Yesterday, I attempted to travel on the 1140 First Scotrail from Fort William to Glasgow.
Arriving at the station about 1100, I was surprised to find the stock for the 0830 departure to Mallaig in the sidings, going nowhere, and later discovered there had been emergency trackwork on the Mallaig stretch, with bustitution.
About 1120, that 156 was shunted into the platform, and when I asked the suited gentleman at the barrier if that was to be the 1140 to Glasgow, his reply was "we don't know yet" A few minutes later, it was announced as such, and passengers were allowed to board, but were warned departure may be a little late as they were waiting for buses from Mallaig. So about 60 passengers, complete with much luggage, boarded and got comfortable. Then, about 1135, the same suited gentleman I had enquired of at the barrier came through the train, telling everyone there was a train fault and it would not be going, and buses would be provided from the front of the station.
Cue mass exodus of same 60 or so passengers, and much baggage.
Very shortly afterwards a Stagecoach coach arrived. I stood back to see what would happen as it was clear we would not all get on. Part way through that embarkation, the men in suites announced there was a change of plan, and asked them to get off again. That coach then departed empty. In the meanwhile a catering trolley was brought outside the station and free drinks were offered.
After about 15 minutes, 2 Shiels coaches arrived, presumably from Mallaig, and one or two began to alight, expecting a train on to Glasgow. They were then asked to reboard, along with all the waiting passengers, and arrangements were made for the coaches to go on to Glasgow.
The two coaches eventually departed about 1215, with me on the second. Clearly, our driver was not expecting such a long trip, as we stopped just past North Ballachulish to change drivers.
We then proceeded to Crianlarich, where our new driver received fresh instructions to deposit us at Crianlarich station, where the portion from Oban, which would have joined our portion from Fort William, would be waiting. So it was unload all the passengers and baggage, and run up the stairs on to the platform, the Oban portion being at the far end, having expected to be joined by one from Fort William. When we were about 15 yards off the train, it departed, leaving us breathless, waving wildly on the platform and not amused!
So, back on to the coach, accompanied by several good impressions of Victor Meldrew's catchphrase. The farce then continued, with our driver racing the train along the shores of Loch Lomond, to Tarbet, where we spotted the first coach parked at the station, and our driver hurriedly diverted to join it.
Another rush with luggage up the steps, this time just as the train was arriving, and about 60 passengers, along with much luggage, struggled to board the solitary 2 coach 156 from Oban, which was already quite well filled. Some had to complete their journey standing in the vestibules, clearly not much impressed with Scotrail's performance that day. Others were exhausted by the running around with luggage and would have appreciated the free tea or coffee then, had the trolley been able to get through. Interestingly, there was no word whatever by way of welcome or apology from the conductor who must have seen us rushing towards the train at Crianlarich.
We eventually arrived at Queen St on time at 1530, but singularly unimpressed by the dire lack of communication all along. Not First Scotrail's best efforts. And incidentally, having shown it's possible to clip at least 35 minutes off the overall time by yesterday's part coach/part rail journey despite the shambles, how many will simply go the whole way by coach in future?
Arriving at the station about 1100, I was surprised to find the stock for the 0830 departure to Mallaig in the sidings, going nowhere, and later discovered there had been emergency trackwork on the Mallaig stretch, with bustitution.
About 1120, that 156 was shunted into the platform, and when I asked the suited gentleman at the barrier if that was to be the 1140 to Glasgow, his reply was "we don't know yet" A few minutes later, it was announced as such, and passengers were allowed to board, but were warned departure may be a little late as they were waiting for buses from Mallaig. So about 60 passengers, complete with much luggage, boarded and got comfortable. Then, about 1135, the same suited gentleman I had enquired of at the barrier came through the train, telling everyone there was a train fault and it would not be going, and buses would be provided from the front of the station.
Cue mass exodus of same 60 or so passengers, and much baggage.
Very shortly afterwards a Stagecoach coach arrived. I stood back to see what would happen as it was clear we would not all get on. Part way through that embarkation, the men in suites announced there was a change of plan, and asked them to get off again. That coach then departed empty. In the meanwhile a catering trolley was brought outside the station and free drinks were offered.
After about 15 minutes, 2 Shiels coaches arrived, presumably from Mallaig, and one or two began to alight, expecting a train on to Glasgow. They were then asked to reboard, along with all the waiting passengers, and arrangements were made for the coaches to go on to Glasgow.
The two coaches eventually departed about 1215, with me on the second. Clearly, our driver was not expecting such a long trip, as we stopped just past North Ballachulish to change drivers.
We then proceeded to Crianlarich, where our new driver received fresh instructions to deposit us at Crianlarich station, where the portion from Oban, which would have joined our portion from Fort William, would be waiting. So it was unload all the passengers and baggage, and run up the stairs on to the platform, the Oban portion being at the far end, having expected to be joined by one from Fort William. When we were about 15 yards off the train, it departed, leaving us breathless, waving wildly on the platform and not amused!
So, back on to the coach, accompanied by several good impressions of Victor Meldrew's catchphrase. The farce then continued, with our driver racing the train along the shores of Loch Lomond, to Tarbet, where we spotted the first coach parked at the station, and our driver hurriedly diverted to join it.
Another rush with luggage up the steps, this time just as the train was arriving, and about 60 passengers, along with much luggage, struggled to board the solitary 2 coach 156 from Oban, which was already quite well filled. Some had to complete their journey standing in the vestibules, clearly not much impressed with Scotrail's performance that day. Others were exhausted by the running around with luggage and would have appreciated the free tea or coffee then, had the trolley been able to get through. Interestingly, there was no word whatever by way of welcome or apology from the conductor who must have seen us rushing towards the train at Crianlarich.
We eventually arrived at Queen St on time at 1530, but singularly unimpressed by the dire lack of communication all along. Not First Scotrail's best efforts. And incidentally, having shown it's possible to clip at least 35 minutes off the overall time by yesterday's part coach/part rail journey despite the shambles, how many will simply go the whole way by coach in future?
