IanPooleTrains
Established Member
Yes, and lets cancel 1/3 of services in the north
And we've solved the problem of Wakefield Kirkgate in one fell swoop
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Worse Train Ride Ever
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And we've solved the problem of Wakefield Kirkgate in one fell swoop
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northernrail
Member
6 January 2010 travelling from Mills Hill, Manchester (2 stops from Manchester Vic) to Leeds via Rochdale, to get some pics of the trains in the snow.
Looking forward to a good day with my camera, we get a cl144, not the nicest in such cold tempretures.
But we pressed on, after 20 minutes we finally got a seat, after being cramped up against the toilet door.
Inbetween Bradford Interchange and New Pudsey the Unit slowed to a hault, eventually we were tolled that the unit had failed and we were waiting a rescue. 2 hours after the failure a rescue came and finally took us to Leeds.
a failed 144 in freezing cold conditions was fairly annoying:-x
Can anyone tell me why the unit behind couldn't of coupled up to rescue us?
Looking forward to a good day with my camera, we get a cl144, not the nicest in such cold tempretures.
But we pressed on, after 20 minutes we finally got a seat, after being cramped up against the toilet door.
Inbetween Bradford Interchange and New Pudsey the Unit slowed to a hault, eventually we were tolled that the unit had failed and we were waiting a rescue. 2 hours after the failure a rescue came and finally took us to Leeds.
a failed 144 in freezing cold conditions was fairly annoying:-x
Can anyone tell me why the unit behind couldn't of coupled up to rescue us?
colpepper
Member
In the days of Peak haulage on the MML I caught a train from St. P, midday, midweek and it was pretty quiet. About half way north I decided to use the lavatory. When I'd done what I came to do I came to open the door...no handle.
After pondering the snap shut door for a few minutes it became apparent there was no way I was going to get out by my own devices, the lock was completely flush (sic). My best bet was to shout for help. Trouble is, nobody was passing by. After half an hour or so the swoosh of connecting doors could be heard.
'..Err, HELLO' I shouted. Nothing. Some time later, same thing. This was getting serious, there were only a few passengers in my carriage and the buffet was the other end of the train. We were getting close to my destination and I seriously began to ponder ways of breaking the window.
Eventually someone must have passed and thought 'this chap isn't looking for company or his taxi fair home' and got the guard. He opened the door to ask me 'what I thought I was playing at?' and 'couldn't I read the sign?'
'What sign I asked?'
'This one..err...this one' he said picking up a muddy piece of A4 paper off the floor that had landed wrong way up, probably on an early trip. He went on his way muttering and I got off the train, just in time.
After pondering the snap shut door for a few minutes it became apparent there was no way I was going to get out by my own devices, the lock was completely flush (sic). My best bet was to shout for help. Trouble is, nobody was passing by. After half an hour or so the swoosh of connecting doors could be heard.
'..Err, HELLO' I shouted. Nothing. Some time later, same thing. This was getting serious, there were only a few passengers in my carriage and the buffet was the other end of the train. We were getting close to my destination and I seriously began to ponder ways of breaking the window.
Eventually someone must have passed and thought 'this chap isn't looking for company or his taxi fair home' and got the guard. He opened the door to ask me 'what I thought I was playing at?' and 'couldn't I read the sign?'
'What sign I asked?'
'This one..err...this one' he said picking up a muddy piece of A4 paper off the floor that had landed wrong way up, probably on an early trip. He went on his way muttering and I got off the train, just in time.
ChrisCooper
Established Member
My worst one would be Nottingham to Skegness in the summer quite a few years ago. Me and my mum went and we also took her friend with her children who had never used a train before, or since. We got to Nottingham and there was a single 156 on the platform with a large crowd waiting. Good start I though, having had prior experiance of overcrowding (including 2 summer saturday evening crush loaded 153s back, first time being a big contrast to the quiet 3 car 117 on the way out). Things looked up though when another 156 arrived and coupled on the back, but we were still not able to board. It then became clear why when not long before departure a 158 pulled in, having come from Crewe, and also coupled on, giving 6 coaches, much more like it. Having boarded, and with the train fairly busy but not too bad we pulled out. This is where it went downhill fast.
