first time ever on a train
Discussion
At Paddington on the HST's they attached a label to the window showing all the stops and the destination in huge bold letters. I usually sit in the seat below the label. 9 times out of ten someone will ask me "Is this the Hereford Train?"
Err the sign right above me would seem to suggest that it is!
Err the sign right above me would seem to suggest that it is!
egor110 said:
How does he actually function as a working adult.
If walking into a station, looking at the tv monitor to find out what platform he needs, going to that platform and reading the monitor which shows where the trains actually stopping is beyond him?
Because the information is sometimes wrong. Just because all the signs say this is a train to Euston, apparently that doesn't mean it is. Even if it days so on the display in the carriage. Apparently a mistake had been made. But the squeel of static over the tannoy where about the only word a carriage of people could make out was "Euston". Was supposed to tell us the actual train was the next one. So given both the station display, and the train display can't be trusted to be right. What info are you using?If walking into a station, looking at the tv monitor to find out what platform he needs, going to that platform and reading the monitor which shows where the trains actually stopping is beyond him?
Munter said:
Because the information is sometimes wrong. Just because all the signs say this is a train to Euston, apparently that doesn't mean it is. Even if it days so on the display in the carriage. Apparently a mistake had been made. But the squeel of static over the tannoy where about the only word a carriage of people could make out was "Euston". Was supposed to tell us the actual train was the next one. So given both the station display, and the train display can't be trusted to be right. What info are you using?
It sounds to me like you are quoting a single instance when a cock-up happened. Cock-ups happen. Serious ones sometimes (ask the crew of Apollo 13...). But that doesn't mean that it is like that all the time.Whilst I have to admit that the last time I stood on Wolverhampton station platform about 3 years ago I was getting off a train rather than getting on one, so didn't need to listen to any announcements, I would be extremely surprised if in this day and age station announcements are "squealy" or inaudible. One of the things BR did, let alone the post-privatisation regime, was to improve no end on the quality of station PA systems. The days of oddly-accented people squawking into Tannoy systems went out, if not with steam, then certainly with first-generation diesels - most station announcements these days are pre-recorded.
Munter said:
egor110 said:
How does he actually function as a working adult.
If walking into a station, looking at the tv monitor to find out what platform he needs, going to that platform and reading the monitor which shows where the trains actually stopping is beyond him?
Because the information is sometimes wrong. Just because all the signs say this is a train to Euston, apparently that doesn't mean it is. Even if it days so on the display in the carriage. Apparently a mistake had been made. But the squeel of static over the tannoy where about the only word a carriage of people could make out was "Euston". Was supposed to tell us the actual train was the next one. So given both the station display, and the train display can't be trusted to be right. What info are you using?If walking into a station, looking at the tv monitor to find out what platform he needs, going to that platform and reading the monitor which shows where the trains actually stopping is beyond him?
Then i go to said platform and look at monitor 2 which has 3 different trains on it, top one is due in 1st 3rd one is last one due in last it also scrolls where that trains stopping.
This is the same regardless if i'm at paddington,brighton,bristol,cardiff or sleepy taunton in somerset.
egor110 said:
Like i said i walk into station look at 1st monitor to see what platform my trains on and if it's late.
Then i go to said platform and look at monitor 2 which has 3 different trains on it, top one is due in 1st 3rd one is last one due in last it also scrolls where that trains stopping.
This is the same regardless if i'm at paddington,brighton,bristol,cardiff or sleepy taunton in somerset.
So you would also get the wrong train. Because that info was wrong.Then i go to said platform and look at monitor 2 which has 3 different trains on it, top one is due in 1st 3rd one is last one due in last it also scrolls where that trains stopping.
This is the same regardless if i'm at paddington,brighton,bristol,cardiff or sleepy taunton in somerset.
rs1952 said:
It sounds to me like you are quoting a single instance when a cock-up happened. Cock-ups happen. Serious ones sometimes (ask the crew of Apollo 13...). But that doesn't mean that it is like that all the time.
Whilst I have to admit that the last time I stood on Wolverhampton station platform about 3 years ago I was getting off a train rather than getting on one, so didn't need to listen to any announcements, I would be extremely surprised if in this day and age station announcements are "squealy" or inaudible. One of the things BR did, let alone the post-privatisation regime, was to improve no end on the quality of station PA systems. The days of oddly-accented people squawking into Tannoy systems went out, if not with steam, then certainly with first-generation diesels - most station announcements these days are pre-recorded.
