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Bolton Fan

When our friend David Clegg (or is it Nick Cameron?) tells us all to start using public transport when we're too skint to drive our cars, I will be walking or not bothering to go anywhere after my experience of the 8.19 pm train from Southport to Manchester Airport last night.

The fifty two minute journey to Bolton was fine if you were 1) a family from hell or 2) totally legless or 3) both. The drunks were the worst - getting on the train with bottles and cans, treating the train like a nightclub, bragging "I've just been sick in the toilet", falling onto other passengers, singing, shouting, swearing .... The train conductor just ignored it all (and I can't say I blame him - I wouldn't do his job for £50,000 a week). What I'd like to know is why you aren't allowed to behave like that on a bus or a plane but its acceptable on a train. Its not as though it was late and people were coming home from pubs and clubs - these people were on their way to nights out in Bolton and Manchester!

Maybe its just me getting old ..........

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Former Member

Hi Bolton fan
I am afraid I 100% agree with you. I used buses for over 20 years until I learnt to drive. It is an archaic form of getting about. I hate waiting for buses that don't arrive. I hate then having to walk with heavy bags to my house in the wet and the rain. I hate the fact that a journey takes twice as long because you have to plan the route.
And then there are my fellow passengers - just think of all the colds coughs and sneezes

I am a misery - I prefer my car.

9/19/102:38 AM

machelMember VIP10 yearsModerator

returning from my sons a few years ago my family (oh and young daughter) couldn't understand why there were no seats on the nat express, so son drove us to peterborough and we caught the train, it was standing room only and pulling into grantham (to change) the platform was full. they were obviously 18-30 age group and we asked what the occasion was - a reunion at butlins for club 18/30, the two carriage train pulled in, already full of booze drinking, swearing smoking "louts" , there were frequent forays into the loos (my daughter wanted to know why it was always a man and woman in the loo!). There was no one to complain to - the conductor remained in the cabin with the driver for the duration of the 2 hour journey - no doubt to excape the stench of second hand booze and smoke, public transport - no thanks - trains are an easy target

9/19/102:44 AM

Karma_Member

I have done economy Glasgow once and Kings Cross to Edinburgh once. Fly or first class for me. Worth the extra shekels to ensure you're not surrounded for hours mostly by smelly, noisy chavs who have the social etiquette of Charles Bronson.

9/19/107:18 AM

Former Member

Shit - I might be using a train this week

9/19/107:37 AM

Karma_Member

VD just jump on the back as it's moving along like they do in the films.

9/19/107:49 AM

SazBombMember

I get the train from London to Durham all the time, its usually fine

The quiet coach is usually less busy, if you want a bit of piece and quiet

First class is more pleasant, but not enough for me to justify spending the extra each time I want to visit my parents.... cheapest standard class fare is £24, cheapest 1st class is £86

9/19/107:59 AM

Ev (Peachy)Member

Coach B is normally the quiet coach. I prefer that, or put headphones when on the train.

9/19/109:16 AM

SazBombMember

It is yeah, I've started booking that one recently

only thing is you have to walk the length of the train to get into it at Kings Cross

9/19/109:59 AM

Karma_Member

Reference:

First class is more pleasant, but not enough for me to justify spending the extra each time I want to visit my parents.... cheapest standard class fare is £24, cheapest 1st class is £86

Can you fly to Newcastle from London City or Stanstead? (or whichever one is closest for you). I can get BMI returns for around 70 quid from Heathrow up north if I book about a month in advance.

9/19/1010:04 AM

El LoroMember VIP10 yearsModerator

BBC News announced this afternoon. It seems rather relevant to this thread:

Southern Railway to axe toilets from new train fleet

The new fleet of trains will be introduced in December

A train company has been branded a "disgrace" by union chiefs after it emerged some of its new fleet will have no toilets on board.

Southern Railway opted to forgo the facilities on its latest trains running on the Portsmouth to Brighton service.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers' union (RMT) said it was "unacceptable" due to a journey length

The firm said trains would run in areas with short journeys where most people travel for less than half an hour.

A journey from Portsmouth to Brighton can take up to an hour and a half.

Independent rail passenger watchdog Passenger Focus said the decision was a blow for passengers who were elderly, had medical conditions and travelled with children.

Southern Railways said the trains, which are to be introduced in December, have been designed to create more space for passengers.

But RMT general secretary Bob Crow called the move "unacceptable" and said it runs the risk of turning carriages into "stinking cattle trucks" creating appalling conditions for passengers and staff.

“Start Quote

One and a half hours without any toilet facilities on board is unacceptable”

End Quote Bob Crow RMT general secretary

"The route has always had toilets on board in the past," he said.

"This is the main connection between two major cities on the South coast.

"One and a half hours without any toilet facilities on board is unacceptable."

He said RMT was already set to ballot members of Southern Railway for industrial action after cuts to security led to an increase in assaults on staff.

A Southern Railway spokeswoman said the new trains would have a "refreshed interior" including new seats and flooring, a passenger information system and flexible spaces for wheelchairs and cycles.

She added other trains in its fleet also did not have toilets on board.

