The rot set in as Broadgage points out when short rolling stock in the form of Voyagers replaced full length HSTs▸ and the loco hauled sets.
As the forum's spokesman for its minority "we quite like Voyagers" group, could I point out that when they were introduced they were a huge improvement over the tired old mark 2 sets we used to have (I remember the "how many toilets are out of action on today's train" gamble you would take towards the end of their use), avoided the need to run a locomotive around the set at Reading, and in the year after Virgin introduced them it was reported that the "Reading to Birmingham corridor" experienced the largest growth in passenger traffic in the country.
OK, it's a shame they didn't respond by lengthening all sets to 5 car sets in response to the demand, but the switch from locomotive hauled to multiple unit working was not a step back - it was a big one forward, just like the introduction of HSTs 25 years before.
I agree though that
XC▸ is a Cinderella service, and really hope that here on the south-eastern leg we'll be back to the pre-covid hourly direct services to Manchester, Southampton and Newcastle and thereby the twice an hour service to Birmingham.
Unfortunately you've fallen for an old trick. Run the stock into the ground, stop buying spare parts, cut back on maintenance and the grand launch is made. Look at working air conditioning, toilets, charging points etc. The staff warned the higher management that Operation Cinderella (Pumpkin) wouldn't work and look where we are almost 25 years later. Single units continually rammed to gunnels, toilets that smell and only now are Arriva dipping into someone's pocket for new seats and carpets. Add in the much reduced route map as well, where's Brighton, Swansea and Preston?
And what a coincidence, the HSTs were withdrawn from XC and there was a buyer. I'd never guessed...
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