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Post by heofgreatwisdom on May 23, 2008 17:23:06 GMT
Don't ask! using the 14-15 Cx-Hastings, four coach 375 and packed as far as Tunbridge Wells. Yesterday at LB a blonde lady boarded the train with one of those in-line double buggies, you know long but not wide. She promptly took a table seat, got out a bottle of water and a copy of the Sun and almost immediately one of the children in the buggies started to make a noise. By Orpington the noise had reached that of a 747 take-off and Mum rocked the buggy back and forth and carried on reading and drinking, oblivious to the child's noise. By Sevenoaks we were somewhat put out as mother, we assume it was mother, started to Ssshhhh the child in a voice even louder than that of the crying child. At Tunbridge Wells she got off. Blonde with crop shorts, sun glasses perched on the head, a belt of which Mike Tyson would have been proud and a T-shirt that just about covered what was left to cover. Silence descended upon the 14.15. Bring on your radios, mobiles, MP3's etc. etc but please,please ban blondes and noisy kids!!!!!
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Neil
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by Neil on May 23, 2008 17:35:31 GMT
My sympathy I was on the four remaining coaches from Ashford International to Ramsgate on Wednesday (follow on from 6.34 London Bridge story) At Ashford a lady got on with a very loud and annoying child. She did do her best to quiet it but with no avail. So I moved to the next carriage where there was somebody witha loud Ipod. So I moved to the next carriage where there was someone on the phone having a very heated and noisy conversation with his wife. The fourth carriage, fortunately, was peaceful It would be so nice if SER could designate a quiet carriage or two on long distance trains. No Ipods, no mobiles, no laptopts and, hopefully, no kids
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Post by Richard Trevithick on May 23, 2008 19:31:47 GMT
Occasionally, as a dead Engineer, I am able to possess the body of a living human being for the day so I can sample the "delights" of modern railway travel for myself. Things have moved on in leaps and bounds since my day, but there are still problems. I too, not very long ago on a trip up to Charing Cross, experienced the problem of unnecessary noise in every coach from a number of selfish individuals. I had to walk almost the entire length of an 8-car train before finding somewhere quiet, only to have another noisey and selfish idiot jump on at the next stop!
The idea of a quiet coach for those who don't find it necessary to disturb everyone within 20 yards is a fantastic idea, although at the same time being very sad that such things exist because people are so inconsiderate these days - it wouldn't have happened in my time! Unfortunately, with the relatively short distance journeys that SET do, I believe it would be highly unlikely to happen. Indeed, it would probably be a pointless exercise with the "type" of people who are increasingly using services in this area.
Unfortunately, the quiet coaches don't always work as planned. Several years ago a kindly body donor for the day allowed me to use his body for a trip on the Central side on one of those long distance Virgin trains (Brighton to Manchester, I believe). On the return journey I was sitting in the quiet coach. However, there was a noisy couple a few rows away, who wouldn't shut up talking loudly and playing with a mobile telephone. I can only assume they were the illiterate inbreds from the local pikey estate as they seemed completely oblivious to the signs everywhere suggesting that they are... quiet! I would have said something, but fortunately I was getting off at the next stop, and I didn't want to cause any damage to my kind donors body by politely pointing out the error of their ways...
Kind regards,
Richard
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Post by robbierunciman on May 24, 2008 15:38:29 GMT
I heard that Universities and schools are starting deploy a 'damping' technology that prevents texting and calls during exams. Surely the train company could deploy a similar technology that limits voice calls to the car ends. In france, I noted, people tend to move to the car ends when they get moblile calls.
On headphones, I use noise cancelling headphones and have had occassions when I have had trouble hearing above the thump thump of somone who has spend £200 on an ipod and only £0.50 on the headphones.
I heard a woman travelling on the 18h40 inform her daughter in perfect posh terms - when she threatened a major strop, that these people had worked hard all day and did not want to hear her cry. She stopped - one up for the middle classes!
