I'm on a Virgin Train right now.... Its a disgrace

[southendpier]

last Virgin train i got, after having an dreadful trip up on way up, on way back I wandered over to an unreserved first class seat and upgraded when the ticket inspector came through Liverpool to London for an additional £20.

I was advised to do this by the Virgin bods at Liverpool - Well worth it.

edit - this was a Saturday off peak.

Edited by southendpier on Wednesday 17th April 17:09

[theboss]

HannsG said:

.

Leamington to Wolverhampton. And then back. The route is royally fked

Birmingham new street is diabolical. That's where the mayhem starts. And then you have the cheap holiday lot who think it's wise to carry trunks on a rammed train from Birmingham International.

Edited by HannsG on Wednesday 17th April 16:50

How much is first vs standard?

What are you doing, catching a VT Euston service and changing at Coventry?

Have you tried changing at Smethwick Galton Bridge or walking from NS —> Moor Street and changing to Chiltern through to Leamington?

[Nezquick]

rsbmw said:

Be glad you're not on a Northern rail train, Virgin are pretty much the best.

This.

I commute into Manchester every day on Northern and they are the absolute pits! Trains are old, st, either boiling hot or freezing cold regardless of the weather, small cramped seats with no leg room, they stink and they're utterly unreliable.

I love travelling Virgin in comparison.

[Kermit power]

I had to get a Pendolino once. Personally, I think I'd prefer that Indian train!

At the time, I was travelling from London to Sheffield fairly frequently, occasionally in standard, but often in First as it only cost about a tenner more, and I could justify that on savings on wifi in our expense system.

I got the Pendolino back from Preston on a trip once. First class??? The seats in standard on the Sheffield line felt bigger, and the ones in First most definitely were!

OK, the Pendolino might've been quicker, but I'm another who'd happily swap the extra time for not having that stupid leaning-over-on-the-bends thing going on!!

I don't really understand the whole HS2-inspiring desperation to get the journey done that little bit faster, to be honest. I'd much rather relax with a bunch of downloaded Netflix stuff on a slightly slower but much more comfortable train and actually enjoy my journey.

[Alucidnation]

HannsG said:

I keep thinking first class is full of Remain voters, don't see many coloured people like me in there. Will I be safe?

Oh no... I used that term beginning with C.

Jesus fking Christ.

[bloomen]

I only do trains for fun. And the only ones I wind up on are GWR, Scotrail or SWT all of which are fine on the routes I lurk on.

I've only been on the Cross Country/Virgin things a few times and couldnae believe how cramped and stinky they were. They are at least supposed to be a lot safer.

If I was compelled to commute on a crappy line I'd be looking for either another job or home. I wouldn't last too long otherwise.

Comes a time on any journey when you want to just GET THERE and if I was feeling that twice a day I'd go batty.

Edited by bloomen on Wednesday 17th April 17:45

[Rewe]

HannsG said:

Been doing this for years and ain't got a clue what's on offer in first.

I keep thinking first class is full of Remain voters, don't see many coloured people like me in there. Will I be safe?

Quite safe buddy! It is normally (quarter) full of people who don’t want to stand up and know there hasn’t been a ticket inspector on the train in years

[ATG]

I go to and from Euston once a week on Virgin. I've gone first class a few times, but even when the premium to do so is just a few quid, it's really not worth it. A booked seat in the quiet coach is just as civilised. Fast, clean, comfortable enough and fairly reliable. Pretty good service, I'd say. Certainly kicks the st out of grinding along the M40/M42

[Podie]

Kermit power said:

I don't really understand the whole HS2-inspiring desperation to get the journey done that little bit faster, to be honest. I'd much rather relax with a bunch of downloaded Netflix stuff on a slightly slower but much more comfortable train and actually enjoy my journey.

As I understand it, the West Coast mainline is at capacity, so HS2 helps address this.

[98elise]

Integroo said:

Anyone up for a good old bit of nationalisation? Private ownership clearly ain't working.

No matter how crap things are now making it worse is not the answer.

Nationalised industries had they day, and they were st and inefficient, even when the staff could be bothered to turn up.

[Integroo]

98elise said:

No matter how crap things are now making it worse is not the answer.

Nationalised industries had they day, and they were st and inefficient, even when the staff could be bothered to turn up.

Rail franchises are st and inefficient.

[anonymous-user]

Peanut Gallery said:

Whats the smell like? - and be glad you are not pushed against the window, it leaning in makes me fell claustrophobic.

Usually there is a whiff of poo and chemicals on virgin trains a bit like a portaloo on a sunny day.

[98elise]

Integroo said:

98elise said:

No matter how crap things are now making it worse is not the answer.

Nationalised industries had they day, and they were st and inefficient, even when the staff could be bothered to turn up.

Rail franchises are st and inefficient.

So what does re-nationalisation bring to the party?

[Integroo]

98elise said:

So what does re-nationalisation bring to the party?

Stops hundreds of millions going into Branson's etc. pocket?

[sunbeam alpine]

HannsG said:

. Leamington to Wolverhampton. And then back.

Edited by HannsG on Wednesday 17th April 16:50

Isn't that driveable? I seem to remember some quite decent roads around Leamington (admittedly heading in the direction of the old NAC showground at Stoneleigh). I don't think I've ever been to Wolverhampton.

[theboss]

I chundered spectacularly in a Pendolino bog once on the way out of Euston. Thought I was alone, dignity just about intact, then vacated the now desecrated toilet cubicle to see people stood in the vestibule outside gagging. Went back into the sanctity of my own first class carriage to find 3 bottles of water had been left on my table by the trolley girl. Good service.

[Blue Oval84]

I've used Virgin a fair few times on the Euston to Liverpool route. No real complaints, standard is a bit cramped but if you aren't trying to work then it's fine really. First is much better and can sometimes be had for a very reasonable extra cost, I certainly make it my mission to get my money's worth by taking two vodkas on each pass of the drinks trolley.

Travelling for leisure in a couple of months and will do that in standard, with a booked seat. I refuse to pay the upgrade on a weekend when there's no free booze!

[nikaiyo2]

Integroo said:

Stops hundreds of millions going into Branson's etc. pocket?

Still a thousand times better than when they were nationalised.

[Kermit power]

theboss said:

I chundered spectacularly in a Pendolino bog once on the way out of Euston. Thought I was alone, dignity just about intact, then vacated the now desecrated toilet cubicle to see people stood in the vestibule outside gagging. Went back into the sanctity of my own first class carriage to find 3 bottles of water had been left on my table by the trolley girl. Good service.

Last time I threw up on a train the toilet was occupied.

Fortunately, being as it was thirty years ago, you could still open the windows on the doors, giving me somewhere to evacuate.

I too thought I'd got away with it... Right until I had to do the walk of shame back to my seat as the former contents of my stomach rapidly streamed along the carriage windows in the train's slipstream.

[craigjm]

Anyone moaning about Virgin needs to try Southern Rail