Barry Doe's Column

[Goldfish62]

I must admit i cant stand his column esp the stance that South West trains can do no wrong. For reasons that become very clear when you realise his website is supported by Stagecoach...

It's obvious he never uses the mainline suburban or Windsor lines. If he did, he may have a different view of SWT.

 

[Schnellzug]

i'm afraid I long ago gave up taking Barry seriously. He provides a useful service with his knowledge of tickets & so on, but he's one of those people who believe that the most important thing everyone needs to know is his opinions, and and I'm afraid he always did seem rather biased, which surely is the exact opposite of what an impartial source of information ought to be. Descriving himself, as he did more than once, as a "Timetable guru" (his own words) really didn't help much. What i think he always wanted to do is emulate Alan Williams off of Modern Railways, but Alan never made any claim to be an impartial source of information.
Yes, "South West Trains could show them how to do it" was always one of his catchphrases.

 

[tbtc]

I like the way that some people are criticising Doe (a Good Guy) for being biased whilst often the same posters have petty opinions about certain TOCs etc...

 

[Greenback]

i'm afraid I long ago gave up taking Barry seriously. He provides a useful service with his knowledge of tickets & so on, but he's one of those people who believe that the most important thing everyone needs to know is his opinions, and and I'm afraid he always did seem rather biased, which surely is the exact opposite of what an impartial source of information ought to be. Descriving himself, as he did more than once, as a "Timetable guru" (his own words) really didn't help much. What i think he always wanted to do is emulate Alan Williams off of Modern Railways, but Alan never made any claim to be an impartial source of information.
Yes, "South West Trains could show them how to do it" was always one of his catchphrases.

I think that's a good point. I have certainly notived that Barry's style seems to have changed a bit from the days when he started out writing in Modern Railways. His columns then seem a lot more factual and with fewer of his opinions.

This is probably a natural development both as a result of his wanting to be seen more as a columnist in the Alan Williams, and perhaps also due to the experienc enad confidenc ethat writing for a long period brings with it.

I wouldn't be surprised if being consulted by TOC's, ATOC, and the emdia has also contributed to a change in style. But there defitintely has been a change in my opinion, though whether that is good or bad depends on your point of view!

 

[185]

He's not all that bad - At Rail Magazine, Barry was the only one who even bothered contact us some time ago when one train company got caught doing something very, very wrong.

Despite this, I think Barry should keep the train companies at arm's length if he wants to write a truly independent column. Rail became a less and less believeable source of news since their advertising for train companies became a steady income. Accepting free travel off anyone other that the DfT is a mistake.

Also, I think he concentrates too much on "first class offerings" and "restaurants/lack of". For the vast majority of rail passengers and similarly those who read Rail Magazine, First Class is not of great interest, the standard catering is probably more of interest.

 

[junglejames]

I think that's a good point. I have certainly notived that Barry's style seems to have changed a bit from the days when he started out writing in Modern Railways. His columns then seem a lot more factual and with fewer of his opinions.

This is probably a natural development both as a result of his wanting to be seen more as a columnist in the Alan Williams, and perhaps also due to the experienc enad confidenc ethat writing for a long period brings with it.

I wouldn't be surprised if being consulted by TOC's, ATOC, and the emdia has also contributed to a change in style. But there defitintely has been a change in my opinion, though whether that is good or bad depends on your point of view!

One point to think about, is how frequently the magazines are published. Modern Railways is once a month isnt it? Rail is fortnightly. He now has to find twice as many things to say, which means he has had to expand. Wouldnt it get a bit tedious if every column was purely about fares and timetables? Is there really that much to say about these subjects which may be of interest to the readers?

Some of you claim he is always as nice as pie to those he helps. What about ATOC? He helps them, and has some good contacts within ATOC, but he has frequently criticised them.
Plus as ive mentioned, he isnt the only one to think SWT are the best, and he has good reasons for thinking it.

 

[Greenback]

One point to think about, is how frequently the magazines are published. Modern Railways is once a month isnt it? Rail is fortnightly. He now has to find twice as many things to say, which means he has had to expand. Wouldnt it get a bit tedious if every column was purely about fares and timetables? Is there really that much to say about these subjects which may be of interest to the readers?

