TT-ONR-NRN: Rail Days

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Ooh. Tell you what I didn’t like though, some of the stations in the Clapham and Streatham area made me feel very unsafe, particularly Norbury.

 

[DanNCL]

Another great trip report, and lucky you getting a free first upgrade on the Uckfield line! (If that was me that was doing that trip; I would have been left in standard!)

Unfortunately some chav kicked up a fuss because he had no first class ticket (yet sat in first class) in fact he had no ticket at all and refused to buy one! Swear words were said, fist were clenched and soon the train was being held while the BTP came.

That happens all the time up north, except nobody really bothers calling the BTP, these people just get away with it.

Ooh. Tell you what I didn’t like though, some of the stations in the Clapham and Streatham area made me feel very unsafe, particularly Norbury.

I think I know the ones you mean; whenever I've been round there I've not felt very safe either.
There are quite a few stations like that on that on the Tyne & Wear Metro too (Gateshead Stadium and Jarrow are the ones that immediately come to mind)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Another great trip report, and lucky you getting a free first upgrade on the Uckfield line! (If that was me that was doing that trip; I would have been left in standard!)


That happens all the time up north, except nobody really bothers calling the BTP, these people just get away with it.


I think I know the ones you mean; whenever I've been round there I've not felt very safe either.
There are quite a few stations like that on that on the Tyne & Wear Metro too (Gateshead Stadium and Jarrow are the ones that immediately come to mind)

Thanks mate. Riding the 171 was certainly very nice, I love that class of train and had the first class compartment to myself!
All the train needed was Wi-Fi!

Why would you have been left in Standard lol?

 

[DanNCL]

Thanks mate. Riding the 171 was certainly very nice, I love that class of train and had the first class compartment to myself!
All the train needed was Wi-Fi!

Why would you have been left in Standard lol?

I never get lucky with that sort of thing, though that might be because most trains up here don't have first! (well, the pacers and metros don't anyway!)

I've only once been on a 171, and that was only for the short hop between East Croydon and London Bridge. I've been on quite a few 170s though, so would I be right in thinking that they're quite similar to ride on?

As for WiFi, at least some of the trains down your way have it. In the north east, the only trains with WiFi are the long distance ones (VTEC, XC and GC), and all three of them charge for it in standard!

159021 and its unidentified partner (please can someone help me find out what unit that was!)

Try posting this in the TOPS request thread , someone there with access to the relevant computer system should be able to find out what unit it was for you

 

[xc170]

Decent read.

Not covered much of the Southern network so will have to have a look into the daysaver ticket mentioned above.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I never get lucky with that sort of thing, though that might be because most trains up here don't have first! (well, the pacers and metros don't anyway!)

I've only once been on a 171, and that was only for the short hop between East Croydon and London Bridge. I've been on quite a few 170s though, so would I be right in thinking that they're quite similar to ride on?

As for WiFi, at least some of the trains down your way have it. In the north east, the only trains with WiFi are the long distance ones (VTEC, XC and GC), and all three of them charge for it in standard!


Try posting this in the TOPS request thread , someone there with access to the relevant computer system should be able to find out what unit it was for you

Ah yes, down here we have free Wi-Fi on GWR and SWR.

Decent read.

Thanks.

 

[DanNCL]

Ah yes, down here we have free Wi-Fi on GWR and SWR.

Up north it's just the buses that have free Wi-Fi (and even then only on a select few routes)

 

[tsr]

I understand 171804 had to have the fitters out (again) earlier today. Glad to hear it was behaving for your trip. Wifi should be fitted over the next year or so, alongside the rest of the Southern fleet. Some 377s already have it.

First Class wasn't that busy today (and even if you'd been charged, it'd be only a £5 upgrade per service on weekends) so you caught the right moment to get yourself a seat in there. There did seem to be quite a few trains going around where it was totally empty.

