Train company left users stranded

[Coxster]

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/6300179.stm

A train company has apologised for leaving passengers stranded by the side of a road, in snow, in the middle of the night and 60 miles from home.

When a replacement bus service - for a late-night London to Southampton train - broke down in Surrey, passengers were told a taxi would pick them up.

Two South West Trains staff left the scene in a cab 15 minutes later.

But the passengers' taxi never arrived, leaving them with a two-hour wait and a £180 bill for their own transport.

Businessman Adrian Yalland eventually arrived at his Marchwood home, near Southampton, two-and a-half hours late and £180 lighter after paying for the taxi.

"It just shows the contempt with which South West Trains hold their customers," said the 36-year-old.

When the 0105 GMT Waterloo to Southampton train stopped at Woking due to engineering works, six passengers - including two South West Trains staff - joined a replacement bus service.

However, that bus then broke down at 0200 GMT on the A322 near Woking.

"We were told by the driver and the guard, when we got off the bus, 'your taxi is on its way'," said Mr Yalland.

Promise to reimburse

"It was snowing. In the end no-one had organised it and we had to sort it out ourselves.

"I feel really quite angry."

In a statement, South West Trains said it would reimburse Mr Yalland.

The statement added: "Two members of South West Trains' train crew, who were on board the bus, also left in a taxi summoned by their train crew supervisor as they were due to work another service.

"If the train crew had been delayed too long it could have resorted in another service being cancelled due to no driver."

"While we are sorry for the inconvenience the bus breakdown caused for the passengers, we are glad they arrived home safely in complimentary taxis."

 

[Tom]

What other services run at 2am in the morning...?

 

[Jim]

What other services run at 2am in the morning...?

1Z81 IIRC, 02XX from Soton, was on the 442 diagrams for the last few days

 

[Techniquest]

The 0150 Fishguard Harbour - Swansea for one...I'm sure there is a booked HST or two around that time on the Cardiff - Swansea section of a London - Swansea service too...

The 0030 MX Cardiff Central - Shrewsbury is another one that comes to mind...

Then of course there's the Caledonian Sleepers and the Night Riviera...

 

[Coxster]

Thameslink (sorry, the Thameslink "bit" of First Capital Connect) is a 24 hour operation.

 

[yorkie]

and TPE

 

[Tom]

OK let me rephrase that - what other services operate on SWT at 2am... 1Z81 would be crewed from BM TCD as Waterloo don't know the route to Bournemouth...

 

[Jim]

OK let me rephrase that - what other services operate on SWT at 2am... 1Z81 would be crewed from BM TCD as Waterloo don't know the route to Bournemouth...

Yes, but do you know it was London Crewed?

 

[Jim]

The 0150 Fishguard Harbour - Swansea for one...I'm sure there is a booked HST or two around that time on the Cardiff - Swansea section of a London - Swansea service too...

The 0030 MX Cardiff Central - Shrewsbury is another one that comes to mind...

Then of course there's the Caledonian Sleepers and the Night Riviera...

*sigh*
So the guard & driver off of the 0105 needed to go and work the 0030 Cardiff - Shrewsbury did they, or 1 better, the 0150 Fishguard - Swansea

 

[Nat the Ned]

While we are sorry for the inconvenience the bus breakdown caused for the passengers, we are glad they arrived home safely in complimentary taxis."


How is the passenger paying for it themselves complimentary??


It also couldve been the guard/driver had to get back to their depot to book off if they were on the following afternoon, traincrew must have 12 hours between booking off and booking on.

 

[Techniquest]

*sigh*
So the guard & driver off of the 0105 needed to go and work the 0030 Cardiff - Shrewsbury did they, or 1 better, the 0150 Fishguard - Swansea

Tom asked for services around 0200, he got them...

I knew he wanted SWT services, but he didn't specify that originally!

And I've heard stranger things than that before!

 

[Jim]

Tom asked for services around 0200, he got them...

I knew he wanted SWT services, but he didn't specify that originally!

And I've heard stranger things than that before!

Yes but surley it is commen sence, if we are talking about SWT crew on a broken down SWT bus

 

[Jim]

While we are sorry for the inconvenience the bus breakdown caused for the passengers, we are glad they arrived home safely in complimentary taxis."


How is the passenger paying for it themselves complimentary??

SWT re-imbursed them I think

 

[Nat the Ned]

SWT re-imbursed them I think

They say they did, yes. But still having to pay a £180 taxi out of your own pocket before getting it paid back doesnt sound very complimentary!! Am suprised traincrew were on the bus anyway, most TOCs have rulings where traincrew are not able to travel on replacement transport with passengers and get their own taxis provided.

n

 

[thefab444]

Whats the betting at least one of the passengers was drunk?

 

[Craig]

Whats the betting at least one of the passengers was drunk?

What has that got to do with anything?

 

[Dennis]

....Am suprised traincrew were on the bus anyway, most TOCs have rulings where traincrew are not able to travel on replacement transport with passengers and get their own taxis provided.

n

Why?

 

[thefab444]

What has that got to do with anything?

SWT maybe not too happy to lay on taxis only having to pay for a cleaning bill as well as the fares to all the passengers' houses?

Late night depature out of Waterloo... the guy they interviewed on South Today looked like he liked his beer shall we say.