Wrexham,VT & ATW spoiling tactics

[tbtc]

Tough, when did you travel on W/S or the WAG Express

When did anyone travel on this vast waste of Welsh money? :roll:

Doesn't bother me; I'm not paying for it

Branson as been hurt, because his Company as been caught out,

How exactly has he been caught out? He's not lost anything here, just decided not to introduce another new route. Virgin Trains are still serving Wrexham at little marginal cost (since the service was running to/from Chester anyway). Doubt Beardy is losing any sleep over it.

However, when Telford & Shrewsbury plan to introduce more services to Shropshire, that's when he may be concerned.

 

[glynn80]

When did anyone travel on this vast waste of Welsh money? :roll:

Doesn't bother me; I'm not paying for it

A common misconception is the fact that devolved assemblies' budgets are funded directly by the taxpayers of the areas they control. In reality their budgets are controlled directly by the Treasury and funded by taxpayers throughout the UK. In 2007-2008 the Welsh Assembly recieved a £12 billion budget from Westminister, the 10th biggest Treasury spend.

Also the WAG Express was extremely busy yesterday, I do not travel regularly on it but was certainly being put to good use when I travelled.

 

[merlodlliw]

When did anyone travel on this vast waste of Welsh money? :roll:

Doesn't bother me; I'm not paying for it,indirectly you do

presume you mean Wag Express?



How exactly has he been caught out? He's not lost anything here, just decided not to introduce another new route. Virgin Trains are still serving Wrexham at little marginal cost (since the service was running to/from Chester anyway). Doubt Beardy is losing any sleep over it.

To release a press statement is one thing,I have never known another press
statement to follow from the 51% owner, to issue such a statement is
damage limitation, if Branson could not care less he would not have issued
such a statement.

However, when Telford & Shrewsbury plan to introduce more services to Shropshire, that's when he may be concerned.

do you mean W/S.

 

[dylan_w]

do you mean W/S.

He's just trying to wind you up mate, don't rise to it!

Is there anything more that can be siad on this topic without resorting to a neverending exchange of childish slurs?

 

[merlodlliw]

He's just trying to wind you up mate, don't rise to it!

Is there anything more that can be siad on this topic without resorting to a neverending exchange of childish slurs?

Cheers Dylan.


Bob

 

[Techniquest]

I seriously want answers to these questions. Childish slurs/insulting will be ignored:

a) Why are people so infatuated with WSMR? Ooh, it's loco haulage on the mainline with locos no-one really likes much. Ooh, it's MK3s [if I may interject actually upon that...I like the MK3s because they're the most comfortable ride on the network's service trains. However I do not support WSMR at all based solely upon their choice of using loco haulage and MK3s], that means they're absolutely brilliant (please note some level of sarcasm is involved there).

b) Why the sudden interest in 67s? No-one would dare declare they liked them before WSMR came into being, with only select individuals doing so now. My trips with 67013 in August 2008 and January 2009 were hardly exciting. Now if something EE had been on the front...

c) Who on God's green Earth can actually, publically say they like the ATW 158s? They are absolutely appalling. For ATW to allow them to fall into such a poor state of affairs is ridiculous, Wales and Borders/Wessex Trains' ones were never as awful as the ATW ones are now, and that's saying something!

[I ought to interject my opinion again...I like 158s, don't get me wrong. These days when I am on the Marches and a 158 rolls in on my service of choice, I'll run for it whereas a couple of years ago I was bored with their being the mainstay on the route. However, SWT, FSR and FGW have shown up ATW's fleet considerably and for WAG/ATW/whoever to allow the fleet, which still covers a lot of the ATW network daily, to become so flithy you almost don't sit down for fear of getting covered in flith, well that's just an abomination. You certainly don't use the lavatory unless you need to!]

d) I've said it before and I'll say it again: Why, just why, the OCD-style of putting Virgin down from seemingly every man and his dog on this forum? I understand the passion but I really do feel it's misplaced. IF Virgin had started running more regularly to Shropshire and Wrexham, you do have to wonder if some members here would be rushing to NE Wales to vandalise the 221s purely to stop Virgin running there.

People keep going on about Virgin not running to Wrexham regularly as if it's the end of a world war celebration. However I note this is only a small number of individuals, the rest of the world has moved on. I'm only making this post to ask some questions and lay down some opinions, I have lost all interest in the WSMR vs Virgin war which a few members here have decided to wage.

So yeah, answers to the questions I've asked minus any childish slurs/insulting will be most welcome. I will be anxiously awaiting the replies.

 

[TDK]

I love it how you're blaming ATW for the waste of money

They offered that price - it was up to the politicians to accept it, accept another bidder, or not bother.

If you pals at W&S bid for it, then they must be ridiculously expensive in comparison!

As for Branson and DB - it's obvious that the Wrexham service is a trojan horse to investigate potential extension of Chiltern services to profitable Telford and Shrewsbury. They probably only extended it to Wrexham because they knew the gullible Welsh politicians would throw money at them if they did

PS: Eight Quid for Wrexham to London is a bargain
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


The WCML is a 125mph railway. W&S don't have fast enough trains.

Nor do London Midland & if by any chance the WCML was opened up it is only the DVT that is not 125mph, the only problem would be the EPS (tilting speeds), by the WCML I was actually referring to the non availability of picking up at Wolverhampton, Birming New Street or Birmingham International, this is an old Chestnut and will not change until the VT franchise is up for grabs. WSMR trains in fact are quicker than LM with a top speed of 110mph.

