Blackpool Tourists

[umontu]

This started as a rant in another thread, but I feel it highlights customer relation issues as well as problems on the rail ways.

On Thursday I went KKM to BPN on a set of two 156's, during the journey a chav (closest discription I can think of for him) barged past me to get off the train at Blackpool before me, this was because the guard had announced our arrival at the bridge over Devonshire road, where the train then stopped. This led the tourists or families on a day out to think we'd arrived at Blackpool already... When the train did pull in the doors stayed closed for a long amount of time.

This didn't help the mood and led to frantic calls of "Why the <choose your own word> is this <And again> door not opening!".

The next day I went to Preston where the train wasn't too full but on the out journey and return two seperate people tried to open the drivers cab door thinking it was the toilet, both were 156's.

I later found out my friend who I work with was refused access to a Northern train at Preston, due to the train being full of people for Blackpool, on Friday and as a result was late to work, he then recieved counciling for this.

Great work Northern on all counts there, but this toilet issue, this is common isn't it?

 

[WestCoast]

I have seen it all, and to be honest I find some other routes just as bad...cough...Preston - Colne at night.......cough

This isn't anything I haven't seen or heard before. Trust me, the Liverpool train always seems to be the worst offender for this, especially the massive squealing off-their-faces hen parties and stag parties that can't get in the toilets.

But the worst I've probably seen some smelly tramps (they stunk of sh**te), who obviously didn't have tickets, shouting at random people. Well they picked on one guy, who really went for them saying he was going to kill them, a fight broke out but the guy was pulled back by his rough looking wife...

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

The toilet issue is quite common, it happens fairly often over here too!

In fact i dare say it happens once or twice a day on the 156's here!

 

[Anvil1984]

Nice Northern bash as always

Services through early part of Friday til Lunchtime at least were probably busy as a result of the signalling issues which resulted in many services either being delayed or cancelled. The issue was in the Gannow Jn / Copy Pit area which meant buses were in operation from Blackburn - Colne and Hebden Bridge. Also affected were Manchester Victoria - Leeds services which were replaced by buses from Hebden Bridge to Rochdale. This was from about 0625 all the way through to about 1300. Due to this services will have been busier due to other being delayed or cancelled, either way it was out of Northerns hands

Yes the toilet issue is quite common because people when drunk mistake the word Private for toilet, Have had it many a time and wish the locks on the trains were a lot better

 

[umontu]

Don't get me wrong Anvil1984 Northern aren't too bad, they fill a gap that would overwise not be served*, just like the pacers do.
And let's face it they have a huge amount of stations to manage.
Meanwhile tpe have less stations, newer trains etc...

But my friend is always having problems getting to and from work by train, even my manager, who is usually calm and patient, has gotten to her breaking point over him being late.

Good news is he'll be evicted from his house in Preston soon so he might move back.

* Even my dp is a Northern station...

 

[BestWestern]

Yes the toilet issue is quite common because people when drunk mistake the word Private for toilet, Have had it many a time and wish the locks on the trains were a lot better

Completely agree with you there, most of the cab door 'locks' on our Sprinter fleet are absolute crap. Bearing in mind the supposed terrorism threat etc etc, it really makes you wonder why something hasn't been done about it. Planes have bulletproof doors, trains don't even have p1sshead-proof doors! :-x

I'm often in awe of some people's ability to be so utterly ignorant to a very prominent sign on the door, right in front if their face, stating very clearly PRIVATE/STAFF ONLY etc. Grr....

 

[Anvil1984]

Well I wouldnt really call that good news but for those who believe in fate.

I am not going to sit say and say Northerns perfect (I work for them and half the rants I could say aren't publishable for obvious reasons) but in this case its not lack of foresight, its just some scrote has nicked the cable and basically half the trains or staff aren't where they should be and its a Friday. Unfortunately the services that come up from Leeds are getting affected more often as Bramley and Hebden Bridge are current hotspots
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Completely agree with you there, most of the cab door 'locks' on our Sprinter fleet are absolute crap. Bearing in mind the supposed terrorism threat etc etc, it really makes you wonder why something hasn't been done about it. Planes have bulletproof doors, trains don't even have p1sshead-proof doors! :-x

I'm often in awe of some people's ability to be so utterly ignorant to a very prominent sign on the door, right in front if their face, stating very clearly PRIVATE/STAFF ONLY etc. Grr....

