Avanti website

[mde]

Following on from the previous thread, the Avanti website has now launched: https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk

First impressions? It's nearly the same as the Virgin site (different UI, of course); but, it does seem to have some useful accessibility features which might be helpful to folks with different access needs (e.g. the built in screen reader, colour changer, ruler and such).

I'm sure there's probably some Easter eggs for us to find!

 

[DMU180]

It's the same as SWR, the logo that comes up in the browser tab is the SWR logo.

 

[mde]

It's the same as SWR, the logo that comes up in the browser tab is the SWR logo.

Can't say I had noticed that (I use Safari which doesn't display the icons in the tabs); however, they are both powered by Sitecore (as was Virgin), so there's probably a fair amount of "portability", much like the Abellio TOCs who all use a similar framework.

 

[Mountain Man]

They may as well make it as easy as possible for themselves. No point being too clever on day 1.

 

[C J Snarzell]

It's definately a rather attractive site.

The careers page doesn't go live until Tuesday (10th) so I'll be checking it for any future vacancies coming up.

The Virgin site is still online but I've noticed a couple of the sections have been removed already and I reckon the whole site will probably come down completely in the coming days.

I presume the Twitter and Facebook accounts for Virgin will just be left where they are but no longer updated.

CJ

 

[omnicity4659]

It's definately a rather attractive site.

The careers page doesn't go live until Tuesday (10th) so I'll be checking it for any future vacancies coming up.

The Virgin site is still online but I've noticed a couple of the sections have been removed already and I reckon the whole site will probably come down completely in the coming days.

I presume the Twitter and Facebook accounts for Virgin will just be left where they are but no longer updated.

CJ

Careers page is still up, just been rebranded. Look in your search history as it's not letting me link directly.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Can you still select and change your seats on the Avanti site like you can on Virgin and LNER?

Moderator note: Please discuss the removal of the seat selector at : https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/why-has-avanti-west-coast-got-rid-of-the-seat-selector.196410/

 

[blue87]

Anyone else having trouble accessing the Avanti Website at present, incredibly slow to load or not loading at all for me.

 

[jon0844]

Site not working for me either right now.

 

[ld0595]

Anyone else having trouble accessing the Avanti Website at present, incredibly slow to load or not loading at all for me.

It's not just you. I can't get it to load either.

 

[Trackman]

Anyone else having trouble accessing the Avanti Website at present, incredibly slow to load or not loading at all for me.

Yes, same here.

 

[Kendalian]

Not loading for me either at the moment on laptop. Wouldn't load on Iphone either an hour ago.

Hope it's not a sign of things to come

 

[Welshman]

Can you still select and change your seats on the Avanti site like you can on Virgin and LNER?

Unfortunately they do not seem to have retained that facility.
A great pity as I found it very useful on the old Virgin site.
And along with others above, I'm also having difficulty in loading the new site.

 

[Howardh]

Anyone else having trouble accessing the Avanti Website at present, incredibly slow to load or not loading at all for me.

Not loading at all (great start...) however when I went to national train enquiries and put in a journey it did direct me to Avanti's payment page.

 

[lfc84]

Unfortunately they do not seem to have retained that facility.
A great pity as I found it very useful on the old Virgin site.
And along with others above, I'm also having difficulty in loading the new site.

Makes a split ticket a tiny bit more inconvenient

 

[Bletchleyite]

Twitter saying nothing.
App not on Play Store.
Website down.

Not a great First (f) start I fear.

 

[Hadders]

It's loading but very slow.

One bit of good news in the Passenger Charter on Delay Repay:

https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/about-us/policies-and-procedures/passenger-charter

If you have a combination of tickets for your journey, we will compensate you for your whole journey

 

[ScottGallagher]

Unfortunately they do not seem to have retained that facility.
A great pity as I found it very useful on the old Virgin site.
And along with others above, I'm also having difficulty in loading the new site.

Why wouldn't it be retained, after all the same management are in place. Not a good move at all.

 

[Energy]

First impressions?

Impressions of First? Not very good operator
First impressions of the website? Really slow

 

[yorkie]

Impressions of First? Not very good operator
First impressions of the website? Really slow

Can we keep this thread on topic for the Avanti website please; any impressions of Avanti as a train operator can go in a different thread please, thanks

Can you still select and change your seats on the Avanti site like you can on Virgin and LNER?

There is no seat selector on the Avanti site.

Makes a split ticket a tiny bit more inconvenient

Trainsplit has a seat selector now.

I can't see Avanti implementing a seat selector on their website willingly; FirstGroup isn't a fan of seat selectors. That said, if enough people moan at them, they may relent!

Edit: someone has made a dedicated thread for this matter at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/why-has-avanti-west-coast-got-rid-of-the-seat-selector.196410/

 

[Agent_Squash]

There’s been no memes posted by the WC Twitter Team in 12 hours. It’s a massive change this new franchise!

 

[RealTrains07]

Its always interesting how TOCs approach what they do with social media and websites of the previous operator.

Avanti website seems to be down for me at the moment? Anyone else struggling to get on the website?

 

[Energy]

Avanti website seems to be down for me at the moment? Anyone else struggling to get on the website?

It works. Just incredibly slow.

 

[JamesT]

It works. Just incredibly slow.

I expect everyone is hammering the site being the first day and it will settle down later. Or if the demand remains sustained they’ll beef up the web servers.

 

[Trackman]

just tried loading it again, gives South Western Railways as the title.
Not a good start this!

 

[radamfi]

Has the 20% off Advance fares employee perk stopped now?

 

[Howardh]

Frankly it's dreadful; been trying to get a fare for January 15th and can't even get it to accept "Manchester" or "London Euston".

Tell you what, I bet there's some bloke somewhere laughing his head off this morning!!

 

[Mathew S]

There’s been no memes posted by the WC Twitter Team in 12 hours. It’s a massive change this new franchise!

That was very much part of the Virgin 'tone of voice' though wasn't it. Part of the fine line Avanti are trying to walk of saying, "nothing's changing, we're still the same people doing the same things," at the same time as, "everything's changing for the better."

 

[Howardh]

At least they replied to my twitter enquiry that it wouldn't accept "Manchester" within a minute - their response..."try later". Maybe after I've booked a flight instead?

 

[CentralTrainer]

You would have thought they’d have tested key things - such as Website stress testing & getting any apps easily retrievable prior to launch day.

Plus the withdrawal of certain fares and the seat selector do not bode well when trying to present a facade of professionalism...