I didn't mention the station PA system. The one on the train. If you travel on a Virgin train you quite often end up in a carriage where all you can hear is a high pitched squeel and some mumbling. Whilst I have to admit that the last time I stood on Wolverhampton station platform about 3 years ago I was getting off a train rather than getting on one, so didn't need to listen to any announcements, I would be extremely surprised if in this day and age station announcements are "squealy" or inaudible. One of the things BR did, let alone the post-privatisation regime, was to improve no end on the quality of station PA systems. The days of oddly-accented people squawking into Tannoy systems went out, if not with steam, then certainly with first-generation diesels - most station announcements these days are pre-recorded.
Single instance possibly. But it's part of train travel. And it's a part that makes train travel stressful.
What a pleasant change this thread makes to all the usual train bashing threads on here, and as someone who works in the industry I've even leant something (thanks for real time trains tip).
I've been commuting into London for 20 years and the car isn't even an option.. It would be slower, cost more, stressful and then I'd have to find somewhere to park it.
At times I used to think it would be nice to use the car. I wouldn't have to leave at 3, 6 or 9 minutes past to catch a specific train, I could enjoy driving my car and I'd have a nicer seat. A couple of years ago the opportunity arose and one day a week I started to commute 40 miles to Watford; in the morning this was great and I could plan on an arrival within 10 mins. However coming home was a different story. On the train I know what time I'll arrive and lateness in generally capped to 10 mins max, bad days once a year maybe an hour. Using the car I didn't know what time I'd be home to within 15 mins every time, and there were often delays of more than an hour. In a year the worst was 3 hours.
It's interesting to hear the different reasoned views people have, I suspect Greater Anglia for its faults is not bad.
I'm glad I don't have to man the Twitter feed on any TOC though.
I've been commuting into London for 20 years and the car isn't even an option.. It would be slower, cost more, stressful and then I'd have to find somewhere to park it.
At times I used to think it would be nice to use the car. I wouldn't have to leave at 3, 6 or 9 minutes past to catch a specific train, I could enjoy driving my car and I'd have a nicer seat. A couple of years ago the opportunity arose and one day a week I started to commute 40 miles to Watford; in the morning this was great and I could plan on an arrival within 10 mins. However coming home was a different story. On the train I know what time I'll arrive and lateness in generally capped to 10 mins max, bad days once a year maybe an hour. Using the car I didn't know what time I'd be home to within 15 mins every time, and there were often delays of more than an hour. In a year the worst was 3 hours.
It's interesting to hear the different reasoned views people have, I suspect Greater Anglia for its faults is not bad.
I'm glad I don't have to man the Twitter feed on any TOC though.
I regularly travel between London and Stonehaven in North-East Scotland and invariably take the train, which is direct (no change at Edinburgh) and takes around 6 hours 40 minutes. I purchase an advanced First Class ticket for around £70-80 and can sit back, relax and enjoy the east coast views with a nice breakfast (smoked salmon and souffled egg last time), copious quantities of tea, coffee, fruit juice, biscuits, cakes, crisps plus a choice of hot lunches of a very good standard and then there is a full bar service after midday on week days (I usually end having a good number of double whiskies) and this is all included in the fare - which is only £20 more than Standard Class.
In comparison - I could drive the 550 miles which would cost me a lot more in fuel each way, be tiring and take ages or I could catch a plane from Aberdeen with easyJet... Now this would seem the obvious solution, but in reality it's not much quicker or cheaper and a lot more hassle. It takes me about an hour to get to the airport (plus I have the additional cost of bus/rail/taxi fares). I need to be at the airport an hour before the flight - so that's 2 hours elapsed and I've not actually gone anywhere, then I have the joy of passing through security and will have paid handsomely if I wish to take any hold luggage (not an issue on the train). The flight is pretty much 90 minutes from terminal to terminal arriving at Gatwick (assuming it's not delayed as it has been the majority of times I've flown in the past). It then takes approximately 20-30 minutes to get off the plane and pass through the airport from North to South Terminal and I then have a wait to catch a train into London, which will take another 30-45 minutes... The total time if it all goes well is at best approaching 5 hours and with the cost of the plane ticket, hold luggage, transfers at each end, I don't save any cash.
Yes the train is more comfortable, more civilised and more relaxing and if it should ever run more than 30 minutes late, I get a cheque or travel vouchers for 50% of my fare back or the full fare back if delayed by 60 minutes plus!!! I've had a couple of occasions where this happened due to circumstances beyond Virgin East Coast's control and have £85 of vouchers plus another cheque for £40 on the way (sadly the delay was due to a fatality on the ECML that affected all trains).