All the Cab Doors should be T-Key locked and not 21 key locks, its annoying having to lock after yourself when you shouldn't have to

 

[umontu]

Well I wouldnt really call that good news but for those who believe in fate.

I am not going to sit say and say Northerns perfect (I work for them and half the rants I could say aren't publishable for obvious reasons) but in this case its not lack of foresight, its just some scrote has nicked the cable and basically half the trains or staff aren't where they should be and its a Friday. Unfortunately the services that come up from Leeds are getting affected more often as Bramley and Hebden Bridge are current hotspots

I guessed you did, I'm quick to suss out who works for what here

But yeh, I agree it is a bit about fate there, just like my friend couldn't control cable theft Northern couldn't either, spose I should tell him why there was a delay, maybe they'll let it slide at work.


As for the doors I'm always amazed at how light they are, some bus drivers are better protected than train drivers are!

 

[Anvil1984]

How do you think the guards feel at the back, we sometimes have a lot of money and not a lot of protection

 

[umontu]

How do you think the guards feel at the back, we sometimes have a lot of money and not a lot of protection

Couldn't imagine personally.

Though in my job I have a lot of money and no physical protection at all, admittedly full 24/7 cctv and about 100+ witnesses to any act.

 

[Anvil1984]

Not a lot of Northern units have CCTV either and thats another problem, just 158s / 180s and the electrics IIRC

 

[W-on-Sea]

"The next day I went to Preston where the train wasn't too full but on the out journey and return two seperate people tried to open the drivers cab door thinking it was the toilet, both were 156's."

Just saw this for the first time tonight on a very late night, and very delayed, and ridiculously diverted, c2c 357 bound for the Blackpool of the South... THe woman was quite ****ed, as you would expect.

 

[Ivo]

"The next day I went to Preston where the train wasn't too full but on the out journey and return two seperate people tried to open the drivers cab door thinking it was the toilet, both were 156's."

Just saw this for the first time tonight on a very late night, and very delayed, and ridiculously diverted, c2c 357 bound for the Blackpool of the South... THe woman was quite ****ed, as you would expect.

Why would Southend have the title of "Blackpool of the South" and not Brighton? :? Or is it the idea of Southend probably making a better day trip destination than Brighton, as could be said of Blackpool in relation to Southport? Or are we suddenly getting a tram line down the seafront?

Seriously though, I have never witnessed this on a 357 before. And it's not as though I have never travelled late with c2c; although I've never been on any post-midnight services ex London, I have been on the 23:40 several times. The worst I have ever seen was a clearly tipsy couple kissing carelessly...

 

[YorkshireRider]

Perhaps Southend is an awful sh#thole like Blackpool, but im sure thats a bit harsh on Southend.

 

[WestCoast]

Perhaps Southend is an awful sh#thole like Blackpool, but im sure thats a bit harsh on Southend.

Blackpool is fine inland away from the tacky parts, but its some of the so-called "tourists" that make it so much worse. The council are attempting to "regenerate" the seafront but you still can't get rid of the scum unfortunately.

 

[BestWestern]

All the Cab Doors should be T-Key locked and not 21 key locks, its annoying having to lock after yourself when you shouldn't have to

Ah see I'd argue the other way, BR21 locks always instill more confidence in me as I'm sure there aren't so many scroats carrying those keys around as there are with T keys in their pockets
Which units do you have to lock the door behind you on? At least you can't end up locking yourself out I guess... :roll:

 

[Anvil1984]

Oop North, its the 150s and 155s (and IIRC 156s which I havent used in years), Im just lazy and just prefer one key for everything for dks to locking doors

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Blackpool is fine inland away from the tacky parts, but its some of the so-called "tourists" that make it so much worse. The council are attempting to "regenerate" the seafront but you still can't get rid of the scum unfortunately.

