F*cking nightmare of a bastard commute

[davesgcr]

I think death is probably preferable to some life changing injuries that people would sustain after being hit by a train.

That is indeed a fair point .......there was an awful one recently with 70% burns to an individual which did not result in a death - but the trauma for the person , and those tasked with the handling and aftermath defy description. As an old railway git- who has (regrettably) been there and seen the consequences all round , you can understand the issues ....you never forget each one ....

 

[farmerbarleymow]

That is indeed a fair point .......there was an awful one recently with 70% burns to an individual which did not result in a death - but the trauma for the person , and those tasked with the handling and aftermath defy description. As an old railway git- who has (regrettably) been there and seen the consequences all round , you can understand the issues ....you never forget each one ....

I can well imagine the impact it must have on the staff and emergency services having to deal with the consequences, not to mention the poor sod themselves.

 

[_pH_]

Yes there have been - I see the Daily Operations log every day - (at 0600 or so) - and it is very depressing reading I have to say. Apart from the tragedy of each confirmed case - there are some awful incidents which result in "life changing injuries" ......

And another one at Battersea Park just before midday which apparently the person involved survived. Not sure if it was a deliberate attempt to take their own life but if so and they'd waited another 2 minutes it would have been me who hit them as I was working the following train. Such is life on the railway.

 

[davesgcr]

We will not expand on this - (last comments) - am working from home so had a lie in - but the fatality list was 4 yesterday - Gipsy Hill / Battersea Park / Crimple - near Harrogate/ and between St Albans and Radlett.

Note that three of them were on the Thameslink / Southern routes. 4 is exceptionally high.....

 

[marty21]

5.18 train to Chingford only stopping at last 2 stops due to 'disruptive passengers' earlier

As I am a seasoned commuter I'm getting another train to Rectory Road and walking back from there

 

[twentythreedom]

We will not expand on this - (last comments) - am working from home so had a lie in - but the fatality list was 4 yesterday - Gipsy Hill / Battersea Park / Crimple - near Harrogate/ and between St Albans and Radlett.

Note that three of them were on the Thameslink / Southern routes. 4 is exceptionally high.....

That's grim Aside from the tragedy of the deaths alone, the aftermath and consequences must be so awful for the workers etc involved

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Fucking Oxford.

Signalling problems in that area have fucked trains heading North through Birmingham, so have got on a Virgin fast train to Crewe where I'll have to change for a homeward bound service. The original train I was going to get left 34 minutes late - leaving at the same time as the next scheduled Cross Cuntry one.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Arrived at Crewe ten minutes late due to emergency speed restrictions on the line between Stafford and Crewe, which meant a Virgin train behind me heading to Manchester via Crewe was also late. So I might beat my normal very delayed service back to Manchester at this rate.

 

[davesgcr]

That's grim Aside from the tragedy of the deaths alone, the aftermath and consequences must be so awful for the workers etc involved

Spring madness - there was also an attempted one at Mitcham Junction that day - and a shed load of what could have been tricky trespassers all over the UK.

The other week - on a Friday at 1700 - a quiet time - some would be "Darwin awarders" climbed onto a signal gantry approaching London Bridge (presumably wanted the ultimate "selfie" shot) - just makes you realise the next time your train is f**ed what some of the front line staff have to deal with.

The LB one was not disruptive - but could have been as disruptive as the "tw**t in a tree" near the tracks at New Cross a few months ago. (about 200 cancellations for this dork) , I had an attention seeker on a gantry at Hemel one Sunday afternoon which stopped the whole line into Euston - I was all for bringing him down with carefully aimed lumps of ballast - or even sending a dog up. No - we had to wait for a trained negotiator - he came down after 3 hours and delays to about 10,000 passengers to end of service. Turns out his girlfriend had dumped him Poor lamb. Feel better now , rant over. Good job I retire in September.

 

[davesgcr]

Fucking Oxford.