The departure from Nottingham was very sluggish, and then we made an unschedualed stop at Netherfield, the first station out of Nottingham. The driver left the cab and walked down the train. On returning to the cab some minutes later it was then announced that the brakes on the 158 were not releasing, hence the performance. We were by now quite late and people were getting restless, but it was announced that the fitters had been called out, and the guard had opened one door so people could leave the train for fresh air. The doors in question were the back ones on the rear 156, and from there the smell of brakes on the 158 was strong. The connecting doors had been closed and an attempt already made to sort the problem by uncoupling and re-coupling, but this had not worked. The crew told us that the best solution would be to leave the 158 and continue with just the 156s, but control was insisting on sending the fitters out first. By the time the fitters arrived it was over an hour since we had left Nottingham. They tried various things, including uncoupling and recoupling, with no luck, and eventually as expected we left with just the 156s, leaving the 158 behind. With the passengers from the 158 now moved into the 156s the train was much busier, and 2 hours late. We eventually pulled into Skegness with a few minutes to spair from a 2 hour delay, 2 hours of our trip lost. We also noted that the train an hour behind had been cancelled, and a large load were waiting, this being the first train to leave Skegness for 2 hours.
We made the most of the day, then returned to the station for what turned it into by far my worst return trip ever. On arrival, in plenty of time due to the expected heavy usage of the summer evening departures from Skegness, we found large crowds already waiting and a 150 in the platform. Since it was still some time before departure, I assumed(and hoped) this would either not be our train, or another unit would be coupled to it before departure. This turned out not to be the case, and the familiar scenarior occured where passengers for stations to Boston were asked to go and wait for buses which would be provided, and then the rest of us squashed onto the 150, practically crush loaded (many were standing, and the aisles and vestibules were filled with luggage) with 2+3 seating for the long run back to Nottingham. It was so bad it actually ended up being mentioned on the local news due to passengers complaining, with the explanation given that it was due to an earlier failed train disrupting the service.
For some reason I began to hate 158s as after this, although my overall milage on 158s was nothing special compared to various other types (particularly Turbostars and 156s), my delay minutes due to them are vastly higher than any other type, including 2 more 2 hour delays due to 158s and another due to a gas leak but involving getting stuck on a 158. This is even more so if knock on delays are included. Add to that a number of uncomfortable runs due to air con failures and it got worse. Then again, all involved Central Trains 158s, with one exception (Arriva Transpennine) I've never had an issue with anyone elses 158s. Even so I found them worse than 170s and 156s that I had similar if not higher milage with (not once had a delay down to a 156).
The departure from Nottingham was very sluggish, and then we made an unschedualed stop at Netherfield, the first station out of Nottingham. The driver left the cab and walked down the train. On returning to the cab some minutes later it was then announced that the brakes on the 158 were not releasing, hence the performance. We were by now quite late and people were getting restless, but it was announced that the fitters had been called out, and the guard had opened one door so people could leave the train for fresh air. The doors in question were the back ones on the rear 156, and from there the smell of brakes on the 158 was strong. The connecting doors had been closed and an attempt already made to sort the problem by uncoupling and re-coupling, but this had not worked. The crew told us that the best solution would be to leave the 158 and continue with just the 156s, but control was insisting on sending the fitters out first. By the time the fitters arrived it was over an hour since we had left Nottingham. They tried various things, including uncoupling and recoupling, with no luck, and eventually as expected we left with just the 156s, leaving the 158 behind. With the passengers from the 158 now moved into the 156s the train was much busier, and 2 hours late. We eventually pulled into Skegness with a few minutes to spair from a 2 hour delay, 2 hours of our trip lost. We also noted that the train an hour behind had been cancelled, and a large load were waiting, this being the first train to leave Skegness for 2 hours.
We made the most of the day, then returned to the station for what turned it into by far my worst return trip ever. On arrival, in plenty of time due to the expected heavy usage of the summer evening departures from Skegness, we found large crowds already waiting and a 150 in the platform. Since it was still some time before departure, I assumed(and hoped) this would either not be our train, or another unit would be coupled to it before departure. This turned out not to be the case, and the familiar scenarior occured where passengers for stations to Boston were asked to go and wait for buses which would be provided, and then the rest of us squashed onto the 150, practically crush loaded (many were standing, and the aisles and vestibules were filled with luggage) with 2+3 seating for the long run back to Nottingham. It was so bad it actually ended up being mentioned on the local news due to passengers complaining, with the explanation given that it was due to an earlier failed train disrupting the service.
