The Ticket Collector

Arriva wins Cross Country - The in depth report.

Ok further to the previous post about arriva winning the new Cross Country Franchise here is what they plan to do.

Arriva has informed us that they plan to remove the on board shop and one toilet from each train set to provide extra seats and luggage space for passengers.

Catering provided to customers at their seats, including hot meals in first class on weekdays

You think you can get a trolley through a packed train during peak times? Haha

A new web-based ticketing system will be introduced from December 2009 which will allow customers to reserve seats up to 10 minutes before their train leaves, print tickets at home, receive and display tickets on mobile phones and receive customised journey information packs. The franchise will also accept smartcard tickets issued by other train companies;

Error the webpage cannot be displayed, due to another cockup by your train operator Arriva.

Wi-Fi access, which will be free in first class;

Yipeee, free internet on a train. Oh but wait dont GNER have this already and wait doesnt it only allow downloads at some pathetic speed of around 3Kbps.

Delay/Repay compensation arrangements.
50% of the price paid for a single-leg journey delayed by between 30 and 59 minutes;
100% of the price paid for a single-leg journey delayed by between 60 and 119 minutes; and
100% of the price paid for a return journey delayed by more than 119 minutes.

But you have to go to the shop to get proof you were on a delayed train, but oh no wheres the shop gone. Yep Arriva have done away with the shop to give you an extra seat. Ah but yes theres still the trolley, but nooo you cant find it - Techical Problems have foreced it off the train apparently. And the staff? All stuck at Birmingham New Street because they lost the train your on.

This is going to be one major cock up. Oh and remember Arriva is your friendly “lets go on strike every weekend” company. You think First Group are bad? Just wait till you see Arriva. Do the words Arriva Trains Wales ring fear into you? If not they should.

The next train to depart for somewhere up north is this lovely classic class 142 pacer, its a railbus. Imagine this on your 4 hour journey. It could well happen with Arriva.