So, I postponed a day, which gives me fifteen days to summarise (this may become a regular thing):
- Assange hides in a building and more or less messes everybody up
- The Olympics end and everybody cries
- Cameron/Clegg say something idiotic
- Milliband replies with something equally idiotic
- America messes in affairs it probably doesn't need to mess in
- Richard Branson stopped being smug about everything.
- I have a birthday
- I gain an addiction to iced gems
- I buy lots of books and am very happy.
But today, I was going to do something about YA novels but instead, I shall rate the state of our trains. For those not in the know, the trains (and possibly stations, but that would need checking) are controlled by private companies, with the rail lines themselves belonging to National Rail. On my way from one parent to another, I can travel on up to three companies (four types of train).
-- The Southern Service
I have always found their seats to be a bit worn, but at least they always have enough. I've never had to stand on a Southern train, and I have taken some pretty high-demand trains before. The train sometimes rocks a tiny bit, but it's barely noticable. They are also always quiet, and as they have few windows they have a good air-conditioning service, so yesterday I was quite cold despite it being horribly muggy outside. Unfortunately, there's no designated luggage holder other than above the seats, which I can't lift my suitcase up to. 8/10
-- First Great Western (Short-haul)
These trains are deployed when the journey is max an hour and a half. There are always newspapers on the seats, and there are either too many seats and I feel like we're being packed in like cattle, or there are not enough seats and I stand for an hour. They also rock a lot and I feel quite unsafe. In lieu of air-conditioning a few windows open by a fraction. As a result yesterday I was boiling hot and was actually tempted to add another change to my journey in order to get on a Southern train faster. However no matter how small the train there is always a luggage holder about mid-carriage. 5/10
-- First Great Western (Long-haul)
These trains are in service for journeys over about an hour/hour and a half. I've used this type of train about seven times, however only once have I found a train that gives you the four/six seat with a table set up, and even then it was only in one carriage. The taps in the toilets never work, and again it packs everybody in like cattle. I don't remember seeing many windows, so there was possibly air-conditioning. The train rocks and is so loud that I feel like I'm travelling in a tin can at times. There is a buffet car, although I've only ever bought water on them. As they generally get holidaying passengers, their luggage holds are very generous. My main gripe is the fact their is no "Open Door" button on the inside of the train, and to open the door you must pull the door window down, reach out the train and push the handle down. 7/10
-- Arriva Trains Wales
I have never wanted to travel on a train service less. The carriages are too thin to hold four seats and a decent walkway across, and so everybody is SQUISHED in. There are also never enough carriages and I rarely get a seat. Unlike FGW, they don't bother with a buffet car and instead try a trolley service. Of course, the carriages only fit the trolley if nobody else is on the train, so I spend most of the journey with overpriced sandwiches shoved in my face. The toilets are blocked and never work, let alone the taps. The tin-can feel is worse in these trains than in FGW ones. 4/10
- Assange hides in a building and more or less messes everybody up
- The Olympics end and everybody cries
- Cameron/Clegg say something idiotic
- Milliband replies with something equally idiotic
- America messes in affairs it probably doesn't need to mess in
- Richard Branson stopped being smug about everything.
- I have a birthday
- I gain an addiction to iced gems
- I buy lots of books and am very happy.
But today, I was going to do something about YA novels but instead, I shall rate the state of our trains. For those not in the know, the trains (and possibly stations, but that would need checking) are controlled by private companies, with the rail lines themselves belonging to National Rail. On my way from one parent to another, I can travel on up to three companies (four types of train).
-- The Southern Service
I have always found their seats to be a bit worn, but at least they always have enough. I've never had to stand on a Southern train, and I have taken some pretty high-demand trains before. The train sometimes rocks a tiny bit, but it's barely noticable. They are also always quiet, and as they have few windows they have a good air-conditioning service, so yesterday I was quite cold despite it being horribly muggy outside. Unfortunately, there's no designated luggage holder other than above the seats, which I can't lift my suitcase up to. 8/10
-- First Great Western (Short-haul)
These trains are deployed when the journey is max an hour and a half. There are always newspapers on the seats, and there are either too many seats and I feel like we're being packed in like cattle, or there are not enough seats and I stand for an hour. They also rock a lot and I feel quite unsafe. In lieu of air-conditioning a few windows open by a fraction. As a result yesterday I was boiling hot and was actually tempted to add another change to my journey in order to get on a Southern train faster. However no matter how small the train there is always a luggage holder about mid-carriage. 5/10
-- First Great Western (Long-haul)
These trains are in service for journeys over about an hour/hour and a half. I've used this type of train about seven times, however only once have I found a train that gives you the four/six seat with a table set up, and even then it was only in one carriage. The taps in the toilets never work, and again it packs everybody in like cattle. I don't remember seeing many windows, so there was possibly air-conditioning. The train rocks and is so loud that I feel like I'm travelling in a tin can at times. There is a buffet car, although I've only ever bought water on them. As they generally get holidaying passengers, their luggage holds are very generous. My main gripe is the fact their is no "Open Door" button on the inside of the train, and to open the door you must pull the door window down, reach out the train and push the handle down. 7/10
-- Arriva Trains Wales
I have never wanted to travel on a train service less. The carriages are too thin to hold four seats and a decent walkway across, and so everybody is SQUISHED in. There are also never enough carriages and I rarely get a seat. Unlike FGW, they don't bother with a buffet car and instead try a trolley service. Of course, the carriages only fit the trolley if nobody else is on the train, so I spend most of the journey with overpriced sandwiches shoved in my face. The toilets are blocked and never work, let alone the taps. The tin-can feel is worse in these trains than in FGW ones. 4/10
2 comments:
Our trains in Perth, Australia. Generally short-haul, fairly new condition, no food carts, no luggage holder. no newspapers and no toilets. Longest journey is an hour, which would be the extent of the train route. Can get pretty packed heading to the city before and after work.
Most of our routes are from suburbs to the city. Not really much else to see x).
Yikes! Sounds basic. Are ticket prices reasonable in Australia?
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