Trains again

[PashleyPrincess]

Sorry to bang on about this again but...

After another monumental and undignified struggle to hang my commuter in Cross Country's trains 'improved' storage facilities I feel that at just over 5'0" small I'm certain that in today's litigious society I would have a case for sex discrimination . At the very least I think I could sue for a manicure...

Rant over...

 

[hackbike 666]

Those railway bastards have got it in for us cyclists.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

Bench pressing a Pashley over your head? Impressive!

 

[Bollo]

Those railway bastards have got it in for us cyclists.

Especially drivers!

Pashers - you need a ****big strong man****(me, me, me - that's me!) to help you. Seriously, the X-country Voyagers are being 'refurbished' in the coming months which means there will be.......................................fewer bike spaces. I don't know whether they're planning to retain the hangers or go for some other sh1t-brained storage method.

 

[Bollo]

Just reread your post through the clearing fog of alcohol and I'm guessing you may already be benefiting from the refurbishments? I haven't caught a refurbed voyager yet because I usually get the SWT services (see that hackers? - that's brand loyalty that is).

There's pros and cons to the hangers, but I can imagine they're not much fun if you're small.

 

[mr_cellophane]

The C2C drivers watch you walk down the platform to the cycle carriage, then shut the doors when you have only got the front wheel on to the train.

 

[just4fun]

The C2C drivers watch you walk down the platform to the cycle carriage, then shut the doors when you have only got the front wheel on to the train.

i work on the trains (station side) i've seen them do that to prams and old people. its disgusting behaviour. the funier side of it though is when my colleague who was assisting a wheel chair user onto the train was closed in by the driver. she was very embarressed at the time though

 

[Morrisette]

I agree. I'm just over 5 foot and I can't use 'em. Oh how I laughed when ordered to put my folded-up Dahon on the upper shelf of the luggage/cycle space. I got it up there....nearly took the conductor out getting it down again though.

 

[PashleyPrincess]

Especially drivers!

Pashers - you need a ****big strong man****(me, me, me - that's me!) to help you. Seriously, the X-country Voyagers are being 'refurbished' in the coming months which means there will be.......................................fewer bike spaces. I don't know whether they're planning to retain the hangers or go for some other sh1t-brained storage method.

Y'know people are generally very willing to help but, call me stupid, but I'd just like to hang it up myself... Or preferably not have to hang it up at all.

 

[JamesM]

My bike's too long for the trains I get - you're meant to hang it from the front wheel but my rear mud flap would be pressed against the floor with the hanger not far off level with my front forks...

 

[hackbike 666]

The C2C drivers watch you walk down the platform to the cycle carriage, then shut the doors when you have only got the front wheel on to the train.

They wait that long?

 

[Bollo]

Y'know people are generally very willing to help but, call me stupid, but I'd just like to hang it up myself... Or preferably not have to hang it up at all.

Its a bugger. Train companies are viewing bikes on trains as more and more of an inconvenience that take up valuable non-paying space. Although I take the p1ss out of SWT, their cycle space provision on trains is better than most.

It would be nice to think that a letter to X-Country would be worthwhile, but I could see them using it as a lever to ban bikes from their trains all together on H&S grounds. The best they're going to do is reassure you that help would be available should you need it, which isn't what you're after.

I've never had any trouble with any station or train staff on either X-Country or SWT and they're always at least civil and usually very pleasant and helpful. I'm hacked off with SWT though as they're making a few of the station staff at Winchester redundant and fitting barriers.

 

[hackbike 666]

It's all about money isn't it?

I have a real regret not being born at least ten years earlier.At least I would have seen a better country and worked for a better railway.This is what is wanted though.Privatisation.

 

[Black Sheep]

I'm hacked off with SWT though as they're making a few of the station staff at Winchester redundant and fitting barriers.

turn up with something big and heavy that you can take on the train and complain that it doesn't fit through the barriers

coventry got barriers for a bit,

after six months they locked the gate at the end of the station that let people on with out going near the building never mind the barriers.

a few months later the barriers are left permanently open

six months later the barriers disappear.

 

[Bollo]

turn up with something big and heavy that you can take on the train and complain that it doesn't fit through the barriers

That'll be me then.

SWT are known for their 'proactive' stance on fare collection and barriers are part of the drive to protect revenue. They've been criticised in the past for their willingness to issue penalty fares. Winchester Station is unusual for a mainline SWT station in that it doesn't have barriers. Even Waterloo has barriers now, which must be frightening at rush hour although I've not had the pleasure myself yet. SWT believe they can reduce fare evasion and reduce staffing costs by introducing barriers across the network and, when SWT get a sniff of cost savings, they usually MAKE it work.