Recent content by ruaival

The easy way to get a question answered by Northern customer services - in my experience - is to use Facebook Messenger; they respond promptly and helpfully often using the time between messages to get good answers.

With only 3 days to go it looks like the Buxton Spa Express https://www.railwaytouring.net/bse-14-03-26 is still not showing up in the realtime trains timetable listing; does that suggest it will still (or will not now) run?

My grandfather would be pleased ... station master there late 60s / early 70s.

Saw this being trailed on Facebook a few days ago; website suggests they were in Stockport Town centre today - GM Police operation AVRO https://www.gmp.police.uk/police-forces/greater-manchester-police/areas/greater-manchester-force-content/au/about-us/operation-avro/ Thank you ... moderator

On an early 80s Sleeper train journey from Crewe to the Highlands, the only seated carriage (4 compartments and guard/luggage area) went to Fort William and Inverness seated passengers needed to be in the other portion before the split outside Glasgow. When they got that far down the train the...

No. Your post was really helpful to understand why the "free form" text message does not naturally appear in these circumstances. Your words suggest that "a controlling big brother" or TOC attempt to "manage the messaging" are not what's going on ... just helpful people constrained by digital...

Preston picks up the breakfast trollies :D

Back in 2006/7 after a trackside incident in the Lakes, I recall waking up in Preston on the Southbound Lowland sleeper service (as we picked up the breakfast trolleys) and arriving into Euston 3.5h later than 7am booked time.

I echo @stuartl experience. Website on my mobile phone browser and on my desktop both failed to process an amendment having advertised one and calculated the small price drifference between original and new chosen journey ticket. Customer services on the phone expained they can't actualy amend...

... on to Bournemouth is then well covered (imho) by Reading - Basingstoke (GWR) Basingstoke - Bournemouth (SWR) I was able to switch my own Manchester to Bournemouth 13/12 travel to the day before, given well priced Advance tickets still available at only £4 higher than original ticket.

To give XC some credit ... I am off to visit elderly parents one of those weekends, and they will worry while there is no alternative arrangements known. First thing Saturday the XC online chat team were sharing 'possible' alternatives with me and, when I later in the day decided to travel...

Back in the day (First ScotRail sleepers) booked to alight at an intermediate station from the northbound Highlander always resulted in the steward making sure compartment passenger was awake 30 mins before actual ETA and then almost 'escorted' to the carriage door on arrival at e.g. Pitlochry...

As the weekly Caledonian Sleeper lowlander passenger focus rep' in 2005/6 on the Edinburgh Lowlander ... I achieved a comfortable enough Sunday night's sleep to do a day's work on Monday ... provided that I stayed awake to experience the Carstairs coupling with Glasgow portion after safe...

At Manchester Piccadilly yesterday West Coast travellers were advised to use East Coast or wait until following day with "Do Not Travel to Glasgow" warning for those chancing it as far as Carlisle.

Northern have always been very responsive on Facebook Messenger, in my experience.