to be furious at National Express and fellow train users

[arolf]

Last night, I arrived at the station to go home, and found the platform was much much busier than usual. Following the usual chinese whispers, we established that the previous train (30 minutes earlier) hadn't arrived, and there was some rumour of a fire on the line closer in towards London.

4 different people on the platform decided to call National Express (who run this line) or National Rail Enquiries to find out what the hell was going on. 3 were told that all trains in both directions were cancelled and there would definitely not be any trains for several hours, one was told there would probably be no trains that evening, so we'd be better off getting a cab.

So, we called a cab, were told it would be 30 minutes, and settled down in the shade just outside the station to wait. Then saw a train going past in the opposite direction. Called NRE/NE again - nope, all trains cancelled, that was the last one getting though.

25 minutes later, a train pulled in on our side of the station, we legged it, just managed to jump on before the doors closed, and found the train was heaving - looked like standing room only. I'm 6 months pregnant, so not too happy to stand for a 25 minute train journey, and hence fouhgt my way into the main part of the carriage to see if there was any kind soul who'd let me sit down - and found that at least 5 seats were taken up by shopping bags. I asked one girl if she would mind moving her bag, and she replied 'yes, I would'. cue dropped jaws from myself and fellow passengers, and one young girl moving her suitcase so I could have a seat. Rude girl then gotoff at the next station, folding her shopping bag as she went - it was fecking empty!!

So - am I being unreasonable in expecting a) an announcement of some sort from the train company, b) some sort of communication within said company so that employees don't give out false info, and c) people to not be so UNBELIEVABLY rude?

[Thunderduck]

I'd have asked her to produce the ticket that she'd purchased for her bag.

[stickylittlefingers]

not unreasonable at all for any of the options above. Travelling by public transport does not improve one's view of humanity...

[dilemma456]

Message withdrawn

[arolf]

I was a bit too gobsmacked to respond, and then had another seat offered to me, which slightly restored my faith in humanity. But was still raging at the rude girl, so sat and gave her evil looks for the rest of her journey, and said to a friend 'it's a shame you have to sit on the floor when there are seats free, isn't it?' very loudly and pointedly.
was just fuming by the time I got home!

[BBisfinallyPG]

i would have sat down, full bag emoty bag, bag full of kittens wouldnt of fazed me cos im pg and i am irrational and i am SCARY at times but then i dont live in london and it does seem like a bit of a stabby place....

[edam]

People taking up seats for their bags on busy trains are anti-social and should be taken outside and shot (once the train has stopped at a station, obviously, wouldn't want to hold everyone up).

And train company bosses should also be shot if they fail to make accurate announcements about delays.

[cairnterrier]

Okay, my story isn't about a train but I was on Easyjet where you don't get an allocated seat. The flight was just about full and I was one of the last people to get on. There was a couple who were seated so one was in the window seat and one on the aisle seat, both were reading large sized newspapers (?Telegraph/Times) and both leaning in towards the middle seat so it was covered by their newspapers.

Guess where I sat!! And smiled to myself for the hour flight :-) Petty, yes, jolly pleasing, even more so.