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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ค. 2024
- Hello & welcome to a different sort of video - today I debate whether or not Arriva Cross Country is Britain's worst train operating company!?
This video is in no way blaming the staff as they do a great job and I understand why they strike - I am, however, blaming the management of Arriva & the Department for Transport/the government. However, it seems things might be on the up...
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Honestly Transpennine Express will always be worst operator not Crosscountry
@@andrewmelbournetransportthat’s what I was gonna say
I agree. Before crosscountry retired the HSTs, the trains from Banbury were 9 or 10 coaches. They’re now usually 4. I haven’t been able to get a seat on crosscountry since 2021
100% Correct. I see this regularly - see my post on here.
Excluding not going out during lock down, I have stood in vestibules more often than use a seat since 2018 when traveling from Banbury.
@@paulinegeorge289 It's not about the customer any more - it's about profit and annoying the peons. Besides, don't let Greta know that you are travelling on a train because HOW DARE YOU!
@@user-bv5lc1nf5dTrains are literally the least carbon emitting mode of transport per person that isn't walking, cycling, or anything else that you propel yourself.
@@BoraCM My point exactly - if trains are so good, why cut down on the size and amount of them. We're told to be green and good, yet the powers-that-be are treating it like a Python sketch.
I've been looking forward to this one and I wasn't dissapointed. Living in the Southeast, I don't encounter XC very often, but when I have, I've almost always been totally appalled by the service. I was once stranded at Coleshill Parkway for over 3 hours in the dead of winter! There was also one incident, and I don't make accusations like this easily, but let's just say one of their revenue officers was extremely rude to me while checking my ticket, but polite to everyone else. I just happen to be mixed race. Of course, that's an isolated incident and not representative of the staff as a whole, many of whom I've found very polite and helpful, but I've only ever experienced rudeness on that level from railway staff twice in my whole life.
One good thing that's happened recently is the end of 2-car sets on Birmingham-Peterborough route which could get horrendously overcrowded, but as you mentioned, those interiors are really tired and dirty. I've even seen seat cushions completely missing. Some people have suggested that one of the reasons XC so consistently underperforms is politics - the network is not really anyone's local railway like most other TOCs are, so the political will that would otherwise be instilled by local MPs to improve things doesn't really touch CrossCountry. I think there's some truth in that.
The reason XC underperforms is down to rolling stock issues and the routes they cover, which all is arranged by DfT when they gave out franchises.
Since COVID all railway decisions have been made by the DfT and because the government have been wanting to cut costs (hence one of the reasons for the strikes), XC hasn't had any new trains for a while. Their newest trains is almost 20 years old.
The recent decision to overcome crowding on the Cardiff routes is to give an extra carriage to some of the 2 car 170s. 60ish seats extra, which even I can see isn't going to solve it.
In an ideal world, their long route services should be 9+ carriages long similar to Avanti's 390s.
Thank you! Sadly 2-car services are still common using the 170s, I saw one to nottingham (it might feature in the video) and it was so so so so busy I couldn't even describe it to you!
Easily the worst in my opinion, and it’s not even close.
Dangerous levels of overcrowding, horrendous reliability coupled with the worst delay repay terms of any TOC, a 1st class service that the Advertising Standards Authority recently reprimanded them over, their Twitter frequently has some bizarre Fawlty Towers esque customer “service” that’s actively and needlessly hostile, their Class 170s all have a design fault that pumps the smell of the toilets throughout the entirety of their filthy trains… I could go on and on but this comment would be 5000 words long.
Anyway great video 😅
We dont want a refurb we want new and much longer 12 car trains. The whole XC route should be electrified but it is not.
Yesterday there was a 4-car service from Aberdeen-Penzance like wth?
Unfortunately they’re getting avantis voyegers
Some of the lines they serve can't take that amount of coaches
Refurb and longer trains please!!!
Not possible to electrify all
I contacted the department of transport a few months ago about the with drawl of the HST sets and asked them which class of train they were going to replace them with and they never answered the question.
Too scared to say nothing I assume!
I remember, once the HSTs were gone from CrossCountry, the 13:35 departure from Bristol always became overcrowded after that. It was so bad on the first week that the information boards would always label it as FULL AND STANDING
Even better, that 13:35 was a HST diagram before withdrawal... replaced by a single 220 or 221
7 coaches replaced by 4 or 5 is even worse when you remember a Voyager with five coaches has a non-negligible number of seats LESS than an HST with only four, let alone seven.
I live in Warwick (one stop from Leamington) and a couple of years ago I went on holiday with my mum to Mudeford (near Bournemouth).
