BBC Documentary 'The Railways'

[A-driver]

Another very enjoyable program that shows rail staff in a very good light. It was very interesting hearing the lovely lady driver talking about her first fatality.

I did feel that the 83 year old gentleman who wasn't getting a reserved seat all the way to London should have been looked after better, (perhaps he was but it wasn't shown), as it's not right that he should have to stand for such a long journey.

I must take the family to Scotland.

That's not up to the rail staff to sort though-if there's no reservations there are no reservations. It's down to human decency amongst the passengers on the train to give up their seats for those who need them more-you know how commuters do every day by burying their heads in their newspapers and pretending not to see the elderly/disabled/pregnant passenger!

All the station staff could have done is ask others to move if no seats were free.

 

[gazzak]

That's not up to the rail staff to sort though-if there's no reservations there are no reservations. It's down to human decency amongst the passengers on the train to give up their seats for those who need them more-you know how commuters do every day by burying their heads in their newspapers and pretending not to see the elderly/disabled/pregnant passenger!

All the station staff could have done is ask others to move if no seats were free.

Perhaps move the old boy to the front of the queue?

 

[Ferret]

Perhaps move the old boy to the front of the queue?

Or have a word with the Train Manager to look at an upgrade...

 

[ainsworth74]

Or have a word with the Train Manager to look at an upgrade...

That's what I was thinking

Assuming first wasn't busy/going to get busy!

 

[A-driver]

They may have helped him, we don't know but the problem with that kind of thing is that it opens the flood gates. No reservations and its expected to be very busy. If you let the old man push to the front to try and get a seat then all that happens when people notice is that you get the woman with kids asking to go to the front, then the guy who 'puts on a limp' because he came off his bike 3weeks back, then the woman who has been feeling very faint all day and doubts she can stand for hours on end, then the woman who claims to be pregnant, the guy with an ingrowing toenail who can't stand for long periods of time, the guy who gets travel sick unless seated next to the window facing the front etc.

 

[Tracky]

Of course they might have done either of the above, but (even though its a decent thing to do) to show it on TV wouldn't have been a good move!

Beat me to it!

 

[Ferret]

Assuming first wasn't busy/going to get busy!

Which is why you ask the TM first, who can check the reservation listing

 

[Spaceflower]

I'm really enjoying watching this on BBC i player. I've only watched the first two episodes so far but boy what different worlds Leeds and Kings Cross seem to be!

 

[cjmillsnun]

Perhaps move the old boy to the front of the queue?

Or have a word with the Train Manager to look at an upgrade...

That's what I was thinking

Assuming first wasn't busy/going to get busy!

They may have helped him, we don't know but the problem with that kind of thing is that it opens the flood gates. No reservations and its expected to be very busy. If you let the old man push to the front to try and get a seat then all that happens when people notice is that you get the woman with kids asking to go to the front, then the guy who 'puts on a limp' because he came off his bike 3weeks back, then the woman who has been feeling very faint all day and doubts she can stand for hours on end, then the woman who claims to be pregnant, the guy with an ingrowing toenail who can't stand for long periods of time, the guy who gets travel sick unless seated next to the window facing the front etc.

An upgrade or moving him to the front of the queue may have been done, but strictly off camera. As had been mentioned they don't want to open the floodgates.

 

[jon0844]

I am sure someone would have let him sit down. There are priority seats on every carriage, no?

I am not sure the TOC needed to do anything as he sounded like he could have made his needs known when he boarded!

 

[amcluesent]

Scotrail too worried about another 'Big Man' incident perhaps with wee neds playing up to the camera, stocious on Buckfast Tonic Wine?

 

[Marklund]

I am not sure the TOC needed to do anything as he sounded like he could have made his needs known when he boarded!

Indeed!

To be honest, he sounded like the last person who should be moved to the softer seats. I'll bet he wasn't the only octogenarian on the service.

 

[yorksrob]

A very enjoyable series indeed.

I particularly enjoyed the more nuts and bolts approach of the Scotland episode.

One thing that did surprise me was that I never heard anyone suggest using the other route (EC vs WC) during the times of disruption.

 

[LE Greys]

A very enjoyable series indeed.

I particularly enjoyed the more nuts and bolts approach of the Scotland episode.

