Another train leaves Guildford early

[455driver]

I'm taking a train journey, not an intercontinental flight. Boarding - not arriving at the station but boarding -a train one minute before departure time is adequate. By WTT I assume that's rail staff timetables. If it has times earlier than public timetable times then something needs to be changed.

If I am catching any form of public transport then I allow 5 minutes minimum.
Not that I catch public transport very often, normally its when the Ferrari is in for a service or the ash tray emptying!

Incidentally, how much time is allowed at an intermediate station for a train stopping there? I believe that in most cases for small stations it's a minute which rather blows your "allow adequate time to catch a train" thesis out of the water.

A lot of intermediate stations its 30 seconds dwell time.

 

[AmeralGunson]

It also depends on what the WTT says. That can be considerably different tow what times YOU have.

NB. SWT instructions are that the train's doors start to be closed at T-30, the train should be on the move at T-00.

So if you leave it to the last possible minute you may find the doors are in the middle of the closing sequence & you will be locked out.

Please read a post before you post a reply to it. If I'm on the platform at 13.29:00 I fully expect to be able to board a train timed to depart at 13.30:00.

 

[455driver]

Please read a post before you post a reply to it. If I'm on the platform at 13.29:00 I fully expect to be able to board a train timed to depart at 13.30:00.

But what if you arrive at the normal platform and there has been an alteration?

 

[AmeralGunson]

But what if you arrive at the normal platform and there has been an alteration?

My local station has just two platforms now. If there's been n alteration then the train should be held for passengers to get it - that of course I now realise from reading some of the posts would be a great inconvenience for some train crews who obviously think that passengers are just an annoyance that interferes with their 1:1 train set. Like you I don't take trains much nowadays. They're too expensive and I don't like having to share my space with screaming children, loud mouthed yobs and the noise of personal stereos. let alone the inane announcements, "if you need help you'll find myself in the centre of this eight coach train".
Find myself? Was the Guard a Buddhist?

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Please read a post before you post a reply to it. If I'm on the platform at 13.29:00 I fully expect to be able to board a train timed to depart at 13.30:00.

No need to throw a strop dear! :roll:
A little civility if you please.

 

[GatwickDepress]

It's the passenger's onus to get to the platform in plenty of time for their train.

I know comparisons are unhelpful (it's not a supermarket for once though!), but I never turn up to a bus stop a minute before the bus was due to arrive; there's too many variables.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

BTW AmeralGunson, I would respectfully ask you not to try & goad members of staff, it doesn't achieve anything.

In fact, it will achieve only one thing and that's us refusing to assist you in finding out any sort of information.

Thanks. HD.

 

[AmeralGunson]

BTW AmeralGunson, I would respectfully ask you not to try & goad members of staff, it doesn't achieve anything.

In fact, it will achieve only one thing and that's us refusing to assist you in finding out any sort of information.

Thanks. HD.

I'm not goading anyone. I keep being told to allow adequate time to board a train. I've stated that, " If I'm on the platform a minute before a train is due to depart there's no reason for me not to be able to board it". That's a simple statement of an actual fact. I've even pointed out that a train stopping for a minute at an intermediate station negates the instruction to arrive five minutes beforehand. If that's goading then someone should grow a thicker skin. I've read various threads on this forum for some time and the over-riding impression that I get is that we passengers simply get in the way and have no right to a decent service indeed we should be grateful for what we get.

 

[Tomnick]

By WTT I assume that's rail staff timetables. If it has times earlier than public timetable times then something needs to be changed.

WTT = working timetables, so yes, essentially the one that the trainset runs by. As you say, though, the WTT departure time should never be earlier than the advertised departure time - if it is, there's something wrong!

 

[bb21]

Looking at this realistically, unexpected things happen in real life. Guards can make mistakes, there may be last minute platform changes which could not be advertised early enough to allow everyone to run down the stairs and up another one, there may be operational reasons which meant that a train may leave slightly earlier than timed, there may be a security alert which caused the station to be evacuated so an intended service might leave early and a slightly earlier arrival may have allowed you to get on the train... The possibilities are endless.