We went on the train and there is a direct Cross Country train from Leamington to Bournemouth, but it says a lot about the experience on those trains that we decided to instead use other companies, requiring us to change at Banbury, Didcot Parkway, Reading and Basingstoke, JUST to avoid the Cross Country.
It's hard to say whether or not getting a seat on a Crosscountry service is a good thing, as the seats are EXTREMELY hard and uncomfortable.
At least it’s not standing up for 3 hours
@@funnygallie7863 Been there, done that. At least my ass didn't feel like it was burning in pain when I was standing up in the vestibule!! lol
Leaning up against a door whilst sniffing the beautiful odours from a Voyager's toilet is a lot worse!
@@funnygallie7863 yeah even though XC is a cross country service (hence the name) many people stay on it for 2 hours max. Same can be said for East Midlands railways' Norwich to Liverpool service with only 2 cars. It's not uncommon for me to have to sit next to a someone or stand up.
@@AFCManUk when CrossCountry operated the InterCity125 sets it was the best passenger train the company had ever used
It will be good when Avanti's Voyagers go to XC; plus due to refurbishments they're in a decent condition.
I agree that Cross Country should get bi-mode units in the future - I assume this may shorten journey times slightly, allowing more frequent services.
Otherwise, if the railways do get re-nationalised or something, hopefully the cross country routes & rolling stock will get some much needed upgrades.
Yes, it makes sense to be able to use the wires where they exist, which the Voyagers are unable to.
I don't like cross country's first class because they only put kitchen roll that says "CrOsS cOuNtRy FiRsT cLaSs" and change the colour of the seat to a Purple/pink colour, What a scam!
Cross Country is definetly the worst TOC, in my opinion.
Awfully poor catering, ridiculously short stock being used on long services, chances of getting a seat being awfully low, the list goes on!
Yeah the catering is terrible! First class from Birmingham to Manchester and no catering at all! Plus, they removed the cafe shops on board because Virgin didn't order enough luggage facilities for them... the voyagers are woeful! So is the operator in general!
@Vanmanyo If only the voyagers had been built with 7 - 10 coach formations, with good buffet and luggage facilities.
Ah well, one can dream…
I often travel around the South West by train and when my booking shows Cross Country my heart sinks. The inside of their trains are dull, grubby and depressing. The seats are uncomfortable with terrible legroom.
You could simply book with an alternative TOC, even if a bit dearer, like I do.
@@Clivestravelandtrains Me too. Oxford to Birmingham is quicker and more direct with XC.....but after several nightmare journeys refuse to use them any longer. Now use Chiltern Railways although inconvenient having to change stations in Bicester plus a longer overall journey a least i get a seat on a clean and reliable train....will never use XC ever again😳
rode on a 8 car twin voyager set on wednesday from york to chesterfield, each coach was decently balanced out in terms of passengers and no one was standing
compared to my trip from chesterfield to york, on a single voyager. nearly half of the train consisted of people standing!!
i love XC, however their faults lay at the hands of their stock. and their refusual to upgrade.
I catch that same train and often pay the extra for first class just to get a seat. Just last week I was crammed in the vestibule between Chesterfield and Sheffield and then in the mad scramble when people got off was "lucky" enough to find a space in the wheelchair space with my head tilted under the luggage rack.
@@philstraintravels9281 yikes, they really shouldnt have removed the HSTs on that service, makes going to newcastle / york a real pain for me...
Cost is another issue. A train from Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh, 6 weeks in advance was £136.10 one way when flying was from £49 one way, even when adding on luggage, it was still cheaper and quicker to fly. It often works out cheaper to drive on my own than to take the train and is ironic.
Good point! Cost is an issue across the rail network though!
@@Vanmanyo Not completely agreed on this. The West Midland Authority area I think is very good value. As example for students, Selly Oak to Birmingham New Street is about 3.5 miles and return train is £3.70, cheaper than 2 buses. Or further journeys are less than £6 return with free parking too.
I had a 1st class ticket for a trip to Cardiff and I had to use Cross Country from Taunton to Bristol Parkway and I didn't get a seat WITH A 1ST CLASS TICKET
They need to 9 car sets for their longest routes
I frequently catch the Chesterfield to York (Penzance to Edinburgh) train and it is pretty much always overcrowded and standing room only. The train managers have even started apologising during the announcements that the overcrowding is now a regular thing on this service. I now often pay for first class just to get a seat, but even first on the 221s just means a lumpy seat that is often stuck in the recline position. There have been a few occasions where it's been so crowded that even 1st class has been standing room only.
The carpets are often threadbare and the only "extras" you often get are a drink and a biscuit, actual food is very rare unlike that I've seen on other services.
Waiting at Chesterfield and York stations I often wonder if it would save time if they changed the frequent announcement "The CrossCountry service to _______ is running x minutes late" and just announced those that were running on time.
