Arriva Trains wins CrossCountry Franchise - BBC News

Arriva has now won the CrossCountry franchise - leaving Virgin in the dark. BBC Look North visited Newcastle to see what passengers thought of the change. (more)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• bbc
• arriva
• trains
• crosscounty
• gner
• virgin
• cross
• country
• newcastle
• richard
• branson

[EuroDC1990]

I am so annoyed that arriva has the franchise!!!

I will not swear but I am so darn annoyed that after the mess arriva made of arriva trains (yeah-rail replacement buses!!!) norhern they are being allowed to run the longest network in the country. It is beyond a joke. BOO HISS BOO TO ARRIVA!!!

[Yownanymous]

No, the fleet is going to be: Turbostars, repainted Voyagers, and, most exciting of all, the return of the HST!

[thenameistom56789]

@Railspot Virgin west coast

[100peppard]

I once saw branson bangin one out in the shithouse on a class 156 from chest to holyhead!

[steveallen808909]

cowie there must be connected to the grey green bus network ? i prefer the new cross country livery its much better than the virgin one so its all well and good

[43hudson]

Taking the shop out was daft i was on a crosscountry train from darlington to torquay packed between leeds and brum trolly cudnt get through carriages. The only good thing is bringing back the hst. Virgin were better a lot better.

[Ally31334]

they had plenty chance to put more seats on the trains when they took the shops out but all they did was put useless luggage racks there where someone will sit & take the lot up - waste of space. The trolley service is pointless too because they can never ever move down the train due to passenger numbers. I'll be shocked when i see the first trolley move down the isle (then get stuck in the next car)

[MalteaserMilly]

I was really upset like all my collegues where as we all thought that we would still keep the franchise virgin had it all and it came as a shock to find out that arriva was to take over i think virgin should get it back!!!

[cazowazo]

when is the west coast mainline be up for sale again maybee the goverment may want it like the east caost. its thesame with every thing we are going back over what we have done same as other stuff. soon trains will all be owned by the goverment soon

[hardcoretilldie313]

Ha! I noticed that were all the Arriva 142 Pacers getting shown on there

Arriva are going to use trains that are 30 & Dirty??

Mind you there is a picture of a Voyager in the new (and awful) XC livery...

[vectorm1299]

Arriva is United, United is Arriva.

I rather see United colours back though.

I just wonder where this 35% increase in seats will come from?

35% more class 145's? plus a 35% hike in fares?

Slightly off topic i hope all Arriva staff get free or discounted travel on the trains.... No awards for guessing why i want that :P