BBC Two: The Passengers That Took On The Train Line

[MadCommuter]

I feel for the commuters that have sunk their free time in to it for what is inevitably going to be nothing.

 

[CC 72100]

Edit: And now they've filled out the pre-qualification questionnaire, which means they've submitted their bid and done something "groundbreaking"?!?[/QUOTE]

Was gonna say, they're gonna be pretty annoyed when they realise that getting a passport for bidding does not mean submitting a bid

 

[MadCommuter]

And there it is. What a shock.

Shame on the journalist for using people to prove a point.

 

[dk1]

Got to say I'm with the DfT. All seemed a bit pathetic to me. Amazed anyone could be so bothered to see it through. Typically the programme tried to make its views known over powerfully at the closing credits as if they knew everything.

 

[kevconnor]

I have watched most of the program and get the general feeling had they set up an account on here, read some of the previous posts and maybe even created a new thread. Would have saved then a lot of time, effort and money.

They would have been better off creating a more long term pressure group which aimed to influence the process and the stakeholders.

 

[skyhigh]

Was gonna say, they're gonna be pretty annoyed when they realise that getting a passport for bidding does not mean submitting a bid

Well they were annoyed enough that they didn't get approved!

I did like the bit at the end where they mentioned things they suggested like wider doors to lower dwell times, and seemed to hint that the Mayor of London/other bodies had picked up on them because of what they'd done...

 

[skyhigh]

And there it is. What a shock.

Shame on the journalist for using people to prove a point.

It did seem as if he knew exactly what the outcome would be - I can't believe they wouldn't have researched into the outcomes before they started (whereas the commuters seemed shocked the DfT wanted money as security!)

 

[physics34]

naive idiots.

 

[Coolzac]

Shouldn't we cut them a bit of slack? At least they tried to do something about a problem rather than just moan? I always admire people who put in their own time and effort to improve things. Yes they were naive but so what? All great enterprises start with some sense of naivety!

 

[anti-pacer]

Just so you all know, me and my friend from Colne are taking over the Colne-Preston line.

* Trains every 10 minutes
* First Class with complimentary meals
* State of the art 12 carriage trains
* Platform extensions at stations

It's all been approved and should be a roaring success.

Someone asked what rolling stock we'll be using for people to travel on. I told them we'll be using trains, not rolling stock, whatever that is. :roll:

I joke of course.

 

[Trainfan344]

Quite a lot of Negativity from this thread, but the programme made clear that people were fed up and wanted change. I also note that Canterbury, a key place on South Eastern's network elected a Labour MP so perhaps they were voting for a change to the rail system.

 

[anti-pacer]

Quite a lot of Negativity from this thread, but the programme made clear that people were fed up and wanted change. I also note that Canterbury, a key place on South Eastern's network elected a Labour MP so perhaps they were voting for a change to the rail system.

But although they had some industry experts, they didn't have enough knowledge, finance or experience to run an intensive commuter network in one of Europe's most populated regions.

It was never going to end well, although as a passenger I do get their concerns.

 

[dk1]

Exactly. All pipe dreams & nothing in the arse pocket. Made them look really silly I thought.

 

[LLivery]

The programme was full of naivety. Nothing against the idea, just the pledges wasn't realistic. The seats for everyone pledge was stupid; its just not possible on any commuter railway on earth. The main problem is they really had no idea how the railway works and no one was really bringing them back to reality.

Must say though, the DfT saying anyone can bid is laughable. The franchise system is not designed for anyone accept big businesses or international state owned rail operators.

 

[cav1975]

At 36 minutes there is an aerial view for a few seconds showing an Isle of Wight Steam Railway train being propelled. As the IWSR doesn't propel its trains I can only assume that they reversed the clip to give the effect that they were looking for. I'd love to know the relevance that the producers thought this clip had to the programme. Having said that it does show exceptionally neat and tidy track and lineside!

 

[me123]

I've just started watching this. Been pretty poor so far.

"We can't be worse" - I almost wish they would have been successful just to show them how much worse they could be. They'd be in for a shock.

EDIT: Actually, just watching them interview the public. They're leading most of their interviewees into giving the answers they want to hear. And I'm meant to believe that these arrogant Jeremy Hunts have any really business prowess whatsoever? You can talk about naivety all you want; these people really are just arrogant.

