| Author |
Message |
Commuter
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Tuesday, 28 September, 2004 - 09:47 pm: | |
Ok where do I start, 8.15am, HOP station, 4 car train arrrives with people falling literally falling out of the door when the train arrived. Exactly the same thing happens on the way back around 7:15pm.
Are you people completely stupid?
Let's say a fire started or the train collided with another train?
Have you no respect/regard for your passengers?
We pay your wages!!! |
Bosco
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 29 September, 2004 - 09:21 am: | |
Is you real name Rip van Winkle? It's been like that for quite some time - David Hare's even had time to write a play on the subject.
Sadly, the train companies don't seem to have a huge amount of regard for their passengers. I cycle to work so rarely get the train and on the occasions I do get the train and it's overcrowded I hate every second of the journey - no wonder so many Londoners are miserable if this is how they have to get to work! |
i
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 29 September, 2004 - 10:28 am: | |
Thats true, it has been this way for years, and i see no end to the way passengers suffer on the platform, and collapse on the train. You can complain all you like to them they really don't care.
I also cycle into London. |
Hilltop General
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 29 September, 2004 - 01:53 pm: | |
I would tend to disagree a little. The other day, they ran a "short formation" - ie less coaches than normal, which was a bit irritating for those waiting down the platform who had no carriage to get on.
However, boarding at Forest Hill at a conventional time I usually get a seat. If the trains weren't full at the last stops before the terminus in rush hour, they would be wasted the rest of the time, no? |
Commuter
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 29 September, 2004 - 01:56 pm: | |
Then it's for the transport company to do the number crunching and figure it out! It doesn't take a genius to think that the trains will be busy in rush-hour so have more carriages.
Bosco, you're too dismissive, it's that attitude that's gets us into these situations. |
Yush
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 29 September, 2004 - 01:56 pm: | |
I've been living in HOP for about 2 1/2 years, I've noticed that when I first arrived, I could get a seat or atleast have ample standing room.
Now I have to get teh 7.43 - just to have standing room. This area/station has become more and more popular.
Catching at train after 8am means you are crammed into carriages with annoying school kids with oversized bags, oversized mouths.
ALso - does anyone know if Honor Oak Park is going to have parking restrictions along the allotments? |
Steve in Honor Oak
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 29 September, 2004 - 01:57 pm: | |
Yesterday evening me and a hundred or more others couldn't get on the 1850 from London Bridge because it was only four coaches instead of the usual six or eight. The 1905 was only four coaches too. Govia, the train operating company, is currently re-furbishing the 20 year-old sliding door stock, so maybe that has exacerbated the problem. The even older 'slam-door' trains will have to be withdrawn soon because of new health and safety regulations. I've no idea what they will be replaced with, because unlike the prestige main line services which are getting brand new trains, there are as far as I know no plans for new trains for us peasants on the inner-suburban services. |
Bosco
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 29 September, 2004 - 02:16 pm: | |
Commuter - I was not being dismissive at all, perhaps a little flippant but certainly not dismissive.
My point, I suppose, is that while a discussion board may help you vent your frustration and hear similar tales from other discontented commuters, it does not address the issue in any substantive way - if you want to complain and you want your complaint to be heard, direct it at the train companies or vote with your feet and get the bus or cycle. You're preaching to the converted on this website, we're not the ones who need to be convinced the train operators are doing a poor job.