Bad luck with the delay at Oxted. Unfortunately fare dodgers are more than prevalent on the whole Uckfield Line corridor, although it's fairly rare for them to chance it in First on the diesels south of East Croydon. The management are very well aware and doing stuff about it, but resources are thin (Southern revenue teams having been converted to OBSs). You just happened to have a pretty diligent team of conductors on duty today on that route, none of whom would have taken "not paying" for an answer! Good old Selhurst "A" shift!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I understand 171804 had to have the fitters out (again) earlier today. Glad to hear it was behaving for your trip. Wifi should be fitted over the next year or so, alongside the rest of the Southern fleet. Some 377s already have it.

First Class wasn't that busy today (and even if you'd been charged, it'd be only a £5 upgrade per service on weekends) so you caught the right moment to get yourself a seat in there. There did seem to be quite a few trains going around where it was totally empty.

Bad luck with the delay at Oxted. Unfortunately fare dodgers are more than prevalent on the whole Uckfield Line corridor, although it's fairly rare for them to chance it in First on the diesels south of East Croydon. The management are very well aware and doing stuff about it, but resources are thin (Southern revenue teams having been converted to OBSs). You just happened to have a pretty diligent team of conductors on duty today on that route, none of whom would have taken "not paying" for an answer! Good old Selhurst "A" shift!

The irony is the conductor called the police on someone who sat in first without paying then asked me if I wanted to sit in first without paying!

I don’t mind the delay at all! I got a free first class trip to Uckfield on my favourite Southern class of train, yeah it made me an hour after schedule but all I planned to do was hop on and off loads of times at stations in the Streatham area and as my brother wasn’t with me this time I was worried about being mugged or something as Streatham/Balham is not the friendliest of areas... Plus I get compensation from the 15 minute delay repay.

The one bad thing though... a guard didn’t ask to see my ticket ONCE. They need to tighten up ticket inspections or fare dodging will increase! Especially on tiny lines such as Windsor - Slough because fare dodgers automatically expect those lines to be unmanned so take advantage!

Yes 171804 was perfectly behaved. Very full in Standard but not a single person in first.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Up north it's just the buses that have free Wi-Fi (and even then only on a select few routes)

Ah, most of the buses down here have been rebranded “Stagecoach Gold” and come with thickly cushioned leather seats, free WiFi and plug sockets. Double decker on routes longer than a 90 mins, single decker for shorter ones.

Doesn’t that happen where you are???

 

[DanNCL]

Ah, most of the buses down here have been rebranded “Stagecoach Gold” and come with thickly cushioned leather seats, free WiFi and plug sockets. Double decker on routes longer than a 90 mins, single decker for shorter ones.

Doesn’t that happen where you are???

The X24 (Newcastle to Sunderland) is to the Stagecoach Gold spec, but has it's own colour scheme and branding rather than Stagecoach Gold. All other Stagecoach North East routes use the standard Stagecoach branding, and only the newest vehicles have WiFi. Go North East however have WiFi on many of their vehicles (apart from the ones on the routes that I use regularly!). Yeah, public transport is just so much better and more comfortable down south, both trains and buses

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The X24 (Newcastle to Sunderland) is to the Stagecoach Gold spec, but has it's own colour scheme and branding rather than Stagecoach Gold. All other Stagecoach North East routes use the standard Stagecoach branding, and only the newest vehicles have WiFi. Go North East however have WiFi on many of their vehicles (apart from the ones on the routes that I use regularly!). Yeah, public transport is just so much better and more comfortable down south, both trains and buses

Well, I don’t know. Maybe a bit more comfortable, but I don’t have quick access to VTEC HSTs or 225s, or 125mph Pendolinos, or fast links to Scotland.

Unless I go up to London.

 

[DanNCL]

Well, I don’t know. Maybe a bit more comfortable, but I don’t have quick access to VTEC HSTs or 225s, or 125mph Pendolinos, or fast links to Scotland.