What you do depends on what is most important to you. If it is vital that you catch one particular service, then arrive in good time. If you arrive a good 4-5 minutes before the due time, you will almost certainly not miss it whatever happened. If you only arrive at the last-minute, then sometimes there will be cock-ups. By all means complain to the company should your intended service leave earlier than expected, but that will not help you if you really needed to get on that service.

So to help yourself in those situations, arrive in good time. No one is that busy they cannot spare an extra few minutes each day.

 

[Llanigraham]

Well I allowed 1.5 minutes before it should have left.

SWT say doors will close up to 30 seconds prior to departure. I arrived 1.5 minutes in advance.

A fair amount of the time, for through trains, the doors close within this 30 seconds if not after the train should have left.

However I know that not to be the case that often for trains that start at Guildford.

If 30 seconds is to short then SWT should change their posters.

You really don't get it, do you?
Adequate time is not last minute, as you seem to think. Adequate time is at least 5 minutes before due departure.
I believe that more than that is stated in some official document somewhere.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

My local station has just two platforms now. If there's been n alteration then the train should be held for passengers to get it - that of course I now realise from reading some of the posts would be a great inconvenience for some train crews who obviously think that passengers are just an annoyance that interferes with their 1:1 train set. Like you I don't take trains much nowadays. They're too expensive and I don't like having to share my space with screaming children, loud mouthed yobs and the noise of personal stereos. let alone the inane announcements, "if you need help you'll find myself in the centre of this eight coach train".
Find myself? Was the Guard a Buddhist?

And you obviously don't understand how the railway works.
Delaying your train by 1 minute at your station may result in a delay to another train further down the line because of use of a junction or another station, and so the delay grows.
Buy a car, you never get delayed in them (NOT!)

 

[infobleep]

That would be much better. And I would have gates to prevent late runners trying to board at the last second too.

Oh BTW, don't forget to be there even earlier as of October 5, they leave 3 minutes earlier until December, due to leaf fall. So Newliners leave Guildford at XX:04 & XX:34.

Timetable is available for download right now from the SWT website.

That's right and the school children for London Road (Guildford), off the services from Portsmouth Harbour will be running to catch the 8.04 as it's no longer an official connection. Of course the 8.04 will fairly often leave late due to an 8.03 WTT arrival coming in late and blocking it's path. That's due to arrive at 8.05 in the PTT, a minute after the 8.04.

Of course passengers won't know that because the 8.04 will shown as being on time and if one is lucky, after it should have left the screen might get updated.

I hate the times changing because I have to remember the new times. Being dyslexic, it's easy to think of the old times. Just as I finally get use to the new times, the times change back again.

As for the gates, with three entrances during peak rush hour at Guildford, one of which is usually not manned, it's not easy for them to do anything.

Whilst they could shut the unmanned entrance off, the others are a public right of way. So the best they can do is man them.

 

[infobleep]

But what if you arrive at the normal platform and there has been an alteration?

If it's Woking I can imagine the platform changing with less than a minute to spare. They do it at Euston when you have less than 2 minutes before the train leaves. That can affect those on the platform who have been waiting 5 minutes.

The Woking one can be annoying if you've come off a train that is running late. You end up running. If I think the train is going to be late u position myself as close to the stairs as possible. Then I find the signalman decides to just let the following train use its usual platform and run late rather than switch. But it's best to be safe.

When going to a station I try to remember to check the platform board. I don't always remember but I try to.

 

[infobleep]

Looking at this realistically, unexpected things happen in real life. Guards can make mistakes, there may be last minute platform changes which could not be advertised early enough to allow everyone to run down the stairs and up another one, there may be operational reasons which meant that a train may leave slightly earlier than timed, there may be a security alert which caused the station to be evacuated so an intended service might leave early and a slightly earlier arrival may have allowed you to get on the train... The possibilities are endless.

What you do depends on what is most important to you. If it is vital that you catch one particular service, then arrive in good time. If you arrive a good 4-5 minutes before the due time, you will almost certainly not miss it whatever happened. If you only arrive at the last-minute, then sometimes there will be cock-ups. By all means complain to the company should your intended service leave earlier than expected, but that will not help you if you really needed to get on that service.

