If I'm honest I don't really like this new livery, I liked the old East Coast one as it was nice and simple, and I think the trains suited it. This one looks a bit dated if I'm honest, and I don't think the train suits it that well. It might grow on me, however I think that it'll look better on the new trains whenever they are produced. 

It is ok, doubt they would want to have the same livery on both the EC and WC MLs though. Maybe a reason why the liveries are different?

(02 Mar 2015, 9:06 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Am I the only one who thinks the Virgin EC Twitter icon looks really smart? Along with a lot of red on the page itself too?

I think it looks great.

You will be on first name terms with the team shortly.....

(02 Mar 2015, 10:12 pm)citaro5284 wrote You will be on first name terms with the team shortly.....

citaro5284, stop stalking my Twitter!

(02 Mar 2015, 10:13 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote citaro5284, stop stalking my Twitter!

haha....you will be asking if they take sugar in their hot drinks next!

Its just appearing on mine...no stalking required

(02 Mar 2015, 10:15 pm)citaro5284 wrote haha....you will be asking if they take sugar in their hot drinks next!

Its just appearing on mine...no stalking required

Oh citaro...you never fail to amuse me!

Crap.

In hindsight...can't help but feel 91124 looks like a Coca-Cola bottle.

No, in all honesty I think the livery is alright, but I do think the old EC silver and purple stripe livery was very recognisable around the country - no doubt by 2018 when these new trains are introduced, we'll see the livery as an icon.

Not being funny, but I couldn't give a rats chuff what colour the train is, who said this or who said that.

As long as its warm, comfortable, reliable and gets me from A-B on time.

Then to get into the nitty gritty, it is re-nationalised and someone sorts out the Nectar shambles

(02 Mar 2015, 10:59 pm)Andreos1 wrote Not being funny, but I couldn't give a rats chuff what colour the train is, who said this or who said that.

As long as its warm, comfortable, reliable and gets me from A-B on time.

Then to get into the nitty gritty, it is re-nationalised and someone sorts out the Nectar shambles

...and, it's not CrossCountry!

(02 Mar 2015, 10:16 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Oh citaro...you never fail to amuse me!

Crap.

I can see all of your tweets to Virgin Trains EC too... 

(03 Mar 2015, 8:55 am)Tommy_1581 wrote I can see all of your tweets to Virgin Trains EC too... 

It's funny that Marcus gets replies to his conversations, but I still haven't got confirmation that they've kept some goodies aside for me...

... It begs the question, what's the connection between VTEC and Marcus, to get all of these replies?  

(02 Mar 2015, 11:01 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote ...and, it's not CrossCountry!

I was on them last week when travelling to/from the conference (made sure I booked through EC for points) and it wasn't that bad.
Maybe adaptations have been made to the Voyagers, cos the smells weren't noticeable either.

Getting back to the whole EC Rewards versus Nectar thing, managed to make the bookings I needed to prior to Sundays change.
The first lot of tickets arrived through the letter box today and came in a new VTEC 'pouch'.
The points for travel have already been added to my account, so once the pre-booked tickets have been used, freebies will be booked and milked - then an alternative source of travel or booking site investigated.
Certainly not going to bother with VTEC/Nectar for my points.
If I spend a couple of hundred pound on tickets, I want more than a Sainsburys sandwich as recognition of my custom.

91124 is on:
1S05, 1E14, 1D25 and 1A52.

(03 Mar 2015, 9:03 am)Tommy_1581 wrote It's funny that Marcus gets replies to his conversations, but I still haven't got confirmation that they've kept some goodies aside for me...

... It begs the question, what's the connection between VTEC and Marcus, to get all of these replies?  

Just face it Tommy, you aren't going to get any merchandise. Hundreds of people have asked and if they just say yes to you then the others are going to complain. I have already asked because I have a website and they said no.

They see merchandise as a waste of money.... And let's face it, why would they spend money on thousands of pens etc when they could be spending money on improving the trains.

(03 Mar 2015, 4:23 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Just face it Tommy, you aren't going to get any merchandise. Hundreds of people have asked and if they just say yes to you then the others are going to complain. I have already asked because I have a website and they said no.

