Shame on you! - Premier Inn

shaun_from_Africa

I might have missed it, but has the OP made any mention of what their plans were had they arrived at their destination on time?

If there was a confirmed reservation in place, then arriving late wouldn't matter as the room would have been kept for tme, and if there were no plans made, why not?

Who in their right mind (anyone, let alone a single female) plans to arrive at a town on a Friday evening (which is very often one of the busiest night in hotels, hence the reason they often charge more on fridays and saturdays), without having made any arrangment for somewhere to stay for the night?
The stormy weather at the end of last week didn't spring up without warning and it had been mentioned for quite a few days beforehand so surely it wasn't beyond the realms of possibility that there would be travel disruptions.

Is there no such thing as being a responsible adult nowadays?

duchy

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

I might have missed it, but has the OP made any mention of what their plans were had they arrived at their destination on time?

No the OP has given no explanation for this.

devongina

Just to clarify for the nit-pickers amongst you: the whole train journey was uncertain. There was no way of knowing what was going to happen. The train could have reached Dorchester before 10pm which wouldn’t have been a problem for me. It could, the way things were going, not have reached Dorchester much before 6am, which also would not have been a problem - the Costa Coffee shop would have been opening and the buses would have started running at about this time. The train could have been terminated anywhere along the line - I could have ended up being stuck somewhere like Poole or Bournemouth. There would have been no point trying to book somewhere to stay in Dorchester if I didn’t make it there. (With hindsight, I probably should have got off the train at an earlier station at a more reasonable time of night and got myself sorted out there.)

I did not have Twitter or Facebook. I carry a basic Samsung mobile phone that I had to use sparingly because if the battery went I had no way of recharging it.

As I said, the whole thing was very uncertain and in exceptionally unusual circumstances. Why would people not believe the train driver had a chain saw??? In severe winter weather wouldn’t you carry things in your car that you wouldn’t normally have - just in case?

Thank you to those of you showing concern, but please don’t get het up and angry about this - it isn’t worth it.

George_Michael

devongina wrote: »

As I said, the whole thing was very uncertain and in exceptionally unusual circumstances.

But the bad weather wasn't uncertain was it?
There had been warnings about it and the disruption that it might cause for a couple of days beforehand, so surely anticipating that there could have been a problem would have been extremely sensible.

System

Of course. Getting yourself stranded in Dorchester at 3am is very foolish.

However that doesn't mean she should be cast to the wolves! I assume you've not read my posts. How she ended up there doesn't matter. The fact is a person saw a woman in need and did nothing.

I find that shocking.

shaun_from_Africa

Exactly. "put herself in this position" then complains when there is no one to get them out the position that they put themselves in through lack of foresight and planning.

moaninggit

how many train drivers carry a chain saw and the necessary protective clothing required for chain saw use in the cab.
did he have adequate training to do such work hmmmm

shaun_from_Africa

moaninggit wrote: »

how many train drivers carry a chain saw and the necessary protective clothing required for chain saw use in the cab.
did he have adequate training to do such work hmmmm

And under current H&S rules, would they legally be allowed to carry a petrol filled machine in the cab with them?

GwylimT

So, OP, if you were a paying guest at a hotel you wouldn't at all mind random people dossing in the hotels reception? I don't get this whole lone female traveler thing, being male or female means nothing, either can be incapable or appropriately arranging their journey, neither can claim victim due to their own failings.

The weather isn't exactly a surprise, we are all currently aware that many journeys are going to face disruption, even if that was not the fact you knew you were staying the night in your destination, but you chose not to book a hotel. If you don't want to book a hotel until you arrive somewhere you cannot then complain that you can't find a room, it isn't the fault of Premier Inn, it is your own fault. The B&B owner wasn't kind, they as a business person had a room available which they could charge for, instead of leaving it empty.

GwylimT

moaninggit wrote: »

how many train drivers carry a chain saw and the necessary protective clothing required for chain saw use in the cab.
did he have adequate training to do such work hmmmm

They would need a chainsaw license wouldn't they, also carrying petrol in a train cab that is barely big enough for the driver? Then the gear is hefty, proper trousers, top, gloves, eye protection, where would you keep that and where would you get changed into it?

I used to live in rural Wales and items on the line was a common problem, especially trees/large branches, the train driver was never allowed to remove the debris, then when the debris was removed the line had to be checked to make sure it was fit for trains to be using it. Even if the train driver could remove the blockage, they would still need to wait for the line to be deemed fit, they wouldn't just continue with their journey.