I've had three recent experiences after a decent run without claims - thought I'd share experiences/compare notes with others/theraputic whinge about processing
- first is the Rail Replacement buses from 20 June from St P north bound; we knew they were coming but the huge gap in departures and getting stuck in traffic took my journey an hour beyond the already advertised significantly longer journey. I would normally avoid RBB like the plague, but on this occassion the trains stopped running 10pm on Friday (which was impracticably early) and buses didn't seem to run between Hatfield and St A.
- second is from 13 July. N'bound again. Train stopped at St Albans due to no relief driver. Everyone eventually told to move to other platform - lots of packed trains came along but due to being out of sequence/calling patterns, it was a significant wait for a Leagrave bound train.
- 22 and 23 July palava (where TL service has really cut into sleeping time)
for 22 July delays towards the end of City TL services meant a 30 min wait for a train, eventually arrived at LEA 31 mins late
for morning of 23 July it was worse and I've got a feeling GTR will argue. 8.23 from Leagrave was running 20+ minutes late (no driver); so the 08:43 arrived first. A packed platform boarded the 08:43. It then sat there for ten mins while the driver fixed a just-identified fault. In the meantime, the late-running 08:23 pulled into the other platform and left again with no passengers joining (as we were all on the other train!); the train left with less than a dozen passengers on board (quite a depressing sight from a train that was standing room only already). We were then running late and stuck on the slow lines so managed to arrive in London 32 minutes after we (the passengers if not the train) should have done if all were running smoothly. But as the 08:43 arrived at LEA before the 08:23 but left after it, the stats will understate customer disruption.
Does anyone know if new drivers are anywhere near being let loose on live running trains yet? Or are we having problems as people start to take summer holidays?
- first is the Rail Replacement buses from 20 June from St P north bound; we knew they were coming but the huge gap in departures and getting stuck in traffic took my journey an hour beyond the already advertised significantly longer journey. I would normally avoid RBB like the plague, but on this occassion the trains stopped running 10pm on Friday (which was impracticably early) and buses didn't seem to run between Hatfield and St A.
- GTR response is 'can't offer compensation' but then enclose rail voucher anyway. Despite being printed after 19 July, still says can't be exchanged for cash... and for some reason I received four RTV, three of them are voided and one valid.
- second is from 13 July. N'bound again. Train stopped at St Albans due to no relief driver. Everyone eventually told to move to other platform - lots of packed trains came along but due to being out of sequence/calling patterns, it was a significant wait for a Leagrave bound train.
- GTR are currently deciding not to pay, because the train with no driver arrived within the 30 mins (despite the passengers being told to go to other platform and no announcement that a driver had surfaced).
- 22 and 23 July palava (where TL service has really cut into sleeping time)
for 22 July delays towards the end of City TL services meant a 30 min wait for a train, eventually arrived at LEA 31 mins late
- optimistic this one will get paid
for morning of 23 July it was worse and I've got a feeling GTR will argue. 8.23 from Leagrave was running 20+ minutes late (no driver); so the 08:43 arrived first. A packed platform boarded the 08:43. It then sat there for ten mins while the driver fixed a just-identified fault. In the meantime, the late-running 08:23 pulled into the other platform and left again with no passengers joining (as we were all on the other train!); the train left with less than a dozen passengers on board (quite a depressing sight from a train that was standing room only already). We were then running late and stuck on the slow lines so managed to arrive in London 32 minutes after we (the passengers if not the train) should have done if all were running smoothly. But as the 08:43 arrived at LEA before the 08:23 but left after it, the stats will understate customer disruption.
Does anyone know if new drivers are anywhere near being let loose on live running trains yet? Or are we having problems as people start to take summer holidays?
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