Commuting to work by train is just a joke

Hi, does anyone take the Hove to Victoria train in the mornings? I am thinking specifically the 7.11 one. The Victoria trains from Brighton no longer stop at Clapham so are rendered useless for me (and many other commuters so we take crappy FCC trains now). I LIKE Southern's trains, they are more comfy, and that train (7.11) would mean precious minutes in bed for me. Just wondered if it was impossible to get a seat on it or not...

I used to use trains quite alot but after one hell of a journey travelling back from Manchester Piccadilly to Poole I don't bother anymore. The train left Manchester on time and got to Birmingham New Street on time to change over to a diesel locomotive. Well they would change over if they had one there to put on but Virgin Trains decided to keep us in darkness as the electric loco had already been put on another train going back up north and the train had no power. An hour later the loco arrived from Crewe and we were on our way again only for the diesel to break down at Birmingham International. Another 30 spent there we were all herded onto the platform and told to get the next train down to Reading but there was standing room only or wait another 20 minutes and maybe get a seat on a service to Southampton I decided to wait. About 45 minutes later the service to Southampton finally turned up but was only going as far as Reading as it was needed on the service back upto York. We arrived at Reading I looked at the departure board to see that the next train to Southampton which was meant to be due in about 20 minutes was running 145 minutes late. As a frequent train traveller back then I knew I could get a local service to Basingstoke for a South West Trains service to Southampton which I did. Got off at Southampton Airport Parkway to get on a coach to Brockenhurst (as there was engineering works on the line). The train from Brockenhurst was meant to go to Weymouth but got terminated at Bournemouth so had another 30 minute wait there for a connection to Poole. Finally arrived back at Poole at 01:30 some nearly 7 hours late. Sent off a e-mail to Virgin got a £7 refund on my ticket. Have never used Virgin again.

Hey Mike:

I was younger and very much naive at that time, so the answer to that is YES hehe!!

I am in my 30s and a lot wiser lol!!

".... the train driver would be standing on the platform and lighting up a cigarette and chatting with one of his colleagues, with no urgency whatsoever. About 15 annoying minutes later, the driver would start the train up ..."

Paul, you are not seriously suggesting that the train driver stops the train at his own volition for a fag break,are you? Please ..... please .... you can't be that naive, can you?

I used to commute from Bishop's Stortford at 07:39 every morning, which was usually as regular as clockwork, however, it was all smooth running, until, more often than not, at Cheshunt, the train used to suddenly grind to a halt, and not just to wait for the signals to change for the connecting railway line, as I'd look out of the window to see what was happening and the train driver would be standing on the platform and lighting up a cigarette and chatting with one of his colleagues, with no urgency whatsoever.

About 15 annoying minutes later, the driver would start the train up, thus adding 15 minutes to my 'potentially late to work' list in my mind.

Further on down the line, Tottenham Hale approaches - this is one of the main interchanges to the Victoria Line, and there would be so many people getting off, this added loads more delays, and then once the platform was clear of passengers, the train would still be in no hurry whatsoever, and would be stuck behind more solid red signals.

The journey continues, and the worst part is just past Bethnal Green, where the Inter City line is joined, thus causing loads more delays, signal failure, followed by a "we regret..." announcement from the driver.

The train would now take an absolute age to get right into Liverpool Street, and once we got to the final stretch, I am now the best part of 40 minutes late, and that has not yet included having to jump on the tube to Tottenham Court Road, which would take about 20 minutes, and another 15 in which to walk to my work place!

More often than not, all I ever hear about is signal failures and not one train journey was without its delays!! I can sympathise with you, Roy - the whole thing's a nightmare!!

Sorry, no such word as insentive!!!

Did you mean insensitive or incentive?

Please buy yourself a dictionary or use a spellchecker!!!

I used to commute into Birmingham by car. It took about 50 minutes each way and a gallon of diesel for the round trip. Comfortable, reliable, and safe.

On the few ocasions I was mad enough to try using public transport it took at least 2 1/2 hours each way including a mile walk to the nearest bus stop and cost over £7 round trip. Uncomfortable, crowded, frequently couldn't get a seat, often unreliable (i.e. a train or bus simply failed to appear at all) and not at all safe especially on dark winter mornings and evenings.

Now, how should I get to work? No contest.

I get the train from Beaconsfield to High Wycombe every day, I dont have too much issue with late trains etc, but I do have a big problem with the price... £4.80 to go one stop which is less than 6 miles!

Every morning I usually take the same train into Marylebone. The service has always been reliable and pleasant as there has always been plenty of space. I always stand on the same spot on the platform (as I'm sure lots of people do) knowing that I can board the train via the same door each time.
For the last two mornings, I've had to run from my usual spot to board the train further down the platform as it now only pulls halfway up. After several attempts to board the front carriages, I had to make do with cramming onto the rear of the second carriage.
I have since realised that the reason for this is that the train company has not only decided to increase fares, but has also decided to halve the size of a much used commuter train into central London!
The 07:39 Chiltern trains service into Marylebone is now accommodating 8 carriages worth of people into 4! - This can't be right??

my new fare (not 'fair', obviously) is now £3745 for a year, up from about £3350 from memory, anyone know where I can find price comparisons over the years. What is being done about this rip off? Why have this snidey trough delving government allowed this to happen?

Had some delightful e mails from National Express East Anglia saying that they are very aware of the Overcrowding problem on the trains and were doing all they can about it. The e mail was a little bit contradictory though, as it states that they were borrowing rolling stock from somewhere else and that agreement has now ended therefore my particular service will stay at 8 rather than 12 carriages. What they really meant to say was yes we know, we are going to do nothing about the problem, cut the service and yet again whack a great big price increase in the new year, so our shareholders and management have a greater trough.

Cheers guys, anyone who has any say / decision making power within the train operators please read this:

PLEASE SORT IT OUT !!!!!

I was waiting at a train station with some friends, the trains were out of service and we were all being put onto buses. There were some engineers obviously having a smoking break, and they were ripping the s*** out of everyone who walked past. They were rude, abusive and just unpleasant people. I was glad that my friends waited with me, cause otherwise I would have felt really threatened.

Is it not bad enough that there were no trains, but then the engineers there to fix the problem were being completely out of order?