Weekend nights and revenue

[MidnightFlyer]

I take it the 0358, once out of the Wild West of Glamorganshire, becomes an early morning business train out of Cardiff/Newport (i.e. no more chavs and people you more typically find on morning trains)?

The best for the overall quiet InterCity 125mph early-morning train is the 0450 GLC-EUS (and generally others which don't serve nearby towns from their origin).

 

[Flamingo]

Pretty much.

 

[Greenback]

Not necessarily a business train, as I have used it a few times for getting to Gatwick and Heathrow Airports for holiday flights!

 

[Blindtraveler]

the only thing i miss about commuting to and from Fife is the fri and sat madness. Last trains are so early the people generally brought whatever party they'de been at with them. It got better wen the 170s came, bristling with cameras but before it was hell, you'de sometimes be lucky to get to the forth bridge without a pass com and when i reached home (inverkeithing) it was interesting too as there was a bus stop and taxi rank

 

[Anon Mouse]

Some late night trains are a total nightmare, especially on a weekend. Due to large scale disorder the last two trains from York to Middlesbrough have a Police and management presence on a Saturday with an enforced alcohol ban, the last Grand Central between York and Sunderland has a PCO prescence on a Sat too and the 2311 to Newcastle on the same day gets the same type of pond life that should be given ASBO's and banned from the railway. Sometimes its just not safe for the Conductor to go down a certain train and it must be awful for normal passengers to put up with the weekly and sometimes nightly mischief

 

[12CSVT]

The FGW 04.00 from Swansea - Paddingon used to be a real problem - eventually, after several incidents, and the threat of a "refusal to work" (a safety issue), ATW started putting barriers in place (backed up by BTP) and a zero-tolerance approach to drunks. It very quickly settled down when the scrotes realised they would not get home if they did not behave / have a ticket.

I seem to remember they have always done barrier checks at Swansea for the 04xx Paddington (the first time I used this train being in 1987), even though barriers weren't always manned during the day in the 1980s and 1990s.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I did the 0358 once out of Swansea, it is a bit weird until Cardiff/Newport as you say. There was some complete random people on board, one was walking up and down with a cross in front of him murmuring '*** off, leave me alone' every 5 seconds. I was quite worried for safety but he seemed harmless...all he seemed to have wanted to do was storm up the carriage at speed and look straight ahead and no-one else.
This person proceeded to storm back through the carriage doing the same thing the other way.

Completely random!

 

[222007]

I know my TOC barrier's our last train/s on a friday and saturday night out of MAN with RPI's. No ticket no travel this all started due to the TM's getting abused and also staff assualts

 

[Anon Mouse]

I once had a passenger between York and Middlesbrough on a late train telling everyone that The Devil talks to him, now that was pretty random!

 

[Greenback]

I seem to remember they have always done barrier checks at Swansea for the 04xx Paddington (the first time I used this train being in 1987), even though barriers weren't always manned during the day in the 1980s and 1990s.

I don't remember any checks for the first London train, but then I haven't used for several years now on account of Mrs Greenback being highly resistant to travelling at that sort of hour!

I did the 0358 once out of Swansea, it is a bit weird until Cardiff/Newport as you say. There was some complete random people on board, one was walking up and down with a cross in front of him murmuring '*** off, leave me alone' every 5 seconds. I was quite worried for safety but he seemed harmless...all he seemed to have wanted to do was storm up the carriage at speed and look straight ahead and no-one else.
This person proceeded to storm back through the carriage doing the same thing the other way.

Completely random!

I am sure I have sene this person aboard a late train westwards from Cardiff. Either that or they have a relative!

 

[scotsman]

the only thing i miss about commuting to and from Fife is the fri and sat madness. Last trains are so early the people generally brought whatever party they'de been at with them. It got better wen the 170s came, bristling with cameras but before it was hell, you'de sometimes be lucky to get to the forth bridge without a pass com and when i reached home (inverkeithing) it was interesting too as there was a bus stop and taxi rank

Used the last train from EDB a few weeks back, no Conductor about and no carnage either. Stood all the way back and enjoyed a beer!

 

[WestCoast]

Regarding "lively" trains the pacer heading out from Preston towards Colne always seems to have some "interesting" :-x characters getting on when I'm waiting for a connection at Preston past 11pm!

 

[DarloRich]

Some late night trains are a total nightmare, especially on a weekend. Due to large scale disorder the last two trains from York to Middlesbrough have a Police and management presence on a Saturday with an enforced alcohol ban, the last Grand Central between York and Sunderland has a PCO prescence on a Sat too and the 2311 to Newcastle on the same day gets the same type of pond life that should be given ASBO's and banned from the railway. Sometimes its just not safe for the Conductor to go down a certain train and it must be awful for normal passengers to put up with the weekly and sometimes nightly mischief

That has been a bad one in the past - these steps SHOULD sort it out.