Signalling problems in that area have fucked trains heading North through Birmingham, so have got on a Virgin fast train to Crewe where I'll have to change for a homeward bound service. The original train I was going to get left 34 minutes late - leaving at the same time as the next scheduled Cross Cuntry one.

Some issues (which I cannot explain) - with points north of Oxford - so only one line open bi-directionally and nothing towards the Cotswolds.

Akin to one land open out of 6 on the M40 - with a tidal flow over the "open" one. Not Cross Country's problems - but do put a claim in.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I beat the shitty delayed Cross Cuntry service that I normally get by ten minutes, despite getting two trains and a longer journey, so that's me feel a bit better. And anything is better than hanging around in New Street waiting for delayed trains.

 

[davesgcr]

I beat the shitty delayed Cross Cuntry service that I normally get by ten minutes, despite getting two trains and a longer journey, so that's me feel a bit better. And anything is better than hanging around in New Street waiting for delayed trains.

At least you kept moving ...the only solace in the old New Street was the in - barrier area bar - where my bro-in-law insisted you could get the best pint of Guinness in Brum. Never bought that one !

 

[farmerbarleymow]

At least you kept moving ...the only solace in the old New Street was the in - barrier area bar - where my bro-in-law insisted you could get the best pint of Guinness in Brum. Never bought that one !

That was my thinking - just keep heading in the right direction, and get there eventually. It's just dull hanging around in stations for a train that never arrives.

I still blame Cross Cuntry though - everything is always their fault because they're shite.

 

[T & P]

Driving in the Battersea Power Station/ Chelsea Bridge area and its approaches has been a never-ending nightmare for longer than I care to remember now. The redesign of the Queen's Circus roundabout is not in its *ninth* month, with no clear indication of when it will be finished.

Is there any other nation on Earth where it would be considered normal, let alone tolerated, for roadworks on a fucking roundabout to take the best part of a year? Are we so accustomed to innefective, corrupted contracted work practices that we think nothing of improvement works on an area smaller than half a football pitch to take this long? They would build a 200-mile motorway in France in less time, for fuck's sake. How on earth can it take a year to redesign a roundabout?

x 1,000

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Driving in the Battersea Power Station/ Chelsea Bridge area and its approaches has been a never-ending nightmare for longer than I care to remember now. The redesign of the Queen's Circus roundabout is not in its *ninth* month, with no clear indication of when it will be finished.

Is there any other nation on Earth where it would be considered normal, let alone tolerated, for roadworks on a fucking roundabout to take the best part of a year? Are we so accustomed to innefective, corrupted contracted work practices that we think nothing of improvement works on an area smaller than half a football pitch to take this long? They would build a 200-mile motorway in France in less time, for fuck's sake. How on earth can it take a year to redesign a roundabout?

x 1,000

The M3 junction with the M25 heading south had roadworks for just over three years

 

[machine cat]

I beat the shitty delayed Cross Cuntry service that I normally get by ten minutes, despite getting two trains and a longer journey, so that's me feel a bit better. And anything is better than hanging around in New Street waiting for delayed trains.

This is what I'm doing right now

 

[farmerbarleymow]

This is what I'm doing right now

Good luck!

 

[machine cat]

Good luck!

Finally on the train and heading up north. I always keep a couple of cans of cider with me whenever I have to travel via New Street.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Finally on the train and heading up north. I always keep a couple of cans of cider with me whenever I have to travel via New Street.

Sensible plan - it's either booze or crack to deaden the pain of having to use that station.

 

[machine cat]

Sensible plan - it's either booze or crack to deaden the pain of having to use that station.

It had to be by far the worst train station I've been to, and I've been to a lot. I can deal with all the new changes, but why on earth are the platforms so narrow?

Anyway, that's behind me for the next week or so, just on the final leg - Leeds to Huddersfield, which is relatively painless.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

It had to be by far the worst train station I've been to, and I've been to a lot. I can deal with all the new changes, but why on earth are the platforms so narrow?

