HS2

Andrew Gwilt   29/09/2016 at 21:39

Well if Arriva did lose the Crosscountry franchise then other bidders could bid to take over the Crosscountry franchise. The bidders could of been: National Express Ltd Abellio First Group Stagecoach Group Govia/Go Ahead MTR Corporation

Huguenot   30/09/2016 at 11:48

It's time CrossCountry added a transformer/pantograph car to its Voyagers, given the huge mileage that they run under the wires on the ECML. Yes I know that Bombadier can no longer supply Voyager carriages but any manufacturer could provide an additional car as long as the electrics and couplers were compatible. That would provide extra seats to the 4- and 5-car units as well.

Sonning Cutting   30/09/2016 at 13:00

The future is bi-modes; Hitachi or Stadler?

David Faircloth   30/09/2016 at 14:48

Huguenot, why can't Bombardier "no longer supply Voyager carriages"? So far as I am aware, the Brugge plant, where the steel bodyshells for Voyagers were produced, is still open, and also capable of building them; and if they can't be sourced from there, I'm sure there are other companies who would be prepared to supply them (like Qualter Hall, for example). Sourcing transformer/pantograph cars from another supplier could be problematical; it depends upon what rights to use intellectual property the owners (not operators) of the Voyagers have, and it may be that - without risking the infringement of Bombardier's property rights - there isn't any real practical alternative to sourcing extra vehicles from the original supplier. However, this situation would change if Bombardier was to license a third party to use it's intellectual property; moreover, the electric traction equipment fitted to the Voyagers is from Alstom, and its intellectual property rights must also be recognised. In summary, therefore, just buying pantograph/transformer cars from another is fraught with difficulty.

John   30/09/2016 at 17:09

What a blow! The Customer Experience is dire and the Arrive attitude is "take it or leave it" as you have no choice but us!! Owned by Deutche Bahn, the German trains are cheaper, more punctual, cleaner and more efficient - why? because Germans wouldn't put up with the crap service at rip off prices that we are forced to suffer!! DfT Think again - PLEASE!!

Andrew   30/09/2016 at 17:50

The franchise should have gone to another company that would invest in new trains like Anglia and Transpennine.The voyagers are not great for the long distance services and what about replacing the HST'S.

Steve   30/09/2016 at 18:26

Agree with comments about the Voyagers, they are regularly packed and just not big enough for the long journeys. The crews try really hard to provide a good service, but it must be difficult when the train-set does not have capacity. Such a shame as I feel this drives more people into their cars!

Roger Capel   03/10/2016 at 09:34

David F; because they've scrapped the jigs. Yes, another manufacturer could step in IF they could get the drawings, which are all Bombardier copyright & would incur a serious cost, & also justify the capital expenditure of re-jigging. E-Meridian is in the same boat, & with Bedford - Corby wires not so far off some would say a bigger priority.