Cross Country Destruction of service

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

With all the hype about providing more seats, as of today, only 2 HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) diagrams exist.

1223 and 1523 Plymouth - Edinburgh/Leeds.

How Cross Country can justify this I don't know. Lets hope this breaches franchise agreements, and they are removed from degrading the service even further, if that is even possible.

Edit: I apologise for how Daily Mail the topic title sounds, too many hours spent on knackered out Voyagers in need of some TLC^▸ (three letter code, or tender loving care, depending on context ) but run by a company cutting costs left right and centre

[JayMac]

Eh? Do they run ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) from Neville Hill to Plymouth, are there no southbound HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))?

[Timmer]

Sad indeed. If they aren't going to use their other HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) please can they give them to a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) who will which could then free up some units for use elsewhere.

[devon_metro]

Eh? Do they run ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) from Neville Hill to Plymouth, are there no southbound HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))?

Well yeh, the southbound workings run, however couldn't remember off the top of my head

[thetrout]

Hence why I no longer use XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))... they are a bluddy disgrace to the first order...!

Any trip I take now up north I do from Westbury Via Reading and then onto Banbury with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and then pick up a Wrexham & Shropshire Service

[JayMac]

Eh? Do they run ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) from Neville Hill to Plymouth, are there no southbound HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))?

Well yeh, the southbound workings run, however couldn't remember off the top of my head

Sorry, misread....you did say diagram and not service.

[Timmer]

Over the past few weeks I was hoping to post a link to the new Winter AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about) timetables on their website like I have done with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and SWT^▸ (South West Trains): http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=5676.0

BUT I can't as they aren't on their website! Not a lot to ask is it.

[matt473]

To make matters worse, this probably means that overcrowding will return to what were diagrams with 2 voyagers on them allowed to take place because of the hst's. These will no doubt revert so single voyager formation causing more problems. Disgusting way fo running a ranchise but what do we know? We are only passengers that try to use the services

[brompton rail]

This is the link on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))'s own website to their pocket timetables.
http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/Find_a_train/Pocket_timetables.aspx
Click on it and you will see a page with no timetable information!  Seems a good way to increase ridership and therefore XC's takings making it easier for them to pay the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) premium.

Ne t/t starts today but its a secret. you couldn't make it up.

[JayMac]

Over the past few weeks I was hoping to post a link to the new Winter AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about) timetables on their website like I have done with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and SWT^▸ (South West Trains): http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=5676.0

BUT I can't as they aren't on their website! Not a lot to ask is it.

Terrible. Sniffy email sent to cross country:

ENQUIRY
"Quite simple, where are the pdf files on your website for the new pocket timetables?

One suspects the lack of them is another penny pinching reduction in service from Arriva Cross Country. Whose benefit are you running a train service for? It sure don't seem to be the passengers."

[Henry]

 Profit - shareholders, are they purposely trying to turn passengers away ?

[caliwag]

Bus driving amateurs...I will again be going from York to Falmouth via KX Padd

[r james]

Im shocked that they have been allowed to do this!

Will it perhaps only be for the winter time table and once the summer starts, they will reintroduce them all?

Or will they surrender their HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))?

[Super Guard]

Someone posted on here that their Franchise says the "extra seats" have to be in place by Summer 2010, so nothing stopping them withdrawing the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) through the Winter and bringing them back for the Summer without breaking any agreements.

I would have hoped all sets would be running for Christmas/New Year period, but who knows.

Apart from that, you can't blame XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) for putting Voyagers on if demand is lower and it is more cost effective.  Once again business economics, whether you love or loath Voyagers.

[IndustryInsider]

I would have hoped all sets would be running for Christmas/New Year period, but who knows.

That will be the acid test. If they're all parked up in sidings from this Friday onwards whilst old grannies are clambering over each other for seats on a 4-car Voyager, I will have to resort to using Btline's favourite word - Appalling!