Laid Back Maverick Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 I reckon they've got a big list of stock excuses and just pick whatever one takes their fancy. My mate regularly quotes the daftest excuse they've ever given. He was standing in Perth station waiting on a train, two had already been cancelled and the next one was going to be delayed by 30 minutes. He went to the Office to ask what was wrong and was told "It's the wrong type of wind". Now that has to be the stupidest excuse ever, surely a diesel locomotive can deal with pretty much any type of wind commonly found in the UK. I'd understand having to cancel a train due to strong winds on the Forth Bridge where strong winds could be dangerous but inland? My mate swears it's true too and I didn't believe him until I heard an annoucement saying that a train was delayed due to a "strong headwind". Edit: spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uberman Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Prices have gone up on all trains recently http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4574246.stm gourock to cartsdyke hasn't gone up, its still £1.75 if the ticket collector comes, usually at 6.05am he doesn't so most days I get to work for nowt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbhaf Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 gourock to cartsdyke hasn't gone up, its still £1.75 if the ticket collector comes, usually at 6.05am he doesn't so most days I get to work for nowt OK, most train companies have recently increased fares... SPT is a bit different from the likes of FirstScotrail and GNER as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Half A Person Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 The main thing that really , really, really, REALLY gets on my tits is the fact that in the morning when there's literally 7 other passengers on the whole train, there's 3 or 4 carriages. But at 5 o'clock, peak time on a Friday they put two carriages on the train. It's not even the fact you don't get a seat for a 40 minute journey, but you are actaully crammed on like it's the Mumbai Express or something. You can't even read a paper, there's not enough room to move your arms. And you're paying exorbitant prices for this privelege which doesn't exactly make it easier to take. It happens every week, every day in fact. Why? Can anyone enlighten me as to why they actually reduce the number of carriages at peak times? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laid Back Maverick Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 It happens every week, every day in fact. Why? Can anyone enlighten me as to why they actually reduce the number of carriages at peak times? One Sunday I went to get the train back to Fife to my folk's house one Sunday and to put you in the picture: The kids went back to school the next day. It was the opening day of the Edinburgh festival. The Edinburgh derby had not long finished. The Aberdeen all-stops service had two carriages. Two. People were jammed like sardines and there were crowds on the platform trying to get on. Eventually they added two more carriages. The carriages were still jam packed, I couldn't move until Inverkeithing when some people got off (bare in mind that people were forcing their way on at South Gyle, Dalmeny and North Queensferry) and it was a fight to get from my position to the door to get off at Kdy. I was just lucky I didn't bring my bike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larbert_Par Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 The reduced carriages is a joke at peak times-for some reason there appears to be more carriages or at least the same number on the Edinburgh Dunblane trains at 2 in the afternoon when hardly any f'cker is on the train as compared with peak time trains Most of the carriages at peak times consist of people having to take up most of the aisle by standing there.Surely it can't be that difficult for extra carriages to be put on the trains? It's bloody ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joozy Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 I get the 1737 Haymarket-Dunblane service after work. Without exaggeration here, it has not been on time in about 6 weeks. I don't know why they just don't rename it the 1742 (or later) service and be done with it. I also really really f'cking hate the comedy announcer at Haymarket who cracks all these jokes like "if you wanted to catch the Glasgow service, that was it just leaving platform 2". Ha f'cking ha. Get a career in stand-up comedy you p***k. When your shitty company starts running a moderately acceptable service then you can start coming up with the wisecracks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiDB Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 I also really really f'cking hate the comedy announcer at Haymarket who cracks all these jokes like "if you wanted to catch the Glasgow service, that was it just leaving platform 2". Ha f'cking ha. Get a career in stand-up comedy you p***k. When your shitty company starts running a moderately acceptable service then you can start coming up with the wisecracks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbhaf Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 The main thing that really , really, really, REALLY gets on my tits is the fact that in the morning when there's literally 7 other passengers on the whole train, there's 3 or 4 carriages. But at 5 o'clock, peak time