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Author Topic: Goodbye Virgin Cross Country - R.I.P.  (Read 10189 times)
martyjon
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« on: November 10, 2007, 19:31:22 »

In the early hours of tomorrow morning 11/11/2007 the Cross Country Franchise transfers to Arriva.

The last 'official' through VXC (Virgin Cross Country - former franchise) service is the 17:46 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly, scheduled arrival at 23:59, although the 19:24 Manchester Piccacilly to Southampton Central, scheduled arrival at 00:21, will be the last VXC from which passengers will alight.

All VXC services I have seen today have been de-branded and nameplates have been removed and many were also displaying on their front and rear destination displays, "VXC 1997 - 2007 R I P"
« Last Edit: November 10, 2007, 21:01:45 by martyjon » Logged
simonw
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« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2007, 20:15:49 »

Hi

Not wishing to prejudge Arriva XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)), it will be sad to see Virgin XC to go.

They where not a perfect franchise, but over the ten years of the franchise the improvement in the service and level of growth achieved puts most other franchises to shame!



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vacman
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« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2007, 20:38:27 »

At midnight tonight 10/11/2007 the Cross Country Franchise transfers to Arriva.

The last official through VXC (Virgin Cross Country - former franchise) service is the 17:46 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly, scheduled arrival at 23:59, although the 19:24 Manchester Piccacilly to Southampton Central, scheduled arrival at 00:21, will be the last VXC from which passengers will alight.

All VXC services I have seen today have been de-branded and nameplates have been removed and many were also displaying on their front and rear destination displays, "VXC 1997 - 2007 R I P"
The franchise finishes at 0200 tomorrow morning, not wanting to be predantic! Grin
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Timmer
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« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2007, 21:03:10 »

Yes farewell Virgin. IMHO (in my humble opinion) you did everything right apart from getting rid of the HSTs (High Speed Train), replacing them with Voyagers and having an airline interior designer design the interiors. (Hull Trains and Midland Mainline show you that you can make something of them but I still dont like them)

Here's a pretty obvious prediction for you all. My guess is that in seven years time they will take Cross-Country back by which time IEP (Intercity Express Program / Project.) will be rolling out...lets hope they are more HST then Voyager!
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Conner
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« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2007, 21:14:05 »

Goodbye Virgin Cross Country.
The improvments they made were vast, so they were weren't perfect but they introduced new trains and a better timetable. They used to be the laughing stock with there poor punctuality and reliabilty now they put others to shame. A brilliant effort at transforming a forgotten network to a state of the art modern network.
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mada
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« Reply #5 on: November 10, 2007, 21:16:20 »

As much stick as the Voyagers get they're much better than most of the units in this part of the country. Kudos to Virgin for demonstrating how to run a franchise with new rolling stock, role model staff and still turn over a profit.
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vacman
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« Reply #6 on: November 10, 2007, 21:17:40 »

Kudos to Virgin for demonstrating how to run a franchise with new rolling stock, role model staff and still turn over a profit.
VXC (Virgin Cross Country - former franchise) is actually heavilly subsidised!
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simonw
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« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2007, 21:23:04 »

Whoever runs the XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) franchise will need as subsidy. It is arguably the most important franchise in the country because it 'glues' the rail network together and if anything needs expanding to include more routes.


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Timmer
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« Reply #8 on: November 10, 2007, 21:25:26 »

Whoever runs the XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) franchise will need as subsidy. It is arguably the most important franchise in the country because it 'glues' the rail network together and if anything needs expanding to include more routes.
Instead over the past few years routes have been cut with more to come next year  Sad
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Lee
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« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2007, 10:16:12 »

Its goodbye (and hello) to several others as well (link below.)
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4686.msg8555#msg8555
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Vous devez ĂȘtre impitoyable, parce que ces gens sont des salauds - https://looka.com/s/78722877
vacman
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« Reply #10 on: November 12, 2007, 13:39:52 »

Whoever runs the XC (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) franchise will need as subsidy. It is arguably the most important franchise in the country because it 'glues' the rail network together and if anything needs expanding to include more routes.



I stand by a previous post that I made in this forum and believe that XC is a drain on the Taxpayer! It should have been disbanded and split between other operators, more government money for other improvements then.
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Lee
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« Reply #11 on: November 12, 2007, 16:21:54 »

Its goodbye (and hello) to several others as well (link below.)
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4686.msg8555#msg8555

More in the links below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7089398.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7089597.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7090232.stm

Here is a link showing the new Arriva Cross Country Livery which , I notice from other forums , has been far from universally welcomed.
http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/AboutCrossCountry/News.aspx
« Last Edit: November 12, 2007, 16:44:28 by Lee Fletcher » Logged

Vous devez ĂȘtre impitoyable, parce que ces gens sont des salauds - https://looka.com/s/78722877
Conner
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« Reply #12 on: November 12, 2007, 16:58:19 »

They were quick off the ball painting that. It looks strange  Undecided. I don't like the pink though, no way nere as good as FGW (First Great Western)'s new livery.
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vacman
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« Reply #13 on: November 12, 2007, 17:30:56 »

Looks quite nice!
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devon_metro
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« Reply #14 on: November 12, 2007, 17:39:48 »

Why are the residents of SW England imposed to boarding trains through pink doors  Undecided
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