Train Travel

[Emu2005]

Does anyone else think that the train service is just awful? Yesterday I took a train to Bolton to save myself the hassle of driving, even though it cost more than my petrol would have. On the way back, there was an accident somewhere so my first train back was cancelled. The man at the train station couldn't tell me if a bus would be put on, or if the next train an hour later would run. I rang national rail enquiries who weren't even aware anything had happened.

What would you do in this situation?

I decided to walk 20 minutes to the nearest bus stop to get a bus to the next train station. I caught the next train, but it was delayed and I missed the connection by 2 minutes, so I had to wait over an hour for the following train. The journey which should have taken 2 and a half hours took 4 and a half. Why would anyone bother with the trains when this is what we have to expect?

I realise the accident couldn't be helped but surely they should have known if the next train would be running or if there would be buses running instead. Next time I will save myself hassle, time and money and drive instead. Isn't it about time public transport in this country was sorted out??

[mushroom25]

your delay yesterday was due to a fatality at Adlington. In that situation the line remains closed until the police have concluded their investigation (ie was it a suspicious death). Until the police advise the train company of their findings, there will be no information to pass on to staff or customers; so no, station staff may not have known when the next train would be, nor would they know if the delay was likely to warrant ordering replacement buses.

But you are entitled to compensation, although it will only be travel vouchers. Check out Northern Trains' website, specifically their customer charter.

It's not only trains that get delayed though; be thankful you weren't on the A80 last week when a lorryload of chickens overturned - central scotland was gridlocked for hours.

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

I used to run a large railway station. There are about 350 suicides on the railway each year, which means that roughly one line willed will be closed, for a short while, each day.

As Mushroom25 states, Network Rail can't re-open the line until permission has been obtained from British Transport Police. BTP work to a target of having lines fully operational within 100 minutes of an incident being reported. Given that BTP often only have a handful of officers on duty for an area of several hundred square miles, that's quite a hard target to meet. (Officers have to travel up to 50 miles, or more. They then have to carry out initial investigations to check that there are no suspicious circumstances before 'clearing up the mess' - which is sometimes spread over a mile of track - and ensuring that it's taken by an undertaker). Despite this, they often beat the 100 minute target although, on some occasions, it can take several hours to complete their work.

Additionally, the train operator has to send a relief driver (often by taxi, from a depot many miles distant) to take over from the driver involved in the incident (who is always automatically relieved from duty). In some circumstances, it's necessary to send a senior mechanic as well, to check that the train is safe to drive.

[Buenchico]

In the meantime, station supervisors along the route will be attempting to find information and probably trying to make provisional arrangements for bus replacement services, should they prove necessary. However, this can take considerable time. The supervisor has to phone around different coach companies to try to find one which has a spare vehicle and driver available. Very few bus companies have a spare driver waiting at their depot. (Even if they have, he'll often either be required later for the school/business rush hours or he'll only have limited tachograph time left. The supervisor will be seeking a bus company which can provide a service for an indefinite period of time).

Anyone who thinks that the job is easy should try phoning around bus and coach companies and asking to have a bus and driver immediately. Of course, at the same time, remember to fend off the the abusive customers in your office, go to the support of a colleague who's being threated with violence, liase with Network Rail and the company's control centre, fill in lots of paperwork and make frequent platform announcements. (Just another day at the office!)

Chris

[lankeela]

Went to Finland a couple of weeks ago, and took a train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, approximately nine hours and two changes. Each train left on the dot, and arrived at exactly the right time, you just stepped from one train to another across the platform, seats reserved, lovely clean airy carriages, and a quiet smooth ride. Good food in the buffet/restaurant including a hot meal.

A couple of years ago I had to go to Edinburgh by train from Norfolk, it took 13 hours and two changes onto buses. Filthy, cold, no information and crowded carriages. And the cost was more than the Finland to Lapland trip!