|
|
Post by BecsFaversham on Oct 2, 2008 14:32:16 GMT
Somewhat surprised given the horrendous problmes earlier this week that no one has posted.
I wondered does any one get fined for the over running engineering works?
Also what happened Tuesday morning?
I am talking about the Trains that come from Ramsgate and Dover via Faversham to London.
|
|
Neil
Junior Member
Posts: 54
|
Post by Neil on Oct 2, 2008 15:10:18 GMT
Hi Becs
On Tuesday morning there was a failed train at Dumpton Park. It was an early one and stopped anything else to Victoria/Cannon Street on the Medway line from Ramsgate for around 90 minutes
I am lucky (if that's the word) in that I have the choice of routes from Ramsgate so was able to get the 6.32 Cannon Sreet via Ashford train. Mind when I changed at London Bridge for Charing X there were problems with a signal around the New Cross area which were causing delays
It was a bad couple of days for SER that's for sure!!
|
|
|
|
Post by true on Oct 3, 2008 13:43:05 GMT
I was caught up in all that too. The Faversham station staff were disappointing, particularly on Tuesday.
I have heard that there's some rule preventing them from using the PA before 07:00, but even if that's true I still think they should use some initiative and actually come and give people information - rather than relay on the curent chinese whisper system. As it was trains that were shown as 'delayed' on the platform display board changed briefly to 'cancelled' before disappearing altogether.
On a not unrelated point I can't believe that 'Networker' trains are being used all the way from Dover to London. At 6 foot 2 or 3 I'm not a giant but I can only really sit in the comparatively few priority seats on those trains
|
|
|
|
Post by BecsFaversham on Oct 3, 2008 13:50:38 GMT
My understanding is that there is a rule that they cannot use the tannoy before a certain time. It is a case that time of the morning that you do need to ask them directly. Why do it that way when as platform staff you are just going to be repaeating the same old thing over and over again?
|
|
|
|
Post by heofgreatwisdom on Oct 3, 2008 16:17:45 GMT
This is another example of the age-old problem of getting information to the right people at the right time. It has always been a failing of all railway companies and despite us living in a world of communications, very little concern is shown to find an answer. The major problem is that the people taking instant decisions concerning train alterations work in an office that is un-connected to the people whose job it is to give out information. By the time the correct information is available to the people whose job it is to give it to the actual paying passenger, then the problem is invariably solved which is why information often appears unrelated to the actual problem.
The answer? Who knows.
HOGW
|
|
|
|
Post by NoOnions on Oct 3, 2008 16:22:11 GMT
I was very lucky. I get the 06:36 from Rainham and so was on the last train to get to Cannon Street (almost) on time. My boss, who gets the following train, turned up at work at about 10am. His journey, via the North Kent line, was not helped when some oik got on and decided to play his music on his phone's loudspeaker!
|
|
|
|
Post by Ryan Webb on Oct 3, 2008 18:13:46 GMT
Well, my usual train from Sheerness, the 0721 was "cancelled" according to the SET website, but actually turned up and actually ran, albeit 7 minutes late!
|
|
|
|
Post by Richard Trevithick on Oct 3, 2008 22:52:35 GMT
I believe the problem with tannoy announcements before a certain time is due to being a "good neighbour".
Rather than accepting that your CHEAP house next to the railway is CHEAP because you will encounter noise from the railway on a regular basis at random times of day and night, there are now loads of idiots who take offence to this and moan about the noise! :rolleyes: Common sense has gone completely out of the window and "rights" seem to be the main concern now.
Some new build houses were built near a foot crossing near Maidstone a few years ago. The people who moved in (who obviously didn't view the houses before buying, otherwise they'd have known there was a railway at the end of the garden) took offence at the trains blowing their horns. Rather than writing letters, they took the really stupid action of dumping bags of rubbish on the line as their "protest" to silence the trains. Scum like this should be locked up. As far as I am aware, unfortunately no arrests or prosecutions followed, but it's pure luck that nobody was injured or killed.
The bottom line is, if you buy a house near a railway line then you MUST expect noise. If you don't want noise, buy a house a greater distance away from the railway - and pay the ££££ for the luxury of silence.
RT
|
|
|
|
Post by William Dargan on Oct 4, 2008 1:19:42 GMT
Regarding the footcrossing near Maidstone (closer to West Malling!), I'm led to believe that the residents also tried to set the wooden step-boards on fire several times, hoping that enough complaints from traincrew would cause the crossing to be closed, and the whistleboards to be taken away. Oddly enough, more homes virtually sitting on the site of the crossing have been completed in the last 2 years, and incidents still take place.... who was here first? Definitely the railway!