In comparison - I could drive the 550 miles which would cost me a lot more in fuel each way, be tiring and take ages or I could catch a plane from Aberdeen with easyJet... Now this would seem the obvious solution, but in reality it's not much quicker or cheaper and a lot more hassle. It takes me about an hour to get to the airport (plus I have the additional cost of bus/rail/taxi fares). I need to be at the airport an hour before the flight - so that's 2 hours elapsed and I've not actually gone anywhere, then I have the joy of passing through security and will have paid handsomely if I wish to take any hold luggage (not an issue on the train). The flight is pretty much 90 minutes from terminal to terminal arriving at Gatwick (assuming it's not delayed as it has been the majority of times I've flown in the past). It then takes approximately 20-30 minutes to get off the plane and pass through the airport from North to South Terminal and I then have a wait to catch a train into London, which will take another 30-45 minutes... The total time if it all goes well is at best approaching 5 hours and with the cost of the plane ticket, hold luggage, transfers at each end, I don't save any cash.
Yes the train is more comfortable, more civilised and more relaxing and if it should ever run more than 30 minutes late, I get a cheque or travel vouchers for 50% of my fare back or the full fare back if delayed by 60 minutes plus!!! I've had a couple of occasions where this happened due to circumstances beyond Virgin East Coast's control and have £85 of vouchers plus another cheque for £40 on the way (sadly the delay was due to a fatality on the ECML that affected all trains).
Edited by 58warren on Wednesday 13th April 09:40
Munter said:
rs1952 said:
It sounds to me like you are quoting a single instance when a cock-up happened. Cock-ups happen. Serious ones sometimes (ask the crew of Apollo 13...). But that doesn't mean that it is like that all the time.
Whilst I have to admit that the last time I stood on Wolverhampton station platform about 3 years ago I was getting off a train rather than getting on one, so didn't need to listen to any announcements, I would be extremely surprised if in this day and age station announcements are "squealy" or inaudible. One of the things BR did, let alone the post-privatisation regime, was to improve no end on the quality of station PA systems. The days of oddly-accented people squawking into Tannoy systems went out, if not with steam, then certainly with first-generation diesels - most station announcements these days are pre-recorded.
I didn't mention the station PA system. The one on the train. If you travel on a Virgin train you quite often end up in a carriage where all you can hear is a high pitched squeel and some mumbling. Whilst I have to admit that the last time I stood on Wolverhampton station platform about 3 years ago I was getting off a train rather than getting on one, so didn't need to listen to any announcements, I would be extremely surprised if in this day and age station announcements are "squealy" or inaudible. One of the things BR did, let alone the post-privatisation regime, was to improve no end on the quality of station PA systems. The days of oddly-accented people squawking into Tannoy systems went out, if not with steam, then certainly with first-generation diesels - most station announcements these days are pre-recorded.
- Train Manager not really understanding how to use the microphone/ project their voice
- Other passengers making a row, especially the obligatory screaming kid (it appears to be the law that every train and plane has to have at least one screaming kid on board
) - Maintenance standards to the on-train announcement system may be low-priority at the depot. They are hardly going to go around cancelling trains because the PA system is buggered.
Amateurish said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I used to commute on that route (Charlbury - London) about 10 years ago and the current service is significantly slower. The 8am commuter service from Evesham used to take 1h40. It now takes 2h. Progress!On the plus side it means I can enjoy the drive over the Cotswolds to Kingham and pick up the train there rather than at Evesham.
blueg33 said:
Amateurish said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I used to commute on that route (Charlbury - London) about 10 years ago and the current service is significantly slower. The 8am commuter service from Evesham used to take 1h40. It now takes 2h. Progress!On the plus side it means I can enjoy the drive over the Cotswolds to Kingham and pick up the train there rather than at Evesham.
Slightly off-topic, I am thinking of moving to the Chipping Campden / Broadway area, which I don't know very well. Have you any recommendations for villages around there?
Amateurish said:
When I used to take it about 10 years ago, it was a limited stopping service: Evesham, MIM, Kingham, Charlbury, Oxford, Pad. And that was before they reinstated the double track!
Slightly off-topic, I am thinking of moving to the Chipping Campden / Broadway area, which I don't know very well. Have you any recommendations for villages around there?
I live in Dumbleton. Pretty much all of the villages are rather nice although I would avoid heading towards Evesham, so ruling out Honeybourne, Bretforton, Mickleton etc. If you have plenty of ££'s Stanton is very nice although that's on the Cheltenham side of Broadway rather than the Campden side.Slightly off-topic, I am thinking of moving to the Chipping Campden / Broadway area, which I don't know very well. Have you any recommendations for villages around there?
Today I had the (dis)pleasure of travelling on UK trains for the first time in about four years. Heading from Paddington to Reading I couldn't believe how bad the ride was, it felt like the rails weren't level and continued almost the whole way. On the return leg the train was 12 minutes late and as it cost me over £40 for a return ticket on a 25 minute journey I wasn't hugely impressed with the experience.
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