Virgin Trains

[enrag2000]

RE: Virgin Trains

(26/04/2017 10:29)wirralbus Wrote:  Interesting and yet another foreign company bidding to run a uk rail franchise.

Bidders were required to have experience of operating High Speed services and SNCF will be a minority partner for this purpose.

[mikestone]

RE: Virgin Trains
You could easily argue that Virgin have more experience of high speed trains. few if any LGVs have nine trains an hour - of course thats the weakness of the whole sorry scheme. No matter how many mathematical models they run, no high speed railway has replaced a service of 125 mph trains at 20 minute intervals, so no one has a clue if HS2 will attract more passengers - compulsory reservation might even drive them away.

[wirralbus]

RE: Virgin Trains
Compulsory Reservations , Virgin East and West are going that way , with there advance purchase tickets which come with compulsory reservations .

Though we get to the sorry state where advance purchase tickets get reservations at next to knock down prices and full price tickets dont ... perverse system.

[mikestone]

RE: Virgin Trains
Virgin have applied to operate 06.46, 08.53 and 10.53 Euston-Blackpool and 10.45, 12.45 and 14.45 return Monday to Saturday from May 2018 calling at Rugby, Warrington, Wigan and Preston, and Kirkham and Poulton if a cost effective method can be agreed. It comments that the Grand Central rights are exprcted to expire as they haven't ordered any trains.
(I know wibble was that they wanted to use HSTs instead but I don't believe they ever made formal application)
Presumably 390s will be made available by tightening Euston turnrounds to accomodate HS2 work.

[mikestone]

RE: Virgin Trains
390148 noted yesterday carrying uncovered "The Flying Scouseman" nameplates.
;
Presumably ceremony is on Monday as a 390 sits in p.7 from 08.51 to 10.19, with the 09.47 and 10.47 to Eiuston going off 9.

[wirralbus]

RE: Virgin Trains
Can an eleven car pendolino actually fit on platform 9 , im almost sure the 09.47 is booked for a set of that length as it is the first service peak restricted tickets are valid on from Liverpool Lime Street

[mikestone]

RE: Virgin Trains

(10/06/2017 13:58)wirralbus Wrote:  Can an eleven car pendolino actually fit on platform 9 , im almost sure the 09.47 is booked for a set of that length as it is the first service peak restricted tickets are valid on from Liverpool Lime Street

Just fits according to the sectional appendix at 270m.

[Gordon V]

RE: Virgin Trains

(10/06/2017 20:20)mikestone Wrote:  Just fits according to the sectional appendix at 270m.

Naming ceremony is tomorrow in platform 7 train is empty from Downhill being named then back empty to Downhill and to clarify 11 car 390s fit in platform 7 and 9 only,9 car Pendolinos fit in platform 7,8 and 9

[childwallblues]

RE: Virgin Trains
390148 was noted at Crewe on 1907 ex Euston last night with the new naneplate uncovered.

[childwallblues]

RE: Virgin Trains
The 0700 LIV-EUS failed yesterday morning at Milton & Broxton with a tilt problem. The driver identified the problem and after a reset the train proceeded in non tile mode to Euston. Afurther stop was made at Rugby to allow two faster trains to pass. Arrival was approx 27 minutes late.