Now a cynic might suggest that Virgin when they held The XC Franchise acted hastily in offloading their HST's and the sight of hired sets for Summer Saturdays from other operators is evidence. Some might agree but Summer Saturday additionals have been a feature of the railway in the sunny south west since Queen Victoria was on the throne. And Cross Country are bound to run them as a condition of their franchise whether anyone uses them or not. They once had to operate an empty service to Ramsgate every Saturday believe it or not.
It's a shame companies aren't more 'creative' like that now. I doubt we'll see a XC special Summer service for a few years now. It's also a shame Brighton and Kent miss out on XC services as they're quite cut off from everywhere except London! However if they're not profitable they're not profitable... Perhaps nationalisation would allow for services like these to be reinstated regardless of profitability? Well we'll find out in a few weeks!
Brighton now has direct services to Cambridge as well as Bedford, plus connections via Portsmouth to Bristol and Cardiff, so still plenty of longer distance travel available with just one change of train (not necessarily in London), but yes, through Cross Country services to places like Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh ceased some years ago.
@@Vanmanyo I'm not sure I agree that Kent is isolated - in April I travelled from my home in Glasgow down to Dover with a swift walk between Euston and St Pancras, and it was relatively easy.
I can count on one hand the number of times I've pre-booked a seat on the Voyagers and *not* had to stand in the vestibule because the carriage was so overcrowded I couldn't even get to the seat to ask for it.
XC are a horrific failure, with no willingness to improve for the almost 2 decades they've been operating. Frankly the biggest failure of the DfT is that they should have lost their franchise years ago.
CrossCountry is a really difficult one because I think it's a combination of the DfT not understanding how important it is and Arriva being absolutely awful at doing anything, even the bare basics.
The voyagers themselves are fundamentally very good trains, the onboard ambience is fabulous, the seats are comfortable and they'd be perfectly suited to some roles. Get them on Transpennine routes, Cardiff to Portsmouth or some of the Welsh intercity routes and they'd be fabulous.
In the short term what's needed is a bit of TLC for the fleet which they're thankfully getting now and potentially a bit of a cut back network to allow longer trains on the core network - have ScotRail and GWR run longer trains where CrossCountry leaves the market and ensure decent connections. Not ideal but it's an idea.
In the medium term, move the 222s over to CrossCountry as they leave EMR to allow longer trains and to build out the routes again, and look at using the retired 68+Mk5s from TPE on Nottingham - Cardiff to allow the 170s to run in multiple on Birmingham - Stansted services.
In the long term a new fleet of 10 car bi-mode trains should be ordered to replace the voyagers, with a few tweaks the 80x trains would be perfectly suited for that. The voyagers can then be transferred to the routes that currently use 170s and to potentially expand CrossCountry operations to include other long distance interregional services which really should be considered CrossCountry already.
Genuinely most journey should be 8 car minimum with the Aberdeen - Penzance service being 10 car minimum. It would be nice if we got Voyagers on the New Street - Cambridge runs as they won't fit on the platforns at Stansted. I have a feeling at somepoint they might invest in bi-mode units whether that is becuase of contractual obligations or they'll be able to get a grant from the DFT. Hopefully the Avanti Voyagers will help ease overcrowding a little
Some of the interior can feel run down and dirty at times, but the seats are actually comfier than most modern day high speed companies. Well, that's if you can get a seat on the four car services.
I use cross country trains a lot from Banbury and in my experience, their train crews are beyond fantastic, they are always so friendly, helpful and efficient but that is only in my own experience. The main issue is that there is such a limited train service at present from Reading to Newcastle and half of them terminate at York and whilst this is due to cross country trains being short on rolling stock, this has led to the Bournemouth to Manchester services being extremely overcrowded. The Reading to York and Newcastle trains are not even 2 hourly throughout the day, they are even less frequent. Hopefully this improves significantly in 2025 and 2026.
I was doing some train spotting yesterday and even though the 15:03 service from Birmingham to Edinburgh was 5 coaches, it was still packed. Would not be such an issue if cross county had gone back to pre covid hourly Reading - Newcastle services. I cannot wait for next year for cross country to get more trains, personally I find their train crew excellent, just being let down by massive overcrowding thanks to the management, DFT as well. Same with Chiltern as well ( Obviously with different routes).
A great video, Cross-country are apparently getting EMR,s class 222 trains once EMR,s new iet stock ( Auras ) are in full operation. 😊😊
Definitely one of the few TOCs that needs some serious review of demand vs what's being run nowadays. Was based in Coventry for work and had to regularly use the services to both West and East Coast services from West Midland. Some of the most uncomfortable journeys I ever undertaken!
