Northern not holding train for late passengers

[deltic08]

I was killing time train watching at Micklefield yesterday morning, 23rd September, while my wife was at a meeting in Wetherby.
A stopping train arrived at the Leeds bound platform with shouts from just outside the station of "Please wait" from a family of four rushing for the train. This was followed by a "No" from the conductor. The family were on the platform as the door closing alarms sounded preventing entry to the train. The family were fully standing on the station before the engines revved up to leave.
This is the most blatant disregard of passenger help by a railway employee I have witnessed. A 30 second delay would have seen the family on board and satisfied with brownie points for Northern. As it was, Northern maintained its bad reputation for customer care and lost revenue as the family disappeared soon afterwards vowing not to use train again. What a reputation rail has.

 

[Ianmel1969]

Could have been a few passengers on the train with very tight connections at their next stop that will be very pleased the guard didn't wait. It's up to the passengers to make sure they get to their station on time. We all want trains to run to time, it's how things will run smoothly for passengers.

 

[tony6499]

And all those possibly delayed because people can't turn up on time don't count ?

 

[james_the_xv]

Train companies are financially penalised for delays. The unfortunate fact is that they should have made sure they were on time for their train.

 

[AlterEgo]

Sorry but delaying the train for 30 seconds for people who didn't turn up on time is not how you run a punctual railway. That can have a knock on effect down the line for people connecting at Leeds, and it'll be the railway's fault for fouling those connections to account for a completely externalised delay caused by passengers who simply turned up late.

 

[voyagerdude220]

As harsh it may appear, I'd say the Conductor was spot on. Not only did they try their best to ensure that passengers already on their train got to their destinations on time, it also reduced the risk that the Northern train could potentially delay other trains either one catching it up, or at busy junctions.

 

[J-2739]

There would probably be more sympathy if the reason they were late was due to a connecting train being under delay.