Will the new Cross Country franchise increase overcrowding?

Question

Those of you who travel on Virgin Cross Country will have noticed that the Voyager fleet of 4 and 5 coach trains doesn't have the required capacity leading to overcrowding. The Department of Transport is now changing the Cross Country network, and as part of that 20 5 Coach tilting Voyagers are being transfered to the West Coach franchisee, with the remainder loosing the 5th coach in order to increase the newly transfered West Coast fleet up to 6 coaches. This means the Cross Country network will be run using 4 coach units and assorted 2 and 3 coach regional trains sent from Central. This will happen whoever wins, be it First, Virgin or anyone else - Good idea DfT!

Answer 1

Except that's not the full story. In addition to the transfer of those Voyagers to West Coast, the Manchester to Scotland services will transfer to TransPennine in 2007, and Birmingham to Scotland services will transfer to West Coast in 2008, leaving CrossCountry with Plymouth - Edinburgh, Reading - Newcastle, Bristol - Manchester, Bournemouth - Manchester, Nottingham - Cardiff and Stansted/Leicester - Birmingham.

Answer 2

Regarding Franchise, its just another name to con people

Railways in state hands was much better.

Does the Govt ever think about the public ?

Answer 3

Look if you want additional coaches you should have sent John Prescott a pie or two like ole "Ricky" the virgin king does, get my drift. Overcrowding, not on the trains, there is no room anyway so folk will have to go by road

Answer 4

I'm convinced that whoever gets the franchise, they will overcrowd, its in their nature, they make more money that way, and the government just sit on their b**s, and do absolutely nothing but rabbit rabbit rabbit about it, its time something was done, you pay full fare for standing up, its daylight robbery.