One day me and my family went to Drayton manor via cross country. When we finished our day out, we went to Tamworth station and all three services to Nottingham (and were the last ones to get) were cancelled due to train crew unavailable. My family didn’t know what to do until we got instructed to get a train to derby, which took an hour, then change for an EMR service to nottingham. The cross country service was packed and had no seats. Luckily I only had to travel 4 stops. I had to wait 15 mins for the emr service to Nottingham and the whole journey wasn’t planned to be like this. I just don’t understand why 3 Trains were cancelled one after another. And only due to train crew unavailable.
As was recently pointed out in Private Eye, XC doesn't operate services into London and therefore is somewhat neglected by politicians who never use it.
Despite being on one of their core routes (Chesterfield) I actively avoid them, even if it means using alternative operators and changing trains - recently went to York and I chose to get Northern via Sheffield & Leeds there and ECML to Doncaster then Sheffield on the way back - yes it took longer and yes, it was more of a faff but at least: 1) I Got a seat and 2) The train wasn't ridiculously rammed and 3) Didn't stink.
I think it's fair to say that when you actively AVOID the most direct & fastest operator, there must be a problem
The problem is the lack of rolling stock on Crosscountry. I've pretty much avoided Crosscountry, I only remember travelling with them from Macclesfield to Oxford in 2012 and Edinburgh to Morpeth in 2013. My sister has used them a few times between Edinburgh and Leeds though.
I live in Glasgow, but never use XC unless no alternative. We now only have one service per day out of Glasgow. I often go down to Yorkshire, but I just ignore XC options even if they are cheaper, as the trains are so awful inside. If I'm left with no alternative I try to remember to pack my own cushion! People I know will usually fly to Southampton or Bristol which is usually cheaper, quicker and easier than the XC train.
Regarding electric traction - TP currently operate a Newcastle-Edinburgh "stopping" service, and the bi-mode trains use diesel power because there seems to be a supply issue for electricity on the ECML north of Newcastle. I don't quite understand it, that's what I've been told by a number of sources. Thanks for the video.
I didn't even know about the TPE supply issue for the ECML! That seems ridiculous. Brand new fleet of electric trains just to be used on diesel 🤦
@@Vanmanyo I first noticed this when I did my film about Reston station, and I mentioned it at around 2:29. You can use that clip if you need to in the future (with a credit). th-cam.com/video/aniI70ESZR8/w-d-xo.html
other day i was traveling on cross-country train from Cheltenham to Sheffield and it was very short just 4 coaches going all the way to Edinburgh cross country service should be 13 coaches at bar minerals as the train i was on way very dangerous over crowed and only matter off time until some bad going happen hate to think what could happen if service did derail or worse wise dangerous over crowed 😬
Ive had many a trip like that sadly.... Services definitely need to be 8 coaches at minimum and preferably more like you say! Im going on them tomorrow so, wish me luck!!!
As a frequent train rider most of xc's trains from Manchester get overcrowded because it being the next train that is going on the same route as a cancelled avanti
If only if the Voyagers get rebuilt into 'eVoyagers' back in the 2010s. They could have seen vast improvements and additional capacity thanks to the addition of a pantograph car. I don't think the Voyagers would ever turn electro-diesel during the 2020s overhaul. I think the livery is a-bit overdesigned for the Voyagers, I would prefer the Turbostar livery applied to the entire Cross Country fleet.
I've never forgiven XC for the downgrades they made to the onboard catering among other things. Also, I travelled regularly between Manchester and Glasgow from 2004 to 2010, previously the service was run by Virgin XC but with the franchise changes, they were transferred to TPE who also downgraded that route. From that point on I always looked for journeys involving a change at Preston rather than a direct train.
I'm lucky enough to have experienced Southern Rail and their incredible path to improvement. I think that give it 2 - 3 years and they'll possibly have good capacity trains.
Speaking to XC staff in my one journey it's clear its not the TMs fault. I'd welcome XC expanding to my local in the future, but only when their service is suitable.
The time before last I was on a Cross Country service, my sister ended up having to alight at Bristol Temple Meads, where she vomited, after fainting on the train and having to be virtually carried out the door by my dad. This was entirely due to the lack of ventilation in the 221s and 220s, and the overcrowding- There were 27 people in the vestibule, NOT counting people in the toilet.
Granted, a strike timetable combined with Bath christmas market didn’t help- but it was 12:00, I hate to think how bad it would’ve been at rush hour, and GWR 9 and 10 car IET services managed just fine.
The 2 car 158 we got back managed the capacity better than a supposed express train which ran between Exeter and Manchester.
Cross Country seriously need to invest in new rolling stock and a new timetable. I think the 220s and 221s would work a lot better with TfW or semi-fast workings on the ECML with LNER or something, not long sevices along the Bristol-Exeter and WCML and up into Scotland.
