The Bristol Railway Archive

Virgin have lost the cross country franchise to Arriva.

In order to increase capacity are going to re introduce HST's. Longer Voyager's and at seast catering for all passengers.

see this site:

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

Wont be sad to see those voyagers disapear there horrible things to sit on .

stopblock wrote:Wont be sad to see those voyagers disapear there horrible things to sit on .

i think the voyagers will be hear to stay, just different livery and internal fix.

also says about getting 5 hst sets!

bring back 47s + stock i say

what is happening to the railway system the goverment should take back our railway and get rid ot these merchants are only playing trains they change the colours like there is no to-morrow that firm Arriva is it a big train set or something from another planet I feel so sorry for my former work mates who really dont know who they are working for Such a shame all I hope the l; man does not ask for my vote ever again ps I AM VERY ANGRY

Shovel wrote:In order to increase capacity are going to re introduce HST's.

(as long as they're not "refreshed"...)

There can't be many HSTs and Mk3s left now can there?

Maybe they should put an order in to build some new power cars and mk3s - 43/4 series anyone?

Just picked my jaw up off the floor: although Arriva had been rumoured to have won for some time I never thought it would actually happen. The full press release makes for interesting reading, especially the footnotes detailing the nuts and bolts of the franchise: it's at
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullD ... ment=False
if anyone wants to read it.

I particularly like the bits about at-seat catering, removing the shop and removing one of the bogs to give more seating space. So, correct me if I'm wrong but it looks like the Voyagers are going to be re-fitted with just a trolley service and even fewer toilets to operate some of the longest-distance train services in the country (am I just unlucky or do other people always find themselves having to queue for the loos on a Voyager, even when it's not full?!)

Having said that the new livery is pretty funky...franchise website is at
www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

get_that_bus_out wrote: Having said that the new livery is pretty funky...franchise website is at
www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

Looks ok as liveries go, but that Voyager on the site looks like its locked its wheels up trying to slow down

In all seriousness I thought the Virgin Branding and the Voyager shape was a trade mark specific to Virgin, like the Coke Bottle is to Coca Cola and the Mini is to what used to be Rover.......which is why the Meridian units are externally different.

So to increase space you remove the shop and a toilet .As was already stated you have to que for the loo on them already and then it rounds a bend in the line and the sensors in the ceptic tanks think its full becuase obviously the waste will move about. Hey presto your even more loo's down now .

i just hope they run the services as well as they do around cardiff and the valleys with ATW, would beat virgin anyday!

They are also supposed to be ordering extra rolling stock to lengthen the voyagers, that might get rid of some of the overcrowding, 7 years to late though.

however, theres a rumoured price hike, which is bad...