 

[ukrob]

Nor do London Midland!

Then the issue is with taking slow line paths from London Midland and nothing to do with Virgin. Nice try

 

[87015]

Then the issue is with taking slow line paths from London Midland and nothing to do with Virgin. Nice try

I think the point was if LM get fast line paths for the first 37/49 miles out of Euston with 100mph trains, WSMR should be able to get similar at least with 110mph trainsets. Loads and loads of paths on the slows anyway despite the rather poor pattern of local services now provided south of Northampton.

The current skoda diagram shows there is basically 110mph paths to Rugby at least aswell.

 

[Geezertronic]

I was actually referring to the non availability of picking up at Wolverhampton, Birming New Street or Birmingham International...

I thought they had the option of stopping at Birmingham International but chose not to exercise it?

 

[dylan_w]

I thought they had the option of stopping at Birmingham International but chose not to exercise it?

I think you're right...I think the main reason they don't stop there is because they can be routed via Bordesley and Solihull.

 

[Pumbaa]

Nor do London Midland & if by any chance the WCML was opened up it is only the DVT that is not 125mph, the only problem would be the EPS (tilting speeds), by the WCML I was actually referring to the non availability of picking up at Wolverhampton, Birming New Street or Birmingham International, this is an old Chestnut and will not change until the VT franchise is up for grabs. WSMR trains in fact are quicker than LM with a top speed of 110mph.

Actually, the 67s are limited to 100/90/75 due to the ridiculously heavy axle loading. I'm not sure of specific bits over the WCML though.

Plus having to go via Northampton would be irritating - Weedon is 125EPS throughout to accomadate zoomy Pendos all day.

 

[The Planner]

The current skoda diagram shows there is basically 110mph paths to Rugby at least aswell.

No it doesnt, its running in a 125mph path and Virgin will pick up any delay minutes. The 67s could use the 110mph sections of the fasts, but again, they would get caught suprisingly quick by the Pendos.

 

[TDK]

I thought they had the option of stopping at Birmingham International but chose not to exercise it?

Yes, but not to pick up, it's set down only for WSMR and with ATW getting the rights possible in return for giving VT a path to Chester there isn't any point lenthening the journey time to drop off at international.

 

[90019]

a) Why are people so infatuated with WSMR? Ooh, it's loco haulage on the mainline with locos no-one really likes much. Ooh, it's MK3s [if I may interject actually upon that...I like the MK3s because they're the most comfortable ride on the network's service trains. However I do not support WSMR at all based solely upon their choice of using loco haulage and MK3s], that means they're absolutely brilliant (please note some level of sarcasm is involved there).

b) Why the sudden interest in 67s? No-one would dare declare they liked them before WSMR came into being, with only select individuals doing so now. My trips with 67013 in August 2008 and January 2009 were hardly exciting. Now if something EE had been on the front...

I would say I liked the 67s before WSMR, because I've always liked them, and the mk3s too, especially with a DVT on the other end. I won't deny that this is one of the reasons I like WSMR; because it is (although we shall see what happens when they get their own coaches back, because i quite like the blue and grey ones). But just because they run stock I like, doesn't mean they'll be judged by any other standards to those that don't - although, you'd have trouble finding a UK TOC that doesn't run stuff I like

d) I've said it before and I'll say it again: Why, just why, the OCD-style of putting Virgin down from seemingly every man and his dog on this forum? I understand the passion but I really do feel it's misplaced. IF Virgin had started running more regularly to Shropshire and Wrexham, you do have to wonder if some members here would be rushing to NE Wales to vandalise the 221s purely to stop Virgin running there.

Tbh, I have little issue with Virgin, the times I've travelled on their trains, it's been fine, but not being able to smell anything means i can't comment on the smells from the toilet But when I have used them, it's only ever been voyagers, but the trains have been nice, the staff friendly, and a few times, the train was pretty empty.
I can understand some people's frustration with Virgin's apparent need to have everything their way, but it's business. Virgin are a business, and if they have to be ruthless, then they will, it's just how business works.
I wonder how many people dont like me now for having that opinion

 

[merlodlliw]

I can understand some people's frustration with Virgin's apparent need to have everything their way, but it's business. Virgin are a business, and if they have to be ruthless, then they will, it's just how business works.
I wonder how many people dont like me now for having that opinion [/QUOTE]

Your opinion should not make you disliked.

 

[flymo]

Nor should quoting posts improperly, but what the hey.

 

[Techniquest]

:lol :lol :lol

90019: Ta for your response, only one to reply to my post on page 7 thus far!

Fair dos to you liking 67s pre-WSMR, didn't think anyone did (hence the wording in my post). More so for not liking WSMR primarily because it's loco hauled!

 

[thefab444]

No-one would dare declare they liked them before WSMR came into being

That's not true, I've liked and bashed 67s for a few years now. I don't pretend they are better than 37s, but at least they are a fleet loco still and I'm not someone who pretends to be a 37 top man when they've had about 40 miles!

 

[Techniquest]

That's not true, I've liked and bashed 67s for a few years now. I don't pretend they are better than 37s, but at least they are a fleet loco still and I'm not someone who pretends to be a 37 top man when they've had about 40 miles!

OK then, I retract my previous opinion.