They see merchandise as a waste of money.... And let's face it, why would they spend money on thousands of pens etc when they could be spending money on improving the trains.

Possibly the reason I was getting replies to my friendly conversation, was because I was not badgering them for stuff.

(03 Mar 2015, 4:25 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Possibly the reason I was getting replies to my friendly conversation, was because I was not badgering them for stuff.

Exactly! At the end of the day, if one train enthusiast brags to others about some VTEC merchandise he has, then they are going to want some, so on so on.... That's generally why they don't give it away. Obviously they have Pens etc but they don't give them away for many reasons. One of them being security, people like to walk around pretending they are employees.

(03 Mar 2015, 4:31 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Exactly! At the end of the day, if one train enthusiast brags to others about some VTEC merchandise he has, then they are going to want some, so on so on.... That's generally why they don't give it away. Obviously they have Pens etc but they don't give them away for many reasons. One of them being security, people like to walk around pretending they are employees.

What's the point giving free stuff away anyway? I can't exactly go around with my East Coast bag or EC pen pretending to be staff?


The only stuff that they're not allowed to give away are:

• Lanyards, a recent "incident" involving either an enthusiast or employee of EC/VTEC on eBay, resulting in the item being removed. The last time I checked it was £30+.
  
• Uniform, EC have only gave one set away for special reasons. Previous companies i.e. East Coast (not currently allowed until VTEC uniforms are received and cleared to wear), NXEC and GNER, staff are allowed to sell them.
  
• Documents, staff only documents, i.e. diversions, changes to trains etc. 
  

(02 Mar 2015, 5:54 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/emdjt42/16...in/people/ - photo by emdjt42

I think it looks rather smart.

Looks very smart, any ideas what time this will be in Newcastle tomorrow as I wouldnt mind a Photo.

(03 Mar 2015, 4:48 pm)Malarkey wrote Looks very smart, any ideas what time this will be in Newcastle tomorrow as I wouldnt mind a Photo.

I'll ask for you.

(03 Mar 2015, 4:48 pm)Malarkey wrote Looks very smart, any ideas what time this will be in Newcastle tomorrow as I wouldnt mind a Photo.

Ask @Virgin_TrainsEC tomorrow for the workings.

(03 Mar 2015, 4:49 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I'll ask for you.

Ask in the morning.

(03 Mar 2015, 4:49 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I'll ask for you.

My response was to ask again in the morning.

91105 has been branded: https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/126537655@...in/people/

Worked 1Y32 with Sir Richard Branson on board all the way to King's Cross.

(03 Mar 2015, 4:54 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Ask in the morning.

(03 Mar 2015, 4:55 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote My response was to ask again in the morning.

At my house atm the using the Laptop, but as I am stopping at my Dads in Low Fell while he is on Holiday I wont have access to it, hence why I asked, if you could do me a favour and ask what times the Newly Repainted ones are due in Central Station tomorrow morning it would be much appreciated, then post them on this thread or send them to me via PM then that would be great.

(03 Mar 2015, 5:52 pm)Malarkey wrote At my house atm the using the Laptop, but as I am stopping at my Dads in Low Fell while he is on Holiday I wont have access to it, hence why I asked, if you could do me a favour and ask what times the Newly Repainted ones are due in Central Station tomorrow morning it would be much appreciated, then post them on this thread or send them to me via PM then that would be great.

Sure. Remind me at the end of the night.

(03 Mar 2015, 5:54 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Sure. Remind me at the end of the night.

Ask VTEC for 103, 105 and 124. Should be all in the current brand ATM.

(03 Mar 2015, 5:38 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote 91105 has been branded: https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/126537655@...in/people/

Worked 1Y32 with Sir Richard Branson on board all the way to King's Cross.

Updated the livery lists accordingly.

Thanks for the info

(03 Mar 2015, 6:00 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Updated the livery lists accordingly.

Thanks for the info

No problem.

(03 Mar 2015, 5:54 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Sure. Remind me at the end of the night.

Will do.

(03 Mar 2015, 5:54 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Sure. Remind me at the end of the night.

Just to remind you Marcus.