People can say what they like, but it was way, way better back then. Staff even had uniforms they wore correctly and looked wonderful for it. There were standards.
Couldn't agree more - I know times have moved on and I will sound like a right old fart to many but I remember the "formation" of InterCity by BR in the 80;s and travelled extensively as a student in the early 90's on InterCity - I was on an LNER train the other day and it suddenly struck me how honestly scruffy the crew looked. The 90's a senior conductor would enter the carriage dressed in a suit looking every bit proud and professional of InterCity by and large - I know it;s a bygone age of over 30 years but how standards have slipped
@@garrybuick8524 It is absolutely tragic how far things have fallen, and for higher prices even in relative terms. My late nan used to visit and on the West Coast the trains had table cloths, lamps, curtains, plush seats, soft-lighting ambience, carpets up tot he window line, reclining seats that actually reclined properly with lots of space and all aligned with windows! The staff as you say, did look proud and the line in the evening trains of "Will you be dining, madam?" It was wonderful. There was something about the plush interior vs the industrial exterior of the world outside along railways then, too. That of course is long gone now over the last 20 years in particular. Today, they can't wear a suit properly, 'inclusivity' matters more than standards and you feel like being served is an inconvenience! There is no first class anymore. But there is first class prices. When you don't provide a proper first class but charge for it, of course patronage drops, and it has. I am sure they are just trying to make every train standard class only. I go by car today even though it takes longer. Also, in first class, as much as I may sound like a snob here, people used to dress like they had arrived in life at least. Today, you see upgrades and cheap options taken advantage of with people in hoodies and caps. I resent it. I also don't trust them and it is very uncomfortable seeing people that look like they should be on a street corner (and sounding like it too) in your carriage. The car makes me feel happier today despite the time penalty. One final thing... apart from the West Coast, trains were faster! Timetables were better than today and in absolute terms the drivers could reach 135 and even 140mph - they knew their trains and routes even though 125mph was the official top. Today, they barely touch 123mph and are timetables slower than that which is the issue. Numerous crew changes en route so you lose your attendant sometimes twice on a journey! It is ridiculous. But that's me, just old-fashioned.
@@mitchellhurd9300 It's not the Voyagers themselves, they still have the 2002 Virgin Trains interior since 2007 when Arriva acquired the Cross Country routes from Virgin Rail Group.
Seems like a great service. Most of my experience on Cross Country trains has been since Deutsche Bahn Arriva took over, and let's just say the Germany National Railway's own operation isn't delivering anywhere like a good service on their overcrowded train. The sooner we get Britain Rail back, the better
What the hell happened to it? Crosscountry actually looked pretty great before privatisation. They are so overcrowded and cramped with old worn out trains now!
@@DarrenP_777 I'll have to go from memory here as it was FOUR MONTHS AGO. But I think it was a video about Cross Country and IN THAT VIDEO it included 91s- which weren't in XC's fleet. Does that help? If not then- sorry, but I can't help you. Now there's a video about vacuum cleaners but it only features cars and is sponsored by Ford. HTH.
@@derektaylor2941 Ahh, you did reply again TWO MONTHS AGO to be fair asking the same question. It must have been the bit where there were Class 91's in the video and it was clearly explained how XC services link and complement services out of London. Maybe you didn't even watch the video FOUR MONTHS AGO anyway?
Bring back fully nationise railways not fucking gbr which will still have private companies bid for contracts and there will still put profits before passengers
People can say what they like, but it was way, way better back then. Staff even had uniforms they wore correctly and looked wonderful for it. There were standards.