So to help yourself in those situations, arrive in good time. No one is that busy they cannot spare an extra few minutes each day.

I've not submitted a formal complaint via the form I was given but at the time I felt I should let staff at the station know. I wasn't the only one though and I suspect at least one fellow passenger will have submitted a complaint. No one was rude, I just got the impression that what they would do.

When I worked in Harrow I was less than 5 minute walk to the station so I would literally see how late the trains were running, since London Midland rarely run to time, and leave in time to catch it.

It was unheard of for the train to make up any lost time. Usually it gained on route to the station.

 

[Clip]

If I am catching any form of public transport then I allow 5 minutes minimum.
Not that I catch public transport very often, normally its when the Ferrari is in for a service or the ash tray emptying!

.

Bloody drivers and their fast cars. We only get Mercs you know - something must be changed.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

I'll give you a wave as I pass your Merc in my Veyron.

 

[Antman]

No need to throw a strop dear! :roll:
A little civility if you please.

Who is throwing a strop? Do you think it unreasonable to expect to be on the platform at 13.29 to get the 13.30 departure?:roll:

 

[Antman]

It's the passenger's onus to get to the platform in plenty of time for their train.

I know comparisons are unhelpful (it's not a supermarket for once though!), but I never turn up to a bus stop a minute before the bus was due to arrive; there's too many variables.

No it isn't.............the onus is on the train operator to adhere to the timetable.

I'd also question why you seem willing to tolerate a sub standard service? I wouldn't and nor would many others. I worked in the bus industry and any driver running early would find themselves in the managers office for a little chat. The trouble is that if people just put up with it and don't put in a complaint then management probably won't know about it. Yes there are 'variables' that might cause a bus to be late, that cannot be helped, but there is NO EXCUSE for running early and I would assume the same applies on the railway?

 

[TEW]

Whilst they could shut the unmanned entrance off, the others are a public right of way. So the best they can do is man them.

Leave the car park entrance closed, are you crazy! You should see the fuss when it isn't opened at 16:00 on the dot.

 

[455driver]

Leave the car park entrance closed, are you crazy! You should see the fuss when it isn't opened at 16:00 on the dot.

You should see them moan when we park our car there and use that entrance, they follow us up the steps to find the door locked, boy do they kick off when we wont let them through.

 

[bb21]

Who is throwing a strop? Do you think it unreasonable to expect to be on the platform at 13.29 to get the 13.30 departure?:roll:

It is not an unreasonable expectation, but "sh*t happens" as people usually say. If is it of vital importance that you catch that particular service then most sensible people would give themselves a small margin in case things change at the last minute.

No it isn't.............the onus is on the train operator to adhere to the timetable.

It is (the onus being with the TOC), but how does that help you when they fail to do so and you ended up being late because you arrived at the last possible second by usual standards?

I'd also question why you seem willing to tolerate a sub standard service? I wouldn't and nor would many others. I worked in the bus industry and any driver running early would find themselves in the managers office for a little chat. The trouble is that if people just put up with it and don't put in a complaint then management probably won't know about it. Yes there are 'variables' that might cause a bus to be late, that cannot be helped, but there is NO EXCUSE for running early and I would assume the same applies on the railway?

That is good to hear. I only wish some other bus companies would stick to this principle rather than lie through their teeth when buses leave 5 minutes early from a timing point.

 

[infobleep]

Leave the car park entrance closed, are you crazy! You should see the fuss when it isn't opened at 16:00 on the dot.

I didn't make it clear. It's not a car park entrance but a set of stairs which people use to access the car park entrance and / or long stay car park

When it's closed people have to walk along Guildford Park Road to Farnham Road and cross the road to another entrance for the Farnham Road car park and not the long stay go down the access road off Guildford Park Road.

Not sure why it's only open at set times and not always open or simply closed full stop and taken out of passenger use. Staff have a key to open the door any time so they are not affected by this.

 

[TEW]

I know which entrance you're talking about. It isn't open permanently because it would be uneconomical to man it full time and undesirable to have an entrance open to the station. In theory it is meant to be season ticket holders only but the number of people who use it and then enter the station still needing to buy a ticket is very high. It can't be left closed all the time because all the season ticket holders would kick up a huge fuss, as they do already when it's closed.