As for the tannoy announcements, I think certain councils can place noise abatement orders to prevent anything other than emergency alarms sounding at certain times of the day - I know that Earls Court LUL station is affected by this by some degree, and that Tonbridge Station always seems to be mentioned due to the close proximity of the housing, especially on the 'Up' platform boundry.
|
|
Neil
Junior Member
Posts: 54
|
Post by Neil on Oct 6, 2008 10:56:05 GMT
And another sticky Monday
6.30 Ramsgate - Victoria failed before leaving Ramsgate. So a nice crowded 6.50 (I felt sorry for the folk boarding at Gillingam and Chatham) and late to work
I know it happens (and I have learned to be philosophical) but it does make you wonder how a train can fail after it's been driven into the platform ready to go!!
Any thoughts - just out of interest!
|
|
|
|
Post by Richard Trevithick on Oct 6, 2008 23:12:54 GMT
I know it happens (and I have learned to be philosophical) but it does make you wonder how a train can fail after it's been driven into the platform ready to go!! Any thoughts - just out of interest! These things unfortunately happen. When your car breaks down, does it give you a 30 minute warning, or does it just fail? We must remember that trains (especially modern units - including Notworkers) are extremely complex pieces of equipment. They endure heavy usage on a daily basis. It could be anything from a cab radio dying to something else that causes an emergency brake application. Assuming it's a 375, the computer (MITRAC) could have failed. Many drivers have reported these as becoming quite unreliable of late, and if it does give up, the train has to come straight out of service. There are many, many reasons for why it could have failed, and I'm sure SET would have kept it in service if they were able, especially as it's such a busy train. RT |
|
Neil
Junior Member
Posts: 54
|
Post by Neil on Oct 7, 2008 8:20:39 GMT
I know it happens (and I have learned to be philosophical) but it does make you wonder how a train can fail after it's been driven into the platform ready to go!! Any thoughts - just out of interest! These things unfortunately happen. When your car breaks down, does it give you a 30 minute warning, or does it just fail? We must remember that trains (especially modern units - including Notworkers) are extremely complex pieces of equipment. They endure heavy usage on a daily basis. It could be anything from a cab radio dying to something else that causes an emergency brake application. Assuming it's a 375, the computer (MITRAC) could have failed. Many drivers have reported these as becoming quite unreliable of late, and if it does give up, the train has to come straight out of service. There are many, many reasons for why it could have failed, and I'm sure SET would have kept it in service if they were able, especially as it's such a busy train. RT Yes I know Richard and I am aware that the SET would have kept it going if they could. Fwiw I think they do a pretty good job on my line(s) I guess it's just the fact that it pulled in from the sidings fine - it was powered up and ready to go with the driver there - and then - pow....  |
|
|
|
Post by Richard Trevithick on Oct 7, 2008 16:01:36 GMT
Hello,
I've been asking around my etheral world and am led to believe the problem was caused by a defective passcom switch in one of the toilets. it was flooded wit water and could not be reset.
Perhaps the good Mr Hunt can fill us in with a little more information if he has it...
RT
|
|
|
|
Post by heofgreatwisdom on Oct 7, 2008 19:49:11 GMT
I am led to believe by my colleagues at HSE that the left-threaded digery thingy on the right was going in the wrong direction, for it was in fact rotating contrary to that designed and developed by the left-threaded digery engineering company.
As a result, the right-threaded digery thingy on the left was also rotating contrary to the design of the right-threaded digery engineering company.
Despite there being 37 back-up digery thingies the HSE was adamant that the vehicle in question was unfit for human travel and was accordingly withdrawn from service to await immediate repair in the next fortnight.
I hope this clears up any ambiguity and you all rest safely in your beds secure in the knowledge that the HSE has your best interests at heart!
HOGW
|
|
Neil
Junior Member
Posts: 54
|
Post by Neil on Oct 8, 2008 9:48:14 GMT
Thanks Richard I guess I know these things happen but it does slightly make my point Are the trains checked before they are brought out of the depot or is this one of those things that just occurred at the platform? Hello, I've been asking around my etheral world and am led to believe the problem was caused by a defective passcom switch in one of the toilets. it was flooded wit water and could not be reset. Perhaps the good Mr Hunt can fill us in with a little more information if he has it... RT |
|
