Branson in 'patronising' rail ad

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Sir Richard Branson has been accused of patronising rail staff after dressing as a station cleaner for a TV^▸ (Thames Valley) advert. The billionaire Virgin boss appears with forearms covered with fake tattoos and blacked-out teeth as he empties bins at Glasgow's Central Station.

The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) rail union said it demonstrated a patronising attitude to staff who had worked hard to make him a fortune.

Sir Richard insisted the advert showed how proud he was of Virgin Trains employees.

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8035524.stm 

[Mookiemoo]

Sir Richard Branson has been accused of patronising rail staff after dressing as a station cleaner for a TV^▸ (Thames Valley) advert. The billionaire Virgin boss appears with forearms covered with fake tattoos and blacked-out teeth as he empties bins at Glasgow's Central Station.

The RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) rail union said it demonstrated a patronising attitude to staff who had worked hard to make him a fortune.

Sir Richard insisted the advert showed how proud he was of Virgin Trains employees.

Since I am a faithful of Virgin Atlantic and I like Virgin trains (I can ignore the smell if I sit in the middle of the carriage) - I'm with the bearded one.

Also, when I have had issues with Virgin, addressing an email to Richard.Branson@Virgin.com gets results - I KNOW its not him but the fact that a random email get to someone who sorts it makes a difference.

i had a squeazy jet flight booked out of liverpool - was in hemel and suppoed to be connecting in BNS^▸ (Barnes (not Birmingham New Street) which is actually BHM)) to London Midland to Liverpool.  Was the lines down at bletchley incident this year - patform staff at watford gave me their name and advised me to connect at milton keyenes to a voyager to crewe then connect - it then broke down and I missed the flight - flew next morning (stayed at moms overnight). 

Wrote to Virgin explainign how whilst I did not hold the platform staff at watford responsible, I was not happy.

got a vouvher for a first class ay time return liverpool to london. 

now - put FGW^▸ (First Great Western) in their place

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8035524.stm 

[dog box]

Old beardie the man who brought us voyagers in place of HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)).....dont think i need to say anymore

[Btline]

I think the adverts are enjoyable/ entertaining, (as ever with VT^▸ (Virgin Trains - former franchise (or, possibly, in a France context, Versement Transport - a payroll tax on employers to fund local transport) )) although a missed opportunity.

No mention of improved journey times, frequencies etc.

Only a background message about the WiFi in the "toilet" scene.

And i think that calls that Branson's appearance is "patronising" is stupid. I like the man's sense of humour.

Oh: why is there a CH in standard class in the adverts? (where the CH "pops" the water bottle)