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Post by Richard Trevithick on May 25, 2008 0:21:17 GMT
The "damping" technology is freely available as GSM blocking devices. For a "personal" device, you'll expect to pay upwards of £100. However, they are totally 100% illegal to use in this country. Also, with the progression towards GSM-R as the standard train-signalbox communication over the next few years, safety critical calls between the driver and signalbox could be totally knocked out if they are used. This could have a severely detrimental effect on everyone, rather than the selfish individuals who think we all want to know about their sex lives or what they want to eat for dinner! People in this country are too selfish and ignorant to move to the end of the coach to make calls on their phones. This is largely due to too many years of the labor government with their "the world revolves around me" mentality, and the too-soft-for-their-own benefit liberal approach to general criminal activity. £0.50 on the headphones?!!! You're having a laugh!!!!!!!! It seems like the majority of them don't even bother with headphones these days as they think that everyone else within earshot has the same chronically bad taste in music as them - and use the built-in loudspeaker!!! Richard
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Post by O.V.S.Bulleid on May 25, 2008 9:28:20 GMT
My Dear Mr Trevithick
Most mortals that pass messages to me agree with comments about mobile phones and other devices being disruptive to other passengers.
Owning a GSM Blocker is not illegal but using one is unless it has been authorised by Ofcom. Blockers can be discriminative in use and can be very local 0.5m being the minimum and 9m the norm (so sitting in the centre of a coach - or siting of a licenced device by GoVex would only stop use in that coach). The other option is for GoVex to ensure that the bodywork forms a Faraday Cage.
Let's face it Mr Trevithick, in our days special provision was made for ladies in compartments set aside for their comfort and security and accommodation was split into smoking and non-smoking areas. Surely in the technology rich world we have not lost the ability to be more aware of the required product specifications now expected by passengers.
The travel environment should be the concern of the train company and this should include personal security, acceptable comfort and personal space and the right to avoid being subjected to unnecessary noise pollution. Maybe, if somebody from GoVex reads this message board would like to comment I am sure that readers would be very interested in company policy.
Yours sincerely O.V.S.Bulleid
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Post by Richard Trevithick on May 25, 2008 16:04:14 GMT
My Dear Mr Bulleid, I am under the impression it is illegal to own a blocker as well as operating one in the UK. Below is the text from one UK based supplier, which was easily found after a quick Google search by my medium: ------------------------------------------------------------------ Note for UK customers: jamming equipment is illegal to use in the UK as it violates sections 1 & 13 of the 1949 telegraphy act, we are therefore unable to supply jammers to any UK customer with the exception of certain military and government departments who have the necessary authorisation from the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom). Please note that no exceptions can be made on this policy.
Due to non CE approval of these products we cannot sell these products into any European Union country. ------------------------------------------------------------------ You are absolutely correct. Unfortunately, I believe cost will be the usual excuse used to prevent any of this from happening. We must remember that in modern times, the welfare of the fare-paying passenger is near the bottom of the list of priorities whilst the profits for shareholders is firmly at the top. A happy Bank Holiday weekend to All, Richard
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Post by William Dargan on May 25, 2008 21:40:49 GMT
£0.50 on the headphones?!!! You're having a laugh!!!!!!!! It seems like the majority of them don't even bother with headphones these days as they think that everyone else within earshot has the same chronically bad taste in music as them - and use the built-in loudspeaker!!! Indeed - I happened to possess the form of a SET driver some weeks back and actually had to open the driver's cab door, go back into the first class 'area' and order one of the local chavs to either plug her headphones in, or stop playing the tin-ey R&B rubbish via her mobile phone speaker. When you can hear the *music* over the noise of a 465 cab air-con, the noise of the motors and the rush of air due to ill-fitting cab screen seals, then you know they've got it turned up too much!
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Post by robbierunciman on Jun 2, 2008 21:03:52 GMT
What happened tonight at CX with the 17h54, it was more crowded than usual. This train usually becomes more comfortable after Tonbridge, tonight, it was Headcorn before there was a significant number of free seats. Had the 17h35 been cancelled or has the Kent commuting public decided this is the only train worth catching?