Just make sure you don't tar everyone with the same brush, I had a day in B'pool with my wife and young daughter, I had a drink (fair enough wasn't even tipsy) on the return trip the q for the 1 set TPE was out of the door, I stood all the way back to MAN (as I am rail staff I know the regs etc.) luckily wasn't too full to have to leave the service, yes there was the odd person slightly p**sed but everyone was in good spirits (not bad considering) and no hassles for the guard (except declassifying 1st) TOC's can do alot more to ease things for the pax and us lowly staff and to be fair things have been improving slightly but still along way to go.

 

[Ivo]

Perhaps Southend is an awful sh#thole like Blackpool, but im sure thats a bit harsh on Southend.

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but you'd be right. Southend is definitely a nicer place to live and work than Blackpool, even if it does possibly fail the third criterion (visit). And if you don't like it, wander up the pier and look back, and suddenly it looks nice!

 

[WestCoast]

Just make sure you don't tar everyone with the same brush, I had a day in B'pool with my wife and young daughter, I had a drink (fair enough wasn't even tipsy) on the return trip the q for the 1 set TPE was out of the door, I stood all the way back to MAN (as I am rail staff I know the regs etc.) luckily wasn't too full to have to leave the service, yes there was the odd person slightly p**sed but everyone was in good spirits (not bad considering) and no hassles for the guard (except declassifying 1st) TOC's can do alot more to ease things for the pax and us lowly staff and to be fair things have been improving slightly but still along way to go.

Oh no, I am not generalising anyone who comes for a day out in Blackpool (heck, I wouldn't do that as I live near the place!), the place has its good and bad parts (like anywhere really) and I don't particularly like people calling it a massive sh**thole. Anyone who visits the Stanley Park and Zoo areas, trust me, you wouldn't believe it was actually Blackpool. It's barely a mile from the cente, it's very green and pleasant and some of the houses are owned by very rich people. People who have just seen the promenade, think they have seen it all! I find Morecambe much worse as well.

I don't know what routes you work ANorthernGuard, but I have seen hassles with certain groups on the trains (abuse and things that I wouldn't call jovial) into Blackpool, mainly on Saturday afternoons and it always seems that the Liverpool train is the worst - that is just an observation.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

in my experience ( I do more South Of Mcr) you get hassle (mostly on a weekend) on practically every route as long as there is a hub for people to meet and get rather intoxicated aka p**sed there will always be a few idiots to spoil it. and to be fair on Blackpool, the prom looks like it will be really good when they have finished and maybe (just maybe) Blackpool is on the way back.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Why would Southend have the title of "Blackpool of the South" and not Brighton? :? Or is it the idea of Southend probably making a better day trip destination than Brighton, as could be said of Blackpool in relation to Southport? Or are we suddenly getting a tram line down the seafront?

Seriously though, I have never witnessed this on a 357 before. And it's not as though I have never travelled late with c2c; although I've never been on any post-midnight services ex London, I have been on the 23:40 several times. The worst I have ever seen was a clearly tipsy couple kissing carelessly...

Wasn't slagging off Southend, or Blackpool (I've not been there since 1987, so have no idea what it's like now) either! I think of Brighton (& Hove) being more like a city in its own right, London-on-Sea, rather than "just" a tourist resort.

Whereas Southend obviously attracts day-trippers (who have been here in abundance all this weekend) and is a bit more traditional/unreconstructed. And the former council-owned bus companies in both places used ex-London Routemasters for a time in the late 80s/early 90s...

Late night c2c is generally fine. And I'm a regular. Rather bemused last night not just by the cab incident, but by a woman getting on the train, at Benfleet, *at 1.30 am* (this was the 00.10 ex-FST, diverted from Barking via Grays (reverse), then via Upminster (reverse) because of damage to signalling equipment caused by a lightning strike!, so it was running a good 40 mins late), wearing a bikini and not much more!

