anytime you an unusal sighting on the railway (virgin related ) post here
"As many of you are aware, Virgin Trains will be handing back its MKIII stock to Porterbrook Leasing Company on 7th November 2014.
Therefore the final day WB64 will operate a public passenger service will be Friday 24th October. It is planned 90034 & WB64 will work its usual 1G40 (19:03 EUS-BHM) and 1B94 (20:50 BHM-EUS).
On Saturday 25th October the MKIII's will then do a final farewell tour along the North Wales coast to Holyhead. The planned traction for the day is 1 x Class 57 and 2 x 37's. Further information regarding times/prices will be posted, when this becomes available."
The above was posted today on the "Virgin Trains Loco Hauled Gen" Facebook page. :(
The popularity of this thread wonderfully exemplifies how nothing worthy of note ever happens on the railways today.
Virgin Trains (East Coast) take over the ECML on Sunday, will be interesting to see what happens this time with this franchise.
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on February 27, 2015, 09:41:37 PM
Virgin Trains (East Coast) take over the ECML on Sunday, will be interesting to see what happens this time with this franchise.
I an wondering if a red 91 might appear tomorrow
Quote from: Tony on February 28, 2015, 09:05:48 AM
I an wondering if a red 91 might appear tomorrow
My money's on two ;)
Beardy & Shafter are booked for a jolly to Geordieland.
Quote from: Tony on February 28, 2015, 09:05:48 AM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on February 27, 2015, 09:41:37 PM
Virgin Trains (East Coast) take over the ECML on Sunday, will be interesting to see what happens this time with this franchise.
I an wondering if a red 91 might appear tomorrow
Are they the ones with a DRS carriage on
Quote from: Rhys S on February 28, 2015, 09:43:06 AM
Quote from: Tony on February 28, 2015, 09:05:48 AM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on February 27, 2015, 09:41:37 PM
Virgin Trains (East Coast) take over the ECML on Sunday, will be interesting to see what happens this time with this franchise.
I an wondering if a red 91 might appear tomorrow
Are they the ones with a DRS carriage on
What?
Quote from: The Real 4778 on February 28, 2015, 06:15:52 PM
Quote from: Rhys S on February 28, 2015, 09:43:06 AM
Quote from: Tony on February 28, 2015, 09:05:48 AM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on February 27, 2015, 09:41:37 PM
Virgin Trains (East Coast) take over the ECML on Sunday, will be interesting to see what happens this time with this franchise.
I an wondering if a red 91 might appear tomorrow
Are they the ones with a DRS carriage on
What?
The Durect Rail services carriage
The new livery will be unveiled tomorrow. The 1100 Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley service will be operated by the first set in Virgin colours. This will almost certainly be a Class 91 + Mark 4's + DVT.
Quite a few bits have already been changed over. The digital displays are all change, as are most paper on train signs. The few locos that I saw just had a red virgin sticker over the centre of the unit.
Kings cross had lots of VT staff too, looks like the uniform order was on time!
A photo and a video of the new livery from the Northern Echo
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northyorkshire/northallerton/11826890.East_Coast_mainline_back_in_private_hands_from_today/ (http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northyorkshire/northallerton/11826890.East_Coast_mainline_back_in_private_hands_from_today/)
Quote from: bususer12 on March 01, 2015, 05:33:08 PM
Quite a few bits have already been changed over. The digital displays are all change, as are most paper on train signs. The few locos that I saw just had a red virgin sticker over the centre of the unit.
Kings cross had lots of VT staff too, looks like the uniform order was on time!
Was the uniform the same as Virgin West Coast? At least they have a uniform, compared to Govia Thameslink Railway, as quoted in the Evening Standard last week, staff are "forced to wear their own clothes" because of issues over who will pay for uniform
Article on Midlands Today saying that Virgin Trains are converting First Class carriages to standard class to overcome overcrowding in standard.
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 12, 2015, 06:43:28 PM
Article on Midlands Today saying that Virgin Trains are converting First Class carriages to standard class to overcome overcrowding in standard.
1 first class carriage is gonna be converted on each 9 coach oenso at the moment
Virgin cancels all services on West Coast next Monday & Tuesday due to strike!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32812606
To quote a Mr J Clarkson...
How dare they go on strike when they've got these gilt-edged pensions that are going to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to work for a living?
Quote from: the trainbasher on May 20, 2015, 07:17:56 PM
To quote a Mr J Clarkson...
How dare they go on strike when they've got these gilt-edged pensions that are going to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to work for a living?
All unions have now cancelled the strike and services will operate as normal.
and as for Mr J Clarkson he would still have a BBC pension if he hadn't........ well we all know that story!!!
Thanks to Virgin Trains being very generous with compensation at the moment, I treated myself to a First Class ticket to Lomdon on Friday and boy was it a good day out.
Caught the 05:34 from Sandwell & Dudley and was greeted by a young lady asking if i wanted tea or coffee. The breakfast was absolutely superb, and on the return journey Sandwiches, crisps, nuts, cakes fruit and lager. Brilliant day, only problem was the return journey was a Voyager but we were still 5 early into Coventry and 4 early into Sandwell & Dudley.
Would rthoroughly recommend it!
Coventry travel centre is coming back to life!
https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/44J4fw
But only so they can close the booking office and make passengers buying tickets for the next train queue behind two people buying railcards and somebody who needs to have ten ticketing options explained twice.
Is Stafford the only station which still has Virgin trains Gold, Orange and Purple zones on platforms?
Am I right in saying it's unusual to see a pendolino doing EUS to Edingburgh, when the train before was a voyager doing EUS to BHM?
Quote from: Trident 4194 on July 26, 2017, 08:13:25 PM
Am I right in saying it's unusual to see a pendolino doing EUS to Edingburgh, when the train before was a voyager doing EUS to BHM?
No, you are not right.
Quote from: Tony on July 26, 2017, 08:14:15 PM
No, you are not right.
Thanks for the response much appreciated
Quote from: Trident 4194 on July 26, 2017, 08:24:20 PM
Thanks for the response much appreciated
For quite a while now, the service has been EUS to EDB via BHM, SAD & WVH although I understand that the SAD stop is now being considered to be withdrawn to allow faster journey times, although I have used the SAD stop numerous times and I always find it well used.
When I was in Birmingham recently and travelled to London on the Friday night,the train I caught was from Edinburgh and was a 11 car Pendelino.
Quote from: markcf83 on July 27, 2017, 03:36:04 PM
When I was in Birmingham recently and travelled to London on the Friday night,the train I caught was from Edinburgh and was a 11 car Pendelino.
The London to Glasgow and Edinburghs via Birmngham are a mix of Pendolinos and 10 car Voyagers. There are a few Birminghams booked 5 car voyage, so nothing unusual with the sighting. There are also the Euston-Shrewsburys, some of which start off as a 10 car voyager, dropping 5 off at New Street, or Southbound joining onto 5. The 16:30 from Birmingham is like that
On Mondays to Fridays the 11.43 Euston-Glasgow is a single voyager, as is the 12.43 Monday to Thursday, while the 16.43 is only a pair to New St.
In the opposite direction the 05.50 from Glasgow attaches at Wolves and the 10.00 is a single set throughout.
The voyager I saw was the 15:33 from International to New Street
Quote from: Trident 4194 on July 27, 2017, 06:17:02 PM
The voyager I saw was the 15:33 from International to New Street
That one terminates at New Street and sits in Platform 1A Then at 16:21 the 15:24 Shrewsbury-London comes in behind and couples up to make a 10 car formation back to Euston.
The Pendolino you saw is the 16:15 off New Street which is normally a 9 car
Remember having a 5 car Voyager on the 20:23 departure from Euston one Friday night, to say it was overcrowded was an understatement.
There was a report on Watchdog yesterday about theclenilness of Trains Virgin Trains West coast were featured, there team inspected The door control buttons, Tray tables and Toilets.
The Buttons on Two of the Five trains were clean, one was very dirty and another one was Dirty
The tray tables twere clean one was very dirty and one had gut bacteria on it like how the hell did that get there.
The toilets
One was dirty four were clean.
So The buttons are bacteria filled and be careful one of the Pendolindo's has someone's gut germs on it.
ECML strikes again, "Operator of Last Resort" will now be taking over from Virgin Trains East Coast:
http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/stagecoach/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=273&newsid=1016140
Does Richard Branson own the hitachi trains like he does with the pendolinos
Quote from: BusMan Greg on May 16, 2018, 06:04:41 PM
Does Richard Branson own the hitachi trains like he does with the pendolinos
He, nor virgin trains own any trains
I heard virgin own the pendolinos
No they belong to Angel trains I believe he has some rights over the actual design - any new operator might have to redesignate the shop a buffet!!