 

[Starmill]

Must say though, the DfT saying anyone can bid is laughable. The franchise system is not designed for anyone accept big businesses or international state owned rail operators.

Given the result of the investigation by the Transport Select Committee was that the franchising system remains unfit for purpose, I think the point is that that's the problem.

 

[snowball]

It's notable that though they reportedly eventually got several knowledgeable railway people on board, most remained off camera and kept their names out of the programme.

 

[ScotGG]

Of course it was never going to work but they got a prime time spot on BBC2 gaining millions of viewers to highlight flaws with Southeastern, the DfT and franchising as it stands. More than 99.9% of people achieve.

 

[me123]

And to top it all off, they don't think it's fair that they're being held to the same standards as the other competitors. No really, that's what they said at the end.

Even at the end of the process, they still didn't really have a clue. It's actually quite spectacular.

What a waste of an hour. They could potentially have made this into something really quite interesting.

 

[MadCommuter]

What a waste of an hour. They could potentially have made this into something really quite interesting.

Think yourself lucky. The commuters in the programme wasted far more time than that after being sold an idea that was never going to happen.

 

[Dhassell]

"What would you like to see from Southeastern"
"Less Signal Failures" :roll::mad:

 

[Cowley]

I think I might give this one a miss, but thanks for the reviews guys

 

[skyhigh]

I think I might give this one a miss, but thanks for the reviews guys

After sleeping on it, I'd have to say that if you watch it as a comedy it's actually rather good.

Not sure that was the intention though...

 

[me123]

After sleeping on it, I'd have to say that if you watch it as a comedy it's actually rather good.

Not sure that was the intention though...

Disagree. That's why I tuned in and was sorely disappointed.

 

[squizzler]

Quite a lot of Negativity from this thread, but the programme made clear that people were fed up and wanted change. I also note that Canterbury, a key place on South Eastern's network elected a Labour MP so perhaps they were voting for a change to the rail system.

I'm inclined to agree. Talk of the commuters' ability at "running the railway" disregards that the railway would still be run by the men and women doing it today. Our panel of commuters, once they had a plan and financial backing, would presumably limit themselves to matters of strategy and oversight. Much like our elected MP's are surrounded by seasoned ministers to help them implement their policies, obvious bloopers in their manifesto such as a seat on any journey at any time would have to go.

The problem is the railway industry is too complicated to adequately explain in one hour. I also thought the "economist" with the coffee shop analogy ought to have had his analysis challenged a bit.

Thinking more constructively, perhaps if the proposal for London Transport to take over routes south of the Thames had gained traction, commuter groups such as that in the programme could be involved as some kind of mandatory "Community Rail Partnership" to ensure those at the routes beyond London itself get representation.

 

[Clip]

Quite a lot of Negativity from this thread, but the programme made clear that people were fed up and wanted change. I also note that Canterbury, a key place on South Eastern's network elected a Labour MP so perhaps they were voting for a change to the rail system.

That would be Canterbury with around 5 trains to london per hour in the peak - 2 high speed and with the possibility of also changing at Ashford for the high speed service there?

Canterbury is also home to a hell of a lot of students so with there being a surge by the youth to vote for Labour then maybe that was it ratehr than just a change in rail provision.

 

[squizzler]

At 36 minutes there is an aerial view for a few seconds showing an Isle of Wight Steam Railway train being propelled. As the IWSR doesn't propel its trains I can only assume that they reversed the clip to give the effect that they were looking for. I'd love to know the relevance that the producers thought this clip had to the programme. Having said that it does show exceptionally neat and tidy track and lineside!

I cannot recall the clip but I presume they could not play a clip of a steam train backwards. The steam and smoke would be going back into the funnel!

 

[45669]

There was a nice bit of publicity for the Mid-Hants though. This is how to run a railway, we were told.

Pity they forgot to mention that most of the staff are volunteers!

 

[wibble]

After sleeping on it, I'd have to say that if you watch it as a comedy it's actually rather good.

Not sure that was the intention though...

The program did draw a parallel between a franchise and the Ealing Comedy, "The Titfield Thunderbolt"!

I had to turn it off after a few minutes.