on a Friday they put two carriages on the train. It's not even the fact you don't get a seat for a 40 minute journey, but you are actaully crammed on like it's the Mumbai Express or something. You can't even read a paper, there's not enough room to move your arms. And you're paying exorbitant prices for this privelege which doesn't exactly make it easier to take. It happens every week, every day in fact. Why? Can anyone enlighten me as to why they actually reduce the number of carriages at peak times? I've seen this happen loads, not sure why though... On my last GNER trip we were stopped for about an hour. "We apologise for the current delay. We do not know the reason for this delay and we do not know how long it will last." Eventually they enlightened us that there had been an "incident" ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reina Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 The old 'leaves on the track' is a good one. Although up here it's usuall 'sheep on the track'.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICTChris Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 When we played our first SPL game our train was delayed at Perth for ages due to a cow on the line. It had wandered on and been hit by the previous train. When we went through the tunnel the cow's corpse was lying next to the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 The main thing that really , really, really, REALLY gets on my tits is the fact that in the morning when there's literally 7 other passengers on the whole train, there's 3 or 4 carriages. But at 5 o'clock, peak time on a Friday they put two carriages on the train. It's not even the fact you don't get a seat for a 40 minute journey, but you are actaully crammed on like it's the Mumbai Express or something. You can't even read a paper, there's not enough room to move your arms. And you're paying exorbitant prices for this privelege which doesn't exactly make it easier to take. It happens every week, every day in fact. Why? Can anyone enlighten me as to why they actually reduce the number of carriages at peak times? Absolutely. In my first 3 years at Uni I used to commute from Greenock to Glasgow. In 2nd year I had to get the rush hour train for a 9am lecture, and I was lucky if I could get a seat, and I got on at the 2nd station after the start! Meanwhile, at least once a week on the way home I'd be the *only* person in my carriage. I understand there's a limit to the size of station platforms, but even as an economy measure (using less fuel) would it not make sense to cut some of the off-peak trains' carriage numbres to 2 or even 1, then increase the rush hour trains to 4? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbhaf Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 When we played our first SPL game our train was delayed at Perth for ages due to a cow on the line. It had wandered on and been hit by the previous train. When we went through the tunnel the cow's corpse was lying next to the track. Can be quite nasty, many years ago 13 people were killed when a train hit a cow near Polmont Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wearealldoomed Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Aye, the train service is shite however there's a lot to be said for sitting on the train with a beer and a lovely view of the Firth of Forth as I'll be doing tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 The old 'leaves on the track' is a good one. Although up here it's usuall 'sheep on the track'.... Sorry to sound like a geek but leaves on the track is actually a safety issue. They prevent track circuits from identifying the location of a train as the train is unable to break the current flow of the circuits. This has a knock on effect to the signals that tell drivers whether to continue at line speed or come to a stop. So, theoretically a train could have come to a stop on a stretch of line with leaves, the signals think the track is clear and the the train behind it hurtles along none the wiser until it is too late. Leaves on the line would also be a Network Rail problem as opposed to FirstScotrail problem. Personally I don't generally have any problems with the trains. Always get a seat in the morning and at night. If I get the train I'm supposed to I'm rarely late. It's easy to moan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thefamousphilosifer Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 The Aberdeen all-stops service had two carriages. Two. People were jammed like sardines and there were crowds on the platform trying to get on. Eventually they added two more carriages. The carriages were still jam packed, I couldn't move until Inverkeithing when some people got off (bare in mind that people were forcing their way on at South Gyle, Dalmeny and North Queensferry) and it was a fight to get from my position to the door to get off at Kdy. I was just lucky I didn't bring my bike! That is actually a joke I don't think I've ever managed to get a seat on the train from Leuchars to Edinburgh. It doesn't matter any more as I now get the bus from St Anrdews to Kincardine, cheaper, and all most always on time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Personally I don't generally have any problems with the trains. Always get a seat in the morning and at night. If I get the train I'm supposed to I'm rarely late. It's easy to moan. It seems to vary from service to service in my experience. I got the train from Glasgow to