The Bristol Railway Archive

Ews has to make a profit at the end of the day the same as any other company on the railway.You called always ask freightliner to use their depots ! Oh sorry they dont own anything they just turn up and park their locos and wagons whereever they happen to be working.

I've just spent a very entertaining half hour or so perusing this thread and I'd like to add my tuppence worth. With nearly thirty years of service under my belt, I think I have the experience to make some comments on some of the subjects aired here.
Today's railway is undoubtedly driven by profit; no TOC ever bid for a franchise simply to provide a service. The sad fact is that the taxpayer is subsidising the private railway far more now than when it was in the public domain. And where is this money being spent? Appeasing shareholders, no doubt, but just look at the money that's being wasted.
Any franchise bid is going to cost over ú1 million, so that's going to be factored in by the successful bidder over the life of the franchise. Then there's the paint job: who the hell cares what colour the train is as long as it turns up on time? We have a national infrastructure company, why not a national rolling stock company which has a common livery (silver?) and ten-bob vinyls for individual operators?
I find myself working for Arriva these days, on Cross Country. How they actually won the franchise is beyond me, but I keep my head down and my gob shut (usually). Arriva were "proud" to have won the franchise and are now about to improve the service by scrapping the shops on Voyagers and providing a trolley service instead. Just what's needed; tepid tea on an Aberdeen - Plymouth service and no hot food. Perfect!
Yes, we are going to get five nice refurbished HST's next winter, but they'll be "pack 'em in" sets, like FGW's and they won't have a buffet either.
Arriva is turning the screw in other ways too: when Virgin operated XC, anyone with a full - price standard open ticket could travel first class at weekends at no extra charge. Not from next month, they'll have to pay the weekend upgrade like everyone else, despite their ticket costing more than a Saver plus a weekend upgrade would have.
On Cross Country, railcard holders have hitherto been exempt from Saver time restrictions: this benefit also disappears next month and is going to cause no end of trouble when I tell someone with a YP card that their Saver isn't valid on the 06.00 Birmingham - Edinburgh, so that'll be another ú175, please. Great!
Of the five HST's we're getting, three are to go to Wabtec at Doncaster shortly for refurbishment, the power cars being dealt with at Brush, Loughborough. The other two will be used on summer weekends for the holiday trains to the West Country, then take their place in the refurbishment programme. These summer weekend services are extremely busy, so I would defend XC in banning bikes on them: you just wouldn't believe the amount of luggage people bring with them on holiday! The luggage area in the TGS gets absolutely rammed with suitcases, prams, folding beds and even bird cages. I kid you not...
Anyway, that was supposed to be my tuppence worth, but under privatisation it's probably now my thirty bob's worth.
Rgds.,
Andy

A few years back when the loco hauled services were being ran for virgin on the summer saturdays many of the passengers ( customers) said how nice it was to sit on a train with plenty of room. I also suggested to riveara trains that they could possibly include the nba's that were formally used on the ews services as a kind of baggage coach to help with any possible over crowding as these vehicles were 100mph rated and complete with eth.Sadly the service hasnt ran since probably because it provided a better service then the dear old motorway.The railway always has been and always will be the poor relation to the roads in this country.

To know what it was like to ride in a civilised manor I would sugest that one of you out there might be able to show photos of the inside of a coach ie; a BRmark 1 either compartment or open complete with proper tables.Not like cross country are going to provide a bigger crush and a trolly service all way from Scotland to Plymouth YUCK! its better in my Robon Reliant all the way to St IVES LOL!!