Quote from: mikestone on May 16, 2018, 07:13:53 PM
No they belong to Angel trains I believe he has some rights over the actual design - any new operator might have to redesignate the shop a buffet!!
I also think he has a right over the design of the train- at least I recall
221 101 has been sent to Bombardier Ilford for an external repaint & several internal modifications. This is a trial before the rest of the voyager fleet are sent for refurb. 221 101 is expected to be out of traffic for around three weeks.
Quote from: HTA844N on September 11, 2018, 05:04:27 PM
221 101 has been sent to Bombardier Ilford for an external repaint & several internal modifications. This is a trial before the rest of the voyager fleet are sent for refurb. 221 101 is expected to be out of traffic for around three weeks.
It will apparently include new LED lighting, allowing the front to be painted black, according to a post over on the RailUK forums. It'll be interesting to see, for sure.
Will they be able to stop Voyagers stinking of sewage??? 😂
No change on the sewage stench! :D
As a result of this the 13.43 Euston-Glasgow is now five cars and the 16.43 to Edinburgh ten cars throughout instead of detaching a set for the 18.30 Birmingham-Euston.
.
I understand 221101 is also to be renamed 101 Squadron.
Advert frames have been removed from outside buffet on platforms 2/3 at Coventry station revealing departure timetables for 1985 when arrival times were shown for each journey and the occasional train that went to Scotland split at Carlisle. There is part of a West Midlands route map on platform 2 before line was reinstated to Nuneaton and mention of something called WMPTE!
Latest picture of 221 101. (Not my photo)
Quote from: JoNi on September 26, 2018, 12:33:39 PM
Advert frames have been removed from outside buffet on platforms 2/3 at Coventry station revealing departure timetables for 1985 when arrival times were shown for each journey and the occasional train that went to Scotland split at Carlisle. There is part of a West Midlands route map on platform 2 before line was reinstated to Nuneaton and mention of something called WMPTE!
I noticed those and suspect Virgin may have a deal with someone to provide replacements, both Stafford and Crewe have had some removed too, but none with such interesting results.
Latest photo of 221 101 (Not my photo)
Should now be back in traffic.
So with two weeks ( & change) left until the end of the line Virgin trains, does anyone have any fond or favourite memories or stand out moments.
Mine was the first time I saw a Birgin train in livery 22 years ago the Bright red hat stood out amongst the rest of the drab looking trains in new street making a bold statement that the full past was over & the future looked bright.
Quote from: Steveminor on November 22, 2019, 05:48:28 PM
So with two weeks ( & change) left until the end of the line Virgin trains, does anyone have any fond or favourite memories or stand out moments.
Mine was the first time I saw a Birgin train in livery 22 years ago the Bright red hat stood out amongst the rest of the drab looking trains in new street making a bold statement that the full past was over & the future looked bright.
I don't really have a lot positive to say about Virgin Trains to be honest.
I'm not a regular train commuter, but I have on occasions had the need to travel to London (my brother lives there) and my perception has always been that their fares are overpriced.
So I've only ever travelled with Virgin Trains on the occasions where they've had special offers so the tickets were reasonably priced.
The one that sticks in my mind was the time I travelled back from Euston to Birmingham International a couple of years ago on a Sunday afternoon when I bagged a single for £9.00 (yes, I'm that much of a cheapskate!). I was surprised at how empty the carriage was, considering the number of seats that were marked as 'reserved'.
Admittedly it was a nice fast journey, even with an unscheduled stop at Watford Junction (after leaving Euston the onboard displays showed the next stop as Rugby) it took just over an hour to get to Birmingham International.
While I don't usually partake in these things, I was a bit annoyed that the 'free Wi-Fi' required you to pay to access the internet, not exactly 'free' then!
Perhaps I'm more of a 'no-frills' customer, driven by price over luxury, I'd much rather pay £6.00 to get from Solihull to Marylebone on a 2 hour journey with Chiltern Trains, than pay the usual fares offered by Virgin Trains which would have often been between £12 and £32 for a shorter journey.