Obviously our pier is..well if not better, certainly longer.

 

[umontu]

Anyone who visits the Stanley Park and Zoo areas, trust me, you wouldn't believe it was actually Blackpool.

Very true and it's not too far from the town centre either.

 

[175001]

As a Vic guard, yes Blackpool is a bad run this time of year, and it's been worse this year with Blackpool in the Premiership. But to be honest, the Vic-Huddersfields on weekends are MUCH worse now, the rail ale trail brings absolute muppets on my trains. My heart sinks when I see a HUD in my docket on weekends.

But this time of year in this weather too, every line seems to have it's fair share of drunks. It's something we have to deal with everyday now.

 

[samj1]

In my experince on trains to Blackpool in the summer they always have their fare share of idiots. Liverpool's especially on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Bet trains to Blackpool were busy this weekend, anyone work them?!

 

[Anvil1984]

The York - Blackpools can be lively, the amount of people travelling from my native North East to Blackpool and drinking all the way there and back can be quite messy, however a nice female did drunkenly propose to me once

 

[umontu]

As a Vic guard, yes Blackpool is a bad run this time of year, and it's been worse this year with Blackpool in the Premiership. But to be honest, the Vic-Huddersfields on weekends are MUCH worse now, the rail ale trail brings absolute muppets on my trains. My heart sinks when I see a HUD in my docket on weekends.

But this time of year in this weather too, every line seems to have it's fair share of drunks. It's something we have to deal with everyday now.

Huddersfield is bad? I'm a student there and it seems ok compared.

 

[175001]

Huddersfield it's self is fine. Its when we stop at Slaithwaite, Marsden, Greenfield, Mossley, Stalybridge and Ashton that things get "interesting"

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Blackpool is fine inland away from the tacky parts, but its some of the so-called "tourists" that make it so much worse. The council are attempting to "regenerate" the seafront but you still can't get rid of the scum unfortunately.

The Blackpool tram system refurbishment made its first move forward this weekend with the re-opening of the South Shore to North Pier section. The company instrumental in the reinvigouration of Blackpool has made quite a few television interviews last week, with Susan Boyle stood next to her "model" at the refurbished Blackpool "Madam Tussauds" and their plans for Blackpool Tower are to be commended. Blackpool is making a very determined effort to move more into a better quality resort. This is why Blackpool is moving away from the raison d'etre that if a council deliberatly keys its planning policy to "trashy" seafront units, it will surely expect "The Chav and Chavettes" to flock there in droves, as these are the visitors that their planning policies will attract. I am sure that Aiya Nappa (?) was once a tranquil place to live in!!!! Have you ever been to Newquay on a Friday and Saturday night recently?

In the "good old days", you could always count on British Rail supplying as many "drunken Scotsmen" that could be trained to appear on most well-patronised routes which would enable them to provide as much disruption as possible. Perhaps First Scotrail now have all of these as part of the Scottish Parliament's wish to devolve such duties to the Scotland area exclusively.

 

[BestWestern]

The Blackpool tram system refurbishment made its first move forward this weekend with the re-opening of the South Shore to North Pier section....

A sore point indeed! I do love dear old Blackpool, despite it's faults, and I await with excitement the day that it emerges from it's revamp as a much classier place. BUT....for heaven's sake bring back the proper tramway! This has been discussed elsewhere at great length, but briefly I am gutted that in their rush for improvement nobody realised the mistake of ripping out one if the town's most cherished attractions. A modern tramway is of no tourist interest whatsoever, every town has one or so it seems. And so the highly seasonal, tourist-based nature of the existing system doesn't make for a promising starting point. Who wants to pay tourist prices for a ride on a Europlastic?! Certainly not those whose visit always included the classic ride on a "Blackpool Tram". A small selection of summer-only, much-modified Balloons playing second fiddle to the new stuff, just won't be the same. A sad time indeed :cry: