Anyone Been on a Train Recently?

Can we chat about post #44 as it's much more interesting than the OPs topic.
@Diddums

e: 'inneresting' was right there, come on magnolia :mad:
It’s very inneresting.

So’s this.

 
I have not seen a buffet trolley on a train in decades. It's only in the last few months that trains used on the line where I live have been upgraded to include toilets. Occasionally we get the Gatwick express carriages which are quite roomy.
 
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If responsibly run, yes. British Rail was privatised for a good reason - it was abominably crap. The privatised companies are generally crap too so we can conclude that British managers are also crap.
I don’t think this is quite true. It was privatised because the Gov had seen what was done in Sweden, partly motivated by the EU Directive 91/440 (although we went much further than that required) and also from a general desire to reduce the cost to the state. It wasn’t privatised because it was bad, and funnily enough state subsidies have gone through the roof since the 90s.

Throughout the 70s and 80s BR had been improved immeasurably in structure and operations from the Big Four inherited legacy it was carrying through the 50s and 60s but was then held back by underfunding and government policy in other areas of transport (car ownership etc) also didn’t help.

BR as a vertically integrated state entity could have been a success. We all now look at other countries with envy and ask why we can’t have those things - we could have, just nobody wanted to pay for it and getting it back now is an even bigger ask.
 
This is a train....


What I don't understand is why they can do this in Japan, yet in this country it would be four times the price and 1000% messed up by vandals.
 
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This is a train....


What I don't understand is why they can do this in Japan, yet in this country it would be four times the price and 1000% messed up by vandals.
Those trains are mostly privately run and cost a fortune to buy tickets for. You can’t even get tickets for the one in the video at the moment. Cost is approx $9k per person. There are plenty of equally luxurious and expensive trains here in the UK run by private operators.
 
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Those trains are mostly privately run and cost a fortune to buy tickets for. You can’t even get tickets for the one in the video at the moment. Cost is approx $9k per person. There are plenty of equally luxurious and expensive trains here in the UK run by private operators.

? I seem to remember that she said it was $150 for the ticket.
 
? I seem to remember that she said it was $150 for the ticket.
Ah, I was thinking it was the Shika Shima but it's actually the Spacia X Limited -


It isn't as bad as I thought, but it is still expensive if you want to experience the luxury as it's all additional costs on top of the standard fares. It's not a particularly long journey either and there are plenty of other options.
 
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Ah, I was thinking it was the Shika Shima but it's actually the Spacia X Limited -


It isn't as bad as I thought, but it is still expensive if you want to experience the luxury as it's all additional costs on top of the standard fares. It's not a particularly long journey either and there are plenty of other options.
I bet it doesn't smell of wee though.
 
I have not seen a buffet trolley on a train in decades.
CrossCountry services usually have one, because they're routinely only 4 carriages, cover very long distances, and can't spare space for a buffet car. Main problem these days though is the trains being so busy the trolley can't move!

I've never been a car owner, and have been using trains for over 40 years now. I never look forward to it. BR was a pain in the backside, but at least it was our pain in the backside inflicting pain on my backside, not some comfortable institutional/foreign shareholder inflicting pain on my backside... should I ever find a seat.

Mind you, the train seats are generally more comfortable than the buses I use... which are generally held together by gaffer tape, wishful thinking, and memory foam... or rather, the memory of foam. At least the £2 fare cap made that discomfort tolerable for a while, unlike the trains. Can't wait to pay £3 to be uncomfortable and waiting for an un-cancelled service instead. Happy New Travel Year!
 
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Get a train into London from Essex multiple times a month.

With a network railcard, a return is £30.

My partner lives in London so between us usually three weekends month one of us will be on the train.

Of the three years I’ve been doing this, I’ve maybe experienced one major delay, and apart from rail replacement works (which usually are pain free, just take a bit longer) the service has been flawless.

Probably more expensive, depending on having to pay for parking, but endlessly more enjoyable than dealing with traffic and idiots on the roads.

Sit there and look at the world go by, even when you’re horrendously hungover and not safe to drive anyway!

I’m on a train right now!

e: It seems I missed the drama, why is everyone ignoring it?!

@Diddums tell us more tell us more!
 
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