First to Lose Franchise ( Rumour )

[whole diary]

[Btline]

I hope the rumour is true, but perfect timing!

First have just about finished applying their "dynamic lines" to all their HS^▸ (High Speed (short for HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) High Speed Services)) trains!

They are starting on that dreradful livery for the "West" fleet. The Wessex one looked nicer, and you could actually read what was being said!

In my opinion, the new livery looks wrong on the Thames Turbos, the Thames Train/ FGWL livery looked "loads" better.

It will all have to be replaced. All that money wasted!

What is it with First Group and "Dynamic Lines?"

But it is just a rumour.....

[vacman]

The fleet would look much better in plain blue like the power cars! Mind you, on the MKIII coaches the all over blue is painted and the dynamic lines are vinyl so if they did lose the franchise then they could just take off the dynamic lines!

[devon_metro]

Personally I think the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) livery is very smart, and shows an identity. Meanwhile Wessex trains simply advertised places and the livery applied to the 158s wasn't exactly lavish. FGW interiors are also better. Pink and Grey really are quite depressing colours, whereas blue is uplifting. At least FGW havn't spent all the money on instantly reliverying their fleet.
 
If the franchise is lost, it won't simple be 'given' to Virgin, what would Virgin bring apart from maybe buying crap new trains, or perhaps making HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) 4 car 

Any franchise change would make the situation worse as its very fragile as it is!

[vacman]

Personally I think the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) livery is very smart, and shows an identity. Meanwhile Wessex trains simply advertised places and the livery applied to the 158s wasn't exactly lavish. FGW interiors are also better. Pink and Grey really are quite depressing colours, whereas blue is uplifting. At least FGW havn't spent all the money on instantly reliverying their fleet.
 
If the franchise is lost, it won't simple be 'given' to Virgin, what would Virgin bring apart from maybe buying crap new trains, or perhaps making HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) 4 car 

Any franchise change would make the situation worse as its very fragile as it is!

Very true, I posted somewhere else that everything would be put on hold if they lost the franchise, including staff recruitment!

[Btline]

I like the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) livery (well its ok).

I hate the West livery- it is dreadful compared to Wessex's promotions.

I hated the "Aphaline" livery and the PinkGrey seats as well. Blue is better.

[smokey]

My own thoughts are that First is making a Right Pigs Ear out of this franchise, however It would seem unlikely for DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to take back the Keys as First Haven't gone knocking on DfT's door asking for "MORE"*

As for Virgin taking over WELL JUST REMEMBER that VIRGIN hiked the CROSS COUNTRY FARES UP MORE than any other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) did.
And the Vomet Comet's are awful unit's with a rather unpleasent toilet problem which means that leakage from the toilet vacuum pipes is getting under the carpets, at least on some units. NO wonder they HUM.

* Sorry to the estate of Mr C .Dickens for any copywrite problem.

[dog box]

I hope the rumour is true, but perfect timing!

First have just about finished applying their "dynamic lines" to all their HS^▸ (High Speed (short for HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) High Speed Services)) trains!

They are starting on that dreradful livery for the "West" fleet. The Wessex one looked nicer, and you could actually read what was being said!

In my opinion, the new livery looks wrong on the Thames Turbos, the Thames Train/ FGWL livery looked "loads" better.

It will all have to be replaced. All that money wasted!

What is it with First Group and "Dynamic Lines?"

But it is just a rumour.....

Wessex livery better ..you must have lost the plot!!!!......that horrible visit Bristol livery, the 158 with Richard trevithick plastered over it complete with a 8 foot high steam engine ,the pale blue dogbox,and the 150s in maroon with big maps on them the local graffitti artists could do better ........and to top it all the Awlfuline 158 with red/pink seats in it which is probably the most uncomfortable unit of all time

[Shazz]

My own thoughts are that First is making a Right Pigs Ear out of this franchise, however It would seem unlikely for DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to take back the Keys as First Haven't gone knocking on DfT's door asking for "MORE"*

As for Virgin taking over WELL JUST REMEMBER that VIRGIN hiked the CROSS COUNTRY FARES UP MORE than any other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) did.
And the Vomet Comet's are awful unit's with a rather unpleasent toilet problem which means that leakage from the toilet vacuum pipes is getting under the carpets, at least on some units. NO wonder they HUM.