Seriously, I was seriously worried about the overcrowding and was amused when the conductor warned people about not using the first class seats - they would be checked and to leave a route for the trolley to get through the train.
Is there not scope to drop the Tonbridge stop in these circumstances and encourage thoase passengers there to crowd onto the Hastings train service to leave a little more space for those going beyond Paddock wood?
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Post by sirhenryivatt on Jun 3, 2008 7:15:17 GMT
Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, Today's 06.59 RAM-CX went as an 8 car. It normally comes into RAM as an 8, then splits, and leaves as a 4. Any comments from anyone in the know I remain, Yours &c., H.A.I.
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Neil
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by Neil on Jun 3, 2008 8:08:06 GMT
What happened tonight at CX with the 17h54, it was more crowded than usual. This train usually becomes more comfortable after Tonbridge, tonight, it was Headcorn before there was a significant number of free seats. Had the 17h35 been cancelled or has the Kent commuting public decided this is the only train worth catching? Seriously, I was seriously worried about the overcrowding and was amused when the conductor warned people about not using the first class seats - they would be checked and to leave a route for the trolley to get through the train. Is there not scope to drop the Tonbridge stop in these circumstances and encourage thoase passengers there to crowd onto the Hastings train service to leave a little more space for those going beyond Paddock wood? The 17.12 was crowded too. That was because there were signalling problems at Tunbridge Wells and the 17.16 Hastings train was cancelled. All the passengers for that were advised to get the 17.12 Ramsgate train and change at Tonbridge. The train was well packed Might be the same cause? ETA. South Eastern website says that the 17 34 Charing X to Margate started at Tonbridge
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Post by Richard Trevithick on Jun 4, 2008 22:03:48 GMT
Is there not scope to drop the Tonbridge stop in these circumstances and encourage thoase passengers there to crowd onto the Hastings train service to leave a little more space for those going beyond Paddock wood? But wouldn't that just move all of the overcrowding to the Hastings service instead rather than balancing it out? Doesn't this suggestion assume that it's a known fact that there is excess spare capacity on the Hastings service? Or have I missed the obvious? Kind regards, Richard
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Post by heofgreatwisdom on Jun 19, 2008 7:18:56 GMT
We have got yet another speed restriction on the country end at Sevenoaks.The last one was seven months and at exactly the same spot!!!
regards to all
HOGW
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Post by genehuntisking on Jun 19, 2008 15:53:27 GMT
We have got yet another speed restriction on the country end at Sevenoaks.The last one was seven months and at exactly the same spot!!! regards to all HOGW Not correct. The only emergency speed at Sevenoaks is 50mph through the tunnel on the up line. Just got a driver to confirm to me, less than an hour ago. Suspect you may have seen the warning board for anything going down the up line. The up line through the tunnel has several wet spots, and the 50mph has been imposed until the track is relaid to prevent reports of rough riding. Any rough rides have to be investigated with trains cautioned until it is confirmed as clear (or a known problem), and the theory is that at 50mph max there shouldn't be reports of rough rides over known wet spots. I am told it will involve a "deep dig" to try and sort out the drainage (again). Expect several weekend possessions Tonbridge - Sevenoaks in the autumn/winter. Of course those that know their history will be aware that there have always been problems in Sevenoaks tunnel with the drainage. Indeed when built the tunnel was intended to be straight, but a curve was put in at the London end to go round an underground spring. At one time the water from this spring was piped down to the old steam shed at Tonbridge (it being downhill all the way from Sevenoaks to Tonbridge) and used to fill the water tower, although I believe this water pipe is now out of use. Gene Genie
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Post by heofgreatwisdom on Jun 19, 2008 18:55:32 GMT
Sorry and all that but what does an "R" board stand for at the end of the country line at Sevenoaks? I had always assumed that was a speed restriction sign??
HOGW
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