One thing that did surprise me was that I never heard anyone suggest using the other route (EC vs WC) during the times of disruption.

That surprised me as well, usually they will honour tickets on the other line (at least to London, to Preston might be different). There's also the G&SWR route through Kilmarnock, but that might get overwhelmed easily, they only ever use 156s. It's possible that all three were cut off, I remember one weekend when all traffic had to go via Newcastle and Carlisle because of problems at Berwick and Tebay. If that had gone as well, the only rail link from London to Scotland would have been via Settle.

 

[yorksrob]

That surprised me as well, usually they will honour tickets on the other line (at least to London, to Preston might be different). There's also the G&SWR route through Kilmarnock, but that might get overwhelmed easily, they only ever use 156s. It's possible that all three were cut off, I remember one weekend when all traffic had to go via Newcastle and Carlisle because of problems at Berwick and Tebay. If that had gone as well, the only rail link from London to Scotland would have been via Settle.

Quite. I've been allowed on the MML when the EC was down before.

I think faced with a toiletless coach journey from Glasgow to Carlisle, I'd rather be given the choice of going via Newcastle.

 

[Marklund]

That surprised me as well, usually they will honour tickets on the other line (at least to London, to Preston might be different). There's also the G&SWR route through Kilmarnock, but that might get overwhelmed easily, they only ever use 156s. It's possible that all three were cut off, I remember one weekend when all traffic had to go via Newcastle and Carlisle because of problems at Berwick and Tebay. If that had gone as well, the only rail link from London to Scotland would have been via Settle.

It was filmed around the end of June 2012 presumably.

 

[Darren R]

My impression from the programme was that the elderly gentleman had chosen not to reserve a seat. Although the edit sort of made it look as though he was caught up in the chaos at Edinburgh, it did show the EC staff member on the platform saying quite specifically that it was too late for him to reserve a seat because reservations had closed - not that his reservation was not being honoured because of problems down the line. A minor point though!

 

[ainsworth74]

That surprised me as well, usually they will honour tickets on the other line (at least to London, to Preston might be different).

They might well have but we only got to see those who opted for the bus

 

[D365]

Patrice and the female driver were great people, wonderful representatives for East Coast! But now the series is over...

 

[FGW_DID]

I am sure someone would have let him sit down. There are priority seats on every carriage, no?

Yes there are priority seats on most services, just like there are on buses.

As for your first point, hopefully someone would have a bit of common decency but usually that gets left at the doors of the train (if not to the station!) :cry:

 

[jon0844]

I think you mean their front door!

 

[FGW_DID]

I think you mean their front door!

Ha ha good point JM

 

[lynni]

I think its the lack of a mirror on the back of the sun visor in the cab for touching up makeup that puts a lot of women off. Plus high heals are difficult on ballast (though I don't speak from experience on that).

Not ALL women wear war paint/high heels,you know Damned uncomfortable both things are in my opinion!

 

[Oswyntail]

Not ALL women wear war paint/high heels,you know Damned uncomfortable both things are in my opinion!

As for nail varnish! It feels as if you are carrying lumps of concrete on your fingertips:roll:

 

[Kneedown]

Not ALL women wear war paint/high heels,you know Damned uncomfortable both things are in my opinion!

And a good thing too. A short walk along the ballast RUINED my Christian Louboutin's!

 

[michael769]

There's also the G&SWR route through Kilmarnock, but that might get overwhelmed easily, they only ever use 156s.

The G&SWR is, or was, a diversionary route for the WCML - and Voyagers have been seen going down there in the past during engineering works

I wonder if pendos are cleared to be dragged down?

 

[paulypaul]

Patrice helped my elderly dad, his mobility scooter and I on an East Coast service at the beginning of December at Edinburgh Waverley. He was super helpful, pleasant and is a super ambassador for East Coast.

 

[amcluesent]

I wonder if the pax who make fools of themselves ranting & cussing get the chance to refuse being broadcast?

 

[Scotty]

They put up posters, saying they could prevent it...

 

[IrishDave]

It was filmed around the end of June 2012 presumably.

Based on the specific description of wires down between Carstairs and Lockerbie (shown on screen at some point), I guessed it was probably the dewirement in October 2012 featured in this thread?