Wednesday 4 April 2007

It's faster by train (not)

This morning I was due to pick up my Mother in Law from the train station. She had very kindly agreed to come and look after the kids for the day. Her train was due to leave Leeds at 7.20am and get to Hull at 8.20am, a journey of 1 hour. Unfortunately when she got to the station and boarded the train she was informed that it had been cancelled, but not to worry a coach was being laid on. At this point she rang me to inform me that she might be a little late. The coach duly arrived, but instead of taking her all the way to Hull, it dropped her off at a half way point called Howden, informing her she could get a train from there to Hull. She eventually arrived in Hull at 10.15am a journey of nearly 3 hours. The knock on effect of this of course is that I was nearly 2 hours late for work. At no point was a refund offered, nor refreshments of any kind. And to be quite frank they can shove their easily rolled off the tongue apologies up their incompetent, idle, arses. This is not a one off incident, it happens frequently, the british rail network is a joke and an embarrassment, as well as being an over priced rip off. Have I missed anything out?

4 comments:

JJ said...

Bazza, given the circumstances I think you've been very diplomatic in your appraisal of the British rail network. You wouldn't think this was supposed to be the 21st century.

Dr.John said...

Over here the Britsh trail system is seen as being great and our passenger train a massive failure.

Dave W said...

Well said, Bazza. The rail network is, indeed, a shambolic mess. And an expensive rip-off. Didn't privatisation work well? If you're organising a protest of any kind, count me in.

Anonymous said...

Bazza -- sounnds like it might have been faster to go get MIL yourself!