Virgin no longer running trains?

[JB!]

The railway rumor mill produced something this morning, apparently Virgin are no longer to run trains in the UK? First group are highest bidder?

[essayer]

Yes, the franchise came up for renewal and First's bid was 'better'

[johnnywb]

Bit of a shame. Always had very pleasant journeys on Virgin trains. First not so much.

[telecat]

Yep go for the Highest bidder again. Worked really well for the East coast line.

[Podie]

Must admit, never had an issue with VT.

That said, there punctuality figures are quite poor.

Rumour seems to be that First offer £2bn more.

[anonymous-user]

yep, Worst Great Western will be running the West Coast Main Line stuff, another high profile opportunity for them to demonstrate their ineptness...

[Podie]

Branson's blog: http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/on-virg...

cheeky sod said:

However 15 years later, despite continued problems with the track, we have achieved our targets.

Nicely glossed over how his trains double the track wear rate and have repeated pulled down the OLE (including last week!)

[Dr Banjo]

Didi I hear theat correctly.

£5.5 billion over the franchise term

Seems a little too high perhaps. What is the PH opinion ?

Is it true that if it goes pear shaped they can get out of jail quite easily ?

[elster]

pablo said:

yep, Worst Great Western will be running the West Coast Main Line stuff, another high profile opportunity for them to demonstrate their ineptness...

Have they ever succeeded with anything they do, other than getting contracts.

They seem to be able to get any contract no matter how incompetent they are.

[Podie]

Dr Banjo said:

Didi I hear theat correctly.

£5.5 billion over the franchise term

Seems a little too high perhaps. What is the PH opinion ?

Is it true that if it goes pear shaped they can get out of jail quite easily ?

Yep. Too high IMO.

Guess fares will go up further then...

[DuraAce]

Ticket prices to rise (again) to pay for it?

[Dr Banjo]

DuraAce said:

Ticket prices to rise (again) to pay for it?

Or jobs go via a "restructuring"

Bet old crow cant wait to se what happens

[Dr Banjo]

Yes I know its probably tin foil hat time but I am wondering if Virgin had bid £6 birrion they still would not have kept it.

Im off for my meds now and a strong coffee.

[toppstuff]

First Group is the most inept, cynical, unpleasant and incompetent service company I have ever experienced.

I commuted with them for nearly 15 years. I am normally a mild mannered chap but I despise them at an almost molecular level.

I, like many, moved to live in a different town in order to stop having to use them.

First Group has the power to utterly destroy the quality of life of commuters. This isn't hyperbole, but reality for thousands of people.

This is very bad news.

[JB!]

Yes, the Pendolinos cause increased wire wear, dewirement and rail wear, but I think this is a crazy move, as Virgin have achieved so much since 1997.

[Aids]

The most inept decision by the last government was not to re-nationalise the entire rail network. Commuters such as myself are facing higher costs of using said rail network!! Grrrrr

[JB!]

Anyone got ticket percentage rise PA for First and Virgin? Interested to see how much they rise by!

[Gun]

Wait, First Group have been given another franchise?

[Podie]

Gun said:

Wait, First Group have been given another franchise?

Don't laugh too much... as they taxpayer we'll end up funding it...

[Yertis]

Aids said:

The most inept decision by the last government was not to re-nationalise the entire rail network.

It's strange isn't it, considering how British Rail was so widely admired for it's efficiency and reliability.