Virgin Trains loses WCML bid

[HawkTheSeagull]

Poor decision, First's current/previous companies are a real mixed bag. I mean First Great Western currently arent a bad company, but then you have First Capital Connect, one of the worst in the country.

But then with the government, its all about the money - totally forgetting us passengers. Just looking at the Virgin Facebook page, lots of unhappy people too.

 

[Storer 68]

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.

Just respray jobs of trains that they have diverted from their Southern livery. outside all painted blue and FCC logos everywhere. Inside all Southern green. I don't think FCC have spent a penny on new trains here - just re-sprayed a few Southern ones that they had

 

[halbpro]

Just respray jobs of trains that they have diverted from their Southern livery. outside all painted blue and FCC logos everywhere. Inside all Southern green. I don't think FCC have spent a penny on new trains here - just re-sprayed a few Southern ones that they had

Ah looking at it they've currently got some (about 23 I think) brand new Southern style trains, which are on loan until new rolling stock that's actually theirs arrives in a few years.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

BBC News - Virgin Trains loses West Coast Mainline franchise

First Group's domination of the railways continue

The fact they're rebranding to distance themselves from....themselves says a lot about this. I reckon this will go tits up ala channel tunnel. They have paid well over the odds. A bad call by the inexperienced Justine Greening.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Booked in advance,Stoke return (on a Saturday via Trainline) to Euston at £37 includes Tube/Bus and DLR travel time 80 mins and once having been employed by First for over ten years i seriously fear the worse for north west travelling public.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

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.

No. The Virgin investment was provided for within the terms of their franchise agreement. The trains are designed to meet the needs of the West Coast Mainline. Everywhichway you look at rail franchising it's us who pay for the railway.

Franchising agreements simply shift around the locations where some of the decisions get made. The government claims that "the taxpayer" gets a good deal out of Worst Group replacing Virgin. No doubt true, but what about the passengers? It's the government who have decided that they are less important than the taxpayers. It doesn't have to be that way - but people seem to accept these changes and not challenge them.

 

[halbpro]

With regard to First cutting fares, will they actually cut fares or do the "average fare" trick where they only cut on the least popular routes, allowing them to raise prices elsewhere?

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Well that's my great VFM & comfortable rail trips to the Midlands totally f***ed then.

 

[Beach Hut]

Bad news all round, Virgin were very focused on the customer

 

[Albion Dan]

Lots of reasons why the decision stinks and is transparantly a stitch up by First to save the wider group which is on the brink of insolvency. Very small govt premium payments early years then completely undeliverable from that point. Another stinker from George Osbourne who has been blinded by the biggest number.

 

[Beach Hut]

Trouble with First Group is their enormous debt burden that will never go away, this may well end in tears.

 

[El Presidente]

I'm travelling from Manchester to London tonight first class with Virgin for £56 return. Excellent service, allows you to work on the train, quick, reliable and efficient, which is what customers want shirley?

 

[kevo]

That's the problem with the franchise system. I'm sure if you did a poll of customer satisfaction, Virgin would score much more highly than First on the services they run. The fares on Virgin services are also reasonably low if you book in advance. But of course, with this government it isn't about what benefits the public - it's all about MONEY. Expect poorer services, grubby overcrowded trains and a massive price hike.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Trouble with First Group is their enormous debt burden that will never go away, this may well end in tears.

It will.

 

[kevo]

I'm travelling from Manchester to London tonight first class with Virgin for £56 return. Excellent service, allows you to work on the train, quick, reliable and efficient, which is what customers want shirley?

It's totally irrelevant what the customer wants. The Government haven't even considered it as a factor. The franchise obviously goes to whoever bids the most money, even if what they are offering is completely shit.

 

[fataddick]

Virgin are the only train company that still give out free booze. All that ends when First take over. I will switch to flying rather than getting the train when travelling to the North West now. Boo

 

[Uter]

Even with the most rose tinted spectacles it is hard not to question the wisdom of this. It's looks like a massive gamble that recent strong passenger growth will continue and meet or even outstrip forecasts. Looks like the Treasury pulled rank on the DfT.

After a shaky start Virgin have improved the service and grown passenger numbers massively. Must feel like a kick in the teeth to them.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Even with the most rose tinted spectacles it is hard not to question the wisdom of this. It's looks like a massive gamble that recent strong passenger growth will continue and meet or even outstrip forecasts. Looks like the Treasury pulled rank on the DfT.

After a shaky start Virgin have improved the service and grown passenger numbers massively. Must feel like a kick in the teeth to them.

Branson has been critical of the government in other areas over the past year or so. I wonder whether this played a part in this rather odd decision.

I look forward to seeing Justine Greening dismantled by Paxman over the next day or so.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Even with the most rose tinted spectacles it is hard not to question the wisdom of this. It's looks like a massive gamble that recent strong passenger growth will continue and meet or even outstrip forecasts. Looks like the Treasury pulled rank on the DfT.

After a shaky start Virgin have improved the service and grown passenger numbers massively. Must feel like a kick in the teeth to them.

Do you want to borrow the ones I use to view BR?

 

[Leekbrookgull]

It will.

Maybe like this ? http://www.moneyweek.com/investment-advice/share-tips/sell-firstgroup-west-coast-mainline-bid-23300