Some of you claim he is always as nice as pie to those he helps. What about ATOC? He helps them, and has some good contacts within ATOC, but he has frequently criticised them.
Plus as ive mentioned, he isnt the only one to think SWT are the best, and he has good reasons for thinking it.

That's a good point. Another point is that in the 1980's the Service Please column was a lot shorter than it became later. This would have encouraged brevity from the writer, and helped to ensure that words wer enot wasted on opinions at the expense.

 

[tbtc]

I think he concentrates too much on "first class offerings" and "restaurants/lack of". For the vast majority of rail passengers and similarly those who read Rail Magazine, First Class is not of great interest, the standard catering is probably more of interest.

The same could be said of a few posters on here though, look at the fascination with First Class meals on East Coast (as an example).

As someone who rarely uses First Class and rarely buys any food on trains, I am more interested in other aspects...

 

[theblackwatch]

I suspect the change in how Barry writes compared to the Modern Railways days is at least in part due to Rail's style - the mag is very keen on giving opinions (with 1 or 2 page 'comment' section each issue, Wolmar, etc) so I would expect he has been encouraged to give his opinions rather than just the facts.

 

[Greenback]

He's not all that bad - At Rail Magazine, Barry was the only one who even bothered contact us some time ago when one train company got caught doing something very, very wrong.

I agree...

Despite this, I think Barry should keep the train companies at arm's length if he wants to write a truly independent column. Rail became a less and less believeable source of news since their advertising for train companies became a steady income. Accepting free travel off anyone other that the DfT is a mistake.

...but I have said before that RAIL has suffered as a magazine by moving towards being a mouthpiece for the TOC's. In view of the magazine's apparent change of direction, it may be more difficult to think of Barry Doe's column as objective.

Also, I think he concentrates too much on "first class offerings" and "restaurants/lack of". For the vast majority of rail passengers and similarly those who read Rail Magazine, First Class is not of great interest, the standard catering is probably more of interest.

I would welcome a review of catering trollies, and even station catering, which are probably far more relevant than the first class/restaurant offerings.

 

[junglejames]

I suspect the change in how Barry writes compared to the Modern Railways days is at least in part due to Rail's style - the mag is very keen on giving opinions (with 1 or 2 page 'comment' section each issue, Wolmar, etc) so I would expect he has been encouraged to give his opinions rather than just the facts.

Wolmar. Now theres someone who divides opinion even more so!!

 

[Greenback]

I suspect a discussion on Wolmar's column might run to at least 20 pages...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I suspect the change in how Barry writes compared to the Modern Railways days is at least in part due to Rail's style - the mag is very keen on giving opinions (with 1 or 2 page 'comment' section each issue, Wolmar, etc) so I would expect he has been encouraged to give his opinions rather than just the facts.

Probably, but if my memory can be trusted Modern Railways didn't used to be as dry and technical as it is now (Ian Walmsley is an exception, though I haven't read the mag for a few months).

 

[185]

I suspect a discussion on Wolmar's column might run to at least 20 pages...

Wolmar's column itself usually runs to 20 pages. :cry:

 

[MidnightFlyer]

At least Wolmar is better than Nigel Harris, he's just turned RAIL into a HS2 propaganda machine!

 

[ole man]

I think Nigel Harris has every right to be pro HS2, he does at least let other people like wolmar, and whoever wants to write in give there piont of view in why they don't want HS2.
You must still read RAIL magazine to know that it is pro HS2, if you dont like it being pro HS2 dont buy it.

 

[junglejames]

I see no harm in Nigel Harris supporting the rail industries no1 project. Anyway, at least he usually tells it how it is.

 

[All Line Rover]

In your opinion that is as personally I agreed with him

I know I don't like EMT myself, but don't you find it surprising how he focuses so, so much on EMT's "PAYG" First Class food service, but rarely mentions FGW's excellent Travelling Chef?

 

[Greenback]

I see no harm in Nigel Harris supporting the rail industries no1 project. Anyway, at least he usually tells it how it is.

I see no harm in any editor or writer having an opinion and expressing that opinion. At least Nigel Harris allows opposite views to be published, both from the readers and columnists of Rail. Barry Doe also occasionally publishes the views of readers who might disagree with him.

 

[Darandio]

I know I don't like EMT myself, but don't you find it surprising how he focuses so, so much on EMT's "PAYG" First Class food service, but rarely mentions FGW's excellent Travelling Chef?