Unless I go up to London.

I'll give you that one; though the North East certainly doesn't have quick access to Pendolinos (unless the best part of two hours to Carlisle on a Pacer first classes as quick)!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I mean the North in general.

The only IC services the South has are ancient GWR HSTs with hateful seats in Standard and XC Voyagers. Unless you go to London.

 

[DanNCL]

I mean the North in general.

The only IC services the South has are ancient GWR HSTs with hateful seats in Standard and XC Voyagers. Unless you go to London.

That's true, but then some places in the North (take Huddersfield as an example) have very poor Intercity rail links. But I agree, as a rule most of the North has brilliant Intercity rail links

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

That's true, but then some places in the North (take Huddersfield as an example) have very poor Intercity rail links. But I agree, as a rule most of the North has brilliant Intercity rail links

I know, and hot meals in first class!

 

[DanNCL]

I know, and hot meals in first class!

That's only on Virgin though

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

That's only on Virgin though

Virgin West Coast,
Virgin East Coast,
Hull Trains,
East Midlands Trains (am only)

Not just Newcastle, but the North in general.

 

[DanNCL]

Virgin West Coast,
Virgin East Coast,
Hull Trains,
East Midlands Trains (am only)

Not just Newcastle, but the North in general.

Didn't know Hull Trains did hot food in First (though that might be because I've never used them ). Though what about the offer for us cattle who have to use standard class? If you ask me standard in the north is worse than down south

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Didn't know Hull Trains did hot food in First (though that might be because I've never used them ). Though what about the offer for us cattle who have to use standard class? If you ask me standard in the north is worse than down south

And if you ask me I’d agree.
Only on commuter and outer suburban services though.

First is better too, seating not food. GWR first is hard to beat.

 

[DanNCL]

And if you ask me I’d agree.
Only on commuter and outer suburban services though.

First is better too, seating not food. GWR first is hard to beat.

Never used GWR first so I have no idea what it's like, though having looked at the images of the 800s, it looks like you're in for a massive downgrade in first

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Never used GWR first so I have no idea what it's like, though having looked at the images of the 800s, it looks like you're in for a massive downgrade in first

Oh yes. Oh yes yes yes yes. Haven’t you seen GWR First class? Even from a picture?

 

[DanNCL]

Oh yes. Oh yes yes yes yes. Haven’t you seen GWR First class? Even from a picture?

I have, though I actually think it's quite difficult to judge how comfortable they are simply by looking at a photo (though the 800s look uncomfortable)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I have, though I actually think it's quite difficult to judge how comfortable they are simply by looking at a photo (though the 800s look uncomfortable)

To be fair actually although the GWR HST first class looks stunning the leather is actually quite hard...

 

[DanNCL]

To be fair actually although the GWR HST first class looks stunning the leather is actually quite hard...

A bit like on the GC 180s then!

Though talking about the 180s, sitting in those seats makes a Pacer bench seat seem like luxury!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

A bit like on the GC 180s then!

Though talking about the 180s, sitting in those seats makes a Pacer bench seat seem like luxury!

And GWR HST first class makes GC 180 seats seem like Bench seats!

 

[DanNCL]

And GWR HST first class makes GC 180 seats seem like Bench seats!

I think to be fair (almost) any type of seat makes the 180s look awful! (doesn't help that GC didn't bother refurbishing them though)

 

[Fred43123]

GWR First is alright, it's not the best, it's not the worse, I didn't like the first refurbishment they did to FGW FC with those lights that were extremely bright..

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

GWR First is alright, it's not the best, it's not the worse, I didn't like the first refurbishment they did to FGW FC with those lights that were extremely bright..

I like VTEC first as well. Whether it’s leather or the original EC fabric.

 

[Fred43123]

I like VTEC first as well. Whether it’s leather or the original EC fabric.

VTEC First is the best in my view, with the level of service and the general interior. Also worth £25 at weekends!