First West Coast

[M113 YKC]

RE: First West Coast

(22/08/2012 11:50)507009 Wrote:  

(22/08/2012 11:48)27701 Wrote:  Here's an online petition against this:
https://submissions.epetitions.direct.go...ions/37180

Already posted above. I've signed, more out of principle than anything else. The petition creator has got it spot on with the description.

Sorry - I completely missed that other link, despite having a quick look through before posting it. I've also signed and so has my grandad; Richard Branson put a lot of money into Virgin Trains.

[wirralbus]

RE: First West Coast
It is going to be hard to have a government decision overturned , just look at the bombardier decision over the Thameslink Trains it got nowhere.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: First West Coast

(22/08/2012 14:13)wirralbus Wrote:  It is going to be hard to have a government decision overturned , just look at the bombardier decision over the Thameslink Trains it got nowhere.

Indeed. I doubt many of those who have signed seriously expect anything to be done, but as I said earlier, out of principle I have added my name.

As for Bombardier, well I suppose you could say the fundamental difference there is that Bombardier's bid genuinely was far weaker than Siemens's. Virgin have for many people's money done a great job and received nothing but a kick in the teeth back.

[Vbg111v]

RE: First West Coast
I've signed & emailed 140 others urging them to do the same. I use Virgin a lot & can't fault them.

[wirralbus]

RE: First West Coast
I have to admit that i was surprised to find Virgin losing the franchise .

I just hope that after all the good work Virgin has put in to the franchise is not ruined by First just because the government mandarins wanted more money.

We all are agreed we dont want an East Coast debacle on the West Coast.

[mbonwick]

RE: First West Coast
That petition really is getting going now - 6,000 signatures in the last hour!

The point of it (I hope) is not to get Virgin back [though that may happen], but rather to get MPs to rethink the current, fatally flawed system.

[wirralbus]

RE: First West Coast
They may be fatally flawed , but can you see this coalition acting as one now that Clegg's mob can not get lord's reform on the agenda because cameron's mob dont like it .

This will be one thing on the agenda for May 2015

[mbonwick]

RE: First West Coast
Sadly, it won't be on the agenda though unless a franshise fails.

All the long franchises are due for retender by the end of 2014 so by 2015 it will be a case of "out of sight, out of mind".

[SNL 824]

RE: First West Coast

(21/08/2012 18:07)mbonwick Wrote:  

(21/08/2012 10:41)First Class Wrote:  Perhaps should be in Aviation section, but the link is surely connected to First Group winning the WCML franchise!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19324962

(Virgin Atlantic to fly between Heathrow and Manchester)

Completely unrelated, this has been in the pipeline for some time. Also, Virgin are after some of BMIs Heathrow slots now BA have bought BMI.

Agreed. Also the last thing Branson wants is for his longhaul passengers transferring to BA for the domestic portion. Currently there is no alternative. All LHR-MAN flights are BA albeit from two different terminals. At some times there are even BA flights leaving T1 and T5 at the same time.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: First West Coast
The petition now has well over 100,000 signatures in favour of reconsideration, which should prompt a debate in Parliament.