Side note: Huge credit to the GWR staff at Temple Meads for taking care of my sister to the best of their abilities.
Cross country desperately NEED to order a new rolling fleet stock of trains with atleast 8-10 coaches
My ass waiting on n Sheffield because they promised electrification in the 1950s and Nigel freshet had to design an electric train for a route between Sheffield and Manchester (still not happened)
Ever heard of the woodhead line
Informative, nice footage, chill narration, top quality stuff bruh
Much appreciated 😆
There could be a bi mode voyager as there was a project that would add a pantograph onto the voyagers but was cancelled so unlikely
the IETs would suit XC however I would much rather ride on an overcrowded 220 then an IET for 4+ hours
Good video on a bad topic. XC is horrible, I travel regularly and it's always bad except for occasional quiet mid-day trains. How can they be allowed to carry on like this? Passengers are a joke for them. I'll believe the increased capacity when I see it.
Thank you 😆
Hi have to agree. I live in Bristol so this is my service north to Edinburgh (home town) and Nottingham where I work. I hate them so much not (not the staff you are great) that I now take local trains to Nottingham and go to London then north on LNER, Cross Country as has been said has shocking time keeping. The over crowding is next level. The only operator I ever see that is overcrowded to be honest. Even when I have a reserved seat sometimes the train is so busy you can't get to it. Was working in Leeds last month and had to get them home. My train was cancelled so stood from Leeds to Cheltenham, who puts on a train from Edinburgh to Plymouth in the rush hour going through a lot of major cities that is only 4 coaches!!!. I hate Cross Country and nationalisation can't come quickly enough for them. Have been on the Avanti West Coast recently and it was fantastic. A long train and not packed. This felt like heaven and the coaches were so well laid out and clean. Love them
When I was travelling from Leeds to York for work I’d actively try get the TPE or Northern services where possible entirely to avoid XC services and that was 7 years ago. Even now, if I’m travelling to Sheffield, Wakefield or York for work I’d rather get Northern, TPE or LNER services where applicable purely to try and avoid XC services
I've had the misfortune of travelling long distance on these trains for my job, a hell of a lot over the last two years and I actually can't get my head around how bad the trains and the service as a whole is.
SURELY if you're providing the longest train services in the country, passenger comfort and onboard facilities should be the absolute number one priority as TOC?!?! Firstly, a seat for every passenger shouldn't be too much to ask. Then a top class onboard food service should come second. But what you get, (if you're even lucky enough to get a seat at all) is many hours with no legroom to the point where I've often felt like I might literally be in danger of causing my legs some kind of damage. And then the best you can hope for food-wise is a single trolley being wheeled along the train. And even that is often too much to ask. I once found myself without any food or drink for the entirety of a trip between Exeter and Darlington when I got on the train at dinner time, already feeling very hungry and expecting to be able to eat on the train.
In my opinion, a service like this should be at least 9 coaches, loco hauled to avoid the droning, rattling vibration of a DMU, soft, comfy seats with lots of legroom and reclining function and a dedicated onboard buffet with a hot meals/dining service available. That's what long distance rail travel should look like. It was possible in the 50's, 60's and 70's so why not now?! What happened to things progressing rather than regressing?!
The ONE thing I do prefer over most other modern trains though is the less harsh and more cosy lighting temperature on the Voyagers but I'm sure that will be replaced with the cold bright and harsh lighting on all other new trains these days...
Rant over!
It was a good rant! I agree with what you're saying though. It's a shame things have got worse in terms of overcrowding and comfort on intercity services since privatisation
I’m surprised you didn’t go into why XC are in the mess they are in with rolling stock.
Virgin’s plan was to run an ‘Operation Princess’ plan - frequent trains on core networks - York/Leeds - Birmingham New Street and then the ongoing services to the distal ends of the network. However, finding space in timetables to run these more frequent services was challenging and the large distance XC travel means that delays on the network had a massive impact on what could actually be run reliably. DaFT refused to allow Virgin to purchase more rolling stock or to extend the lengths of the Voyagers. In effect, passengers are left with shorter rolling stock on an, as now, similar timetable that was operated by 7-car trains.
I do miss the Sussex Scot. I used to get it at times from Redhill to Kensington Olympia as I worked in high street Kensington at the time. This was am inter city train with a loco amd MK 3 coaches.
Oh boy, XC here we go!
Btw my uncle drives for Xc and he says voyagers are getting a new refurb and a new livery so yeah the new livery looks crap
Another issue I was told by someone who worked at XC before that the 221/220s aren't ETMS compabable apparently. whether that means they would need to be retro fitted or can't run under the system at all i'm not sure.
