Virgin Trains loses WCML bid

[RM-Taylor]

BBC News - Virgin Trains loses West Coast Mainline franchise

First Group's domination of the railways continue

 

[strings]

So, first pay well over the odds for the franchise, and then increase the ticket prices to cover their bid costs.

How does this benefit the customer?

 

[halbpro]

That's a shame. Although I don't go north of London much, I've generally found Virgin services to be good, comfortable, nice staff and generally left me satisfied.

 

[Driver8]

I use Virgin three or four times a month to travel from Prestatyn to London on business and their service is reliable and punctual and provided you book in advance fairly reasonable cost wise.

It really should have been a case of "if it ain't broke..."

 

[jackalbion]

First trains down the great western mainline are often poor, late, crowded and over priced virgin trains are normally very smooth and sleek hope they don't end up like the nightmare that is first capital connect

 

[Ernest]

First trains down the great western mainline are often poor, late, crowded and over priced virgin trains are normally very smooth and sleek hope they don't end up like the nightmare that is first capital connect

The clue is in the word 'First'

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

So, first pay well over the odds for the franchise, and then increase the ticket prices to cover their bid costs.

How does this benefit the customer?

The fares that will make them money are all regulated and they've actually said that they will cut fares. I'm not sorry to see Virgin go. Branson seems to put a 10% premium on products using his brand and expect customers to swallow it just because it is Virgin.

 

[halbpro]

Oh plus aren't Virgin the only ones with those mental tilty trains? They're pretty awesome, shame to lose them.

Some of the stuff in that article does seem odd, the governments bidding process seems a little strange. Can't imagine that First can squeeze that much more profit out than Virgin did, without offering a significantly poorer service.

 

[Comedy Steve]

Travelled from Brighton to Manchester two weeks ago and the ticket - including Brighton - Victoria, Tube, Euston - Manchester (on Virgin) - was £17. It was brilliant.

 

[Badger]

So how does it work? Do First get all the Virgin rolling stock? Or will all those shiny new trains end up in storage somewhere?

 

[jackalbion]

So how does it work? Do First get all the Virgin rolling stock? Or will all those shiny new trains end up in storage somewhere?

The trains are included in the franchise I think

 

[glasfryn]

I feel a price hike coming...............

 

[Badger]

The trains are included in the franchise I think

The whole short franchise thing is a joke then, Virgin spend all that money upgrading the trains only for some other company to come and take them for themselves.

 

[jackalbion]

The whole short franchise thing is a joke then, Virgin spend all that money upgrading the trains only for some other company to come and take them for themselves.

It's stupid really isn't it they should all run like open access operators in my opinion. where they choose the routes and run them without government funding then we wouldn't have to be paying money so the company can run the short pointless branch that no ones uses

 

[RM-Taylor]

I believe the trains will also be transferred over to First West Coast Ltd leaving Virgin Trains with no stock at all. I think Virgin may well win the upcoming tender on the ECML.

 

[Storer 68]

Oh plus aren't Virgin the only ones with those mental tilty trains? They're pretty awesome, shame to lose them.

Some of the stuff in that article does seem odd, the governments bidding process seems a little strange. Can't imagine that First can squeeze that much more profit out than Virgin did, without offering a significantly poorer service.

Probably be replaced with a1970s HST that has been mouldering in some museum for thirty years. Can't believe that I am still travelling on FCC trains that I used when I was at sdhool over 30 years ago

 

[halbpro]

I believe the trains will also be transferred over to First West Coast Ltd leaving Virgin Trains with no stock at all. I think Virgin may well win the upcoming tender on the ECML.

Branson saying though that they're unlikely to bid again because of the expense. About £12m to get a bid sorted apparently, and they've had East Coast rejected twice already.

 

[Butch Willykins]

Just to Echo what has been said on here. Whenever I've travelled Virgin Trains I actually quite enjoyed it, compared to the shite served up by Southern and FCC.

The whole thing stinks.

Good Luck to that Branson fella, he seems to have his head screwed on, I'm sure he'll do ok elsewhere.

 

[halbpro]

Probably be replaced with a1970s HST that has been mouldering in some museum for thirty years. Can't believe that I am still travelling on FCC trains that I used when I was at sdhool over 30 years ago

FCC have started replacing their rolling stock now though, so they are at least getting better in that regard. The old FCC trains (which seem to have the most uncomfortable seats ever) have been cropping up on the London Overground services in my experience.

 

[halbpro]

Probably be replaced with a1970s HST that has been mouldering in some museum for thirty years. Can't believe that I am still travelling on FCC trains that I used when I was at sdhool over 30 years ago

FCC have started replacing their rolling stock now though, so they are at least getting better in that regard. The old FCC trains (which seem to have the most uncomfortable seats ever) have been cropping up on the London Overground services in my experience.