I hate Rail Transport.....
- Thread starter PinkFloyd
- Start date
I used to have major trouble back in my work experience days with South West Trains. Awful delays and even worse customer service. Out of 14 days I was usually late. Catching the earlier train didn't help as I nearly always ended up missing my transfer.
Now it's not so bad. Cardiff to Southampton is very smooth and I always book the tickets online and collect them from the machine at Cardiff central. With my student card and advance savings the total comes to £9 compared to £20 on petrol and delays all the way up to Newbury.
I was once stuck in Bristol for an entire night tho when the last train of the night decided to suspend itself "due to driver sickness".
Now it's not so bad. Cardiff to Southampton is very smooth and I always book the tickets online and collect them from the machine at Cardiff central. With my student card and advance savings the total comes to £9 compared to £20 on petrol and delays all the way up to Newbury.
I was once stuck in Bristol for an entire night tho when the last train of the night decided to suspend itself "due to driver sickness".
Associate
- Joined
- 26 Sep 2005
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- 1,852
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- Tonbridge, Kent
I've commuted to London for the last few years and everyday I pull my hair-out. Problem is there really is no suitable alternative.
just to stick up for trains here, i think they are fantastic things and i love them, you cant beat travelling on a train at dusk, especially if your lucky enough to be in a carriage with low lighting so you can see clearly out of the window. the things ive seen on those rail lines are mesmorising to me, the abandoned factorys and decaying structures all things i love and long for. it may not be convenient, it may not be cheap, but its a beautiful way to travel at times.
Visage said:
its the websites and the cost and the stupid array of tickets available, there should only be 3 types of ticket.
"economy" - must be booked 7 days in advance
"standard" - on the day travel
"first class" - on the day travel for rich gits.
and with those three you get the option of single or return.
IS THAT SO ******* HARD TO DO ????
locutus12 said:its the websites and the cost and the stupid array of tickets available, there should only be 3 types of ticket.
"economy" - must be booked 7 days in advance
"standard" - on the day travel
"first class" - on the day travel for rich gits.
and with those three you get the option of single or return.
IS THAT SO ******* HARD TO DO ????
It used to be that simple. God bless the Tories. From BR to a dozen different companies, with a dozen different timetables and a dozen different set of tickets.
I'm definitely of the turn up on the day and buy a ticket variety. I have looked into some of these super saver tickets involving getting particular trains, and just thought it wasn't worth the hassle, and I like a bit more flexibility on the rare occasions I travel by train.
AcidHell2 said:
I wouldn't say so. It costs me £37 for a return ticket from Plymouth to hertfordshire (via the tube) which usually takes me about 4.5-5 hours. By car it costs a minimum in diesel of £40 each way and takes at least 5 hours.
It may sound wierd but a choice between nice comfy seats and plenty of leg room and cramped seats with no legroom, i'll take the train any time.
I have to agree though, booking online can be annoying if you dont know what your doing and decide to book via the main site.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2002
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- Wish i was in a Ramen Shop Counter
Reasons I have encountered when the train is late or cancelled.
I'll start with some lame ones
1 - The train stops, instead of going it refuels for 15 mins
2 - The train up the track broken down
3 - Signalling problems
4 - Engine blew somewhere up the line
5 - The reason above, engine blew so they replaced the train. I was waiting in Bristol and the train that turned up for my connection (at 11:30am) was suppose to arrive at 10:00 ish. The one i was due to get was cancelled.
6 - A car ran into a bridge and they had to check the bridge for structual integrity before they let the Train go over it.
7 - On its way into Newport from Cardiff direction some kid threw a brick through the driver's window and he's so shaken up when the train stops he can't drive anymore.
