Time for a rant...
Trains and service... really?
Last week my train company decided to do midweek engineering works. Well I don't know if it's the level of contractor or the amount of work that needs to be done or even piss poor planning, but the woe over ran... no surprise there.
Last Thursday my 5.41 train was scheduled for 6 then 6.30 then they couldn't tell you when a train was going to arrive... last Thursday was cold. So standing around on the cold platform was less than pleasant. Then they did exactly the same thing on Friday!
I complained but haven't had anything back yet.
Then again this morning it began all over again... and when the train did show up... it was freezing!
The Which report came out this week and the two train operators than supply my line with 'service' were 18 and 19 out of 19 companies. Last year my trains weren't being heated from February to October, during that time some mornings they were as cold as -1 degree.
Then there were the journey times. Longer and longer and longer.
When I first started travelling into London in 1986 no train journey took longer than 26 minutes and we thought that was slow.
Now they take 40+ minutes.
What I don't understand is why the train operators have to pay compensation if the train is late or doesn't run correctly but the following year they can rewrite their timetables and completely lower their standards.
Imagine if a restaurant could do that. Errrr yes rat poo on the floor is a fail, but next year we could rewirite it and a little bit of rat poo is ok....
NO! It's not!
The trains should be benchmarked. Journey distance and number of stops. Comfort of the passengers, including seating, heating and general cleanliness. ( when my son was smaller he used to ask to go on the dirty trains)
82% of passengers don't complain or seek compensation...what?
Now is that because the process puts them off? Or apathy?
Last year during the snows our trains didn't run for almost two weeks. Nothing at all. My theory at the time was that it was a money saving exercise. No service for two. Possibly 5% might claim something back but then we make 95% from doing nothing.
I think this year we should all have some fun.
Our prices are going up astronomically in every area.
So make them provide a service.
My gym fees went up. I'm going to write to them and ask them to fix the bad equipment, ask them to give me dates on equipment that has been out for months and ask why the lockers aren't clean.
But go through every area where you spend money and have some fun. Be a pain in the ass.
Tomorrow my train company has had a week to reply to my complaint. Nothing. So I'm going to write and see what damage I can do. They were happy increasing our fares by 7%, so now I want the service.
Last week my train company decided to do midweek engineering works. Well I don't know if it's the level of contractor or the amount of work that needs to be done or even piss poor planning, but the woe over ran... no surprise there.
Last Thursday my 5.41 train was scheduled for 6 then 6.30 then they couldn't tell you when a train was going to arrive... last Thursday was cold. So standing around on the cold platform was less than pleasant. Then they did exactly the same thing on Friday!
I complained but haven't had anything back yet.
Then again this morning it began all over again... and when the train did show up... it was freezing!
The Which report came out this week and the two train operators than supply my line with 'service' were 18 and 19 out of 19 companies. Last year my trains weren't being heated from February to October, during that time some mornings they were as cold as -1 degree.
Then there were the journey times. Longer and longer and longer.
When I first started travelling into London in 1986 no train journey took longer than 26 minutes and we thought that was slow.
Now they take 40+ minutes.
What I don't understand is why the train operators have to pay compensation if the train is late or doesn't run correctly but the following year they can rewrite their timetables and completely lower their standards.
Imagine if a restaurant could do that. Errrr yes rat poo on the floor is a fail, but next year we could rewirite it and a little bit of rat poo is ok....
NO! It's not!
The trains should be benchmarked. Journey distance and number of stops. Comfort of the passengers, including seating, heating and general cleanliness. ( when my son was smaller he used to ask to go on the dirty trains)
82% of passengers don't complain or seek compensation...what?
Now is that because the process puts them off? Or apathy?
Last year during the snows our trains didn't run for almost two weeks. Nothing at all. My theory at the time was that it was a money saving exercise. No service for two. Possibly 5% might claim something back but then we make 95% from doing nothing.
I think this year we should all have some fun.
Our prices are going up astronomically in every area.
So make them provide a service.
My gym fees went up. I'm going to write to them and ask them to fix the bad equipment, ask them to give me dates on equipment that has been out for months and ask why the lockers aren't clean.
But go through every area where you spend money and have some fun. Be a pain in the ass.
Tomorrow my train company has had a week to reply to my complaint. Nothing. So I'm going to write and see what damage I can do. They were happy increasing our fares by 7%, so now I want the service.
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