What is it about trains...

[colly]

Is it really worth my bother answering questions on this thread when I get comments like this?

I think not.

Yes it is if you know the answer.

Just shut the doors and lock them when you are about to go.
Yes, yes there will be bods trying to get pushchairs/prams/wheelchairs/bicycles/etc on at the last minute but so what. Wait for them to get on and then lock the doors. Lets face it the timetables are elastic enough as it is so what's another few seconds here or there?

 

[Soltydog]

And that stupid thing about locking the doors 30 or 40 seconds before the train leaves. What's that all about?

It's partly due to privatisation. Late running trains are fined & dependant on what other delays a late running train causes, the costs can be thousands of pounds. The company i work for recently issued an instruction to conductors that doors must be closed 30 secs before departure time & not re-opened for any late coming passengers (unless it's the last service of the day)
So much for customer service

 

[Soltydog]

Lets face it the timetables are elastic enough as it is so what's another few seconds here or there?

Depends on which route Colin. At Leeds there isn't too much spare time in the running times of trains, which can be as frustrating for staff as it is passengers. Even working from Hull now some routes & trains have very tight timing issues
but most aren't too bad

 

[TheDoctor]

And that stupid thing about locking the doors 30 or 40 seconds before the train leaves. What's that all about?

Is it really worth my bother answering questions on this thread when I get comments like this?

I think not.

... and (as happened the last time I caught the train) what happens when your timed connection gives you two minutes to get off your train, find the platform your connection leaves from and get to the platform?

Catch the next train?

Which your ticket won't be valid on, if you're going long distance.

 

[hackbike 666]

It's partly due to privatisation. Late running trains are fined & dependant on what other delays a late running train causes, the costs can be thousands of pounds. The company i work for recently issued an instruction to conductors that doors must be closed 30 secs before departure time & not re-opened for any late coming passengers (unless it's the last service of the day)
So much for customer service

Agreed and also at a station like Waterloo if one train leaves (2) Minutes late then it begins affecting other trains coming in and out of the station making them late.(Knock on effect)....Mainly in the rush hour really.

Which your ticket won't be valid on, if you're going long distance.

Sorry to be blunt but I guess that means you have to get a train it is valid on.I take it,it wasn't like this when it wasn't privatised.Either that or rush round like a blue arsed fly.

 

[colly]

Depends on which route Colin. At Leeds there isn't too much spare time in the running times of trains, which can be as frustrating for staff as it is passengers. Even working from Hull now some routes & trains have very tight timing issues
but most aren't too bad

I bow to your superior knowledge.

I have to say that the trains I got to and from Hull a few weeks ago ran on time to the second.

On another matter: will you be riding out from York on the 29th ?

 

[jonesy]

Trouble is, when you're on the train, it may be far from obvious which part of it you're in. Unless you get up and fight your way to the front and then count cars back. If everyone on the train did that...

As for station announcements... if you can understand them, you're often doing well. And why are they always made in that sing-song, two-note intonation that somehow makes you stop listening after the first three or four words? - if you can hear what's being said at all?

This must be particularly hard for foreigners to work out: "Blah blah blah Kings Cross blah blah Blah blah blah Kings Lynn..."... And they are in opposite directions, two hours journey apart!

 

[Landslide]

The mindlessness continues...

On the train straight outta Dodge London, Chap1 and Chap2 decide they'd like to sample the buffet car's finest vino tinto. So far, so fair enough. Now, where would be a good place to enjoy this fine tipple? Ah yes, right in the middle of the gangway that passes through the buffet car. Yup, the gangway that's barely wide enough for one person at a time anyway. That'd be a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally smart place to stand and drink...

 

[Rhythm Thief]

And that stupid thing about locking the doors 30 or 40 seconds before the train leaves. What's that all about?

Is it really worth my bother answering questions on this thread when I get comments like this?

I think not.

Well, yes. It's a reasonable enough question. We're not all train drivers on here.

 

[jonesy]

Well, yes. It's a reasonable enough question. We're not all train drivers on here.

A particularly reasonable question given the tightness of so many connections, 30 seconds can make a big difference if you have to get from one side of Reading station to another and your incoming train is late. Basically they've taken another half a minute from the passengers to help meet their own targets.

 

[hackbike 666]

Well, yes. It's a reasonable enough question. We're not all train drivers on here.

Really?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Yes. Go on, answer us this one (properly, I mean) and I promise I won't resort to eye rolling smileys and muttered imprecations when someone next asks me something I consider obvious about driving heavy goods vehicles.

 

[hackbike 666]

Well im sorry if I went off at the deep end,and that's to Arch as well.

Err what was the question again?

That question was answered by soltydog and I agree and also with train pathing as well if it gets disrupted it puts everything out of sync.

Leading to more trains running late and more fines.

 

[Landslide]

Err what was the question again?

People on trains. Stupid or what?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Why do they lock the doors early before the train leaves?