hampshire_exile
Well-known member
Normally I wouldn’t have the nerve to come on here and criticise trains down here in the South. I know the train service in the North is far far worse.
However, the last week hasn’t been good. Me and a mate had booked advance train tickets yesterday for specific trains there and back to Exeter. It’s 2 and a quarter hours each way. We got to the station - South West trains had cancelled our train on the morning of the journey and the following 2 trains. The service is hourly, so it was either drive down there or forget it. So we drove.
I cannot understand why, if you book a advance ticket online for a time specific train service, it is not possible for a train company to notify you if it is cancelled. But hey ho, I realise that in comparison to getting from for example Bradford to Blackpool, I generally get a good service. We were two grumpy buggers heading down through the Saturday holiday traffic going West, mind you.
The previous Saturday was more concerning. I got on a train to London with my daughter. It’s a 50 minute journey. She was heading to London to meet a friend, I went with a mate to see Sutton v Notts County. The train was full and standing when we got on, with us standing in the aisles and chatting.
After 15 minutes, the air in our carriage (and apparently a couple of carriages forward) started to smelt of diesel. It progressively got stronger and stronger over the next six to seven minutes. Kids were starting to cover their faces and choke a bit. At which point someone pulled the emergency cord, or whatever you do now.
What went on from there was a bit worrying. First we were asked to move up the train. That was impossible because there was no room on the train to go anywhere. And the smoke was coming from further up the train. Next we were told to stay in our places as a few passengers had complained of a “bit of smoke”
Time goes by, and 45 minutes later the guard admits, in a throw away line that “there has been a fire under one of the carriages”.
So eventually the train is moved, we all get off, and life goes on. But I thought the response on the train, if calm, was more than a bit complacent.
I do love avftt, you can have a bit of a rant and feel so much better afterwards!
However, the last week hasn’t been good. Me and a mate had booked advance train tickets yesterday for specific trains there and back to Exeter. It’s 2 and a quarter hours each way. We got to the station - South West trains had cancelled our train on the morning of the journey and the following 2 trains. The service is hourly, so it was either drive down there or forget it. So we drove.
I cannot understand why, if you book a advance ticket online for a time specific train service, it is not possible for a train company to notify you if it is cancelled. But hey ho, I realise that in comparison to getting from for example Bradford to Blackpool, I generally get a good service. We were two grumpy buggers heading down through the Saturday holiday traffic going West, mind you.
The previous Saturday was more concerning. I got on a train to London with my daughter. It’s a 50 minute journey. She was heading to London to meet a friend, I went with a mate to see Sutton v Notts County. The train was full and standing when we got on, with us standing in the aisles and chatting.
After 15 minutes, the air in our carriage (and apparently a couple of carriages forward) started to smelt of diesel. It progressively got stronger and stronger over the next six to seven minutes. Kids were starting to cover their faces and choke a bit. At which point someone pulled the emergency cord, or whatever you do now.
What went on from there was a bit worrying. First we were asked to move up the train. That was impossible because there was no room on the train to go anywhere. And the smoke was coming from further up the train. Next we were told to stay in our places as a few passengers had complained of a “bit of smoke”
Time goes by, and 45 minutes later the guard admits, in a throw away line that “there has been a fire under one of the carriages”.
So eventually the train is moved, we all get off, and life goes on. But I thought the response on the train, if calm, was more than a bit complacent.
I do love avftt, you can have a bit of a rant and feel so much better afterwards!