The worst one i ever went on was when TPE (or who ever it was then!) used to do something like an 0300 of Newcastle to Manchester Airport - god that was BAD! Full of p155heads AND normals going on holiday. It must have been terrible for people going to the Airport for thier holiday

 

[Anon Mouse]

That has been a bad one in the past - these steps SHOULD sort it out.

The worst one i ever went on was when TPE (or who ever it was then!) used to do something like an 0300 of Newcastle to Manchester Airport - god that was BAD! Full of p155heads AND normals going on holiday. It must have been terrible for people going to the Airport for thier holiday

That Middlesbrough one seems to have been getting worse, so its good that TPE are taking steps to try and prevent some of the problems. I am so glad I no longer work those Middlesbroughs!

The train you are talking about was 02.10 Newcastle to Manchester Airport, when I worked it initially it was a doddle as it was dual manned and pre-booked on the platform. Latterly A Guard travelled to Newcastle from York to assist with the pre-booking. It was a nightmare for a passenger but work wise it was not too bad and a useful service for a doss move.

 

[Techniquest]

I did the 0358 once out of Swansea, it is a bit weird until Cardiff/Newport as you say. There was some complete random people on board, one was walking up and down with a cross in front of him murmuring '*** off, leave me alone' every 5 seconds. I was quite worried for safety but he seemed harmless...all he seemed to have wanted to do was storm up the carriage at speed and look straight ahead and no-one else.
This person proceeded to storm back through the carriage doing the same thing the other way.

Completely random!

Funny that, as I used to use the first Swansea to Paddington quite often back in 2004 and 2005. Always a handy move for getting out early on a cranking trip! Never had any problems with it when it was the 0330 (now that's going back some way) or the 0400 (never used it as the 0359 or 0358) off Swansea, although I do recall some sort of ATW posters about the train and the zero tolerance thing. Going back some years that is now though, and I've not used it since 04/01/2008.

Ah, memories flooding back. Especially of a time when I bought a Swansea to Manchester return off the Senior Conductor, with him using a Sportis machine to issue it. So long ago now...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Regarding "lively" trains the pacer heading out from Preston towards Colne always seems to have some "interesting" :-x characters getting on when I'm waiting for a connection at Preston past 11pm!

Sadly a general reflection of those who live in East Lancs and use rail on weekend nights - I would catch the xx22 Colne anytime until the 2122 any day of the week, but avoid it even at the cost of a £7 bus single on weekends - and never, ever contemplate it when the Pleasure Beach is open

 

[WestCoast]

Sadly a general reflection of those who live in East Lancs and use rail on weekend nights - I would catch the xx22 Colne anytime until the 2122 any day of the week, but avoid it even at the cost of a £7 bus single on weekends - and never, ever contemplate it when the Pleasure Beach is open

I don't blame you the raucous on platform 2 at Preston awaiting the xx22 to Colne is unbelievable sometimes - equal measures of headcases, drunken louts, chavs and p**sed-up people coming home from a night out in Preston. A few people coming off late connections are the only 'normals' it seems!

The train has got bad press as well because of some sort of attack on a woman that occurred - it was in the local papers?

It always surprises me because the trains heading the other way towards BPN/BPS are in my experience, quiet and generally trouble-free at night.

The TPE coming up from Manchester to Preston can be quite bad too on weekend nights.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I don't blame you the raucous on platform 2 at Preston awaiting the xx22 to Colne is unbelievable sometimes - equal measures of headcases, drunken louts, chavs and p**sed-up people coming home from a night out in Preston. A few people coming off late connections are the only 'normals' it seems!

The train has got bad press as well because of some sort of attack on a woman that occurred - it was in the local papers?

It always surprises me because the trains heading the other way towards BPN/BPS are in my experience, quiet and generally trouble-free at night.

The TPE coming up from Manchester to Preston can be quite bad too on weekend nights.

Very true, mate, sadly, can't remember seeing or reading of a woman being attacked, but it wouldn't be of surprise. I know someone tried to snatch a camera/phone off someone on it once last summer, BTP job et al, but we'll leave that there.

I have never witnesses a BPN/BPS etc train on a Saturday night, but I suppose the intense frequency of service and the fact that on-route places are mostly pleasant areas will have something to do with it. I was on the 2216 MAN-BIF to Preston a Saturday night a few weeks ago, and was a bit unpleasant, but emptied at Preston, leaving about five 'normals' on to continue northwards! The xx22 Colne trains are bad as they serve paces like Blackburn, Accy and Pendle: not places I recommend on Saturday nights.

 

[WestCoast]

Very true, mate, sadly, can't remember seeing or reading of a woman being attacked, but it wouldn't be of surprise. I know someone tried to snatch a camera/phone off someone on it once last summer, BTP job et al, but we'll leave that there.

Link here - it was the Colne service.

I have never witnesses a BPN/BPS etc train on a Saturday night, but I suppose the intense frequency of service and the fact that on-route places are mostly pleasant areas will have something to do with it.

Yes, that is most likely the reason - I feel comfortable on them but I wouldn't necessarily on the Colne run (no idea what the York train is like - if it runs that late).