And I fail to see how it could possibly be my attitude that has led the train companies to put profit over people. |
marianne
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 29 September, 2004 - 02:58 pm: | |
Get the bus! Its a third cheaper than the train and you will nearly always get a seat from Honor Oak or Forest Hill. I gave up going by train two years ago and although it takes longer, it is much more comfortable! |
megan
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 30 September, 2004 - 12:31 pm: | |
i used to travel from HOP and must say the trains were a joke. I now travel from Crofton Park which is a 10 minutes walk for me and never have any problems and always get a seat. |
Yush
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 30 September, 2004 - 12:44 pm: | |
Does anyone know what 'works' are being started today on Honor Oak Park? |
Steve in Honor Oak
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Monday, 04 October, 2004 - 05:20 pm: | |
I am surprised by how few posts there are on this board about the train service, considering that many of us depend on it for our livelihoods. I must say from my experience it has been pretty OK over the last few months, but as we slide into autumn things usually start to go downhill. I noticed this morning at HOP- and it was the same on Friday - that there was no information on the visual departure board on the platform - it just read 'Welcome to Honor Oak Park'. There were no loud speaker announcements either, so there was no clue to when the next train might be - it was late. |
Barbs
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Tuesday, 05 October, 2004 - 08:49 pm: | |
I get the 7am into London from FH, I never have a problem getting a seat. Okay one of the reasons I get this early train is that I can't stand the push and shove that happens if you get a train later than 0730hrs. I took the attitude as to why would I want to get to work hot and bothered and grumpy because of a hot,over-crowded train. I also get a lot of work done in that 1hr & 20mins before 9am without the interuption of phones and people!
On the whole I get a seat on the way home as well, it's a question of knowing the trains (slam doors or not) and where the doors will be in relation to the platform. It works everytime.....
We are very lucky, it's only a 14 minute ride, not too much of a hardship if you have to stand. Also, we don't get the delays other lines get, it's not a bad service. |
RJS
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 06 October, 2004 - 10:29 am: | |
I fully agree, Barbs. I tend to get the 0720 from FH. Always a seat, delays infrequent and get to work without having been hunched under a stranger's armpit. In comparison with most, our service is enviable. |
Jim
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 06 October, 2004 - 01:29 pm: | |
If you adhere to the kind of rules that Barbs mentions, you can also get a seat from FH in to London Bridge between 8 - 9 am. The trains are always packed, but it's only a short journey and could be a lot worse - it's the people coming in from Kent and beyond that I feel sorry for. |
Jim
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 06 October, 2004 - 01:34 pm: | |
One other thing, does anyone else think that the service has improved since they took the franchise away from those fools at Connex? |
Hilltop General
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 06 October, 2004 - 04:37 pm: | |
Well give it a month or so and we will see... |
Steve in Honor Oak
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 06 October, 2004 - 05:52 pm: | |
I noticed the visual display and loud speaker announcements were both back in action at HOP this morning. I travel back quite late most evenings, and the trains are as crowded at 8pm-9pm as they are at 6pm. The Forest Hill route is very busy, much busier than the route via Peckham Rye and East Dulwich that I sometimes use as an alternative. |
KG
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 10 November, 2004 - 06:13 pm: | |
I've noticed more and more trains being delayed by a few minutes in the morning which leads to more crowding and more delays at each successive station toward London Bridge after FH. This seems to have got generally worse in the past month, with no obvious reason.
I emailed Southern and got a long reply about how complex the services are etc etc - I would suggest those annoyed by the service do the same: http://www.southernrailway.com/contact_us/contact_us.shtml
You might not get a good answer back, but at least Southern would have a clue about how their passengers (sorry, ahem, customers!) feel about their service. |
sid
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 10 November, 2004 - 11:30 pm: | |
oh, is it Southern now? I can't keep up. |
Les
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 11 November, 2004 - 08:49 am: | |
Hi KG,
Leaf-fall is the old excuse. It only takes a few minutes on each train to snowball to large gaps in the service, followed by a bunch of delayed crowded trains.
I've noticed that some of the long distance stock from (I guess) the Brighton line, has cascaded to the FH route (often on the 0720). It might sound like a good idea but only 3 sets of narrow doors per coach and higher gearing (they go faster, but don't accelerate so well) sounds like delays built-in to me.
Les. |
The Other Brian
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Saturday, 13 November, 2004 - 05:08 pm: | |
Great fun yesterday evening at New Cross Gate when a passenger fell ill on the 17.30. which was held in the platform for 30 mins. We were sent across to another platform for the 17.41 only to see it speed through non-stop. Without the benefit of further information, most of us drifted back to platform 2 to await the 18.10. When that arrived late (natch!) at 18.15, it was 4 coaches long and so overcrowded that, when the doors opened, people literally fell out. 45 mins in a biting wind without shelter or information isn't much fun. Although Southern can't be blamed for the initial cause (I hope the person is OK) the subsequent fiasco was all theirs. Still we can be sure that the directors don't have to put up with this and we do get a much more expensive, better class of delay and chaos now private(er) companies are in charge.
