THE '600m fleet of 48 tilting trains is being recalled after hi-tech toilets failed.
Passengers complained about blockages on the Pendolino models after a computer-controlled sensor failed to indicate the toilets needed to be emptied. Some trains were reported to have only one working toilet.
Virgin Trains has cancelled its daily 05.50 and 18.25 trains between Manchester and London until further notice. The fleet will be sent in stages to the manufacturer Alstom for work on the toilets and faulty air conditioning which stopped working when temperatures got too high.
Virgin is also gradually adding extra carriages to all the trains so that each has at least nine, following complaints about a shortage of standard class seats.
The company is trying to complete the modification work before the high profile launch of the full tilting train service on the West Coast Main Line and the new winter timetable next month. A total fleet of 53 Pendolinos is due to be launched next month.
Modifications
A spokesman for Virgin Trains said: "A lot of the work is happening overnight. There is a list of probably many hundred modifications, some are engineering and some cosmetic.
"Experience has shown us that we needed to look at some issues and Alstom is addressing those. The problem with the toilet sensors is not all physical work. Some of it is updating computer software."
Over half of the fleet should have nine carriages in time for the new timetable on September 27 and the rest by November. For those usually taking the cancelled 05.50 from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston, the next service to London Euston from Manchester, Wilmslow and Stafford leaves Manchester at 06.37 and the next from Crewe, Tamworth and Rugby leaves Crewe at 06.55. For those using the 18.25 from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, the next service to Manchester leaves London Euston at 18.55, and the next service for Wilmslow is at 18.30 with a change at Crewe. Virgin said the change would remain for the "foreseeable future" but will be reviewed weekly.
"We would apologise for any inconvenience. We want to make sure we have top class trains for September with all the latest modifications."
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When I was on a Pendolino train to London, the disable toilet door kept opening automatically when it was in use! This is in view of the whole train!
However, they are pretty advanced trains, and problems will occur. Sadly these will only become apparent once they're in proper use. I don't think people should slate Virgin for the problems, they're expected. At least they're trying to bring their fleet into the 21st century.
This problem is not just on the Pendolino's. As a regular traveller on Virgin's cross-country route to Coventry I can say that the toilets on the Voyager class trains are limited and regularly not working.
This combined with the fact that the trains are not big enough to cope with the number of people wishing to travel makes for a very uncomfortable journey.
I can honestly say that there were not these problems on the old 125 trains.
Virgin should be commended for investing in new rolling stock, however who ever specifies the size of the trains and the number of toilets should be sacked.
Virgin may be getting new trains but their attention to detail is as bad as ever:
-they should marked the toilets as being out of order, not leave people queing enlessley outside the ones that don't work.
-they should start putting seat reservations out again. Not doing so is just laziness on Virgin's part and causes a scrum at Euston when the train is announced
But why do Virgin have to cancel these services just because their new trains are broken? Why don't they temporarily re-hire some of the old trains they recently gave up and which are just sitting around in storage waiting for something to do? Maybe they don't people to be reminded about the comfier seats, seats next to windows, lots of carriages and quiet air conditioning the customers / passengers used to enjoy?
The trouble with Virgin's new trains is that they've incorporated far too many gimmicks, which are unreliable, when upgrading the existing trains would make more sense and cost much less (as was done successfully on GNER). Yes the new trains look the part,and they're all of 15mph faster, but although they're big on style they are lacking in substance. Is it any wonder the railways are costing a fortune in real terms to subsidise compared to 10 years ago ? Personally I'd prefer a punctual service (as provided by existing trains) than be given the chance to buy a cd from the buffet car, sorry 'the shop'.
I used to rate Richard Branson, but as a railwayman I've lost all respect for the guy. Too image-conscious and unconcerned about actual service. BR was slagged off to the hilt, but look how many people now mourn its passing & want it back.