Why are our railways so bad?

[Haitch]

Do they still do the system where the same bus tickets can be used anywhere in the country? I think they were called 'strippenkaart' (or similar).

Nope, strippenkaarts were phased out a couple of years ago. Instead we now have plastic cards that we can put money on (a bit like Oyster cards in London) and swipe against card readers to travel on all public transport everywhere in the country. A wonderful invention that, from experience, unfortunately does not work in Dublin or London. People without a card can still buy paper tickets.

 

[mybike]

[

Double deck trains on the Southern. 1949 they were introduced. gone by the late 60's.


View: https://youtu.be/22FWR3MmBIg

I travelled on them a few times and they weren't as bad as sometimes painted, tho' it could get hot upstairs on a sunny day. I remember seeing them in a siding after they were withdrawn.

 

[User169]

Hhhmmm. I suspect this is one of those things that seems a lot better when you're on your hols and don't really need to be anywhere or have to travel at peak times.

I commuted for 2 1/2 years between Delft and Amsterdam and have a somewhat different perspective on NS (at least in the Randstad). Largely overcrowded - could not usually get a seat in the morning - and very frequent delays and cancellations. Any hint of snow and it just wasn't worth even bothering trying to get to work. On Friday nights, whole carriages made uninhabitable in view of large piles of puke is not uncommon.

An enquiry into the FYRA debacle has just claimed a government minister. This was a supposed set of high speed trains to run between Amsterdam and Brussels - the brand new trains had to be withdrawn permanently after less than four years service in view of unsolvable technical issues.

[Edit: should have read the thread properly - @BrumJim has made pretty much the same points already!]

 

[mybike]

[QUOTE 4027574, member: 259"]Good grief, they look a bit cramped![/QUOTE]

I'll assume you never commuted.

 

[User169]

I have noticed that people in The Netherlands do seem to drink rather large amounts of beer.

Not guilty, M'lud! At least, I've never hurled on a train (well not in NL).

 

[subaqua]

As I am not allowed to drive on work business ( I take a green travel allowance ) I use the trains in the UK quite a lot.

I have used all of the operators in England and Wales and do not have much complaint. OK I have the luxury of not having to worry about the cost as I buy on the day. Biggest problem is the infra rather than the rolling stock. Hmm sounds familiar

All of the staff are really great and I have got my bike on without reservations. Even on GWR , as I gave up on the India call centre trying to reserve space.

 

[captain nemo1701]

I like those continental two-tier trains. Reasons why our trains are crap?...ok, here I go:
1. Underinvestment.
2. Promotion of car transport. Ideology that the future is all about cars, resulting 80's boom in car use etc. Lack of promotion of alternatives ie cycling, buses,walking, trains.
3.Privatisation (undersold, too).

 

[mjr]

I've never been treated like an unwelcome infestation. With the exception of the behaviour of the Scotrail guards on the Inverness - Thurso/Wick service, all other staff that I have encountered on my UK wide train travels with my bicycle over the past ten years have been great.

Yes, most places, most of the time, it's easy. But try leaving Cambridge in the evening peak. Even folding bikes will get you hairy eyeballs.

 

[mjr]

[QUOTE 4028387, member: 259"]Train fares here are charged by the km,[/QUOTE]
So more direct express routes are cheaper? Where's that?

 

[Glow worm]

Yes, most places, most of the time, it's easy. But try leaving Cambridge in the evening peak. Even folding bikes will get you hairy eyeballs.

Yes but at least you are always rewarded by the fact that you are leaving bloody Cambridge

 

[subaqua]

I blame the jogger.

 

[Tin Pot]

Yes, most places, most of the time, it's easy. But try leaving Cambridge in the evening peak. Even folding bikes will get you hairy eyeballs.

I did once. I gave up all other forms of transport and ran instead.

 

[User169]

Record numbers of over-crowding complaints on Dutch trains..

http://www.nltimes.nl/2015/11/30/complaints-of-overcrowded-trains-reach-record-level/

NS now plans to withdraw old trains from service before replacements are ready

 

[Neilsmith]

Record numbers of over-crowding complaints on Dutch trains..

http://www.nltimes.nl/2015/11/30/complaints-of-overcrowded-trains-reach-record-level/

NS now plans to withdraw old trains from service before replacements are ready

Reading the article it could be the British system quite easily

 

[mybike]

Record numbers of over-crowding complaints on Dutch trains..

http://www.nltimes.nl/2015/11/30/complaints-of-overcrowded-trains-reach-record-level/

NS now plans to withdraw old trains from service before replacements are ready

I wonder if they have aircraft carriers without planes in the Netherlands too.