I have recently had to travel from Leeds to Swansea a few times, after travelling with XC from Derby to Cardiff on one trip, my following 2 trips were Leeds to London Kings Cross, then London Paddington to Swansea, a far more pleasant journey.
I don't understand why a franchise model was chosen. Why would any train companies invest for the future if their franchise could be removed after 10 years? It's like asking someone who rents a house to repair the roof?
Punctuality on X Country services has always been problematic, even in BR days. It’s due to choke points along its routes. Birmingham New Street being a case in point. The length of trains ie capacity is down to the fact, they run frequent services over the core routes. Passengers are expected to stagger their journeys ie if a train is full catch the next. A 4 or 5 car train does not replace a 7 or 8 coach HST. The problem with that of course is advance purchase tickets are only valid on the train they are booked for. I’m lucky now I don’t have to use the franchise.
I think the cross country route is more suited to loco hauled trains than units
I used to use Bournemouth-Birmingham regularly and now use Nottingham-Birmingham and Derby-Leeds on a weekly basis. It's depressing to see the number of units undergoing maintenance at Central Rivers, the long distance services need to be 8/9 coaches and Nottingham-Cardiff need to be 4/5 coaches. I'm not sure all the WMR 170s are going to EMR so there should be scope to bolster the fleet.
All the Ex-WMR 170s are at EMR already sadly!
They are also sooooo expensive. I travel from Cardiff to Leeds quite often. A single bought a few days before the journey costs double to go GWR/XC via Bristol than it does to go TFW/TPE via Manchester. The Manchester route takes about 30 mins longer but that's neglegable on a 4-5 hour journey.
My only experience with XC is when visiting the NEC on a few Sundays,and I don't think I've ever gotten a seat ? Especially on the return journey! Nearly all were five car sets!
Arriva simply doesn't invest in vehicles on the road or the rail!
Maybe things will change now DB are no longer the owners?
I would rather travel by National Express than by Cross Country Trains between Bristol and Leeds. It might take longer, and you have an hour layover in Birmingham, but you always have a seat and somewhere to put your luggage , I got sick and tired of the overcrowding and getting off the train in Leeds was an absolute nightmare having to climb over people.
South Western Railway is just a bad, because XC has kind of not been encouraged to invest by the DFT. Meanwhile, SWR had multiple things they are doing badly at:
Their 701's are having an awful time of entering service, meaning 455's are pushing their service life and the 458's having a slow refit due to them being kept on for longer on the commuter routes.
They have not announced a replacement for the aging Class 158's/159's.
Their cancellation rate and strike rate is awful, so bad that SWR staff have held their own strikes, not just the staff that are striking because the union wants to.
Their trains are not cleaned properly.
Basically it's a typical bad FirstGroup operator.
One thing that isn't bad however is the overcrowding isn't bad, only the Class 159 diagrams if they are 3 coaches from Salisbury to London is the only bad one I remember, although even that is rare.
I remember someone telling me that the railways weren't privatised. Perhaps he was right because of the increased government bureaucracy.
I was delayed for over two hours on a cross-country train due to overcrowding and then a fire by the track outside of Gloucester. When claiming delay repay, I had to take the complaint to the rail ombudsman because my complaint was ignored. This process took over 60 days!! TFW and GWR are much better for owning their mistakes in my experience.
Could CrossCountry inherit redundant DMU trains to boost more extra capacity on the North-South route since they got rid of the Class 43 Mk3 HSTs.
And to use Class 220, Class 221 and Class 222 DEMUs that are to be replaced by new trains on Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railway.
Well the UK has a DMU shortage... Chiltern, GWR, XC, SR all want them! We need more DMUs really! It's not like XC are gonna go in for redundant class 150s soon... the 175s should be in service though!
Totally agree.
Excellent video - Cross Country is truly the worst train operator - and it's one which I alway try to avoid. You hit the nail on the head with stating the Virgin only bought 4 coach sets to replace 9 coach HST sets plus the Voyagers are a terrible design with lots of noise and vibration. Couple this with overcrowding - and your journey is always an unpleasant experience.
Thank you!
In January I was in a 3 car XC service from the Midlands to Edinburgh.Ridiculous.
there was a rumor before that XC would get the EMR 222s after EMR gets the 810s
love it as usual
Thanks for your support mate!
hopefully the Class 222 fleet will move over to Cross Country once they come off lease with East Midlands Railway.
Cross Country has under taken Avanti West Coasts Class 221 Super Voyagers on their services with them being replaced by class 805s i commented this at 11:45 and at 17:00 XC got the 221s
I’ve had some bizarre journeys on XC. The height of lunacy saw a guard threaten to throw a woman off as she’d stored her pram was stored in the wheelchair space. The woman said she’d gladly move it if anyone needs or and when her baby, who was asleep in her arms, woke up. The guard ranted and raved at her and said he get her arrested. What a plonker!