Anyway, that's behind me for the next week or so, just on the final leg - Leeds to Huddersfield, which is relatively painless.

The platforms are really narrow due to the never-ending building works. Quite why they have to make them so narrow is a mystery - its heaving at rush hour.

And there is usually one broken escalator on each platform end, and they don't have the sense to realise that they should make the functional one go in the direction of the prevailing traffic at rush hour. Useless buggers.

 

[machine cat]

Yes, I experienced a broken escalator this afternoon

I've been travelling there on and off for the best part of three years and all the changes just make things worse.

I also have to use Moor St too, which in comparison is not only logical, but a pleasure to be in.

 

[davesgcr]

Yes, I experienced a broken escalator this afternoon

I've been travelling there on and off for the best part of three years and all the changes just make things worse.

I also have to use Moor St too, which in comparison is not only logical, but a pleasure to be in.

Major pain in the ass I know - but salvation (well short of) ,is not too far away with the completion of the works at New Street not too far away - though the circulating area above will be much improved , the platforms remain a challenge in terms of space - the old lavatory ambience ought/ will be bettered.

No joke - but a very good old mate of mine was the project manage for this job (for a major Train Operator) - and the stress of the job finally got to him - and he had to give up working. He took it very personally and worked himself into a corner.

 

[machine cat]

No joke - but a very good old mate of mine was the project manage for this job (for a major Train Operator) - and the stress of the job finally got to him - and he had to give up working. He took it very personally and worked himself into a corner.

I'm sorry to hear that about your mate, and I can understand how that could get to someone. The place was a mess to begin with, how can they ever improve it? Compared to other major city links: Newcastle (a joy), York (same), Leeds (cold but logical), Sheffield (meh), NS just doesn't make sense. No clearly marked exits, platforms in a bizarre order, too narrow, and now no pub!

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Major pain in the ass I know - but salvation (well short of) ,is not too far away with the completion of the works at New Street not too far away - though the circulating area above will be much improved , the platforms remain a challenge in terms of space - the old lavatory ambience ought/ will be bettered.

No joke - but a very good old mate of mine was the project manage for this job (for a major Train Operator) - and the stress of the job finally got to him - and he had to give up working. He took it very personally and worked himself into a corner.

Sorry to hear about your friend too.

I don't care about the circulating area (aka shopping centre) - I'll be happy if the get the escalators working and some proper signage. The basic things go a long way to make commuting bearable.

 

[machine cat]

That whole Virgin Train airport lounge place is taking the piss as well. Just show me where the fucking platforms are!

 

[twentythreedom]

I beat the shitty delayed Cross Cuntry service that I normally get by ten minutes, despite getting two trains and a longer journey, so that's me feel a bit better. And anything is better than hanging around in New Street waiting for delayed trains.

How far and long is your regular commute?

 

[twentythreedom]

Oh and I read that the guy who recently got hit in the head by a tube at Stockwell has died RIP

 

[porp]

Driving in the Battersea Power Station/ Chelsea Bridge area and its approaches has been a never-ending nightmare for longer than I care to remember now. The redesign of the Queen's Circus roundabout is not in its *ninth* month, with no clear indication of when it will be finished.

Is there any other nation on Earth where it would be considered normal, let alone tolerated, for roadworks on a fucking roundabout to take the best part of a year? Are we so accustomed to innefective, corrupted contracted work practices that we think nothing of improvement works on an area smaller than half a football pitch to take this long? They would build a 200-mile motorway in France in less time, for fuck's sake. How on earth can it take a year to redesign a roundabout?

x 1,000

Agreed x1000. Maybe you could include the environs of Victoria Station in your drive just to get a comparative sense of how forever these things take. Hard Hats? Brass neck, more like.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

How far and long is your regular commute?

I think its about 90 miles, so not too bad. It's a direct train so its bearable.