virgin trains complaint!!

Stephb1986_2

KeithP wrote: »

Then I respectfully suggest that you did not 'set off in plenty of time'.

Considering it is a 25 minute journey and I set off with a hour I'm pretty sure that is enough time.

Also if you were going to a meeting on a train and was going to be late for it because of a 5 minute wait you should of got the earlier train.

David333

The way I read it isn't that the OP was late arriving at the station, but that they were waiting on the right platform for the train, yet as soon as it arrived they realised that the seats they'd booked were in carriage G for example and they were waiting by A. They started to hurry down the platform to the right carriage, while the guard was saying to get on at any door... .

pink1310 wrote: »

the train arrived the carrage was at the other end me and my sister were rushing with cases got told by a rude guard that we needed to get on right now

Money_Grabber13579

David333 wrote: »

The way I read it isn't that the OP was late arriving at the station, but that they were waiting on the right platform for the train, yet as soon as it arrived they realised that the seats they'd booked were in carriage G for example and they were waiting by A. They started to hurry down the platform to the right carriage, while the guard was saying to get on at any door... .

But I'm also quite sure the train didn't leave within 30 seconds of it arriving.;)

Now I don't claim to be an expert on the Virgin trains, but I know our Intercity trains have a turn around time of about 20-25 minutes to allow for cleaning etc.

Even if this isn't the case, I can't see it leaving any less than 5 minutes after it arrived. So that would have been plenty of time to walk the entire length of the train and back again, even if that was walking slowly!

Money_Grabber13579

Stephb1986 wrote: »

Considering it is a 25 minute journey and I set off with a hour I'm pretty sure that is enough time.

So who do you want to blame then? Can't blame the train company for setting off without you cause you didn't get there in time.

Also if you were going to a meeting on a train and was going to be late for it because of a 5 minute wait you should of got the earlier train

Why? That's what the timetable is for. If the train runs on time, and you've got 5 minutes to spare, then why get the earlier train? That's precisely the reason why they have to be so efficient, as it could mean missing a connecting train, leaving people waiting up to hours for the next one.

David333

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

But I'm also quite sure the train didn't leave within 30 seconds of it arriving.;)

Now I don't claim to be an expert on the Virgin trains, but I know our Intercity trains have a turn around time of about 20-25 minutes to allow for cleaning etc.

Even if this isn't the case, I can't see it leaving any less than 5 minutes after it arrived. So that would have been plenty of time to walk the entire length of the train and back again, even if that was walking slowly!

If it was a station en route and the train was already late I'm sure there are times where the train will only stop for a couple of minutes in order to try not to lose too much time. I can imagine a family not really knowing where they're going, dragging suitcases, elderly lady, everyone else on the train, the guard shouting 'just get on any door'... .

As I say, I can imagine the situation but I don't understand why the OP didn't just do what the guard said, then maybe moaned to their friends that they had been shouted at by somebody in authority rather than attempted to make official complaints, etc... .

p00hsticks

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

But I'm also quite sure the train didn't leave within 30 seconds of it arriving.;)

Now I don't claim to be an expert on the Virgin trains, but I know our Intercity trains have a turn around time of about 20-25 minutes to allow for cleaning etc.

Even if this isn't the case, I can't see it leaving any less than 5 minutes after it arrived. So that would have been plenty of time to walk the entire length of the train and back again, even if that was walking slowly!

THe OP hasn't said that they boarded at a terminus station though - if it was en-route then it's perfectly possible (indeed likely) that the train was stationary for no more than a minute or two.

I travel on the Manchester->Euston Virgin Pendolino daily (Stockport -> Stoke) and it only stays for a minute in each of those stations - just long enough for passengers to get off and on by the nearest door.

In these circumstances, if you have reserved seats in a particular carriage and you want to get straight into it then IMO you should arrive in enough time to check with a station employee where you should be standing and go and stand there. If not, then just get on the train anywhere and walk through the train instead.

And if you need assistance in boarding there is usually plenty available provided you request it in advance as they ask.

Money_Grabber13579

p00hsticks wrote: »

THe OP hasn't said that they boarded at a terminus station though - if it was en-route then it's perfectly possible (indeed likely) that the train was stationary for no more than a minute or two.

I travel on the Manchester->Euston Virgin Pendolino daily (Stockport -> Stoke) and it only stays for a minute in each of those stations - just long enough for passengers to get off and on by the nearest door.

In these circumstances, if you have reserved seats in a particular carriage and you want to get straight into it then IMO you should arrive in enough time to check with a station employee where you should be standing and go and stand there. If not, then just get on the train anywhere and walk through the train instead.

And if you need assistance in boarding there is usually plenty available provided you request it in advance as they ask.

I didn't actually think of that! I assumed, maybe wrongly, that it was at a terminus.

Gavin83

Stephb1986 wrote: »

Considering it is a 25 minute journey and I set off with a hour I'm pretty sure that is enough time.

Also if you were going to a meeting on a train and was going to be late for it because of a 5 minute wait you should of got the earlier train.

The elderly person could just as easily get on a later train.

The fact of it is they need to keep as many people as possible happy and the best way of doing this is to keep the trains running on time. If I was late for a connecting train because they delayed my original train just to let an elderly person on who didn't manage to arrive early, I'd be writing my own letter of complaint.

malkie76

If you need special assistance then call in advance - many stations have carts to help the elderly / disabled along the platform to save them the walk. You just need to be there on time, which you weren't by your own admission.

I actually think the guards were doing you a favour by pointing out that they wouldn't hold the train for you. They would have been perfectly within their rights to close the doors while you walked down the platform to your carriage.

Considering it is a 25 minute journey and I set off with a hour I'm pretty sure that is enough time.

Evidently not, which is the point the other user was making.

Also if you were going to a meeting on a train and was going to be late for it because of a 5 minute wait you should of got the earlier train.

It doesn't work like that - a train leaving 5 mins late could easily result in it being 30 minutes late into it's destination due to missing it's assigned slots on the rail network. (Ever sat on a stationary train for 20minutes in the middle of nowhere waiting for a different train to pass before you can continue ?)




Full marks to the station staff for help you make your journey while avoiding delay for other customers !

hstudent

p00hsticks wrote: »

I travel on the Manchester->Euston Virgin Pendolino daily (Stockport -> Stoke) and it only stays for a minute in each of those stations - just long enough for passengers to get off and on by the nearest door.

For the southbound platform that Pendolinos use at Stockport there are posters stating approx where each coach will stop at and which end 1st class and standard class will be at.