Well, most of it was at MeadowHall, but that doesn't make such a snappy title!
Anyway, here's my day....
Arriving at MeadowHall, I firstly had to barge my way off the train; they had surrounded me before the door opened. The one in front of me still had a fag in his mouth - it turned out, one of many!
On the return leg, I tried to find the right platform. Most destinations point you to a platform, but for Sheffield it said 'view departure screens or listen to announcements'.
That's ok, I can cope with that, or so I thought.....
The departure screens said the next departure to Sheffield was in 10 minutes at Platform 3, so that's where I went.
A couple of minutes later an announcement came that a delayed service was coming into Platform 1. By the time I got to the steps it was already leaving.
So, I ambled back onto Platform 3. With 1 minute to go there was an automated announcement 'Platform 3 for the train to Sheffield', which was a good sign.
A couple of minutes later, nothing had happened (but it was still 'on time'). Then, a train came into the opposite platform (which is across a footbridge).
A few people rushed off the platform, but there was also an announcement about a train coming into platform 2 so I wasn't sure why....(but I think you know!)
The train disappeared from the departures board;
yes, it was the Sheffield train that had come into platform 4, with no display or announcement made of change of platform. I shortly realised that's what it was, but I would have been slow to catch this one as well.
Ok, so it was only 5 minutes to the next service. Instead of a full pacer, I gota nice, quiet 158. It was particularly quiet as a large proportion of the passengers were actually hiding in the toilet.
They had a friend outside keeping an eye out, but the guard had obviously rumbled them.
He was waiting for them at Sheffield but had already opened the doors. One skipped past him and ran off, the next one found he couldn't get past the big lump in his way (i.e. me!) and the guard closed the doors again. He then ran off down the carriage, almost tripping over someone's trailing leg. (I couldn't resist, he didn't say 'excuse me'!)
We waited a couple of minutes with the doors locked while the couple left refused to pay and he said he was waiting for BTP.
BTP didn't arrive but I think he got some money and the doors were opened again.
I wonder if South Yorkshire is always so interesting!
Anyway, here's my day....
Arriving at MeadowHall, I firstly had to barge my way off the train; they had surrounded me before the door opened. The one in front of me still had a fag in his mouth - it turned out, one of many!
On the return leg, I tried to find the right platform. Most destinations point you to a platform, but for Sheffield it said 'view departure screens or listen to announcements'.
That's ok, I can cope with that, or so I thought.....
The departure screens said the next departure to Sheffield was in 10 minutes at Platform 3, so that's where I went.
A couple of minutes later an announcement came that a delayed service was coming into Platform 1. By the time I got to the steps it was already leaving.
So, I ambled back onto Platform 3. With 1 minute to go there was an automated announcement 'Platform 3 for the train to Sheffield', which was a good sign.
A couple of minutes later, nothing had happened (but it was still 'on time'). Then, a train came into the opposite platform (which is across a footbridge).
A few people rushed off the platform, but there was also an announcement about a train coming into platform 2 so I wasn't sure why....(but I think you know!)
The train disappeared from the departures board;
yes, it was the Sheffield train that had come into platform 4, with no display or announcement made of change of platform. I shortly realised that's what it was, but I would have been slow to catch this one as well.
Ok, so it was only 5 minutes to the next service. Instead of a full pacer, I gota nice, quiet 158. It was particularly quiet as a large proportion of the passengers were actually hiding in the toilet.
They had a friend outside keeping an eye out, but the guard had obviously rumbled them.
He was waiting for them at Sheffield but had already opened the doors. One skipped past him and ran off, the next one found he couldn't get past the big lump in his way (i.e. me!) and the guard closed the doors again. He then ran off down the carriage, almost tripping over someone's trailing leg. (I couldn't resist, he didn't say 'excuse me'!)
We waited a couple of minutes with the doors locked while the couple left refused to pay and he said he was waiting for BTP.
BTP didn't arrive but I think he got some money and the doors were opened again.
I wonder if South Yorkshire is always so interesting!
