No Boxing Day Trains Says Gov! Unbelievable - Need Campaign!

WhatRecovery

Thought new govt were going to do something about this! They went on about last gov not putting on trains, and now have proceeded to do - absolutely nothing about it. My daughters are trying to do the sensible thing and get back to London for work befoire the next storm hits tomorrow after a a miserable and short curtailed visit - now they cant get back either! The Cons transport minister (Stephen Hammond) blamed lack of services on 26th on last gov but he's not bothering now he’s the Cons transport minister so obvs doesn’t care about it after all, So my daughters had nightmare trip down for xmas & only just made it late on xmas eve (one had emergency cord pulled when train hit low hanging bough of big tree, and train sat in middle of field while other passengers raided bar/buffet in middle of nowhere)the other made it out of paddington and then all passengers told they were getting off at Tiverton and no futher services further west. The thing that really gets me is that they paid their money and train companies didnt have to wait or be inconvenienced about that - it was instant. Hoping therell be a campaign for Boxing Day trains next year!)

jobdone1

People who work for the railway have family as-well and are entitled to the season holiday.

It comes down to making plans in advance and as for the xmas eve storm we was being warned days before. If this was me i would have travelled sooner and made better plans for getting back.

gallygirl

When exactly do you think the railways can do their maintenance? Should they do it during a normal work week when they would inconvenience hundreds of thousands of thousands of commuters on every line paying upwards 5-8k a year? Or over bank holidays when they inconvenience a few (in comparison) irregular travellers?

Network Rail can't normally get access till after the last train has gone through - say 00.30. Up to 1 hour to get equipment fully into position. 2 hours to work. Then 1 hour to get railway ready and remove equipment ready for first train going through at say 04.45. A ridiculously inefficient way of working, but forced on them as the train operators won't cancel late trains, even if virtually empty, as they get penalised for it.

Alternatively, working over Christmas means they can do the likes of THIS or THIS

Easy for the opposition to say what they would do - but when faced with hard reality there is no decision to be made.

Sorry the trains had to stop when it was clearly unsafe to continue. Would you have preferred the train operators to have risked the lives of the drivers and passengers in the event of lines being blocked by trees and landslides. The severe weather was well signalled in advance and train operators did what they could, telling passengers to forget the train they were booked on and travel early. They laid on buses when they knew what the impact was - lined up in advance but with such changing situations no doubt they were caught out in some places.

But honestly, give them a break!

jobdone1

Not forgetting the fact the railway runs new years eve and new years day. The time when people wreck the inside of trains chuck up just about everywhere and want to take on the world, I.E the staff on and off trains. So i think the railway staff do a sterling job and to give them the Christmas day and boxing day off is not to much to ask.

prowla

We're not that bad here compared to some...

I went to Norway on business in the summer and caught the train from the airport to Oslo on the Monday.

When I went to return home on the Friday I went to get the train and they had closed down Oslo's main railway stations for 6 weeks, for maintenance.

(It was said that it turned out that they had ordered the wrong sleepers or something, so they couldn't do the planned work anyway!)

CC-Warrior

I find it odd that there's no public transport on one of the busiest days of the year in retail.

worried_jim

Car hire?

http://www.enterprise.co.uk

penrhyn

CC-Warrior wrote: »

I find it odd that there's no public transport on one of the busiest days of the year in retail.

At least it prevents some of the plebs from reaching the stores, and spending their benefits on stuff they can't afford.

jobdone1

CC-Warrior wrote: »

I find it odd that there's no public transport on one of the busiest days of the year in retail.

Going off the subject a little, but is their any need to open say 5am boxing day so people can rush and spend money.

What about the poor retail staff that also should have a national holiday xmas and boxing day and not be in a position to go to work most on min wage only. Not being able to celebrate xmas properly so they get up before dawn. You get the idea.

About time we lived in the real world and celebrate with family. Their is always the next day to shop simple.

Saturnalia

So they booked tix for the journey to yours, without booking or even planning their journey back?

And this is the government's fault because..?

WhatRecovery

Not exactly - have booked for tomorrrow but sky is already 'booming' overhead here in w country - were hoping ticket exchange would also apply to boxing day so could avoid tomorrows predicted storm return - and prudently get back in time for work and avoid being a nuisance by travelling on stormy day.