tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post4994458641110426847..comments2024-03-25T19:07:29.729+00:00Comments on Steve's Bus & Train Page: East Cost??Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-13090187977029518382014-11-29T18:43:18.719+00:002014-11-29T18:43:18.719+00:00Well exactly, Smurf, which is why I didn't edi...Well exactly, Smurf, which is why I didn't edit the post as I was writing it, as I wanted my own surprise to be conveyed. I truly expected a State owned railway to be cheaper, but then as we know there are no greedier people on the planet than politicians perhaps I should have been my usual cynical self. I just hope that Virgin bring the advance purchase prices on the East Coast down to match those of the West Coast as right now the cheapest way to get from London - Edinburgh in 2 months time by rail is to go Virgin to Glasgow then local train across to Edinburgh.<br /><br />Whippet is retaining its own brand for at least 5 years from what I understand, and I presume that was a major clause in the selling requirements. I can't believe someone like First would have agreed to something like that. Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14075632962275755022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-4086378633499686912014-11-28T09:48:20.737+00:002014-11-28T09:48:20.737+00:00Ugh, of course it's a hole not a whole. Back t...Ugh, of course it's a hole not a whole. Back to those literacy classes for me!smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-87391900722886127272014-11-28T09:36:13.517+00:002014-11-28T09:36:13.517+00:00Steve, have you just knocked a rather big whole in...Steve, have you just knocked a rather big whole in the Labour party/Union argument that the state Direct Trains operation of East Coast is better for passengers? I suspect you and First both think the industry is overpaying for these franchises. I'm not so sure. I was concerned when Virgin/Stagecoach noticed the defect in the original West Coast tendering which First didn't. It smacks of someone not quite on the ball, and that impression has increased with time. I think Stagecoach say it all with the word "passion". I've compared First in the past to the maiden aunt, tightly clasping her purse, which I know annoys everybody (especially at First). But the old saying is speculate, to accumulate. Like the rest of life, it's all about judgement. I'm not sure everybody else has got it wrong.<br /><br />In other news I was interested to see that Whippet chose new boys Tower as the "fit" for their company ethos. Bet their eyes never lingered on First. And perhaps that's symptomatic of the trouble, no-one wants to get into bed with them? I know we all get worked up about the paint jobs. But seriously? Is that all? I'm not sure it's something they'd bat a eyelid at, in the rest of the country. Anyway, if down in Essex, Tower want to bat more than an eyelid (after all it's between London and Cambs) then anything to sort out the sclerotic management! First might yet regret that sale. Or not. It was always an amazement to me that they seemed to think of themselves as a rail company first and a bus company second. I'd prefer being master in my own house.smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.com