Quote from: Stu on November 22, 2019, 07:03:48 PM
I don't really have a lot positive to say about Virgin Trains to be honest.
I'm not a regular train commuter, but I have on occasions had the need to travel to London (my brother lives there) and my perception has always been that their fares are overpriced.
So I've only ever travelled with Virgin Trains on the occasions where they've had special offers so the tickets were reasonably priced.
The one that sticks in my mind was the time I travelled back from Euston to Birmingham International a couple of years ago on a Sunday afternoon when I bagged a single for £9.00 (yes, I'm that much of a cheapskate!). I was surprised at how empty the carriage was, considering the number of seats that were marked as 'reserved'.
Admittedly it was a nice fast journey, even with an unscheduled stop at Watford Junction (after leaving Euston the onboard displays showed the next stop as Rugby) it took just over an hour to get to Birmingham International.
While I don't usually partake in these things, I was a bit annoyed that the 'free Wi-Fi' required you to pay to access the internet, not exactly 'free' then!
Perhaps I'm more of a 'no-frills' customer, driven by price over luxury, I'd much rather pay £6.00 to get from Solihull to Marylebone on a 2 hour journey with Chiltern Trains, than pay the usual fares offered by Virgin Trains which would have often been between £12 and £32 for a shorter journey.
They're the most overrated TOC I've ever had the displeasure of travelling with, the first class is so underwhelming, the airline carriage layout makes it extremely difficult to get past passengers who are standing, not to mention how difficult it is to manouevre around carriages when the trains are tilting. 9/10, I travel on Chiltern, which is always a better service albeit on older stock, or London Northwestern Railway, which takes about 5 hours (overreacting, obviously), but are usually pretty cheap.
When I saw my first Virgin-liveried trains, headed by class 47s and 87s, I knew we were in for interesting times. It all seemed optimistic, even allowing for PR exaggeration when Richard Branson forecast (with a twinkle in his eye) that the M1 would be grassed over in years to come due to lack of use. The optimism may have taken a hit when Network Rail couldn't deliver signalling that would enable the new generation of electric trains to reach their full potential.
As Sh4318 says, Virgin Trains brought us airline-style carriage layout, which is OK if you're sitting by a window facing forwards but not good otherwise. "Flying" backwards on a seat against a panel rather than a window is a grim experience. And Virgin Trains also brought us Voyagers - fast, but even now unable to stand still smoothly. I prefer the Chiltern Railways ambiance - better visibility and much more civilised.
Standard fares have been off-puttingly high, which I suppose reflects heavy demand and, to be honest, that was British Rail's policy as well. However, as Stu says, there have sometimes been some surprisingly low advance fares. One Friday 2017 I got from New Street to Ipswich for just £14 single, setting off around 1110, and got back the following afternoon for £34 single. If I'd been prepared to travel in the evening I could have done it for £14 again.
Summing my thoughts up, Virgin Trains seem to have always known what they were doing. I hope the new franchisee does too - we'll have to see.
Appears to be a problem with Brum to London trains this morning, according to the lovely Rebecca Wood on Twitter!
Quote from: Westy on November 24, 2019, 11:30:35 AM
Appears to be a problem with Brum to London trains this morning, according to the lovely Rebecca Wood on Twitter!
All seem to be arriving within 5 minutes of time all morning
Quote from: Tony on November 24, 2019, 11:59:56 AM
All seem to be arriving within 5 minutes of time all morning
They were blaming overrunning engineering works.
Just nipped round to Coventry Station to see the departure of the Pendelino forming the last ever Virgin Train bound for Wolverhampton.
The platform departure screens had been programmed to state it was the last Virgin Train after 22 years which was a nice touch. Farewell trusty friend thats transported me more 500,000 miles.
Quote from: JoNi on December 08, 2019, 12:10:12 AM
Just nipped round to Coventry Station to see the departure of the Pendelino forming the last ever Virgin Train bound for Wolverhampton.
The platform departure screens had been programmed to state it was the last Virgin Train after 22 years which was a nice touch. Farewell trusty friend thats transported me more 500,000 miles.
It was 390121 for anybody who doesn't know/is interested.
Just heard on Midlands today that Virgin Trains might possibly return they have applied to run services between Brum and London in competition with Avanti. If this happens I assume it will be under an open track agreement
Yes it would be an open access company like Lumo.