Couldn't agree more - I know times have moved on and I will sound like a right old fart to many but I remember the "formation" of InterCity by BR in the 80;s and travelled extensively as a student in the early 90's on InterCity - I was on an LNER train the other day and it suddenly struck me how honestly scruffy the crew looked. The 90's a senior conductor would enter the carriage dressed in a suit looking every bit proud and professional of InterCity by and large - I know it;s a bygone age of over 30 years but how standards have slipped
@@garrybuick8524 It is absolutely tragic how far things have fallen, and for higher prices even in relative terms. My late nan used to visit and on the West Coast the trains had table cloths, lamps, curtains, plush seats, soft-lighting ambience, carpets up tot he window line, reclining seats that actually reclined properly with lots of space and all aligned with windows! The staff as you say, did look proud and the line in the evening trains of "Will you be dining, madam?" It was wonderful. There was something about the plush interior vs the industrial exterior of the world outside along railways then, too. That of course is long gone now over the last 20 years in particular. Today, they can't wear a suit properly, 'inclusivity' matters more than standards and you feel like being served is an inconvenience! There is no first class anymore. But there is first class prices. When you don't provide a proper first class but charge for it, of course patronage drops, and it has. I am sure they are just trying to make every train standard class only. I go by car today even though it takes longer. Also, in first class, as much as I may sound like a snob here, people used to dress like they had arrived in life at least. Today, you see upgrades and cheap options taken advantage of with people in hoodies and caps. I resent it. I also don't trust them and it is very uncomfortable seeing people that look like they should be on a street corner (and sounding like it too) in your carriage. The car makes me feel happier today despite the time penalty. One final thing... apart from the West Coast, trains were faster! Timetables were better than today and in absolute terms the drivers could reach 135 and even 140mph - they knew their trains and routes even though 125mph was the official top. Today, they barely touch 123mph and are timetables slower than that which is the issue. Numerous crew changes en route so you lose your attendant sometimes twice on a journey! It is ridiculous. But that's me, just old-fashioned.
❤ absolutely ❤
That's how CrossCountry services should be!
Agreed!! What happened eh??
@@danielanderson2331 4 and 5-car Voyagers sadly. 7 or 8 coaches and some 5-car sets instead of 4 then we'd likely appreciate them more.
@@mitchellhurd9300 It's not the Voyagers themselves, they still have the 2002 Virgin Trains interior since 2007 when Arriva acquired the Cross Country routes from Virgin Rail Group.
The Inter-City Swallow livery was very good.
I miss these trains and days 😢
Seems like a great service. Most of my experience on Cross Country trains has been since Deutsche Bahn Arriva took over, and let's just say the Germany National Railway's own operation isn't delivering anywhere like a good service on their overcrowded train.
The sooner we get Britain Rail back, the better
This brings back some real nostalgia thank you for sharing
Welcome to CrossCountry! Coming next: er, four-car DMUs ... 🤔
Oooh... It's tiltin... Not anymore
Or is it?
BR and InterCity gave Hull and East Yorkshire ( population 750,000) a grant total of one train a day….it took a private company to rectify this.
It was public policy. It's because people in the rest of the country didn't want people from Hull visiting.
What the hell happened to it? Crosscountry actually looked pretty great before privatisation. They are so overcrowded and cramped with old worn out trains now!
Passenger numbers went through the roof is what happened
I don't think they will show you a cramped service in a promotional video.
Corporate greed
Interesting view of their stock. I don't recall when XC had 91s and 86 is their fleet.
86s were a mainstay of XC services north west of Birmingham to Scotland until Voyagers took over.
@@eight-two fair point. I was involved before they started all this sectorisation b****x. But the 91s?
@@derektaylor2941 Where does it say in the video that the 91's are in the fleet?
@@DarrenP_777 I'll have to go from memory here as it was FOUR MONTHS AGO. But I think it was a video about Cross Country and IN THAT VIDEO it included 91s- which weren't in XC's fleet.
Does that help? If not then- sorry, but I can't help you. Now there's a video about vacuum cleaners but it only features cars and is sponsored by Ford. HTH.
@@derektaylor2941 Ahh, you did reply again TWO MONTHS AGO to be fair asking the same question. It must have been the bit where there were Class 91's in the video and it was clearly explained how XC services link and complement services out of London. Maybe you didn't even watch the video FOUR MONTHS AGO anyway?
This 1st Stage of Privatisation Preparment is good but not Privatisation we should have stopped in 1993.
Bruh that was sectorisation lol.
you're back...
1982-2023
This service is never on time. Shockingly bad!! This is clearly from a different era though!!
Bring back fully nationise railways not fucking gbr which will still have private companies bid for contracts and there will still put profits before passengers
When will British rail come back, uh… 2030?
Oh yes, these non-existent vast profits that people talk about but don’t exist.