Oh and anyone know why the East London Line has been running with delays every day since the summer? Maybe they are getting ready for when the extension through HOP and Forest Hill opens some time in the C22. |
cclr David Whiting
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Saturday, 13 November, 2004 - 05:21 pm: | |
I have passed Other Brian's email to the Transport Liaison Committee, and will let you know as soon as I have an answer on this incident and the handling of the aftermath, and also on the situation on the E London line, which really will be arriving sooner than next century. |
sly mixx
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Sunday, 14 November, 2004 - 01:20 pm: | |
god it doesn't take much for people in foresthill to moan |
Jack
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Monday, 15 November, 2004 - 12:12 pm: | |
You're kidding, right? |
grim reaper
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Tuesday, 16 November, 2004 - 09:18 pm: | |
try the 23.52 from london bridge on Friday & Sat , worse than rush hour I have given up writing to southern about adding more carriges , what they run is a joke ! |
Les
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 17 November, 2004 - 01:27 pm: | |
Absolutely, grim.
I can understand there being a shortage of stock at peak times, but running 4 car trains at that time is ridiculous, given how crowded it gets.
It's always a shock for visitors, I've found. Probably the one thing they will remember about their visit!
Les. |
jason
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 17 November, 2004 - 04:22 pm: | |
the Forest Hill Steering Group has had Southern attend the meetings- perhaps they could attend the one on 16th December? |
johnnyb7
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 17 November, 2004 - 05:46 pm: | |
The late trains really are a joke. The funniest thing is that the 23.25 from London Bridge to Victoria is comprised of 6 carriages and is nearly always empty when i manage to catch it. It's not so long ago that the 23.45 from Charing Cross was 6 and then 8 carriages. |
Brain surgeon
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 17 November, 2004 - 06:21 pm: | |
I agree with johnnyb7 getting on the late trains especially the last train home is a nightmare. Its a real bun fight. People are nearly knocked over in the crush to get on at London Bridge. People getting on later down the line plead to be let on. Some with children and their buggies. It stops me travelling by train and i tend to drive. |
Steve in Honor Oak
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Wednesday, 17 November, 2004 - 06:26 pm: | |
It would be nice to know what Southern intend to do about the problem of short trains and overcrowding. As far as I know they have no plans for new stock on their London lines. On the contrary, they will have to withdraw their 'slam door' stock by 2006 in accordance with health & safety regulations. |
Les
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 18 November, 2004 - 03:08 pm: | |
This is after John Prescott and his 'judge me by my results' speach, where he promised to reduce the number of people on the roads...
Not that there's an alternative (other than leaving london.) |
RamRaider
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Friday, 26 November, 2004 - 10:59 am: | |
Anyone catch the 07.20 to London Bridge this morning? Was it on time? |
RamRaider
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Friday, 26 November, 2004 - 11:01 am: | |
Anyone catch the 07.20 this morning to London Bridge? Was it on time? |
Bongo
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Friday, 26 November, 2004 - 01:33 pm: | |
No idea, however the 743 was late, 4 carriages and rammed.
Soon, these bunch of muppets will probably have £5k payrise, and 52 days holiday. |
Bosco
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Friday, 26 November, 2004 - 04:33 pm: | |
I was on the 7.20 - it was about 3 minutes late so not particularly bad, nor was it crowded (at least not in the front carriage) |
C
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Sunday, 05 December, 2004 - 01:51 pm: | |
Got a late train home on Friday night and it was the worst I've seen it in ages. One of the newer trains too...it must've been a shorter train because the crowding was even more dangerous than usual. |
R
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Sunday, 05 December, 2004 - 05:52 pm: | |
Lets put this on the agenda for the steering group, which as I am sure you all know, is at 7pm on 16th December, Forest Hill Library. Generally there is some communication from a railway exec telling us all how things have improved. |
