howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the above had their contract extended to 2014 causing some consternation amongst their passengers.
the main complaints seem to be centred around overcrowding and the lack of communication during the big freeze.
the other thing that irks some is that the level of punctuality is below standard, but the parameters where refunds would be given are set in favour of the train operating company
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
Bizarre decision, given the poor service on the mainline. I know from insiders at the company that even the High Speed service came in below the required punctuality level, the only thing that saved them was the metro services they run through south London
Under national rules a train is only deemed to be late if it is moire than 5 minutes late against its scheduled arrival time. Also rather than refunds being calculated line by line or service type, they are calculated across the whole of the service offered by the TOC
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
We travelled to Edinburgh by train on the first Thursday in December when the snow was at its worst.
We had reserved advance tickets for a particlular train from Kings Cross so left Dover Priory two hours ahead of schedule by rattler which finished at Ashford then waited nearly an hour before catching an unannounced HS train that took nearly an hour to get there - not a word from South East trains of apology or compensation.
The train from Kings Cross was rescheduled to take six hours instead of four and a half but arrived just outside Edinburgh exactly on time. Unfortunately the previous train occupying our platform broke down so we had to wait another hour and a half before it was moved. In spite of it not being the fault of our train company we were given free refreshments after half an hour, and were told before we got off that as we were delayed by over an hour we were due full compensation and how and where to apply. Quite a difference in attitude betweeen the two companies.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i think that john will have mixed feelings on this issue, whilst he wanted to stay at his post he had to plan ahead if his company had lost the franchise.
he has been paying out for a course on his main interest in case things had gone wrong.
i wonder if his accredited gigalo certificate will ever come in handy?
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Mr. Newsam. Your final sentence perhaps says it all. Any compensation might have been paid ultimately by the company who ran the train which had broken down?
I wonder how this sort of thing will work in the health service when it is privatised?
[silly me, the issue of compensation will be one part of the NHS that will stay in-house]
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
It all comes down to the perception of service delivery and provision. What too many UK companies have yet to realise is that we are the customers and they need to provide a service - not, as many currently do, act as if they are doing us a favour.
I walked out of a hairdressers today - politely, mind you, not in a huff, and it was before I had started - because the owner was absent and the two she had left in charge were playing loud hip-hop music (it was just me and an older woman there as customers, combined age of over a century!) and the receptionist was sitting at one of the mirrors apparently picking her spots. I don't pay good money to have inappropriate music blared at me because the workers like it (it is a customer attraction - it would have been different if there had been some younger customers there) or to watch staff pick their faces. I like to support local business, which is why I don't use the Essex and London services if I can help it although it would be easier as I work there all week, so I went to another local hairdresser - marvellous! Good cut and friendly appropriate service. I am sorry about the first hairdresser though - I like them, and the guy who cuts my hair there is good. But it isn't the first time the mice have played while the cat was away! I am too old and life is too short to put up with crap.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Thats what you meant about nit picking Bern.lol
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Touche!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
interesting that about hairdressers, i have been going to the same one since i moved here, basically because of convenience and i like to spend money locally.
over the last year or so they are taking less off each time so that i have to go every 4 weeks instead of every 6.
plus it was getting sloppier each time.
a few weeks ago i was in folkestone and spotted a new mens hairdressers had opened, state of the art stuff, very friendly young chap with a strange accent.
first class job for the same price as the lousy one i was getting, no prizes for guessing where i will be going next time.
We can, and should, do that voting with our wallets thing but we can't do it with the rail services unfortunately! What it means in practice is that I usually drive into London rather than risk the appalling service on the trains.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
That is the problem South East have no real competition, if you want to go by train you have to use them or go by coach or car. No competition means they can be unreliable for as long as the regulators let them get away with it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I have been going to the same hairdresser for 30years now not paid out a penny and a good job each time.{Its the wife.)
As for the railways,we are going to get our over 60pass, because of the cost of going by car.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
not that much of a deal vic you have to pay for it and then only get a third off.
national express give a straight half price with no joining fee.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
We go to London by bus only £8 return,but going to Scotland by bus takes to long So it is by train when we go and hire a car when we get there.I do drive there but my leg will stop me going to far at this time.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!