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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say that It feels like there's no effort to reduce train stress.

188 replies

hockeysticks89 · 24/03/2022 16:26

I'm sitting at Euston, having missed my hourly train by seconds. When I approached it (running, which is not an attractive look for me) at its proper departure time a guy blew a whistle at me and said no. He saw me coming but gave the lock doors command as I approached.

Fair enough but I know from experience that they only put the station up on the board for my Crewe train around five minutes before it departs, at which point everyone literally charges like crazed animals. If you're slightly infirm you're screwed, it's a health and safety nightmare.

There are more platforms than there are trains. Guards know in advance which station it's going from.

AIBU to state that there appears to be no desire to reduce the stress of train travel in this situation? Grrrrr

OP posts:
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 24/03/2022 17:31

@WTF475878237NC

Some people can't read. The OP is quite clear. This is not about her not getting there early enough to read the board. I once tried to outwit the buggers and they used a platform I had never departed from before.

YANBU OP.

Is that correct? Some things were implied not clearly stated in the OP.
thelittlefox · 24/03/2022 17:32

Totally agree with previous posters, Euston is appalling for this. Before Covid, I travelled often enough to have a good idea as to which platform my train would depart from, so would take my chances and wait there . Usually the train would be sitting with its doors locked for a good 15 minutes before the board updated in the main concourse. They aren't cleaning it so why do they only unlock the doors and announce the platform at the last bloody minute. Utter bastards.

katicomps · 24/03/2022 17:39

People who can't run just can't get a train from Euston. It is incredible that they get away with it.

I live Up Norf and the only direct trains here go into Euston, I could go elsewhere but it'd mean connecting. How annoying if that's your only option! I bet you could complain until you're blue in the face, nothing would change Angry

Malteser71 · 24/03/2022 17:48

Euston is exactly like this. There’s a way to get wise to it, though.

Somebody has already pointed you to the ‘Real-time Trains’ website.

What they haven’t told you is that the platform is usually confirmed on there 15 minutes before departure. This is really helpful at Euston because you can loiter near the right platform, or to one side of the Concourse.

The platform will be displayed in black. Once it’s confirmed, it turns red.

Never fails.

TottersBlankly · 24/03/2022 17:51

Oddly enough, while I quite often see the station buggies for the less mobile picking passengers up from trains, I rarely see them delivering passengers to the trains …

Angry
cigarettesNalcohol · 24/03/2022 17:58

It's not their job to reduce your train stress. Get there early, wait right by the gates/announcements and be better prepared.

Belladonna12 · 24/03/2022 17:59

@cigarettesNalcohol

It's not their job to reduce your train stress. Get there early, wait right by the gates/announcements and be better prepared.
Someone hasn't read the thread.Hmm
katicomps · 24/03/2022 17:59

@cigarettesNalcohol

It's not their job to reduce your train stress. Get there early, wait right by the gates/announcements and be better prepared.

🏆

TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat · 24/03/2022 18:02

Why should anyone have to resort to RealTimeTrains? Do you have to have a mobile now, to be able to catch a train?

Thankfully, though I live up North I am on the East Coast line. IME this doesn't happen at Kings Cross.

FloBot7 · 24/03/2022 18:05

@cigarettesNalcohol

It's not their job to reduce your train stress. Get there early, wait right by the gates/announcements and be better prepared.
That's exactly what their job is. It's basic customer service. They only get to treat it as optional because most train users have no other choice.
user1499609760 · 24/03/2022 18:08

@TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat

Why should anyone have to resort to RealTimeTrains? Do you have to have a mobile now, to be able to catch a train?

Thankfully, though I live up North I am on the East Coast line. IME this doesn't happen at Kings Cross.

Re: King’s Cross, yes and no. I found that long-distance trains were often announced with plenty of time. But often the platforms for more local, commuter services were only announced with a few minutes to go, and cue the sea of people rushing towards the barriers. Woe betide you if your ticket wouldn’t let you through & you had to find a member of staff…!
Belladonna12 · 24/03/2022 18:13

@Malteser71

Euston is exactly like this. There’s a way to get wise to it, though.

Somebody has already pointed you to the ‘Real-time Trains’ website.

What they haven’t told you is that the platform is usually confirmed on there 15 minutes before departure. This is really helpful at Euston because you can loiter near the right platform, or to one side of the Concourse.

The platform will be displayed in black. Once it’s confirmed, it turns red.

