2019-12-07 North West Tonight - Virgin Trains

[@JacktheG4m3r]

I'm missing them already lol

[@jamesrobert994]

That lady was correct, no one can see it getting better.

[@nawbus]

I don't think it has....

[@williamevans6277]

It is funny that toilet joke. I liked the no toasters or hairdryers joke on the east coast mainline

[@neilburns8869]

I have heard some feedback from people who are said to have worked on the West Coast mainline, be it on the trains, at stations or in some other respect and the general consensus has been that Virgin are definitely missed and they aren't joking. Like the lady with the glasses in this video has said, Virgin Trains had been brilliant, they had a caring staff who did a fantastic job and really wanted to try and make a difference. This sentiment was echoed by staff who were previously employed by Virgin now with Avanti and the simple fact of the matter is that Avanti doesn't really care.

[@nawbus]

Agreed. Just from the passenger's point of view, the service is much worse. Constant cancellations due to lack of train crew and greatly increased ticket prices are the obvious consequenses of the franchise change. When First tried to get the franchise previosly, there was so much outcry from passenges that Virgin got it back.

[@neilburns8869]

@@nawbus you can see it, in nearly everything that Virgin do, because it's in keeping with Sir Richard Branson's values. In a documentary he admits that Money is NOT the most important thing to him. He was raised by a very loving family and I believe that is probably why he cares as much as he does. You mentioned the First Group, from all accounts I gather that the FG has a very poor reputation. I know that they joined forces with Trans Penine Express much to the detriment of the Manchester based regional train operator - just like you said, TPE used to be much more reliable but not anymore and have had their franchise taken off them that used to serve Glasgow and Edinburgh from Manchester international airport. It's similar with the buses, Stagecoach and the Go-Ahead group are streets ahead of First Group or Arriva in terms of their overall standards and reliability.

[@x0katiexo00]

Miss you Virgin trains! 🙁😔😩

[@neilburns8869]

It's nothing short of a load of nonsense why Virgin were blocked from being allowed to bid for the franchise they had run since 1997. They will be missed.

[@Nate0493]

It wasn’t virgin, it was stagecoach that were disqualified for an invalid bid. And obviously stagecoach were partnered with virgin

[@Slothdeman]

@@Nate0493 Stagecoach owned a large part of the buisness around 50%.

[@rossochanel3168]

When they said avanti would promise more new trains they meant more class 800 🙄🙄😩😩😩

[@Beastlysimmer_uk]

It is going to be worse First Group don't need anymore of the railway in the uk

[@nawbus]

I'm going to keep an open mind. The MD of the new franchise is the same as VT, so it will be interesting to see how it goes! Time will tell.

[@Beastlysimmer_uk]

@@nawbusfingers crossed

[@bowlerstuff9589]

there the powerhouse of the IET,REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@mtanyctfan8100]

Virgin train knew what they were doing they come back but stronger the ever

[@avantiwestcoastguy]

No more VIRGIN😭

[@rhysrobertstransportationa1668]

No shit sherlock

[@neilburns8869]

The fact that Virgin Trains were banned from bidding for the franchise that they had helped maintain for the best part of quarter of century was a very poor decision. The main thing I noticed in this short video was nearly all the people who were sorry to see Virgin Trains go were women and women are obviously known for being the fairer sex. The bottom line was that Virgin cared, and that was the words of the day-to-day staff on the shop floor - it's why nearly 5 years later they are still missed. One lady said that she didn't really know how they would make it better after Virgin Trains had left - I am in complete agreement with her - and it hasn't (been made any better since the departure of VT) - makes you wonder what some folks definition of better is?

[@mr.atomic2970]

Miss you British Rail Intercity Crosscountry Service. 😔 Glad that Virgin died every Private rail Operator should.

[@neilburns8869]

I wouldn't really say that Avanti West Coast are necessarily better than Virgin Trains but different. Virgin Trains were the trailblazers in many ways and I think they will be missed and I think that it's down to government mishandling and inadequacy that they have been banned from bidding again for the franchise. No doubt the Conservatives will throw whatever excuses suit their purposes but I think everyone knows that as soon as they got into power Virgin's days were probably numbered given Sir Richard Branson had so openly supported Tony Blair's Labour party and government.

[@voltbradyusa1530]

Avanti - not very British?

[@nawbus]

Not really. The new franchise is partially Italian owned.

[@voltbradyusa1530]

So much for brexit!

[@ChrisPMT]

@@voltbradyusa1530 you must be the same type of people who say kick all immigrants out

[@voltbradyusa1530]

@@ChrisPMT You must be the same kind of person who refuses to take the covid jab or put on a face mask on the tube.

[@ChrisPMT]

@@voltbradyusa1530 you must be the type of person to belittle the NHS.

[@avantiwestcoastguy]

Oh my god! FirstGroup Killed Virgin trains!

[@rhysrobertstransportationa1668]

Stagecoach did

[@DonaldTrumpIsGreat]

Well Congratulations To Stagecoach For Stoping Virgin Trains From Being Allowed To Stay On The UK's Railway Network 😓

[@whatyoumeanbruh7098]

it's been proven time and time again that stagecoach can't run rail companies