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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2011 19:03:14 GMT 1
That's a real shame. It was a great service. However, the fact that the first train did not arrive in London until 9am was a real problem which I'm sure was reason why the end has come so quickly. Which was down to the restrictions placed on Wrexham & Shropshire railways. Been given a "stale piece of bread" really
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Post by shrewsburyshrew on Jan 27, 2011 20:57:22 GMT 1
This petition is certainly gathering steam now, well over 300 signatures. At this rate we are on track to reaching the 5000 mark. Will this signal the return of the service?
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Post by shrewroo on Jan 27, 2011 21:55:53 GMT 1
It would be just the ticket if we could get the conductor of the recent rail satisfaction survey to sign the petition too imo.
Every cloud though, the laid off staff could be put to good use at Virgin - they could train up the existing soulless people they call employees.
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Post by Pilch on Jan 27, 2011 23:05:30 GMT 1
what good is a petition ? are wsmr going to say oh sod it let lose some more money
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Post by ratcliffesghost on Jan 27, 2011 23:09:38 GMT 1
what good is a petition ? are wsmr going to say oh sod it let lose some more money Come on you know the scenario, Daniel Kazwinqtywrtzxczi presents the petition to the PM who tells him, in the politiest possible terms, to knob off Great game
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Post by shrewsburyshrew on Jan 27, 2011 23:22:21 GMT 1
what good is a petition ? are wsmr going to say oh sod it let lose some more money I think the more people that get on board this campaign the better.
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Post by stainesr on Jan 27, 2011 23:30:20 GMT 1
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Post by nickjonesey on Jan 27, 2011 23:46:35 GMT 1
This is a real shame. A lady that works for me was lucky enough to win a pair of 1st class return tickets in a Chamber Xmas raffle. She has a daughter working in London so it was ideal. Soon as she heard the news she booked the day off (understanding boss) and made plans to go down Friday morning on the early train and return the same day. I was sceptical- thought the service would be fully booked with others rushing to use such tickets. The 1st class journey down on the early train was ok. Return journey was a problem as no remaining seats in 1st class. Any other service would've just said 'sorry about that' if you're lucky. In WSMR's case they apologised profusely and have promised to bring her meal to her in Standard class. This is typical of the fantastic customer centred approach that will remain in my mind long after the service has gone.
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Post by stfcfan87 on Jan 28, 2011 11:40:24 GMT 1
I also have a couple of tickets to use from a previous B&A comp. I've contacted someone at Wrexham & Shropshire trains and they said tickets will be valid on Virgin trains. Call customer support on 0845 260 5200 Interesting you said that - I did that on Wednesday and was told by them that there was nothing they could do as they were closing down - what did you say? and did you have to speak to someone at virgin?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2011 15:30:29 GMT 1
Petition now at 1863.
It is interesting to see people from other regions now signing the petitition
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Post by Dan F on Jan 28, 2011 16:28:52 GMT 1
Petition now at 1863. It is interesting to see people from other regions now signing the petitition Very interesting in fact - I purposely didn't sign it as I wouldn't use it if it did come back in all likelihood (though I did publicise it on Facebook for my Salop-based "friends"), does it not devalue the signature if they're not in the immediate catchment area? Surely it should be a petition from people who would then use it. Pilch's comment about the value of a petition in a case such as this shouldn't be discounted, either.
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Post by Pilch on Jan 28, 2011 16:44:04 GMT 1
As cruel as it seems the petition should go to virgin
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Post by SeanBroseley on Jan 28, 2011 17:47:22 GMT 1
Perhaps no one out there is listening but I think the point needs to be made. Also, I think people outside the catchment area of the service (which is quite large in any case) can make a valid point about wanting a quality service with old fashioned customer service in their area. Sign away I say.
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Post by Dan F on Jan 28, 2011 19:27:53 GMT 1
Perhaps no one out there is listening but I think the point needs to be made. Also, I think people outside the catchment area of the service (which is quite large in any case) can make a valid point about wanting a quality service with old fashioned customer service in their area. Sign away I say. So basically "I the understand demand that you bring back the train from Shropshire to London - which you've proven you can't make money out of but hey, it's a good idea so do it anyway" - sorry, but surely it's unrealistic from a bean-counting point of view? But if it's 5000 local signatures of people who would use it, surely that'd be far better for them to convince investors to give it another try? I'm slightly playing devil's advocate here, certainly my first reaction was to sign it, but I still can't see what what good it would do in this case where the end result should be to get the service back and profitable.
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Post by scooter on Jan 28, 2011 20:09:53 GMT 1
Perhaps no one out there is listening but I think the point needs to be made. Also, I think people outside the catchment area of the service (which is quite large in any case) can make a valid point about wanting a quality service with old fashioned customer service in their area. Sign away I say. So basically "I the understand demand that you bring back the train from Shropshire to London - which you've proven you can't make money out of but hey, it's a good idea so do it anyway" - sorry, but surely it's unrealistic from a bean-counting point of view? But if it's 5000 local signatures of people who would use it, surely that'd be far better for them to convince investors to give it another try? I'm slightly playing devil's advocate here, certainly my first reaction was to sign it, but I still can't see what what good it would do in this case where the end result should be to get the service back and profitable. surely the message should get to whoever "organises" our railways, that lines like this need a subsidy like most of the other railways
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Post by theNOTORIOUSfbs on Jan 28, 2011 20:14:01 GMT 1
Just watched the coverage on Central News of the last ever trip down to London. I kept an eager eye out for Pilch on the service but then it dawned on me that the staff for this trip would be the cream of the industry.
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Post by Pilch on Jan 29, 2011 3:03:34 GMT 1
We've had tickets off them for nearly 2 years I only wish I'd managed to take some myself Those that won tickets had nothing but praise for the trips It is a shame really, especially when you realise that the engines are carriages are just going to be sat rusting away
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Post by nicko on Jan 29, 2011 10:31:07 GMT 1
Perhaps no one out there is listening but I think the point needs to be made. Also, I think people outside the catchment area of the service (which is quite large in any case) can make a valid point about wanting a quality service with old fashioned customer service in their area. Sign away I say. Absolutely. On BBC news this morning Susanna Reid asked a bloke from a Social Behaviour think tank (whos name I can't remember) what the point of the planned protests today if the Government don't listen. As Sean says the point needs to be made.
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Post by SeanBroseley on Jan 29, 2011 21:36:09 GMT 1
We are told - for instance with regard to the NHS - that competition will bring improvement. In the banking sector the type of competition that prevailed involved different institutions behaving exactly the same - "producing" the same goods, chasing the same new customers and taking more risks to out-grow their competitors.
What we have with Wrexham and Shropshire is a situation where competitive behaviour has ensured that subsidy maximisation and cost reduction has seen the end of a characteristically different service. The market has contrived to award mediocrity and reduce diversity. It's a bad outcome. Sign away.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2011 11:28:35 GMT 1
Fail to see how the competition argument works for the railways.
When you buy broadband you have the option of many providers offering the same service (unless you are in a country area where options are more limited) hence they have to differentiate themselves through price or offers or customer service etc.
It's not the same on the railways. You don't arrive at the station and there are two trains waiting to go offering a similar service. Welshshrew had it bang on - if you're looking to get to London by 9am from Shrewsbury you have to go to New Street and change to a Virgin train - no other options.
This service never really ever stood a chance.
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Post by Pilch on Jan 30, 2011 12:12:48 GMT 1
the problem is train companies have rights which they have bid for Like the right to run trains through new street Wsmr did know this day 1
It would be a bit like me being allowed to sell food at the ground on matchdays But not during half time or pre match Even though my burgers may be half the price of jennys and a lot tastier I'd soon go out of business Especially if I then had to give Jenny a cut of my business but she didn't have to give me any of hers
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Post by SeanBroseley on Jan 30, 2011 18:01:27 GMT 1
Between them I think ant and PILCH have explained what competition has to do with it. It reminds me of the comment Vince Cable made a few months back about the aim is to kill the competition - and not necessarily by being better but by being bigger and by acting in the way Pilch describes.
3953 signatures
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