Larbert and back for four years and very rarely did I experience any severe problems. But I have travelled from Johnstone to Glasgow on and off for most of my life, and despite it being well served for trains, the service is appalling. I would say there are certain trains that are late close to 100% of the time that I travel on them. I think they try and promise too much sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Half A Person Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Sorry to sound like a geek but leaves on the track is actually a safety issue. They prevent track circuits from identifying the location of a train as the train is unable to break the current flow of the circuits. This has a knock on effect to the signals that tell drivers whether to continue at line speed or come to a stop. So, theoretically a train could have come to a stop on a stretch of line with leaves, the signals think the track is clear and the the train behind it hurtles along none the wiser until it is too late. Is the smiley face at the end of that paragraph really appropriate? Anyway, I thought it was for the simpler reason that leaves on the line turn to mush and leave a slimy pulp which makes it more difficult for the trains to brake, therefore they go slower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Is the smiley face at the end of that paragraph really appropriate? Anyway, I thought it was for the simpler reason that leaves on the line turn to mush and leave a slimy pulp which makes it more difficult for the trains to brake, therefore they go slower. Basic Signalling Appreciation at the Network Rail training centre in Derby was where I got my information. Current flows around circuits at various points on the tracks and when it is broken by passing trains this tells the signalling centre exactly where a train is. Leaves on the line can insulate against this. If you really think I was smiling at the prospect of a train crash then I do despair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Half A Person Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Basic Signalling Appreciation at the Network Rail training centre in Derby was where I got my information. Current flows around circuits at various points on the tracks and when it is broken by passing trains this tells the signalling centre exactly where a train is. Leaves on the line can insulate against this. If you really think I was smiling at the prospect of a train crash then I do despair. Why would you put a smile at the end of a paragraph describing a potential train crash then? Surely I should be the despairing one at the needless and pointless use of smileys, a blight on this forum. You're probably right about the leaves by the way, but I found this and its basically the same as what I read before. How do leaves on the line affect trains? Think of leaves on rails as black ice on roads and you’ll begin to understand the nature of the problem. We’re not talking about piles of dead leaves, but a hard slippery layer that coats the rails and is very difficult to remove. Briefly, this is what happens: leaves are swept onto the track by the slipstream of passing trains light rain falls train wheels crush the wet leaves at a pressure of over 30 tonnes per square inch this compacts and carbonizes the leaves, forming a hard, Teflon-like coating on the rails. Therefore, trains have to operate at slower speeds to ensure safety and to reduce the potential for wheel slip and spin. This means that drivers have to brake earlier for stations and signals and move off again more slowly. Consequently, train services can be delayed. If a train can’t move because its wheels can’t grip the rails, often there is no alternative route, therefore following trains are delayed or have to be cancelled. In addition to causing severe disruption to customers, the damage inflicted on train wheels during sliding and spinning on rails is considerable and means some trains have to be taken out of service for expensive repair. The rails too can be damaged costing many thousands of pounds to repair each year. So what is the rail industry doing about it? Network Rail, the body responsible for maintaining the rail network, is working to eliminate or minimise the problem of leaves on the line: Network Rail has a fleet of special 'sandite' trains, which spread a gritty paste on the rails to give trains improved adhesion. Known problem areas such as deep cuttings and steep inclines are targeted in order to minimise delays there are also static machines to apply sandite at known trouble spots and mobile applicators, which can be used by track workers. High pressure water jets are also used to remove crushed leaves before they form a hard coating leaf guards can be positioned around the track to stop the leaves being blown onto the rails in some cases, it is necessary to fell problem trees. However to protect the environment, these are replaced with smaller leafed trees such as hazel, cherry and holly. Network Rail’s tree surgeons take advice from conservation specialists to minimise the impact tree management can have on wildlife. For example, no work is planned during the main nesting season. our fleet of trains is also fitted with sophisticated sanding equipment to improve traction on slippery rails – the equivalent of ABS on a car. The driver can apply the sand when wheel spin occurs during acceleration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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