J, this post reads uncannily like one I was composing in my head this morning after a less than perfect travel experience.
My thoughts went like this: It's rare that I have a really bad commute (by which I mean - no trains at all, or delayed going nowhere for hours). But I regularly have a worse than perfect, and certainly worse than advertised journey. I've become conditioned to accept this as the norm.
I can usually get a seat - but only because I've adjusted my travel plans and moved my journey to be early enough. The train usually runs within 10 minutes of the advertised time - but since I'm traveling earlier than I need to, that degree of delay doesn't impact my day.
My season ticket has just gone up by 6%. The new 'improved' timetables provides fewer trains during the peak, and those that do run make extra stops and so my journey takes longer and are is prone to overcrowding at the intermediate stations.
Like I say, I've become accustomed to this as the norm. It shouldn't be that way.
JT
· 11 months ago
I know its harder for people further outside London, but my solution was getting a nice and light folding bike. Although a bit chilly some mornings, I'm really loving the newfound freedom.
peeebeee
· 11 months ago
While that's a great individual solution (wish I had the opportunity to do the same), unfortunately it doesn't work for the wider problem. The inevitable outcome of a boycott of the public transport system would be less, not more investment. We need to demonstrate unfulfilled demand for a quality, reliable service.
jMac
· 11 months ago
Yep - the bike situation is good for some and not for all. The wider problem is a rotten apple at the core of our lives.
Paul B
· 11 months ago
how far could you have walked in 40 minutes then? ;-)
jMac
· 11 months ago
not to canary sodding wharf thats for sure!!!
cheeky get.
Dan
· 11 months ago
In Japan, if your train is over 2 minutes late they hand out apology slips to give to your boss so he doesn't fire you for being late.
jMac
· 11 months ago
Nice touch..
Ludovic
· 11 months ago
These are the consequences of the refusal to invest in a proper public transportation system for 30 years: high prices and bad service.
They've tried to privatise and introduce competition, but the idea just doesn't work with infrastructure: you just can't make a profit, provide universal access, good interconnections and good service with redundant infrastructure.
If the government had taken a long term approach, the results could be: - that the Eurostar platforms don't stand un-used for a year after they've innaugurated High Speed 1 and St Pancras International, when on the other hand trains are waiting for a platform on approach to Waterloo station - that the Waterloo and City line would not be an isolated branch but would serve as a junction tunnel between the overground in Waterloo to the overground in Moorgate (strange that no one ever thought that trains could come from Reading / Portsmouth all the way to Stevenage / Cambridge) - an airport in the estuary with 5 runways instead of 5 airports in dense conurbations, each with 1 or 2 runways - a high-speed line to the Midlands and Scotland, with an interchange with the Eurostar - Water pipes that are buried so that they don't freeze when the temperature drops
And so on... it's a long story of incompetence and short-sighted decisions.
giles rhys jones
· 11 months ago
cracking rant grommet. if i work at home for 30 minutes then commute i arrive about 5 minutes after i would have done if i had fought my through the crowds and bureaucracy. and i get to work in a less postal mood. there is also quite a nice little bar opposite the old vic that does a nice breakfast. i can't queue. dead time on so many levels. ps we need to chat.
SMSblack
· 11 months ago
Great post and Oh, so true.
It can be like this in the mobile industry too, especially for pre-paid. I've already paid for the service - so why is it *sometimes* so poor. If I'm paying good money for the service I don't expect dropped calls etc etc.
Part of the problem is that at the root of all of is is a disregard for basic customer services in this country. Almost anywhere you go people do not consider customers to be special - yet we are the ones that pay your salary.
In the distant past I worked in a restaurant in Canada and I know that it's possible to serve people well (very well), without being servile or subservient. Unfortunately that culture doesn't exist in the UK at the moment.
Annie Mole
· 11 months ago
At least TfL have the customer charter so you can claim if you're delayed by more than 15 minute, Network Rail should introduce something similar.
Most rail companies know that public transport is a necessary evil and we put up with it because we have no choice, or Hobsons choice or it's Catch 22 or whatever.
Boycotting transport only shoots ourselves in the foot cos how else are we going to get to work.
Naming & shaming like you've done here and I try to do in my blog ( http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2009/01/... ) helps as along with remembering to claim for every time your Tube journey is late will also hit Transport authorities where it hurts them the most. In their large pockets"
All Comments
My thoughts went like this: It's rare that I have a really bad commute (by which I mean - no trains at all, or delayed going nowhere for hours). But I regularly have a worse than perfect, and certainly worse than advertised journey. I've become conditioned to accept this as the norm.
I can usually get a seat - but only because I've adjusted my travel plans and moved my journey to be early enough. The train usually runs within 10 minutes of the advertised time - but since I'm traveling earlier than I need to, that degree of delay doesn't impact my day.
My season ticket has just gone up by 6%. The new 'improved' timetables provides fewer trains during the peak, and those that do run make extra stops and so my journey takes longer and are is prone to overcrowding at the intermediate stations.
Like I say, I've become accustomed to this as the norm. It shouldn't be that way.
;-)
cheeky get.
They've tried to privatise and introduce competition, but the idea just doesn't work with infrastructure: you just can't make a profit, provide universal access, good interconnections and good service with redundant infrastructure.
If the government had taken a long term approach, the results could be:
- that the Eurostar platforms don't stand un-used for a year after they've innaugurated High Speed 1 and St Pancras International, when on the other hand trains are waiting for a platform on approach to Waterloo station
- that the Waterloo and City line would not be an isolated branch but would serve as a junction tunnel between the overground in Waterloo to the overground in Moorgate (strange that no one ever thought that trains could come from Reading / Portsmouth all the way to Stevenage / Cambridge)
- an airport in the estuary with 5 runways instead of 5 airports in dense conurbations, each with 1 or 2 runways
- a high-speed line to the Midlands and Scotland, with an interchange with the Eurostar
- Water pipes that are buried so that they don't freeze when the temperature drops
And so on... it's a long story of incompetence and short-sighted decisions.
It can be like this in the mobile industry too, especially for pre-paid. I've already paid for the service - so why is it *sometimes* so poor. If I'm paying good money for the service I don't expect dropped calls etc etc.
Part of the problem is that at the root of all of is is a disregard for basic customer services in this country. Almost anywhere you go people do not consider customers to be special - yet we are the ones that pay your salary.
In the distant past I worked in a restaurant in Canada and I know that it's possible to serve people well (very well), without being servile or subservient. Unfortunately that culture doesn't exist in the UK at the moment.
Most rail companies know that public transport is a necessary evil and we put up with it because we have no choice, or Hobsons choice or it's Catch 22 or whatever.
Boycotting transport only shoots ourselves in the foot cos how else are we going to get to work.
Naming & shaming like you've done here and I try to do in my blog ( http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2009/01/... ) helps as along with remembering to claim for every time your Tube journey is late will also hit Transport authorities where it hurts them the most. In their large pockets"
Please keep me updated :)