gordondaviesmoustache
Well-Known Member
They were also pretty reliable.Virgin did at least also have regular promotions and decent deals for advanced bookings, or did up to around 2012.
They were also pretty reliable.Virgin did at least also have regular promotions and decent deals for advanced bookings, or did up to around 2012.
For all Virgins trains were cheap and reliable they wouldn’t guarantee the funding of the pension scheme so were dropped.Virgin were removed because of some pension regulations (mainly on the part of stagecoach), don't think it was anything to with costs.
However Avanti have been, and continue to be, a complete joke.
AgreedVirgin were removed because of some pension regulations (mainly on the part of stagecoach), don't think it was anything to with costs.
However Avanti have been, and continue to be, a complete joke.
They also had cheap deals for City fans (members), right until their end. If booked in good time, you could do a return for less than £20 at times, and even first class return for under £50 if you were lucky.Virgin did at least also have regular promotions and decent deals for advanced bookings, or did up to around 2012.
Virgin was a partnership with stagecoach. They provided a good service, and often (if you booked early enough) cheap tickets.For all Virgins trains were cheap and reliable they wouldn’t guarantee the funding of the pension scheme so were dropped.
ScandalousI see they've been given £6.5m bonus for their efforts, unbelievable for the service they provide.
The only "bonus" should have been removing their franchise.
Genuinely incredible. The worst train company of my lifetime. Pretty much unusable now for long distance Blues……I see they've been given £6.5m bonus for their efforts, unbelievable for the service they provide.
The only "bonus" should have been removing their franchise.
You can't make a comparison between Virgin and Avanti, 'cos it's a stark fuckin' contrast. I'd like to see some transcript and a few emails as to why Virgin got sacked and they chose this piece of crap to serve as the North West's main train franchise. I should imagine that the trains are the same ( I did notice that Virgin vinyl stickers were disappearing from the lounge at Piccadilly and off some of the trains some time before Avanti shouldered their way in), the staff remains much the same, so it's only the management that has changed, and I have not experienced, nor do I wish to, the daily commute from Kent, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Essex into the capital on a workday, so it might be that Avanti isn't to bad in that respect, but as a replacement for Virgin they are execrable.They were also pretty reliable.
It’s not just the NW, DE. It’s also the provider from New Street to Euston and the trains are 100% the same ones with a paint job and a different livery. I usually chose to go to London via Chiltern which takes about half an hour more, which tells you everything.You can't make a comparison between Virgin and Avanti, 'cos it's a stark fuckin' contrast. I'd like to see some transcript and a few emails as to why Virgin got sacked and they chose this piece of crap to serve as the North West's main train franchise. I should imagine that the trains are the same ( I did notice that Virgin vinyl stickers were disappearing from the lounge at Piccadilly and off some of the trains some time before Avanti shouldered their way in), the staff remains much the same, so it's only the management that has changed, and I have not experienced, nor do I wish to, the daily commute from Kent, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Essex into the capital on a workday, so it might be that Avanti isn't to bad in that respect, but as a replacement for Virgin they are execrable.
As should all public utilities, G.It’s not just the NW, DE. It’s also the provider from New Street to Euston and the trains are 100% the same ones with a paint job and a different livery. I usually chose to go to London via Chiltern which takes about half an hour more, which tells you everything.
It’s a ridiculous conversation tbh. The railways should be completely state owned.
Agreed. Absolute fucking disgrace they they are not, with the exception of telecommunications (if that’s classified as a utility).As should all public utilities, G.
They are the same trains re painted.You can't make a comparison between Virgin and Avanti, 'cos it's a stark fuckin' contrast. I'd like to see some transcript and a few emails as to why Virgin got sacked and they chose this piece of crap to serve as the North West's main train franchise. I should imagine that the trains are the same ( I did notice that Virgin vinyl stickers were disappearing from the lounge at Piccadilly and off some of the trains some time before Avanti shouldered their way in), the staff remains much the same, so it's only the management that has changed, and I have not experienced, nor do I wish to, the daily commute from Kent, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Essex into the capital on a workday, so it might be that Avanti isn't to bad in that respect, but as a replacement for Virgin they are execrable.
The biggest con job ever done to the British public. Let me sell you something that you already own. Del Trotter would be proud of that scam!!As should all public utilities, G.
Don’t tell Sid, that!The biggest con job ever done to the British public. Let me sell you something that you already own. Del Trotter would be proud of that scam!!
Avanti can’t even guarantee trains, never mind anything elseTotally agree.
For us old codgers they were great.
But a condition of the franchise was guaranteeing the pension fund.
And they wouldn’t.
Quite a fundamental prerequisite of any decent train franchisee.Avanti can’t even guarantee trains, never mind anything else
Most virgins are.They were also pretty reliable.