Sure, they might have increase fares, but dear god they transformed the franchise from what it used to be, into one of the most succesful if not the most succesful franchises in the country.

I still regard the Voyagers as some of the best stock in the country, give them a couple of extra carriages and dear god they'd be awesome. I fail to see what you winge on about. Sure they have/ had a few design issues, but these have been ironed out overtime if and were possible.

[vacman]

When ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) used to run their Pnz-Man Picc service back in the good old days, I used to take that train up to Crewe over a Vomit comet even though it took over an hour longer! 158 vs Vomit comet? 158 wins hands down!

[swlines]

Right - further look at how SWT^▸ (South West Trains) won't be taking over the Pompey Cardiff route (although I have now heard it from one of my sources, I suspect they got it from here) - all comparisons are SX:

Class 158 fleet
11 units, of which 5 are allocated for usage until further notice (next December).
6 remaining units to play around with, 2 are currently away in the East Midlands covering EM Connect duties.
4 remaning after that, of which 2 are generally under maintenance. Until the 159 refurbishment programme is finished, I suspect the remaning 2 will all be allocated for usage on West of England line services.

Class 159 fleet
30 units, of which 24 are allocated for usage until further notice (next December).
6 remaining units to play around with of which 4 are generally under maintenance. There are 2 units currently away under refurbishment which gives us 1 unit to play around with as a remainder. Also, some of the 158 and 159s are currently at Eastleigh for PIS^▸ (Passenger Information System) mods.

Should SWT take it over - I suspect that the same old problems would remain. With the WoE upgrade program under consideration currently unit requirements will increase by about 3 159s I suspect, and 2 of the current 6-coach 159s into London Waterloo will get enhanced with 4 158s to make them 10-car trains - this is very much in the future though as 10 coach or longer trains are not currently permitted to stop at any station beyond Basingstoke on the West of England line.

[mada]

Right - further look at how SWT^▸ (South West Trains) won't be taking over the Pompey Cardiff route (although I have now heard it from one of my sources, I suspect they got it from here) - all comparisons are SX:

Class 158 fleet
11 units, of which 5 are allocated for usage until further notice (next December).
6 remaining units to play around with, 2 are currently away in the East Midlands covering EM Connect duties.
4 remaning after that, of which 2 are generally under maintenance. Until the 159 refurbishment programme is finished, I suspect the remaning 2 will all be allocated for usage on West of England line services.

Class 159 fleet
30 units, of which 24 are allocated for usage until further notice (next December).
6 remaining units to play around with of which 4 are generally under maintenance. There are 2 units currently away under refurbishment which gives us 1 unit to play around with as a remainder. Also, some of the 158 and 159s are currently at Eastleigh for PIS^▸ (Passenger Information System) mods.

Should SWT take it over - I suspect that the same old problems would remain. With the WoE upgrade program under consideration currently unit requirements will increase by about 3 159s I suspect, and 2 of the current 6-coach 159s into London Waterloo will get enhanced with 4 158s to make them 10-car trains - this is very much in the future though as 10 coach or longer trains are not currently permitted to stop at any station beyond Basingstoke on the West of England line.

Could FGW^▸ (First Great Western) sublet routes or even the entire "West Local" franchise to another TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)? I know that Virgin used to sub contract Wessex to run a couple of routes which didn't fit into their masterplan. Ideas on a postcard?

[swlines]

It's entirely possible but if I highly doubt FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are willing to admit defeat that easily.

[devon_metro]

Seems unfair whilst we are stretched for stock, SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have it lying around.

Note to any DafT members reading - Give some of them to us...

[vacman]

Why don't FGW^▸ (First Great Western) hire a couple of their 158's, short term fix!

[smokey]

I'll be the most surprised man going if First keep this Franchise for it's due term, which I think is 7 years and a possible 3 year extension. Well it's almost 2 years down with 5 to go. (Sorry if I got the length of franchise wrong), Well there's a Rumour also going aroung that FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s passenger TAXI bill for missed connections and cancelled trains is almost ^2million since April 2007.