"Quite a few other operators do not have toilets," she added.

The Department for Transport said there were no rules on whether or not toilets should be available on trains.

"We expect rail companies to provide a good service," he added.

"However, it is not for the Government to micromanage the industry."

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, said: "This is definitely a blow for passengers, especially those travelling with children.

"However, these changes will help to reduce overcrowding which will be welcomed by passengers.

"Our research shows that passengers are unhappy with station toilets, so it is essential that Southern improves them quickly."

9/19/1010:15 AM

SazBombMember

Reference:

Can you fly to Newcastle from London City or Stanstead? (or whichever one is closest for you). I can get BMI returns for around 70 quid from Heathrow up north if I book about a month in advance.

I'm too scared to fly on my own

I'd be a gibbering wreck before I left the airport

9/19/1010:17 AM

Karma_Member

You'll only be in the air for about 40 minutes and you don't fly that high in domestic (about 25,000 feet or summat) so you could always jump out if you're scared

But I can understand if you have a fear of flying. I love it so try to do it as much as I can, but if you can handle the trains then they sound reasonable enough in price. Too many years of commuting in London and having to get up close and personal with armpits has affected me

. And don't get me started on the ruddy tourists who clog up Leicester Square station with their friggin maps and the parties of 26 tourists who take up all the escalators at Waterloo and then shout to each other in between my ears

9/19/1010:26 AM

PeterCatMember

Surely your head is in between your ears?

9/19/1010:39 AM

Karma_Member

You know what I mean

Don't be a pedant. That's my job

9/19/1010:59 AM

liverbirdMember 10 years

That's terrible about the no loos on the trains

9/19/1012:03 PM

Garage JoeMember

Reference:

cheapest standard class fare is £24, cheapest 1st class is £86

You have to be lucky to get those fares mind! I think it depends on when you travel Saz. If you are travelling to London, Saturdays are best or after 11am. Returning anytime before 15:30. Like the above I always look for the cheapest First Class.
A few years ago I was travelling back from Coventry on a replacement service which had no First Class and no reservations. As if that weren't bad enough we were joined by hoards of football fans at Birmingham. Whilst the guard was unable to deal with them, he was good enough to threaten to have me put off at the next station. I must learn not to complain.

9/19/1012:08 PM

Former Member

How very patronising of Clegg/Cameron!! The way the cuts are going it wont be a bus it will be a bloomin horse and cart...and that,s only the rich , the rest of us will be Shankies Pony

9/19/1012:09 PM

Former Member

Now if you book earlier enough you can get first class very cheaply. I will be going up to Harrogate in a month or so. I will hopefully be able to get a 1st class ticket for £25.00

9/19/1012:11 PM

Garage JoeMember

Reference:

I will hopefully be able to get a 1st class ticket for £25.00

I'm sure Saz is wondering who you are booking with. I know I am.

9/19/1012:15 PM

Former Member

Reference:

will hopefully be able to get a 1st class ticket for £25.00 I'm sure Saz is wondering who you are booking with. I know I am.

Most of them do it - you just have to keep looking..

9/19/1012:16 PM

CariadMember

Parking in Cardiff got so expensive I started getting the train. We're only 15 mins from Cardiff by train and the last stop before reaching Cardiff Central. We have 2 carriages that are generally full by the time the train reaches our little unmanned station. There is only one train every hour and the 5.30pm train home is standing room only again unless I am lucky enough to get to the platform before it comes in and can muscle my way to a seat.

And don't even get me started on school holidays when the usual hoard of commuters have to share with the rest of Joe Public who've been shopping in Cardiff and trying to get on with their double buggies, 8 kids and 45 large Primark bags and throwing a hissy fit when they don't all get a seat. Together.

I pay £70 a month for this privilege. Loose change compared to some I guess but a lot for a 30 minute stand every day.

9/19/1012:45 PM

SazBombMember

Reference:

Now if you book earlier enough you can get first class very cheaply. I will be going up to Harrogate in a month or so. I will hopefully be able to get a 1st class ticket for £25.00

The prices I posted before were the absolute cheapest book three months in advance on the day they're released fare - mind thats with East Coast

And GJ is right, you have to be bloomin quick!

9/19/102:13 PM

SazBombMember

Reference:

And don't even get me started on school holidays when the usual hoard of commuters have to share with the rest of Joe Public who've been shopping in Cardiff and trying to get on with their double buggies, 8 kids and 45 large Primark bags and throwing a hissy fit when they don't all get a seat. Together.

Thats not so bad cos they're usually too busy faffing about and you can sneak/push past them to get a seat... like tourists on the tube

9/19/102:16 PM

Rocking Ros RoseMember 10 years

I can't imagine travelling on a train just in case - especially for one and a half hours - seems barbaric to me

9/19/102:37 PM

Rocking Ros RoseMember 10 years

Reference:

That's terrible about the no loos on the trains

hi liver

agree

9/19/102:39 PM

Former Member

Reference:ros

I can't imagine travelling on a train just in case - especially for one and a half hours - seems barbaric to me

???

