Trains into London

[Muinimula]

I live outside London, and work in London. I catch the train all the time. South West Trains seem to have improvement works engineering 2/3 of all weekends, and it is really starting to drive me mad. I get diverted. I get replacement bus services. A couple of weekends ago, it took me 3 hours to get to work on both days (thanks to diversions, signal failures, and snow). Is this only the case with SWT, or do other people have these problems getting into London/places in general?

I am going to have another rant about another SWT issue later, but just one rant per post, I think. Sorry to rant, anyway, but I almost never do.

[pauliepoos]

The train companies need to replace/repair/rebuild the tracks at some point, and the weekends are the best time to do them, when people generally have more time. It's not just in and out of London, but all over the country. It's a pain, but then it's something that's been neglected for years, decades even, which is why there's such a big programme to do it now.

[Adrian]

The words 'rail-replacement bus services' have put the kibosh on many a planned day trip for me.

[Elly]

SW Trains are absolute fuckers. Here is why: I had to get the train home from work one day because the person who usually gives me a lift was away in the afternoon. Now, the train journey is only a couple of stops, so it's fairly cheap. I (incorrectly) believed I had my YP's railcard on me, so I claimed the discount on the ticket machine, which gave me something like a 30p reduction.

When the woman came to check tickets, I realised I had forgotten my railcard, so I asked her if I could pay to make up the difference. She totally refused, and decided to issue me with a £20 penalty fare, despite the fact that it was such a low discount that I obviously wasn't trying to dupe their crappy little system. I actually started crying because she was so horrible about it, just incredibly rude, and really made me feel l had committed some sort of heinous crime.

Anyway, I tried appealing, by sending them a photocopy of my railcard and everything, but I still had to pay the penalty.

I hate them, and would boycott them, but they seem to be the only train service running in Southampton.

Edit: I know this isn't the point of the thread, I just had to get that off my chest. I feel your diverson frustration, Muinimula. I feel like trains should be so much more pleasant to ride on than the end result actually is.

[Muinimula]

Apr 17, 2008 22:18:57 GMT @pauliepoos said:

The train companies need to replace/repair/rebuild the tracks at some point, and the weekends are the best time to do them, when people generally have more time. It's not just in and out of London, but all over the country. It's a pain, but then it's something that's been neglected for years, decades even, which is why there's such a big programme to do it now.

Yes, I realise these things have to be done, but do they have to take so long about it? On my line, it's been at least 2/3 of weekends since the autumn, and for someone who often works at weekends, it's very frustrating.

[David Hunter]

I now only fly if I'm going to London. It's not a snobbery thing, it's that my final train journey was so bad I swore I'd never use the train again.
It wasn't just to do with breaking down and having to change onto 3 different buses, eventually being put on a replacement train at Carlisle only to have it break down and the journey taking 12 hours. The thing that sticks in my mind was the couple who made a fuss before we left Glasgow. They did that thing of 'oh we're in the wrong seats! Oh, in fact it's the wrong carriage!' before getting off and taking my case from the luggage rack! If I hadn't been watching they'd have been away with it. Turned out they were scammers and weren't even going on the train.

[The Moog]

Ah South West Trains.

Getting in or out of London at a weekend is a nightmare. I learn't a long time ago not to bother. It does seem to be a bit more problematic recently, but as Paulie said, its just the time for it I guess. I just don't bother as I know the buses are useless and add an extra hour onto any journey.

Other than that though, in the week, I've never had hassles with SWT. The trains are always on time and I've not had to worry much. Except the time I fell asleep standing up and fell against the emergency stop lever. Causing the train to er.. stop. They weren't impressed then.

[Becky]

When did trains get so expensive? I used to go to London loads for about £34 and Manchester for £16.50, but its more than double now. I'd expect it to be a few pounds more expensive now but this is ridiculous. I've been look ages in advance too, so its not like I'm just looking for last minute.

[jode*]

South West trains to London on the Weymouth-London line are normally okay. I've had to get a bus a couple of times, but it didn't take that much longer. Plus the trains are lovely and the drivers are always in a good mood and say hello and stuff.

I had to use Southeastern for 21 years who are AWFUL. Not only the delays, but the trains are so cramped, dark, the driver NEVER talks to the passengers, there's chewing gum everywhere, and on our line we had slam door trains until 2005.

[pauliepoos]

I can get a return from Cardiff to London for £22, and just a bit more if I use my Young Person's rail card (which as a thirtysomething I use as a mature student, which I'm not, but they're not to know that).

I have to say that a few year ago my local train service was appalling, but after a sustained local media campaign it has improved to a really noticable effect, the staff have clearly had training in human interaction and they trains are rarely cancelled or overcrowded to a point of people not being able to get off at their stop. It's taken a few years but it was worth it.

And as I was sharing in the chatroom last night, we have (one) hot tattooed muscled conductors. The conductors were called Revenue Protection Assistants for 6 months but they changed that also after complaints.

[Muinimula]

To be fair, travelling during the week is unproblematic (apart from this Monday morning). I guess it just affects me more because of working at weekends.

However, my other rant issue (which I have actually complained to SWT about, without response) is the following:
Until January, you could park at the station for free on a Bank Holiday. At the start of January, along with the usual ticket price increase, and car park price increase, SWT decided to start charging for the car park on Bank Holidays. Not only that, but they now charge a peak-day price of over £5. I mean it's bad enough that they're charging at all, but peak-day car park on a day when all train tickets are off-peak? Again, as someone who often works on Bank Holidays, maybe it's more noticeable to me, but I cannot think of any logical reason for that price rise, other than SWT wanting as much money as possible.

[Becky]

Last time I was in the car park at Durham station is was £8 flat rate to park. That was a while ago. I haven't been on a train for ages. Apparently they've done the station up recently too.

[QuincyMD]

Apr 18, 2008 8:17:50 GMT Becky said:

When did trains get so expensive? I used to go to London loads for about £34 and Manchester for £16.50, but its more than double now. I'd expect it to be a few pounds more expensive now but this is ridiculous. I've been look ages in advance too, so its not like I'm just looking for last minute.

Since they changed the franchise in Scotland to National Express, Trans Penine and Virgin from GNER and Virgin last year I've noted that the prices have gone through the roof.

However National Express offer cheap deals on their site if you book early enough and are prepared to travel in the middle of the night/early morning.

Bloomin Rip off.