they should probably order more 390's but beardy branston doesn't care about the environment at all, that's why he also owns an airline company and a rocket company which will transport people to the moon...

lol..!

 

[yorkie]

becuase they dont have any other available stock to run the services with, they should probably order more 390's but beardy branston ......

Stop there! It's up to the DfT to specify the rolling stock requirements. There may be a Richard Branston at the DfT that I'm not aware of, but Richard Branson doesn't work for the DfT...

 

[GNERman]

You mean to tell me that Richard Branson is personally responsible for ordering and paying for new trains? Get a grip.

Well, I didn't say that, t if Mr Branson was very environmentally friendly he might have made an effort to stop it but i'm sure he has much more important things to do...

I'm amazed the DfT hasn't tried to stop this happening, its quite a sin. I think the main problem is there is no spare electric 125mph trains, only 110mph with Mk 3 sets and 86, 87 or 90.

 

[Lampshade]

I believe they're going to be fitting some of the Voyagers with pantographs for just this purpose. Would this be so that the OHLE drives the electric traction motors as opposed to the diesel engine? This seems the only rational explanation for equipping diesel trains with pantographs.

 

[SWT Driver]

Virgin would have bean in a right pickle if Richard Branston was in charge.

[exits quickly]

 

[dk1]

I believe they're going to be fitting some of the Voyagers with pantographs for just this purpose. Would this be so that the OHLE drives the electric traction motors as opposed to the diesel engine? This seems the only rational explanation for equipping diesel trains with pantographs.

Think that is part of Virgins franchise bid for WCML2012. Rumour has it that DfT are looking at add on orders for MML.

 

[37401]

thus allowing the Super Voyagers to be transferred elsewhere, like AXC and EMT.

f*** off more HST`s please
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Virgin would have bean in a right pickle if Richard Branston was in charge.

[exits quickly]

 

[SWT Driver]

Come on ketchup at the back... I have to relish this.

The trouble is I don't have a reliable sauce.

 

[ukrob]

Well, I didn't say that, t if Mr Branson was very environmentally friendly he might have made an effort to stop it but i'm sure he has much more important things to do...

So what did you say then?

Do you know how franchises work? Do you know what the DfT is? Do you know how ROSCO's operate?

 

[MCR247]

Come on ketchup at the back... I have to relish this.

The trouble is I don't have a reliable sauce.

lol

 

[royaloak]

So what did you say then?

Do you know how franchises work? usually very badly
Do you know what the DfT is? an interfering bunch of *****
Do you know how ROSCO's operate? by charging £10,000,000 a year to hire a nodding donkey

Hows that then

 

[ukrob]

Spot on

 

[Peter Lanky]

the government have never heard of places like birmingham or glasgow, all they know is london, they know what side streets in central london do not have a tube station even though few exist, but they can't tell you whether a main line is electrified, thats why they have not done the GWML, they think its already done

This was my original theory. Lets face it, if people travelling on routes not involving London had Pendolino's, then they wouldn't be constantly reminded that they were considered less important. However, to do so would not make very good commercial sense.

I'm not remotely technical on trains, so all these abbreviations, acronyms and code numbers used earlier in this thread mean nothing to me, so I'm still none the wiser. On the grounds that these trains were ordered long after electrification for these routes, it seems obvious to me that they should have been electric. It's not as if Virgin had loads of spare trains from other routes (I'm guessing here) that they could call upon, or even use trains that were no longer 'good enough' for London routes, as these have been electric for as long as I can remember.

 

[GB]

Track access charges are lower for diesel than electric...perhaps that has something to do with it?

 

[royaloak]

But do you get the lektric for free?

 

[SWT Driver]

NO, they charge you a revolting amount for it!!

Boom, Boom.

 

[37401]

So what did you say then?

Do you know how franchises work? Do you know what the DfT is? Do you know how ROSCO's operate?

ROSCO, gotta love that word, sounds like the name of some slap talkin 1950`s american detective

I think the detective in broken sword was called Rosco.

back on topic...

as long as the voyagers do the job, thats all that matters isnt it?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

NO, they charge you a revolting amount for it!!

Boom, Boom.

Can I hire you for me 18th your on top form with ze comedy tonight

 

[Peter Lanky]

as long as the voyagers do the job, thats all that matters isnt it?

One could say the same about steam engines and wooden coaches. They do the job, but aren't the most efficient (but much nicer).

 

[GNERman]

ROSCO, gotta love that word, sounds like the name of some slap talkin 1950`s american detective

I think the detective in broken sword was called Rosco.

back on topic...

Wasn't the sheriff on the Dukes of Hazzard called Rosco?

Sorry, I know, not on topic...

 

[starrymarkb]

Its a lecacy of the route being a former Cross Country service. In the past the Voyager would have continued to Bournemouth/Penzance over unwired routes. When the DfT created XC they decided that West Coast Services should be run by the West Coast Franchise and only North of Birmingham using 221s from XC.

Given the fight Virgin had with the DfT over the Pendo Lengthening chances of new build are slim. Virgin can't go it alone as their franchise is up for renewal in 2 years time.

 

[SWT Driver]

It's the amount of coffee that I've drunk... I'm fizzin'

lip smacking, thirst quenching, ace tasting, motivating, good buzzing, cool talking, high walking, fast living, ever giving, hot bubblin' Coffee! :grin:

 

[Aictos]

How many coffees have you had then?

 

[37401]

im guessing 10-20 :P

 

[SWT Driver]

Lost count... I'm starting to get a headache!

 

[royaloak]

If you knew him its more like 100-200
mind you he has broken a few disastros today so maybe only 75-150.