Hartlepool - Tall Ships 2010

[43167]

43167, you werent the one always hanging out of the window with a green top on were you?

No mate, not me.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Haha, i remember this. People expected a Sunderland train, and I had to take the stick explaining its terminating, and that they must wait for the 4-carriage Northern!

I must have seen you today at some point. I was one of those in the orange High-Vis jackets!

Probably did. Was at Hartlepool twice this afternoon.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Very harsh this afternoon actually, most trains were 4-carriages but many departed packed like Sardines. Plenty of people walking to the end of the trains (in high-visibility vests) explaining we couldn't fit anymore on, and they would have to wait for the next service.

 

[theblackwatch]

Whilst running the shuttles was commendable, it would appear that the fact that people would be travelling from places other than Darlington or Sunderland was overlooked. I joined the 09.32 ex Middlesbrough at Thornaby which was a single 156 and it left 'full and standing'. At Stockton, not everybody could get on (including a group with suitcases, probably attempting to get to Newcastle Airport for a flight), and none of the 50 or so waiting at Billingham were able to board the train and were left behind.

 

[43167]

Yes I heard it mentioned maybe a hauled set could have been employed on Middlesborough services.

 

[142094]

Apparently Northern were supposed to have double sets on the regular services all day, so that must have went down the pan. Will have a look tomorrow to see if it is any better.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

There were 4-car trains all day. Worked out like sardines mind !
You will most likely see me in a high vis again tomorrow

 

[craftsmaster]

It's all going to be DRS fully supplied anyway. So nothing to worry about laying them down.

 

[theblackwatch]

There were 4-car trains all day. Worked out like sardines mind !
You will most likely see me in a high vis again tomorrow

Not on Saturday - see my post above (63) regarding people being left behind on my 2-car unit. I'm about to set off for there again, but at least I know I have a guaranteed seat both ways!

 

[142094]

There were 4-car trains all day. Worked out like sardines mind !
You will most likely see me in a high vis again tomorrow

Saw a few people on the station who looked liked volunteers, you weren't wearing a blue hoodie?

Not all the Northern services today were doubled up, which caused a few problems especially at Billingham. Also 142070 failed at Darlington for reason unknown, so I think something had to go cover for that as well.

Quite surpirsed that the shuttles were not used as much as I thought they would. Would have been better to have them going between Middlesbrough and Newcastle, and doubling up the Saltburn - Middlesbrough - Darlington services.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Forgot to add, whoever trained the women checking tickets didn't do a very good job. Apparently a ticket between Hartlepool and Newcastle is not valid on the shuttle to Sunderland and the Metro from there. Sounds like time to send another email to Nexus about this problem again...

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Saw a few people on the station who looked liked volunteers, you weren't wearing a blue hoodie?

Not all the Northern services today were doubled up, which caused a few problems especially at Billingham. Also 142070 failed at Darlington for reason unknown, so I think something had to go cover for that as well.

Quite surpirsed that the shuttles were not used as much as I thought they would. Would have been better to have them going between Middlesbrough and Newcastle, and doubling up the Saltburn - Middlesbrough - Darlington services.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Forgot to add, whoever trained the women checking tickets didn't do a very good job. Apparently a ticket between Hartlepool and Newcastle is not valid on the shuttle to Sunderland and the Metro from there. Sounds like time to send another email to Nexus about this problem again...

I was indeed in the blue hoodie.
And Saturday was a good(ish) day, with a majority being 4-cars. I was referring to Sunday when i mentioned it.

Today was terrible, plenty of failed units and so 2-cars were the order of the day - around 50% were 4-cars though. We tried our best!

 

[43167]

Saw a few people on the station who looked liked volunteers, you weren't wearing a blue hoodie?

Not all the Northern services today were doubled up, which caused a few problems especially at Billingham. Also 142070 failed at Darlington for reason unknown, so I think something had to go cover for that as well.

Quite surpirsed that the shuttles were not used as much as I thought they would. Would have been better to have them going between Middlesbrough and Newcastle, and doubling up the Saltburn - Middlesbrough - Darlington services.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Forgot to add, whoever trained the women checking tickets didn't do a very good job. Apparently a ticket between Hartlepool and Newcastle is not valid on the shuttle to Sunderland and the Metro from there. Sounds like time to send another email to Nexus about this problem again...

Was this at Hartlepool?. She clearly has no idea of the main reason of the shuttles. Though it could be bad training as you say. One of the Northern guys at Hartlepool shouted out when one of the shuttles arrived: Next train for Sunderland only, Change at Sunderland for Newcastle. So that makes her claim false straight away.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was indeed in the blue hoodie.
And Saturday was a good(ish) day, with a majority being 4-cars. I was referring to Sunday when i mentioned it.