What I find utterly bizarre is how empty first class is. With eye watering fares, and little advantage booking in advance, it’s not surprising.
You pointed to the DfT's numerous failures many times in your video and yet your solution is to give them more power through renationalisation? That sounds like a great idea!
Well that's not the conclusion I came to. I suggested major reform is needed to the railways perhaps in the form of nationalisation. If nationalisation did happen major changes to the DfT would need to happen of course.
Wish that CrossCountry would replace East Midlands Railway Norwich-Nottingham/Liverpool Lime Street service and of course add more new services to & from Norwich to Birmingham New Street.
I'd say keep L'pool-Norwich EMR, but make it an EMR InterCity route
Totally agree.
If any part of a journey is electrified, bi mode trans should be used
This is why the Class 800s are Britain's best trains
I traveled with CX just last week, and yes I had to stand up for 2 hours between Sheffield and Birmingham, damn voyagers
XC inherited rail travel as rail expert,Sir Richard Branson, thought it should be.He replaced long loco hauled trains with 3 and 4 car Voyagers,yes I know it was actually 4 and 5 but as most people aren't traveling first class you might as well not count that carriage,the only thing Branson didn't shrink was his ego and profits!So you might say Arriva PLC inherited a pig in a poke.
4 coaches through Birmingham. There is no mickey left. I haven't gone up north using Cross Country for many years. It was bad under Virgin and hasn't improved.
11 coaches is more than 4.
How can you replace a 9-car HST with a 4-car Voyager?
Didn't they get GNER in the summer aswell that went via Bath spa and Westbury to Paignton think it was the 07.35
From Bristol temple meads
The longest service in Britain is Aberdeen to Penzance taking 13 hours with 40 stops.
Thanks for the video and research. Cross Country management is presiding over a crappy service. With such overcrowding what sort of organisation would agree to withdrawing the HSTs - probably the most comfortable trains in the fleet - with the rather lame reason that the power cars are out of date and then for the trains to be bought by a Mexican railway? The thing is that Cross Country management and the DfT has a monopoly and little accountability. They are making money, they are happy - the passengers can suffer why do anything about it? Would this have happened under British Rail? I agree about the bi-modes. Surly somebody could design a better train than the Hitachi class 800.
I always find CCs Voyagers have a really weird smell in the cabin as well
Thank you for this video, I cannot express how much I hate XC so much!! They were literally such a downgrade to Virgin. XC removed the onboard shops and excellent customer service provided by Virgin. I remember travelling with Virgin XC as a child and even on a short 15 minute journey a member of staff would always be present to give children a toy box containing books and colouring sets. In contrast you are lucky to get anything at all on XC onboard horrible tatty trains! I still have many of the Virgin books at my home and thanks to Virgin XC's excellent customer service, Virgin will always have a special place in my heart. Stripping Virgin of the XC franchise was one of the biggest mistakes ever made by the DFT.
You're lucky to see a staff member even in first class nowadays! I made a series on the Pendolino and it was incredible researching all the effort they went into to just get the customer service to the level they wanted! It's a shame I wasn't old enough to experience Virgin XC! Thanks for your comment 😆
@Vanmanyo Honestly, Virgin XC was one of the best franchises in the UK. Even though people have fond memories of GNER, I would always dread going on them as Virgin's service was that good! GNER always felt stuffy and old-fashioned by comparison.
I think you have hit the nail on the head there. Lack of investment and foresight from senior management.
It's crazy how the DFT decided to extend the contract with Arriva rather than to take control of it, like with that they did to Northern, TransPennine Express and LNER. Same can be said for Avanti West Coast.
I have to travel to my Grandma's funeral next week from Yorkshire to Newport. It is £30 cheaper each way, only 45 minutes longer and way more reliable to get on LNER to Kings Cross and then a GWR from Paddington than it is getting on XC and go via Bristol. It's frankly ridiculous.
Sorry for your loss Michael I hope the journey goes smoothly
@@Vanmanyo Thank you.
All because the DfT consistently ignore XC and never allowed them to have any kind of major investment, just because they don't have anything to do with the main cash cow of intercity travel that is London. They don't even allow them to have a new franchise agreement, which is what is required to allow them to have drastic improvements in capacity in the form of new longer trains, instead constantly renewing the old franchise that's been in place since 2007. XC have been blamed for something they have absolutely no say in, as they've been desperate for capacity for years, but barely anybody ever realises it's the DfT that won't let them.
