Virgin Timewarp
I said in a previous post somewhere along the lines I would explain the Virgin Timewarp. First off I'll state that Virgin Trains are under pressure to deliver x million passenger miles for travel to its customers each year with the minimum of funding from HM Government and do a brilliant job with it. And now I can remove my tongue from my cheek I can get on with the puzzle that is known as "The Virgin Timewarp".
Sing along now, to the tune of the original "Timewarp" from the "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
"It's just a train that's on timeAnd that's it. A train that's on time, but isn't. That's nothing new, so this is how the Virgin Timewarp differs.
With a 20 minute wa-a-a-a-a-ait"
From Edinburgh Waverley on a weekday evening there are two trains leaving close together both heading for Birmingham New Street. One at 16:52 and the other at 17:05. The first heading down the West Coast Mainline, the other taking the Cross Country route (heading down the East Coast Mainline to York, then heading inland). Recently the XC service was changed to go to Bristol Temple Meads, the rumour being too many people were getting the wrong train, and instead of going to Carlisle they found themselves in Newcastle. Muppets.
If for any reason the set that forms the 16:52 service is unavailable, Virgin reallocate the set to be used for the 17:05. Sometimes we never know this has happened. Sometimes I think they just don't have a set at all and the "Timewarp" comes into effect.
Carlisle's station clock:
A different timezoneOur intrepid train traveller arrives in plenty of time for the 17:05 XC departure only to find the train is not there. It usually is, as Edinburgh is the starting point. Alarm bells ring. Which train are we waiting for? And there it is, on the departures board, "17:05 Bristol TM - On Time, platform 7". On arrivals, the 17:13 arrival from Southampton due in on time is the next train at platofrm 7. Hmm, train timetabled to arrive at 13 minutes past, on time, due to turn round and form a 5 minutes past service, on time? Where have those 8 minutes gone? Not to mention the time it takes to empty the train completely and refill it, adding valuable minutes.
Those 8 minutes form the "Virgin Timewarp".