Today was terrible, plenty of failed units and so 2-cars were the order of the day - around 50% were 4-cars though. We tried our best!

Northern cant be faulted for their efforts this weekend. In past franchies it would have been carry on as normal I suspect.

 

[142094]

Was this at Hartlepool?. She clearly has no idea of the main reason of the shuttles. Though it could be bad training as you say. One of the Northern guys at Hartlepool shouted out when one of the shuttles arrived: Next train for Sunderland only, Change at Sunderland for Newcastle. So that makes her claim false straight away.

Northern cant be faulted for their efforts this weekend. In past franchies it would have been carry on as normal I suspect.

It sure was at Hartlepool, the woman in question was holding a clip-board. Apart from giving out wrong information, she wasn't exactly good at checking tickets. Since there were no checks on board the shuttle, I bet there were a few people who got through without paying.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was indeed in the blue hoodie.
And Saturday was a good(ish) day, with a majority being 4-cars. I was referring to Sunday when i mentioned it.

Today was terrible, plenty of failed units and so 2-cars were the order of the day - around 50% were 4-cars though. We tried our best!

If I had known it was you I would have said hi. If you don't mind me asking, did you get anything as a reward for your work?

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

If I had known it was you I would have said hi. If you don't mind me asking, did you get anything as a reward for your work?

Well, as a friend of seaton station I get a free travel pass for the Northern Network permenantly. So its not too bad. Always willing to put in the extra work to support the local area, though.

 

[142094]

I'd like to volunteer but can't at the minute with uni. Maybe next year - nearest station is Manors.

 

[spacehopper]

Thats because she was office staff!

Hatlepool was barried and anyone without a ticket was directed to the numerous RPAs to buy one.

As for DRS shuttles- Sunderland- barried, Harlepool- barried, Darlington- barried. Most non normals were using Tyne Tees Day Rangers on them.

Nice to see so many people turn out for the 47/57 shuttles- hope they all enjoyed having a run on them.

 

[43167]

Yes a tynetees day ranger was the ticket, or in my case a 4/8 north east considering I was coming from keighley everyday.

Had much enjoyment been on a riding a 47-hauled service train again, did saturday, sunday & Tuesday. plus the bonus of having 67029 on the PF tour from York on saturday.

 

[sidmouth]

Was at Hartlepool on Saturday (on the UKrailtour 67 T&T tour), and thought it must have been a bit confusing for Jo Public waitiing for a train, as for the additional services (particularly as the DRS shuttles) were not being announced on the monitors (which simply showed the "normal" timetabled serviced). There was a PA, but was inaudible above the normal crowd sound level.

 

[142094]

Thats because she was office staff!

Hatlepool was barried and anyone without a ticket was directed to the numerous RPAs to buy one.

As for DRS shuttles- Sunderland- barried, Harlepool- barried, Darlington- barried. Most non normals were using Tyne Tees Day Rangers on them.

Nice to see so many people turn out for the 47/57 shuttles- hope they all enjoyed having a run on them.

Sounds like good practise - putting office staff to do something like checking tickets. No wonder she didn't have a clue. A few bashers on the train were commenting on how easy it would be to get past - most people were showing the backs of the tickets and still getting waved through. The Rat Race pub had problems with people getting on the platform from outside and going past the barriers. Still with the amount of people it was a good effort.

Was at Hartlepool on Saturday (on the UKrailtour 67 T&T tour), and thought it must have been a bit confusing for Jo Public waitiing for a train, as for the additional services (particularly as the DRS shuttles) were not being announced on the monitors (which simply showed the "normal" timetabled serviced). There was a PA, but was inaudible above the normal crowd sound level.

Noticed that as well, although it was being shown on the live departures on the web. Aye, PA could have done with being turned up a few notches as well. I was getting on one of the shuttles to Darlington, the platform was full. Before it arrived a few of the people in hi-vizs shouted to tell people the next train due in was the shuttle, and people for Newcastle to stand back. Hardly anyone moved back from the edge of the platform, so naturally I assumed that they were getting the shuttle. In the end about 90% of the people were still on the platform after the shuttle left, and most of them were blocking the way for people actually getting on the shuttle. Silly sods.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

I was one of the people shouting, don't you worry! We actually managed to get the shuttles on to the board late Sunday night, and had to keep ringing Sunderland to get them put on for Monday and Tuesday. We had to keep shouting when they arrived mind!