To add more insult to injury, XC have actually been forced to scrap cheap advanced fares on many of their routes and cut out stops to reduce overcrowding, all because the DfT keep ignoring them (deliberately given they only ever renew the old franchise instead of allowing a new one) when it comes to extra capacity, instead preferring to take it away months before any replacement becomes available due to short-sighted cost savings over any ounce of practicality. By the time XC finally get some sort of improvement in the coming years (an extra 12 Voyagers from Avanti plus total refurbishment of their fleet), most of its market will have already defected to the car (especially while coach travel is still a niche market), and that's already the case now.
Meanwhile in Germany, their ICE has trains far superior (in every possible way) to what LNER and Avanti have on routes that are comparable to XC (providing a plethora of connections between multitude of cities without relying on Berlin). Yes, their Hamburg to Munich avoiding Berlin has 8-16 car electrics that can go past 125mph in service, while our Edinburgh to Plymouth avoiding London (comparable distance) is stuck with 4-5 car diesels taking 4 hours longer, 8-9 if you're very lucky AND there's staff available to operate both units.
I looked at the timetables and see that now it’s one morning service from Aberdeen-Penzance….
Only thing making me not fully hate Arriva cross country was decent livery.THATS ALL CHANGED!
Me and my partner travelled from Basingstoke to Doncaster and back on cross country and it was a 5 car and on very filthy condition toilet over flooding urine was running over the carpet the smell was awful
overcrowing on the 170 from stanstead to biringham new st
Yep. What they could do is use Class 220 or Class 221 Voyagers or inherit the Class 222 Meridians from EMR to be used on Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street.
CrossCountry is a national embarrassment. Loads of tourists join from stations like Cambridge to go to Stansted, and I feel sorry they didn’t wait 10 minutes to get the Greater Anglia train instead since those are from this century, not scandalously filthy, and aren’t uncomfortable or overcrowded.
Retiring the HSTs was definitely not the right decision stretching their fleet almost bare.. Trains from Cornwall to Scotland and Bournemouth to the North are often 4-5 cars which is a yikes. The service idea is also bad, frequent trains with less coaches in the idea they could still move the same amount of passengers. This was of course wrong and more passengers started travelling with no boost to capacity. Add the retirement of the HSTs and you have an operator with barely any capacity leading to overcrowing to shit. The outdated interiors especially the voyagers which are STILL remaining in their original Virgin condition is ridiculous.
XC joint top with TPE but then they all offer a $hite "service".....all part of destroying the railway, as they are doing with the Police, Justice system, NHS, Education etc. This biggest problem though is that people do not understand why it is all happening.
The extra 221s should be used to strengthen existing services, not run new ones
They could really benefit from buying a new class 800 fleet.
Great video. Virgin were over optimistic and ill advised with “Operation Princess” in 2003, leaving a legacy fleet of trains to short for their intended purpose…the Voyager 🫣 I can remember diesel hauled XC services under BR in the 1980’s being at least ten coaches long. Fast forward 40 years and you have a train a roughly third of a size running between Edinburgh and Plymouth while the population of this country has increased a great deal since the 1980’s…it just does not add up. XC can take 12 extra Avanti 221’s, but this won’t solve the overcrowding completely 🤔 losing the HST’s was a travesty for capacity, but thats a different story. Which ever way you look at it, Voyagers are not fit for purpose for a vast network like XC. The DFT and Arriva need to invest in a fleet of 9 or 10 car bi-mode trains to utilise the 25KV between New Street & Manchester and between Glasgow/Edinburgh & Wakefield . A 9 car IET or something similar could provide 1 and three quarter coaches of 1st class (including a small cafe bar) and 7 coaches of standard class accommodation which by GWR AT300’s provides around 580 standard class seats. Further electrification between Birmingham/Wakefield and Doncaster would be a great idea plus Birmingham to Bristol too, utilising the 25KV option more, but alas, this all requires “Money”, so don’t expect any of these improvements anytime soon 🤔
I dont have a problem going form Derby but on returns from York Leeds Birmingham or even Bristol they are either cancelled or full to the brim one time it was a 8 coach from Bristol i thought it was like that all the way NO! it wasnt they tool the second one out of service at Birmingham so about 100 people came scrambling out to board the other 4 coach one at the front while people from Birmingham was also boarding it was the worst thing ive ever seen and i work on the railway for EMR.
They are so expensive and they are ALWAYS apologising for being overcrowded. 4 carriages ( well 3 if you don’t count 1st class ) is unacceptable!
Whenever I travel to the south west from Yorkshire I go via London because Crosscountry are so bad.
Nothing can be as bad as Northern, cancelled trains and lack of staff and catering services
Passionate class 220 voyager hater here
I live in the west midlands (county) and dread every time XC is the only option
Was travelling to nottingham from birmingham one time and the fuckers sent a *two carriage regional* on an intercity route!