In the very article in question, he not only mentions the FGW travelling chef a couple of times, but also says the EMT offering is not as good.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I think Nigel Harris has every right to be pro HS2, he does at least let other people like wolmar, and whoever wants to write in give there piont of view in why they don't want HS2.
You must still read RAIL magazine to know that it is pro HS2, if you dont like it being pro HS2 dont buy it.

I don't buy it personally :roll: I know someone who has it on subscription and borrow each issue off them to read. It has gone quite downhill over the past few years, I wouldn't consider buying it with my own money, to be honest BLN, Today's Railways UK and Modern Rail all put it to shame nowadays.

I see no harm in any editor or writer having an opinion and expressing that opinion. At least Nigel Harris allows opposite views to be published, both from the readers and columnists of Rail. Barry Doe also occasionally publishes the views of readers who might disagree with him.

Aye, he can put into his own comment page whatever he wants, but when the whole magazine just turns into a super-pro HS2 rag it annoys me. Every issue has him ranting about NIMBYs and about three articles about why it is absolutely the greatest thing ever. The fact that many other magazines remain neutral on the matter yet RAIL cannot is what gets me.

 

[All Line Rover]

In the very article in question, he not only mentions the FGW travelling chef a couple of times, but also says the EMT offering is not as good.

He still has this unusual fondness for EMT, though, compared to FGW. (Not just in that particular article).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Also, I think he concentrates too much on "first class offerings" and "restaurants/lack of". For the vast majority of rail passengers and similarly those who read Rail Magazine, First Class is not of great interest, the standard catering is probably more of interest.

I do agree with this (that he should mention First Class less often), although it would be almost impossible to do an "impartial" review of Standard Class accommodation on different TOC's - seats in particular can be very subjective.

 

[Schnellzug]

He still has this unusual fondness for EMT, though, compared to FGW. (Not just in that particular article).
.

Possibly because it's run by Stagecoach?

 

[Goldfish62]

What about the fact SWT have won TOC of the year?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yeah - as voted by the same annual industry love-in that voted the Northern Line Train Operator of the Year a couple of years ago.

 

[junglejames]

Possibly because it's run by Stagecoach?

What, just like FGW are run by First? Another company sponsoring his site.

Anyway, he does mention FGWs travelling chef. Plus, if you like something, why do you have to keep quiet? He doesnt go on and on about EMT anyway.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yeah - as voted by the same annual industry love-in that voted the Northern Line Train Operator of the Year a couple of years ago.

They always have very good reasons for who they vote for. Plus to be fair, SWT are definitely right up there. A fleet of smart reliable trains. Trains usually kept very clean. Usually very pleasant staff. A very well run operation by all accounts.

 

[Prometheus]

What, just like FGW are run by First? Another company sponsoring his site.

Barry Doe cannot claim any degree of independence if at the same time he is accepting a penny (or more) in "consultancy fees" or web site "sponsorship" from TOCs. These payments automatically disqualify him from being able to express an impartial view.

Indeed, what possible motivation would TOCs have for paying an "independent journalist" other than to get a more favourable press?

Several people have raised the issue of the free pass he was given by East Coast. I would like to know how much he charged them for his time. It is highly unlikely that he did the job for nothing.

 

[Flamingo]

Doe, Wolmar, Harris? Who are all these people? I never heard of them!

 

[theblackwatch]

Doe, Wolmar, Harris? Who are all these people? I never heard of them!

http://www.railmagazine.com/page_viewer.asp?page=Contact+Us&pid=36

 

[Flamingo]

http://www.railmagazine.com/page_viewer.asp?page=Contact+Us&pid=36

Ohhh, journo's, OK. Better mind my P's and Q's then!

 

[RPM]

The same could be said of a few posters on here though, look at the fascination with First Class meals on East Coast (as an example).

As someone who rarely uses First Class and rarely buys any food on trains, I am more interested in other aspects...

Agreed 100%. These things are completely irrelevant to the average rail user. Alan Williams went through a period of going on and on about restaurant car provision and travelling first class. I just remember thinking how his rail travel experience and mine were worlds apart.

 

[bnm]

Ohhh, journo's, OK. Better mind my P's and Q's then!

Don't get too het up, Flamingo. But if you do see this bloke sampling the fare on offer on a FGW Travelling Chef service, then do afford him all your most excellent customer service training....