Re: XPT's Reduced

["Dave Proctor" <daproc@spambait.ozemail.com.au>]

(cross-post added)

"Auz Viz" <ifuknowme@cwcom.net> wrote in message
9b1e0g$ute$1@bugstomper.ihug.com.au">news:9b1e0g$ute$1@bugstomper.ihug.com.au...
> Snip
> "James C." <james_ccj@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
> 3ad42b26$0$25468$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au">news:3ad42b26$0$25468$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
> >
> > > Why not privatise Countrylink to a operator with good repution (such
as
> West
> > Coast rail or QR)? and government pay a subsidy to private operator?
> >
> > Cheers
> > James
> >
> Maybe Mr Branson would like to paint them red and run them with
connections
> to his nice planes.  He has made a fair job of attending to customer
service
> in the UK rail operations which I am told he expects to be bigger than the
> airline.

Bwahahahaaaaaa - that is the funniest thing I have heard in a long time.
Virgin rail services in the UK are regarded as some of the WORST of the
privatised services.

> His new trains for UK Cross Country services have everything that the
plane
> does, seat back video etc.

They are still to be introduced, AND the reported journey time decreases
depend on track upgrades, which seem to be highly problematical.

> Also the curled BR sandwich went out years ago, complementary drinks
> (alcholic and non) and sandwiches / cakes served to your seat in First
Class
> and a decent range of sandwiches, hot snacks drinks etc. in the buffet
cars
> for Standard (second) Class customers.

Funny, I got all of that when I travelled on GNER and FGW a few months ago
(well, around 11/99).

Dave