 

[Llanigraham]

Please read a post before you post a reply to it. If I'm on the platform at 13.29:00 I fully expect to be able to board a train timed to depart at 13.30:00.

Why so aggressive?
What you want is not always possible.
As has been pointed out several times, the railway expect you to be there at least 5 minutes before your train is due. Therefore you should be able to plan to do that. If you can't then you need to plan in a better way.
Would you expect the same if you were catching the bus?
Would you take the same aggressive stance against RyanAir (for example) who demand that you book in 2 hours before your flight?

And stop the "Me, Me, Me" attitude, it isn't very becoming.

 

[alastair]

Why so aggressive?
What you want is not always possible.
As has been pointed out several times, the railway expect you to be there at least 5 minutes before your train is due. Therefore you should be able to plan to do that. If you can't then you need to plan in a better way.
Would you expect the same if you were catching the bus?
Would you take the same aggressive stance against RyanAir (for example) who demand that you book in 2 hours before your flight?

And stop the "Me, Me, Me" attitude, it isn't very becoming.

As a very frequent Ryanair passenger,could I just point out that Ryanair do not "demand" that you "book in" 2 hours before your flight. If you have bags to check-in the desk opens 2 hrs and closes 40 mins before departure. If you have hand baggage only then the only requirement is to be at the departure gate 30 mins prior to departure. You have to check-in on line and print your boarding pass before you get to the airport.

 

[infobleep]

I know which entrance you're talking about. It isn't open permanently because it would be uneconomical to man it full time and undesirable to have an entrance open to the station. In theory it is meant to be season ticket holders only but the number of people who use it and then enter the station still needing to buy a ticket is very high. It can't be left closed all the time because all the season ticket holders would kick up a huge fuss, as they do already when it's closed.

Well it isn't manned currently except for some rare times. However there was a period when it was manned far more frequently.

Given commuters are already kicking up a fuss, all closing it would do is make the fuss worse. Perhaps that's not desirable but a slight fuss is at least bearable.

 

[infobleep]

I wasn't aware of the arrive 5 minutes before departure time, yet I am very aware of the doors closing 30 seconds before departure. I'm also away of it being 2 minutes for Virgin trains at Euston. Again I'm sure I saw something stating 1 minute at Waterloo.

All, bar the 5 minutes, are promoted and advertised. Perhaps the 5 minutes should be promoted too. It can't hurt to do so.

 

[hounddog]

Why so aggressive?
What you want is not always possible.
As has been pointed out several times, the railway expect you to be there at least 5 minutes before your train is due. Therefore you should be able to plan to do that. If you can't then you need to plan in a better way.
Would you expect the same if you were catching the bus?
Would you take the same aggressive stance against RyanAir (for example) who demand that you book in 2 hours before your flight?

And stop the "Me, Me, Me" attitude, it isn't very becoming.

Why so defensive? If a train is advertised as leaving at a given time, that time should be the absolute earliest it leaves. If it leaves 2 minutes earlier than that the passenger cannot be blamed however you choose to dress it up: 'the railway' is to blame.

 

[GatwickDepress]

No it isn't.............the onus is on the train operator to adhere to the timetable.

I'd also question why you seem willing to tolerate a sub standard service? I wouldn't and nor would many others. I worked in the bus industry and any driver running early would find themselves in the managers office for a little chat. The trouble is that if people just put up with it and don't put in a complaint then management probably won't know about it. Yes there are 'variables' that might cause a bus to be late, that cannot be helped, but there is NO EXCUSE for running early and I would assume the same applies on the railway?

There are plenty of reasons why a bus may be early. Where I live, there's a little timetable padding to account for a godawful stretch of one way road. If nobody is waiting at the intermediate stops between there and the stop I use, it's entirely possible for the driver to arrive and depart my stop a whole minute early!

I also don't trust arriving one minute early because clocks aren't always right, not even synced mobile phone ones.

 

[WelshBluebird]

As has been pointed out several times, the railway expect you to be there at least 5 minutes before your train is due

Where is that specific requirement at all mentioned?