 |
| |
|
|
*End Is Forever*
|
 |
Salford, UK
Jan 1970
time: 05:25
|
|
Hmm... hadn't read about mid-Wales. I've only seen comments about Virgin XC and the south. You've probably got a point there, but it's an infinitely sensible move for the most part.
Anyway, for anyone who's interested this is what I've written about it already...
quote:
It might sound bad but it's an infinitely sensible move.
Passenger growth has been phenomenal since privatisation (in that regard, it was a huge success) and the number of trains were increased... however, the train numbers were increased without any corresponding improvement in the infrastructure. Therefore, "bottlenecks" - particularly around Birmingham, where there are only two tracks south of New Street on one of the busiest (if not the busiest) lines in the country - were inevitable.
For anyone who has been stuck on the trains in Birmingham in busy periods, the truth is that the bottlenecks mean that inevitably the first train on the route is delayed until it's barely running before the second train, and then of course the passengers for both trains end up piling on the first, resulting in massive overcrowding. I've travelled twice on that Birmingham - Derby route and it has happened both times.
The obvious solution is to run one longer train rather than two short ones. Virgin are particularly at fault here; the idea that three-car Voyagers (excellent though they are) could run Cross-Country services in peak time was absurd (and now quite rightly abandoned). Sure, it's a little inconvenient for those who preferred the times that were abolished, but then train travel has rarely been a "turn up and go" pursuit, particularly now there are such big discounts for advance-booking.
So, in short, yes it sounds bad, but until the infrastructure is brought up to scratch, it's best for the passengers and it's best for the train companies. Which is better; a short, late, overcrowded train every half-hour, or a long, on-time, comfortable train every hour? |
quote:
Virgin Cross-Country's "big idea" when it got hold of all those new Voyager trains was to - despite the overcrowded tracks - run a greater number of smaller trains, as the article Steve posted pointed out. Quite why no-one told them of the lunacy of this at the time, I'm not entirely sure; it seems the SRA aren't very strategic after all. A good chunk of the "cuts" are simply the reversal of a decision that should never have been made in the first place!
For example, on purchase of the Voyager trains, Virgin would have changed a route that previously had 6 6-carriage trains a day into one which had 12 3-car Voyagers. Now they've decided the lug the Voyagers together into 5- and 6-car units they'll return to 6 6-car trains. It's a reduction in the number of trains but not in the number of seats.
Elsewhere, the cuts are being made where there is excess supply. Much will be made of Virgin "abandoning Blackpool", but they only run two trains there a day anyway, on a route (Preston - Blackpool) where there are already four trains an hour minimum for the majority of the day.
People should look at the reality rather than the headline. This is an eminently sensible move. Sadly for rail-users, the only long-term solution is high investment, and I don't see that coming. |
There might be some repetition there, for which I apologise.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Ozz
|
|
Canada
Mar 2002
time: 05:25
|
|
Have a national Demolition Derby Day.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Starchild
|
 |
a raving alcoholic drama queen with a penchant for the biosciences
Jan 1970
time: 00:25
|
|
Yes, the fixation with London is another very odd thing. It definately seems the capital is the be all and end all, despite the other cities in England, not to mention Scotland and Welshland. (  )
After living in Canada where the capital of the country isn't that big, important, or generally noticable; this London fixation is strange. Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal are the big three cities that compete on equal footing.
Though Toronto is by far the best, brightest, and most important city in all of Canada and quite a few American states. (Note to Americans from Buffulo, New York: Admit you come to Toronto, not because of the low dollar, but because you're too proud to go to NYC).
|
|
| |
|
|
|
CerberusIV
|
|
The trouble is that in parts of the UK motorists have a rather selfish attitude. When asked what they think about public transport they say it is a great idea and that people should leave their cars at home and use buses and trains. However, what they mean is the person in the car in front of them should leave his/her car at home and get on a bus.
We pay so much to have a car in the first place that people aren't really prepared not to use it.
Incidentally, I don't own a car. I ride a motorbike and it is perfectly safe, much cheaper and a lot more fun. You can even find somewhere to park in city centres.
|
|
| |
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:25.
Apolyton Time is 00:25. |
top of page
|
| archivepost |
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is ON
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|
17-01-2003 19:17
|