A history of Virgin Trains West Coast | Part 1: A West coast revolution?

[@Vanmanyo]

We're closing in on 6k subscribers so, if you did enjoy and aren't subscribed, do consider subscribing! Thanks so much! Also, a huge thanks to those who have allowed me to use their footage for todays video - whom without this video would not be possible to make; www.youtube.com/@ChrisLawtonorganist www.youtube.com/@markappleby3282 www.youtube.com/@THAMESLINK319

[@rossarnold6279]

I was on the launch 390 as a 7 year old. It's a wonderful memory where they took us up to Manchester and for a tour around the still under construction City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad). Richard Branson even made time to have a short chat with me which I'll never forget! It's real shame they're no longer around.

[@morph-]

They're planning an open access operator on the WCML

[@DouglasDC10.30]

I assume they will operate a modernised 390 and 221.

[@morph-]

@@DouglasDC10.30 nope. Open access operator, so entirely new fleet, but they will be starting with Ex Avanti 221s, then getting a new fleet of currently unknown EMUs

[@terrier_productions]

@@morph-so the Pendos are getting replaced? I thought GBR would keep them on

[@morph-]

@terrier_productions read my first comment. The one which said that virgin are planning an open access operator for the WCML. So GBR will continue to use the pendos, meaning the virign will have to find new stock, starting out with ex avanti 221s before tendering a new fleet of currently not chosen EMUs. Please actually read my comment this time before spouting crap

[@pannierfan6412]

I love Virgin Trains. By far the best of privatisation

[@quintuscrinis]

Chiltern would like a word. 😅 Not that VTWC weren't good either.

[@stephenharper9961]

It was a complete success, great operator to work for, never had a bad moment while working for virgin trains

[@Axolotl-25]

_Pretendolino_ goes pretty hard

[@lovefive5733]

A fantastic video, I remember when Virgin Cross-country refurbished their hst,s . I was at Sheffield and a refurbished hst set arrived on its way to Plymouth, I was so excited about seeing a refurbished set, that I jumped on and brought a single ticket all the way to Bristol. Thank you for the upload and for the memories. Keep well. 😊😊

[@1RichieRich]

Considering it was designed in the jelly mould era of design ..the 90s ,the class 390 looked incredible,even now it's still one of best looking trains on the UK rail network

[@Hacienda_27]

Nice, the new Ruardrhi McVeigh, lovely stuff, look forward to more

[@mattevans4377]

A 9 car Pendelino, alongside a 2 car Pacer, is the perfect summary of the british rail system

[@Eric_Hunt194]

Using appropriately-sized rolling stock on suitable services? Perish the thought!

[@mattevans4377]

@@Eric_Hunt194 2 and 3 car DMUs are not suitable for major cities. And London isn't the only major city

[@FranekTransport0607]

VTWC was amazing, shame they had to go, i will miss them, but atleast they made a huge mark in the british rail network.

[@jammiedodger7040]

They are talking about coming back as a open access operator.

[@FranekTransport0607]

@jammiedodger7040 yeah, hope to see them regain the pendolinos

[@jammiedodger7040]

@@FranekTransport0607 Well Avanti has almost been bought in to public ownership twice because Avanti is such a useless operator but I think they will definitely lose the contract in 2026. Would be interesting to see what stock they use on open access.

[@FranekTransport0607]

So it turns out Avanti have gotten a contract extention until 2032 for being well, just simply awful? So we won't see virgin for atleast 8 years, if they even win it considering how insane the DFT's decisions can sometimes be

[@jammiedodger7040]

@@FranekTransport0607 Only 3 years is core but they can get 9 years.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for that Dan, up to your usual standard. As a Glasgow resident I have a long term personal interest and can honestly say that I really miss Virgin as the operator. Yes, there were problems on the way, but they always looked long term and the final few years showed the benefits of that. They also seemed to cultivate a "family spirit" amongst the staff, which has been largely destroyed by the current operating company. I like the Pendolinos overall, in spite of the small windows and awkward arm rests in second class. They are good trains if only they had a better internal layout.

[@JackGourdon-je4ze]

great video Vanmanyo! I cant wait for the next episode! I suggestion for a next video doing it on Grand Central or Virgin Trains Cross Country.

