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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To moan about the F-ing trains.

26 replies

Theworldisfullofgs · 03/06/2018 13:52

Dcs get the train to school. Train timetable is a shambles. Trains cancelled all over the place and now only two trains in the morning; one too early and one too late. Same scenario in the evening. Only two trains in over an hour.

Dh commutes as well to London. Same stupid scenario. Why don't they just put it all back to how it was until they work out how to do it better.

OP posts:
laura6032 · 03/06/2018 13:58

Nope, Ynbu, they are a nightmare, cost too much, never on time, timetables a joke.

eurochick · 03/06/2018 14:01

By the timetable, the changes should have improved my commute. In reality, it has been a disaster. So many cancellations and delays!

Thurlow · 03/06/2018 14:02

I think I know where you live Wink

They're a fucking disgrace. DP works emergency services shift work in London and they've been having to drive on because the trains are so unreliable. I've had to tell work on the rare days I pick up the kids in the evening I'm going to have to travel home at lunchtime and work from home in the afternoon because I daren't risk it.

I can't believe how little press there has been. There must be hundreds of thousands of commuters who don't even have a fucking timetable to consult at the moment!

Oh, the things I'd do if I got my hands on a manager...

Doing this over GCSE period is another disgrace. I've heard of school aged kids being abandoned by staff at the stations and not put in taxis for a long time. Words fail me.

Unescorted · 03/06/2018 14:13

It is shambolic. We have a new emergency timetable for Monday.

We keep being told it is to increase capacity.... Except we have fewer trains
We get told it is because they don't have enough trained drivers ... except we have fewer trains
We get told it is due to the electrification of the lines.... Except we are on diesel and there are no plans to upgrade the line. That was cancelled the day before Crossrail II was announced.
Claim for delays and cancellations we are told... except me and most of my fellow commuters have regional travel dates which aren't eligible for compensation. Even when we have receipts for taxis, buses and trams. And they won't reimburse for having to buy new out of area tickets if you miss a connection.

Original poster
Theworldisfullofgs · 03/06/2018 14:23

Honestly I think they should give up and try again another time and better planned.

Apparently a great deal of this has to do with the department of transport delaying giving information at their end and no-one being willing to say no.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theworldisfullofgs · 03/06/2018 14:24

My dd is doing gcses and now this has added to the stress.

OP posts:
thunderbirdthree · 03/06/2018 14:41

I used to work in the railway industry. I left for several reasons, one of the main ones being that I was fucking embarrassed at the utter shambles the rail system in this country has become. I used to try and defend it; I don't even bother now.

I don't have to commute anymore. I really, really feel for those who do. Thanks

Thurlow · 03/06/2018 14:56

They can't roll back as other train operators have changed their timetables to fit in. Its a nightmare but it's too far gone to roll back now.

Original poster
Theworldisfullofgs · 03/06/2018 15:01

The question is will it ever get any better? We've had two weeks of cancellations and now completely unworkable timetable for next week.
I reckon some people will end up losing their jobs because they just won't be able to get to work in time.

OP posts:
BewareOfDragons · 03/06/2018 15:01

Worst and most expensive public transportation system in Europe... and only getting worse.

Pathetic.

Original poster
Theworldisfullofgs · 03/06/2018 15:03

Everything chris grayling touches turns to poo.

OP posts:
Noboozeforme · 03/06/2018 15:08

Agreed. It's been a fucking nightmare. Kings cross trains cancelled compleatly, Mooregate trains late.

They had plenty of time to get this new timetable together. It's a shambles.

Violetroselily · 03/06/2018 15:10

The whole franchise is a joke. Having lived through the shambles of 2015 and 2016, I thought we were passed the worst of it but nope, we have regressed to an utter shit show of a service.

Wankers

IReallyHateCycling · 03/06/2018 15:12

I feel your pain.

The last two weeks have been a nightmare.

Spent Friday evening stuck on a platform due to cancelled trains . I was so pissed off to arrive home at 9.30 - 2 hours later than I should have done.

Poor DP had arranged an evening but quickly changed his plans when he saw my face & quite rightly just opened wine 🍷 instead.

I have 4 days this week of trains cancelled & replacement buses. My 45 minute journey will be 1 hr 50 😢

backinaminute · 03/06/2018 15:13

I don't commute by train or live in the SE but currently on an epic, round the houses journey home from London with two kids that haven't had lunch (no food on the train) because of a cancelled train. You all have my sympathies if you do this all the time.

welshmist · 03/06/2018 15:14

It was discussed on Sky at 11.30pm at night!! It is down to network rail not approving the changes forcing trains to be cancelled by the companies until they get approval apparently.

I am sorry for all of you going through this.

Original poster
Theworldisfullofgs · 03/06/2018 15:24

My ds (11) got stuck at a station on his way home from school. He was advised to talk to platform staff/manager. They ignored him.

OP posts:
Believeitornot · 03/06/2018 15:29

If ever there was an advert for the efficiency and effectiveness of the private sector, this would be it.

chuntersalot · 03/06/2018 15:32

Just checked my route - gone from 2 direct trains an hour in the morning to 1 Angry
Last 2 weeks have been awful even though there were in theory still 2 per hour the journey times were longer than the previous operator and more often than not one of them was delayed or cancelled.

PastBananas · 03/06/2018 15:33

Shambolic I agree. People power is what's needed.

Some commuters staged a minor victory near us the other day, it was in the local paper. Halfway through a journey there came an announcement that the train wouldn't be stopping at stations X Y and Z after all (missing out an entire county), and if you wanted to go there you would have to get off at the next stop and get a bus.
Cue outrage from the passengers who, upon arrival at the next station, staged a sit-in, with many of them standing in the train doorways and blocking them so the train couldn't depart. Much twittering and messaging later... success Grin They got their way and the train company backed down.

Eliza9917 · 03/06/2018 15:34

Doing this over GCSE period is another disgrace. I've heard of school aged kids being abandoned by staff at the stations and not put in taxis for a long time. Words fail me.

Why can't they put themselves in taxis? They all have iPhones nowadays don't they.

Original poster
Theworldisfullofgs · 03/06/2018 15:41

Because 17 miles in a taxi one way is fucking expensive. Let alone return.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theworldisfullofgs · 03/06/2018 15:42

Especially when you've already paid for a season ticket for trains that are at ridiculous times or cancelled.

OP posts:
GibbertyFlibbert · 03/06/2018 15:42

When the West Coast Mainline was first privatised the service was so bad that the compensation from one journey paid for the next in a never ending cycle. I think a couple of regions are getting that bad again.