8 - On its way into Bristol from the South, I was sitting in a carriage when 2 bricks hit the glass windows either side of me (I was reading a magazine with my headphones on at the time and ddin't hear it lol The other passengers asked if i was ok). The outer layer of the glass was all cracked (they crack like windscreen but don't fall off). Train got to Bristol but can't leave until they smashed up the outer layer of glass totally just in case it falls off somewhere on the track. (This happened again in Cardiff too but this time i was waiting on the platform when the cracked window train came in)
I'll start with some lame ones
1 - The train stops, instead of going it refuels for 15 mins
2 - The train up the track broken down
3 - Signalling problems
4 - Engine blew somewhere up the line
5 - The reason above, engine blew so they replaced the train. I was waiting in Bristol and the train that turned up for my connection (at 11:30am) was suppose to arrive at 10:00 ish. The one i was due to get was cancelled.
6 - A car ran into a bridge and they had to check the bridge for structual integrity before they let the Train go over it.
7 - On its way into Newport from Cardiff direction some kid threw a brick through the driver's window and he's so shaken up when the train stops he can't drive anymore.
8 - On its way into Bristol from the South, I was sitting in a carriage when 2 bricks hit the glass windows either side of me (I was reading a magazine with my headphones on at the time and ddin't hear it lol The other passengers asked if i was ok). The outer layer of the glass was all cracked (they crack like windscreen but don't fall off). Train got to Bristol but can't leave until they smashed up the outer layer of glass totally just in case it falls off somewhere on the track. (This happened again in Cardiff too but this time i was waiting on the platform when the cracked window train came in)
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Soldato
- Joined
- 16 Nov 2003
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- 9,682
- Location
- On the pale blue dot
Similar stories really.
- Going through Coventy a brick sailed into the window. Surprisingly tough those things. Luckily I was getting off at New Street.
- Due to 'wet weather' (was as dry as any other day these days) the train overshot the platform. Driver not paying attention I think! Then when he reversed he overshot again.
- The nine (I think) carrage local stopper gets cancelled, so in order not to inconvience the passengers, they 'cancel' our three carriage train and turn it into the local stopper. Thus packing twelve carrages of people into three. Smart.
- Congestion so we get put on the 'relief line'. Hard one to argue with.
- Stuck behind the Heathrow EXPRESS. Every other ******* day. Put that thing on the relief line and let us pass!
- The worse one though is not their fault. About a month ago now you may have heard the story of a man killing his wife and then jumping in front of a train. Shut down the station all day. Luckily for me I always have a secondary route of of town using the t00b.
- Going through Coventy a brick sailed into the window. Surprisingly tough those things. Luckily I was getting off at New Street.
- Due to 'wet weather' (was as dry as any other day these days) the train overshot the platform. Driver not paying attention I think! Then when he reversed he overshot again.
- The nine (I think) carrage local stopper gets cancelled, so in order not to inconvience the passengers, they 'cancel' our three carriage train and turn it into the local stopper. Thus packing twelve carrages of people into three. Smart.
- Congestion so we get put on the 'relief line'. Hard one to argue with.
- Stuck behind the Heathrow EXPRESS. Every other ******* day. Put that thing on the relief line and let us pass!
- The worse one though is not their fault. About a month ago now you may have heard the story of a man killing his wife and then jumping in front of a train. Shut down the station all day. Luckily for me I always have a secondary route of of town using the t00b.
Soldato
- Joined
- 28 Jun 2006
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- 5,270
- Location
- Newcastle upon Tyne
I use the Trainline as well. Quick and easy. And I can often get two single trips for far, far less than a return. I usually use the train to go to Edinburgh and back from Newcastle. Return usually costs £40, but I can get two singles for £18.50SideWinder said:
Efour2 said:
i have a 2 page "rant" from 2 years ago written to me by jim cunngingham MP about why that will never happen... he also write in it that my noting that the new super hospital has 280 less beds than the old hospital is an "idiotic" thing to do.
recently in the local news the maternity ward has been over capacity and they have has to move some to other hospitals to cover demand. i bet it doesnt seem so idiotic now jim...
You should try booking earlier, a couple of weeks in advance can save you a LOT of money, it does restict you to certain trains but hey, I've found fairs that are a third of the price! (With a railcard) www.thetrainline.com is really clear as if you click on a ticket name it tells you what it is and you can book from there website