For some reason I began to hate 158s as after this, although my overall milage on 158s was nothing special compared to various other types (particularly Turbostars and 156s), my delay minutes due to them are vastly higher than any other type, including 2 more 2 hour delays due to 158s and another due to a gas leak but involving getting stuck on a 158. This is even more so if knock on delays are included. Add to that a number of uncomfortable runs due to air con failures and it got worse. Then again, all involved Central Trains 158s, with one exception (Arriva Transpennine) I've never had an issue with anyone elses 158s. Even so I found them worse than 170s and 156s that I had similar if not higher milage with (not once had a delay down to a 156).
Tracked
Established Member
late spring 1999 I was coming home from work at Rotherham, it was a warm friday afternoon and I was catching the 17:35 local, so I know the service is going to be busy.
The train approaches, it's a 142 and a 3 car 144 on the back of it, so Northern Spirit have got the right approach there then to a friday peak-hour service.
Except when it stops the guard is wanting everyone to get onto the 142, leaving an empty 3 car 144 at the back.
Resign myself to standing on a crowded 142 back to Doncaster and get to the middle of a busy carriage when the guard is approached by a bunch of angry commuters suggesting that they be allowed to sit on the 144.
Quite threatening looking actually which no doubt informs the guards decision to let them on, obviously making ticket collecting as impossible as doing so on a packed 142.
At this point I would have loved to have gone and got a seat on there.
No one gets out and gets onto the 144, duh!
I'm stuck on a still crowded 142, on a nice warm day, all the way to Doncaster then.
The train then gets held up for about 10 minutes at Aldwarke Junction
Lovely, complaint gets put in the following morning, did get vouchers in response
The train approaches, it's a 142 and a 3 car 144 on the back of it, so Northern Spirit have got the right approach there then to a friday peak-hour service.
Except when it stops the guard is wanting everyone to get onto the 142, leaving an empty 3 car 144 at the back.
Resign myself to standing on a crowded 142 back to Doncaster and get to the middle of a busy carriage when the guard is approached by a bunch of angry commuters suggesting that they be allowed to sit on the 144.
Quite threatening looking actually which no doubt informs the guards decision to let them on, obviously making ticket collecting as impossible as doing so on a packed 142.
At this point I would have loved to have gone and got a seat on there.
No one gets out and gets onto the 144, duh!
I'm stuck on a still crowded 142, on a nice warm day, all the way to Doncaster then.
The train then gets held up for about 10 minutes at Aldwarke Junction
Lovely, complaint gets put in the following morning, did get vouchers in response
317666
Established Member
In April I was on a Holyhead - Euston Pendolino, being dragged by 57304 to Crewe. All was fine until then. Upon arrival at Crewe, we then had to wait for about 25 minutes because the relief crew (pun not intended) were stuck on a late-running service. After departing Crewe, we then became later due to some sort of problems in the Berkhamsted area - we ended up crawling through the station, and ended up arriving at Euston a grand total of 41 minutes late!
Was an enjoyable journey though none-the-less
Was an enjoyable journey though none-the-less
37372
Member
Story of my life :/The train then gets held up for about 10 minutes at Aldwarke Junction
Mine was a summer evening back in 2006. I'd spent the afternoon in Doncaster and boarded a foul ex FNW 153 for the 12 minute ride home back to Mexborough.
All was normal right up until the outskirts of Mexborough, when there was an almighty THUD, that caused the 153 to shudder and sway from side to side violently, one man leapt up from his seat thinking we were derailing. Cue emergency brakes and guard sprinting to the drivers cab. Someone had walked out infront of the train at the local foot crossing just down the line from Mexborough station.
So there we were, stuck at this foot crossing just yards from where I wanted to get off, station visible in the distance, awaiting the line to be cleared, then the relief driver (who had to come from Sheffield) got lost en route. Eventually we were on the move 2 hours later.
You do not want to be stuck on a unit for that long with Chapman seats!
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