Never fails.

It might work for you you but I have been looking at platforms for trains that I would need to get from Euston on this app since someone mentioned it it earlier in the thread. The platform generally goes red about 3 or 4 minutes before the train leaves. Not good if you can't move quickly even if near the platform and if they changed platform to one on the other side of the concourse at the last minute I would have no chance of getting there.
Holothane · 24/03/2022 18:16

At Euston I always go the the disabled area and ask they always tell me the platform. But yes it’s awful when that happens I always allow plenty of time too as well. One time after Moorfields train was 8n but then cancelled, then another was cancelled so much walking it nearly killed me.

Nightlystroll · 24/03/2022 18:20

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

A guy from the office came out and walked the length of the train to see if anyone could drive a train! Say what now? Yeah - that didn't happen. Even if you are a driver, you need up to date route knowledge so there's no way that would have worked.
Er, don't call me a liar. That's what happened. A guy from the offices came onto the train after getting complaints and people were asking him what he was going to do. And he said he was going to walk down the train and see if there was anybody who could drive the train. People were rolling their eyes and muttering because it was a ridiculous thing to say. I've got no reason to lie. They're were a dreadful company and they lost their licence.
Gizlotsmum · 24/03/2022 18:21

Oh I remember the rush to the platform at Euston as a kid ( so over 30 years ago) never was much notice and a frantic race ( how my mum and dad did it with 2 kids and my grandma I will never know) we used to try to guess which platform it would be…

Jules912 · 24/03/2022 18:22

@Nightlystroll I have many issues with our train company but there is at least one nice guard and/or driver who will hold the train if the connecting service was late, well so long as he could see people running across the platforms.

trailrunner85 · 24/03/2022 18:22

This happened to me. Waiting in the big concourse area, train platform was announced about 5 mins before departure. I got to the train on time - but it was full (presumably from people who knew the platform some other way or who regularly used the service).

Even though I had a booked ticket and reserved seat for that specific train, they wouldn't let me on as the train was full to the point of overcrowding.

I was told to get on the next one (two hours later) and apply for a refund..!

freedaym · 24/03/2022 18:24

OMG I was lucky not to get trains too often but why do they do this!!!

Wait until 8:59 to tell you what time the 9am train is leaving from & then the platform is number 500089. 🤬

cortex10 · 24/03/2022 18:25

There's an app for phones that someone has written (nothing flashy) that notifies the departure platform at Euston as soon as the incoming train is near the station. I used to be a very regular traveller at Euston and found it really reliable - often standing at the ramp 15 or more minutes before anything comes up on the main concourse board. In fact the platform sign on the ramp usually lights up a couple of minutes before the main board so there's plenty of time to walk down and board before the hoardes descend. By sharing this I have probably destroyed the advantage of having the app but I agree that Euston is one of the worst stations for this. Search for London Platforms on the App Store.

Saffy321 · 24/03/2022 18:25

I used to commute on the Thameslink line where it was so packed the people behind you on the platform would be shoving you onto the train so they could also try and squeeze in - also saw a couple of people pass out due to be crammed in so tightly.

Sailorsusan · 24/03/2022 18:25

I can relate to this. And also have had experience of guards seeming to enjoy not letting me through.

freedaym · 24/03/2022 18:25

The best way to reduce train stress is to get there on time, especially if you know that you'll have to wait an hour for another one! Sorry OP but you know doors close X minutes before departure, if they wait for you they'll have to wait for the person running behind you, and the one behind them, and the one behind them...

You can be an hour early but if you don't know the platform...

Nightlystroll · 24/03/2022 18:26

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

she got a piece of my mind on how her company was run too. Because everyone knows the frontline staff are actually CEOs and senior managers. I really can't stand people who do this - it's liek the ones who shout at doctor's receptionists as if they are Sajid Javid.
She didn't need to approach me and be patronising, with her have you calmed down grin. No, it was blinking freezing, it was late, I had to wait an hour and I had to pay increased parking fees at the end and increased carers fees. But the company didn't care that I had increased costs because of their mess up. They didn't want to be out of pocket but they were happy with me being. Shutting the door in people's faces was totally unnecessary.
freedaym · 24/03/2022 18:28

And I have often wondered what happens if one can’t run.

exactly!

Notlabeled · 24/03/2022 18:28

And they wonder why people would rather drive themselves than put up with this nonsense.

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