[@spartansas36]

Excellent video. Looking forward to next week's video

[@Spacebug111]

VTWC IS MY GOAT, THE GOAT, RAAAHHHHH

[@katashworth41]

As I’m on the WCML I know them well, I would complain about them at the time but with having to rely on Avanti now I want them back.

[@justwobert9850]

where first (aventi) go, pain follows

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@justwobert9850 I've never known First Group to be competent. When I travelled round the States a bit, Greyhound buses seemed like a decent cheap option for distance travel. But when I saw the First logo... eep. (Honestly, the drivers were fine, but the buses themselves were pretty poor. Lumpy seats, broken power sockets, etc.)

[@andrewwilson6240]

Shame about what Virgin did to XC though. The idea of 3 classes and having a backbone made of 4 car DMUs was going to fail from the start.

[@whatdoyoumeanbro4964]

Arriva made it worse those shitty voyagers haven’t been refurbished or cleaned since the 2000s ☠️

[@bigshaq712]

the 390 is an incredible train

[@andrewbeadle9168]

I remember Virgin ran a Liverpool - Dover service

[@Hacienda_27]

Stop depressing and inspiring me, it's bad enough when I do it too myself

[@Hacienda_27]

It could be normal again but I haven't got money yet

[@dragoner3211]

​@@Hacienda_27bot

[@davepearson3992]

A lot of early problems were due to upgrades but Branson put his money in and was starting yo be rewarded until he was s**t on by the govt and the franchise system. Virgin were really good Avanti ate utter c**p

[@captaindebug]

As a regular train user at that time, my experience was that Virgin was by far the best train operator. It's a shame that they lost their franchise to Avanti.

[@jammiedodger7040]

Why was a new version of the Class 390 not proposed instead of the Class 807? Also why were the Class 390 never used anywhere else?

[@jammiedodger7040]

Virgin were a great Railway operator.

[@Andrewjg_89]

I have heard that Virgin Trains were the best train operator on the West Coast Main Line.

[@coasterblocks3420]

Us antipodeans could only be so lucky to have Virgin running our long distance trains.

[@Hacienda_27]

Vote for me, I'll bring it all back

[@phillipofield2156]

Having worked for Virgin I must disagree. The 390’s are the worst InterCity service in the country. 35% of seats have no window view and the trains are dark and pokey, more like airplane’s. As for Operation Cinderella on XC, the lest said the better. I was one of the few in 2002 who dared to put their hands up to say it was going to be a failure. History proved me right. The XC Voyagers are not fit for purpose being far too small.

[@neiltaylor6645]

How much % did virgin have on the west coast line with stagecoach I know on the east coast stage coach had a much larger % for the franchise

[@colinseeney471]

From memory after privatisation, the prices went up significantly. There was a lot going on, track and signal upgrade, rebuilding of Manchester Piccadilly station. I still find the Pendalino claustrophobic I'm afraid.

[@TheRip72]

Tilting trains will always be smaller because they need to remain within the loading gauge when tilted. The smaller windows do not help either. These help to make the vehicles stronger, which helped to keep casualties low during the Grayrigg incident.

[@markas850]

Well I travelled daily from Macclesfield to Birmingham newSt the second out in the morning of Piccadilly to London from 2012 until they lost the franchise and then with Avanti. I travelled for a few years in standard the extra carriage ‘U’ and then in First so I could have the hot breakfast due to the length of my day and health reasons. Should have never lost the franchise in my opinion.

[@chandlerbstransport422]

Category A: Island Line Practically a staple of these videos at this point 😂

[@axtonhaltjoshua6361]

virgin trains 86 is the best livery on the 86's ngl

[@olivergeorge4394]

VANMANYO, YOU ARE A TRAIN GOD! BEST PART OF MY WEEK 🎉🇦🇺😂😅🤜🧠🫣😄🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇯🇵🫣🦾🦾🍺🍺😂🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@Saint_Dan132]

oooh

[@Eric_Hunt194]

2:05 the max speed on the WCML was 110mph, not 90mph. Virgin were pretty good, but i always found their marketing a bit cringe... especially once they got onto the ECML and did the stupid talking toilets. Virgin always took the credit when things went well, but never took the blame when things went wrong.

[@Vanmanyo]

I meant from certain sections the speeds would increase by 50mph!

[@dr.stephenstrange8471]

The hawk tuah meme was so dead.