Trains - a rant
Discussion
[rant]
Booked up for Mrs Get to travel from Cumbria to London today. Because the weather has been *a little dodgy* up here we phoned Virgin Trains last night and National Rail Enquiries this morning to check that the service was running. No problems we were told.
So we did the 70 mile round trip to Penrith station... to be greeted by a blackboard stating that the London service was cancelled, and unless the journey was absolutely necessary, don't even think about getting on a train.
Now, this trip has to be done in the next few days, and for reasons too complicated to relay it has to be done by train...
Got back and phoned National Rail Enquiries who STILL didn't seem to know there was a problem and asked if there was any way of phoning Penrith station tomorrow morning, who would at least know if the train was running. Answer : No.
So we have to do the 70 mile round trip tomorrow or Wednesday... TO READ THE BLACKBOARD to get latest train information.
The old British Rail was pants, but at least they ran the track, the stations, the trains and the staff - thus held the responsibility and had some clue as to what was going on.
Personally, I'm ditching the high tech stock and investing in chalk & blackboard.
[/rant]
Booked up for Mrs Get to travel from Cumbria to London today. Because the weather has been *a little dodgy* up here we phoned Virgin Trains last night and National Rail Enquiries this morning to check that the service was running. No problems we were told.
So we did the 70 mile round trip to Penrith station... to be greeted by a blackboard stating that the London service was cancelled, and unless the journey was absolutely necessary, don't even think about getting on a train.
Now, this trip has to be done in the next few days, and for reasons too complicated to relay it has to be done by train...
Got back and phoned National Rail Enquiries who STILL didn't seem to know there was a problem and asked if there was any way of phoning Penrith station tomorrow morning, who would at least know if the train was running. Answer : No.
So we have to do the 70 mile round trip tomorrow or Wednesday... TO READ THE BLACKBOARD to get latest train information.
The old British Rail was pants, but at least they ran the track, the stations, the trains and the staff - thus held the responsibility and had some clue as to what was going on.
Personally, I'm ditching the high tech stock and investing in chalk & blackboard.
[/rant]
GetCarter said:
[rant]
Booked up for Mrs Get to travel from Cumbria to London today. Because the weather has been *a little dodgy* up here we phoned Virgin Trains last night and National Rail Enquiries this morning to check that the service was running. No problems we were told.
So we did the 70 mile round trip to Penrith station... to be greeted by a blackboard stating that the London service was cancelled, and unless the journey was absolutely necessary, don't even think about getting on a train.
Now, this trip has to be done in the next few days, and for reasons too complicated to relay it has to be done by train...
Got back and phoned National Rail Enquiries who STILL didn't seem to know there was a problem and asked if there was any way of phoning Penrith station tomorrow morning, who would at least know if the train was running. Answer : No.
So we have to do the 70 mile round trip tomorrow or Wednesday... TO READ THE BLACKBOARD to get latest train information.
The old British Rail was pants, but at least they ran the track, the stations, the trains and the staff - thus held the responsibility and had some clue as to what was going on.
Personally, I'm ditching the high tech stock and investing in chalk & blackboard.
[/rant]
Couldn't you have phoned the relevant station? Or does that mean a call centre in Rawalpindi?!
I would like to say that I am lost for words but , truth be told, I am not surprised.
I travel on the rail network several times a week.
It is a national disgrace to this nation, and something which governments should be deeply ashamed.
Its the major reason why I do not believe this country deserves to win the Olympic bid. If His Blairness can find a way to fund a few soon-to-be-useless Stadia, then he can damn well sort out the fundamentals of a decent transport network first.
I empathise with your situation.
I travel on the rail network several times a week.
It is a national disgrace to this nation, and something which governments should be deeply ashamed.
Its the major reason why I do not believe this country deserves to win the Olympic bid. If His Blairness can find a way to fund a few soon-to-be-useless Stadia, then he can damn well sort out the fundamentals of a decent transport network first.
I empathise with your situation.
toppstuff said:
I would like to say that I am lost for words but , truth be told, I am not surprised.
I travel on the rail network several times a week.
It is a national disgrace to this nation, and something which governments should be deeply ashamed.
Its the major reason why I do not believe this country deserves to win the Olympic bid. If His Blairness can find a way to fund a few soon-to-be-useless Stadia, then he can damn well sort out the fundamentals of a decent transport network first.
I empathise with your situation.
Agreed, sort of.
Personally I don't see the point in the Olympics bid at all -
- but if it meant they had to address the NATIONAL transport problem and not just pump money into London I might be more interested.
Thge co-ordination of all the rail support systems seems to be collapsing with the advent of outsourcing in general - and I don't mean just overseas call centres.
Expect the Banking system to go the same way soon - at least as far as the public are concerned - for similar reasons.
LongQ said:
Personally I don't see the point in the Olympics bid at all -
- but if it meant they had to address the NATIONAL transport problem and not just pump money into London I might be more interested.
What I might be interested in is a working transport system (buses, trains, underground, others and roads). I am sick to by back teeth of trying to use what we have, only to be dumped in the middle of no-where and virtually no support....
The train line I use to get to London costs £82 (sorry, £86 as it went up) return. Yet its 100 miles. A longer journey to Norwich from London is a little over £60. A journey from Cambridgeshire to London is £37! What the hell is that all about?
The trains in particular are inconsistent, badly organised, poorly run and have massive under-investment. In fact, took two trains this morning - had to stand on one (nothing strange there I suppose) but had water flowing in through an aircon vent, the second one had a malfunctioning door and water running down the inside of one of the windows!!!! It was raining, but I dont expect it to rain INSIDE!!! We are all doooomed....
I find it very funny to listen to the excuses come over the PA these days, either at the station or on the trains - almost without fail it's some 'tard who sounds like he has absolutely no clue why there's a delay and simply feels obliged to make something up to placate us miserable sods with no option than to wait around scratching our arses.
"The 12:01 is currently experiencing delay outside er, Leeds due to erm....er, (cough) leaves in the er, air. Due to arrive now at 12:22"
..."sorry, 13:43"
"The 12:01 is currently experiencing delay outside er, Leeds due to erm....er, (cough) leaves in the er, air. Due to arrive now at 12:22"
..."sorry, 13:43"
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