9/19/102:41 PM

Crunchy NutsMember

There are certain train journeys that I won't take. I used to quite regularly go Preston to Manchester Piccadilly which also goes through Bolton and some of the drunken alco idiots that used to get on that train were enough to put you off train travel for life.

I travel in and around Newcastle on trains sometimes as well and to be honest they aren't that bad. But I'm the same, for longer journeys when it's an option I like to try and get in first class as it's a much more pleasant and relaxing journey and you don't have to worry about contaminated chav parasites getting on.

Also whenever I think about travelling by trains now one of the first things I check are football fixtures for that day and work out whether or not it is going to be full of drunken footie fans. They are okay in small numbers but if there's a big following like Leeds (they seem to be a nightmare) on the trains then I stay well clear of those trains. I am as big a football fan as anyone but even I can't be arsed with alcohol fuelled football hooliganism.

9/19/103:05 PM

Crunchy NutsMember

Reference:

I have done economy Glasgow

Train or plane?

9/19/103:08 PM

Smarting ButtocksMember

There are no good reasons for public transport.
During my year of enforced public transport due to medical reasons I had to endure a near 2 hour journey from home to work which normally took me 25 minutes by car.

9/19/103:17 PM

Garage JoeMember

It's probably a domestic issue. If I lived on the mainland I certainly wouldn't have to buy a car.

9/19/103:51 PM

Dame_Ann_AverageMember VIP10 years

Reference:

Maybe its just me getting old ..........

no, just unacceptable at any age

9/19/103:56 PM

Karma_Member

Reference:

Train or plane?

Train. I felt like a hostage

Can't beat Virgin first class. Plane I always do economy for domestic flights, they only have business class on the BMI domestics (well any I've been on) and to be honest the service from both BMI and BA economy is fine for me. I will never, ever, as long as I live, use Easyjet again if I have any choice in the matter. Christ that was rank.

9/19/104:13 PM

SazBombMember

I'm travelling with EasyJet on Saturday

I've never travelled anything other than cattle class on a plane

9/19/104:20 PM

Karma_Member

Reference:

I've never travelled anything other than cattle class on a plane

There's nowt wrong with cattle class on a normal, everyday plane. But that Easyjet is just grimy

It's just all orange and all the people are orange and the women are rough as arseholes with their lils hangin out and talk like they're on the piss on a Saturday night and all sorts. They certainly do not set a certain etiquette standard as a prerequisite when recruiting their staff. *shudders at memories* And it's only about 20 or 30 quid cheaper than BMI and BA.

9/19/105:07 PM

Karma_Member

Reference:

During my year of enforced public transport due to medical reasons I had to endure a near 2 hour journey from home to work which normally took me 25 minutes by car.

I'm in the same boat and it does my nut in. Even worse someone has a nice motor waiting for me that I can't blimmin use

I very rarely use public transport now, I usually manage to blag a lift or get a taxi. After driving for 22 years I would only use PT for work reasons (or to be blunt if it was going to be of financial benefit to me). Some people love it and some don't mind it, I just don't like being that close to strangers who could be carrying all sorts of airborne diseases or don't know how to use soap, water and deodorant

OH and my heels always used to get stuck in the blimmin escalators too

9/19/107:00 PM

SazBombMember

Reference:

There's nowt wrong with cattle class on a normal, everyday plane. But that Easyjet is just grimy It's just all orange and all the people are orange and the women are rough as arseholes with their lils hangin out and talk like they're on the piss on a Saturday night and all sorts.

I have very low expectations of air travel, as long as I don't die I'm happy

I've flown with them a couple of times and they were better than I expected after having watched Airport

It'll probably be horrendous this weekend now I've said that

9/20/103:19 AM

MoominMember

Reference:

I just don't like being that close to strangers who could be carrying all sorts of airborne diseases or don't know how to use soap, water and deodorant

There was an interesting item on BBC Breakfast this morning, revealing that it is better for the health to travel by bus than car - stress levels are lower!!

9/20/103:33 AM

Karma_Member

Cos I'm so close to Heathrow it's always easier to fly from there, Easyjet only fly from Gatwick, Luton and Stanstead so on the couple of occasions I've used them it's always added an extra hour in time and more money on petrol, so it usually ends up costing a lot more. Plus they're always based the furthest away from the terminal (at Gatwick it was like doing a bloody sponsored walk just to get to the plane) and at Glasgow it was just as ridiculous, they'd park the plane on the furthest runway and then it'd be another trek just to get my suitcase. And THEN you've got these blimmin orange twats not knowing what they're doing and arguing with each other about where this plane load of people who are being herded like cattle are supposed to be going. I'm surprised they're not supplied with a stick thing to prod us in the back as we walk along

What makes me laugh is when they do the boarding call and those who have paid their extra 10 quid to have first baggsy on seats swan up like they're in first class

9/20/103:35 AM

Karma_Member

Reference:

There was an interesting item on BBC Breakfast this morning, revealing that it is better for the health to travel by bus than car - stress levels are lower!!

Do I look like a stressed person to you?????

9/20/103:36 AM

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Southern Railway to axe toilets from new train fleet

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