Virgin on the ridiculous - part 94

This from Our Man by the Photocopier...

Virgin Trains has issued a timely press release about Christmas travel which includes the following wise advice:

Planning ahead is the best way to ensure you get back home to your nearest and dearest without a hitch this Christmas.

With less than a month to go before the present West Coast franchise runs out of steam and with still no confirmation of what will happen after 02.00 on 9 December let’s hope this release was sent as an advisory to DafT, where there is precious little indication of any kind of planning and absolutely none of actually getting things done.

Indeed, if the present impasse between Euston and Horseferry Road is not resolved pdq, the only way to get home for Christmas on West Coast will be a nice brisk walk.

Virgin fails to learn from aviation experience

This from Our Independent Expert...

Q. Would Virgin Airlines allow one of it's planes to fly with bits missing?

A. Exactly!

So why is this Glasgow arrival at Euston last night in such a scruffy state - a sight increasingly typical of Pendolinos.


Perhaps VT and Alstom no longer care about their corporate image.

But it's the sort of thing that bothers passengers who have the choice of taking the plane.

UPDATE: This from West Coast Maintainer...

Your correspondent suggests passengers would have been unimpressed at boarding a Pendolino with a missing coupler hatch.

As a defender of the passengers I presume he'd have been happier for it to run empty to the right depot for repair whilst the service was cancelled?

I think perhaps passengers would be happier to know that their train was going to run, even if a little ugly, rather than see it set off without them only to be told "we thought you'd rather wait for the next one rather than suffer the humiliation of sitting in a train with a plastic door missing."

Pendolinos are certified to run with the coupler hatches open, or removed, at line speed.

Hybridballs

Telegrammed by Our Independent Expert
Extra traffic from air disruption seems to have gone to Virgin's corporate head.

Weary standard class passengers on 17.56 Preston to Euston Voyager tonight were evicted with heavy luggage to recreate first class from standard class four-abreast coach they were already sitting in on grounds there were not enough first class seats.

When one passenger complained: "'I've paid nearly 100 pounds for this ticket" he was told by aggressive train member of train staff: "These are the rules mate, you've got to move right away. It's a hybid".

Hybrid?

Doh?

There will be many on tonight's train who will be cheering the return today of domestic air services.

UPDATE: This from the Premier Line Controller...

It is in fact just so - Virgin has returned to the the concept of the Composite coach, with a small twist.

Seating in Coach D is almost entirely table seating with generous legroom and a neat retractable table leaf to accommodate corporate growth (NB = corpus as in Habeas Corpus) and the coach has all the required services to operate as a First Class saloon (with a big on-line nudge and a wink!), as required.

Maybe some similar design initiative can be undertaken with the Pendolino fleet to make up for the non-appearance of coaches J and K, in the foreseeable future.

The 50 steerage passengers counted standing on a Sunday service to Glasgow between Euston and Bank Quay, and joined by a further crowd at Preston (many 'standing' for the full 4 hours 40 minutes) might well have appreciated a reverse regrading of a coach or two at the London end of the train.

Maybe a permanent working for a 12 -coach VT64?

Virgin give 32 instructions on how to take a leak

This from Stardotstar.com with a bowler tip to @technicalfault...

On a recent trip to the big smoke i managed to count 32 instructions for how to get into and out of, and use a Virgin Trains toilet.

Eye is uncertain who is pottiest, the designer who came up with the 32 instructions or stardotstar for bothering to count them all!

UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...

Does that include the 'mind the step' notice with a braille transcription?

RMoL goes over the top

It's hot Carruthers, too damned hot.

Try to keep the men cool and away from Virgin PR events - you know how it unsettles them

Too late sir! I'm afraid Corporal Sim's gone over the top with the Bren...

"Formula 1 is a silly activity... there is no need whatever for any part of the railway industry to join their games."

Good show Carruthers, a mention in despatches for that man.

Virgin poked

More from Beardie Rail's ad agency.

Shagborough Tunnel at 00:41 is a highlight of this one.

Presumably after the shag, the TOC is no longer Virgin?

One way to breach franchise conditions and avoid premia payments.

UPDATE: This from Westmount...

It must be a dream?

Pendolino from Glasgow to Manchester via Stoke?

Has anyone told TPE?

Water into Wine ...AND served in Standard !!!

First time in 2009 years. I know RB has a beard but the similarity ends there.

No sorry - it must be a diversion whilst NR get the wires up from Preston to Manchester.

Dream on... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Robber Beardie raids Carlisle (again)

Beardie Rail is building on its unenviable reputation for shafting the good citizens of Carlisle.

Having been caught out last week for offering non-existent fares to Europe the greedy operator has now decided that passengers won't be able to buy cheap tickets from the station!

This from the News and Star...

The booking office at Carlisle railway station will be closed until Thursday of next week, leaving passengers unable to buy cheap ‘Advance’ tickets.

Virgin Trains spokesman Ken Gibbs said: “It’s not an ideal situation but we have publicised it and there really is no alternative.”

Not ideal - it's scandalous!

Where is Passenger Focus when you need it?

UPDATE: Passenger Focus understood to be feeling Beardie's collar...