Elizabeth Line trains looking fancy in the Metro today... The air-con on those in the summer should draw in just about everyone with an SE postcode, though.
I got handed a leaflet outside my station this morning about the threat to Charing Cross and Victoria direct rail services. I have heard about this before and have signed a petition.
It encourages those who are against it, to e-mail the department for transport at BetterSouthEastern@dft.gsi.gov.uk to oppose the threat. Head the e-mail 'Threat to rail services' and say that you are opposed to the proposition that all servcies from north kent and Bexleyheath lines should terminate at Cannon Street only. Please include your name and postcode in the e-mail, as this is required by DFT.
The consulation closes 30 June - so not long to get your oar in.
The south east is London's poor relation in terms of public transport. As far as I can see, this proposal is essentially to make life easier for those travelling from anywhere else in south London. This, after all that work at London Bridge!
"Due to signal failure this train has been delayed but we should be off in a few minutes."
Two minutes later.
"This train has been cancelled."
All over to platform 7 to at least get to Lewisham.
But joy. Announcer says next train is via Bexleyheath.
But no, he apologiss for getting it completely wrong,
So...,
"The next train to arrive will be the Gillingham train via etc"
Five minutes later.
"Could all passengers waiting for the Gillingham service now go to platform 8."
Which is where we were in the first fucking place.
Don't come on this thread much as I don't use the trains much but I feel your pain.
They are fucking useless.
Normally you find that late platform changes are down too finding enough space to fit the train.
You may have all platforms full, and expecting the next free platform to be xx, so you announce that say the "Gillingham" train will leave from that platform and get everyone over too it. The next thing you know the signalbox calls too say, it's a platform alteration and will leave from a different one, so you then have too announce that it will be from a different platform.
I can assure you that these short notice platform alterations are not anything to do with the station staff as they have no control over train movements. My guess would be that they are trying to speed things up by (hopefully) having everybody ready before the train is actually in the platform rather than having a cavalry charge once it's in the platform.
Having spent 16yrs on the railway as platform staff, and as a signalman, I know that unexpected platform alterations can be annoying if the box doesn't tell the station staff well in advance. The Signalbox only concern is to keep trains running regardless of the staff or passengers.
fucking useless sack of shit as usual, at barnehurst since 7 waiting on a cannon street service, no announcements just random trains cancelled and then passing through fast. nothing on there twitter apart from an incident at plumstead.
Comments
It encourages those who are against it, to e-mail the department for transport at BetterSouthEastern@dft.gsi.gov.uk to oppose the threat.
Head the e-mail 'Threat to rail services' and say that you are opposed to the proposition that all servcies from north kent and Bexleyheath lines should terminate at Cannon Street only. Please include your name and postcode in the e-mail, as this is required by DFT.
The consulation closes 30 June - so not long to get your oar in.
The south east is London's poor relation in terms of public transport. As far as I can see, this proposal is essentially to make life easier for those travelling from anywhere else in south London. This, after all that work at London Bridge!
"Due to signal failure this train has been delayed but we should be off in a few minutes."
Two minutes later.
"This train has been cancelled."
All over to platform 7 to at least get to Lewisham.
But joy. Announcer says next train is via Bexleyheath.
But no, he apologiss for getting it completely wrong,
So...,
"The next train to arrive will be the Gillingham train via etc"
Five minutes later.
"Could all passengers waiting for the Gillingham service now go to platform 8."
Which is where we were in the first fucking place.
Don't come on this thread much as I don't use the trains much but I feel your pain.
They are fucking useless.
You may have all platforms full, and expecting the next free platform to be xx, so you announce that say the "Gillingham" train will leave from that platform and get everyone over too it. The next thing you know the signalbox calls too say, it's a platform alteration and will leave from a different one, so you then have too announce that it will be from a different platform.
I can assure you that these short notice platform alterations are not anything to do with the station staff as they have no control over train movements. My guess would be that they are trying to speed things up by (hopefully) having everybody ready before the train is actually in the platform rather than having a cavalry charge once it's in the platform.
Having spent 16yrs on the railway as platform staff, and as a signalman, I know that unexpected platform alterations can be annoying if the box doesn't tell the station staff well in advance. The Signalbox only concern is to keep trains running regardless of the staff or passengers.
I think it's safe to assume that rush hour trains will now be effected.