The Diary Room

[mattymc13]

Our country's rail industry is a sorry state of affairs. I remember when my great grandma fell gravely ill, so I had to get up to Leeds as quickly as I could. Being a non-driver left me with a problem, and seeing I lived fairly near King's Cross at the time, I went into the station and used one of their self-service machines. It was £190 to get to Leeds there and then. £320 if I wanted the additional luxury of being able to return home that side of Christmas. So I thought "f**k it, I'm getting on that train, but I simply cannot afford to p*y that." It's not like I was going for a bloody holiday. I was going to see my grandma for the last time. So I did, I got on the train and I had it out with the ticket inspector, who was initially unsympathetic until I got very upset. Anyway, to cut a long story short, he let me get away with it, and I got the coach back after my grandma has passed away. It does annoy me that nearly every train I have been on from London to Leeds (or vice-versa) there seems to be loads of empty seats, yet they think they can justify charging that amount to fill them on the day.

[a_person]

320 f**king pounds? Blimey! I didn't realise they get that expensive on the day. That's enough to p*y for flight tickets and a very short holiday outside of the UK!

Glad to hear you got to see your Gran one last time though.

[June]

Our country's rail industry is a sorry state of affairs. I remember when my great grandma fell gravely ill, so I had to get up to Leeds as quickly as I could. Being a non-driver left me with a problem, and seeing I lived fairly near King's Cross at the time, I went into the station and used one of their self-service machines. It was £190 to get to Leeds there and then. £320 if I wanted the additional luxury of being able to return home that side of Christmas. So I thought "f**k it, I'm getting on that train, but I simply cannot afford to p*y that." It's not like I was going for a bloody holiday. I was going to see my grandma for the last time. So I did, I got on the train and I had it out with the ticket inspector, who was initially unsympathetic until I got very upset. Anyway, to cut a long story short, he let me get away with it, and I got the coach back after my grandma has passed away. It does annoy me that nearly every train I have been on from London to Leeds (or vice-versa) there seems to be loads of empty seats, yet they think they can justify charging that amount to fill them on the day.

The cost of rail fare is madness, so much for trying to get people out of their cars and on public transport! If there are so many free seats then I agree that the fare on the day should reflect this and the tickets should be greatly reduced

[mattymc13]

Precisely. The fact there is even a chance of getting on the train for that amount of money shows there are seats available. It's not like you are p*ying a ridiculous amount of money because every single seat is full, but they're going to bend the rules just for you just so you can sit in the luggage rack. God no. There are loads of spare seats. It's an appalling service, and it's generally those who have to make impromptu journies for reasons like mine that are punished. If I was sat on a train having pa*d over £100 and I'm on my way to see an unwell family member, and I get talking to the guy next to me, and he's going to the same destination at the same time as I am, but he's just going for a weekend piss up or something, yet he pa*d only £10 for his seat because he booked it several months in advance, I would probably scream with anger. There's something morally bankrupt about the whole system, and it does need a drastic overhaul.

[June]

Precisely. The fact there is even a chance of getting on the train for that amount of money shows there are seats available. It's not like you are p*ying a ridiculous amount of money because every single seat is full, but they're going to bend the rules just for you just so you can sit in the luggage rack. God no. There are loads of spare seats. It's an appalling service, and it's generally those who have to make impromptu journies for reasons like mine that are punished. If I was sat on a train having pa*d over £100 and I'm on my way to see an unwell family member, and I get talking to the guy next to me, and he's going to the same destination at the same time as I am, but he's just going for a weekend piss up or something, yet he pa*d only £10 for his seat because he booked it several months in advance, I would probably scream with anger. There's something morally bankrupt about the whole system, and it does need a drastic overhaul.

I totally agree but how do you force the change???

[a_person]

Start a campaign.

[mattymc13]

Meh, it's pointless. That's the thing about campaign's and protests. If you protest peacefully, nobody listens. If you protest in a more raucous manner, you're branded a hooligan.

[tilly]

Just watching jodie marsh on tv. How awful does she look?

[Mesa7719]

Just watching jodie marsh on tv. How awful does she look?

I happened to see her yesterday on This Morning....... I totally agree with you Tilly.... altho I thought she looked awful before all of that too!

[Rainey]

Our country's rail industry is a sorry state of affairs. I remember when my great grandma fell gravely ill, so I had to get up to Leeds as quickly as I could. Being a non-driver left me with a problem, and seeing I lived fairly near King's Cross at the time, I went into the station and used one of their self-service machines. It was £190 to get to Leeds there and then. £320 if I wanted the additional luxury of being able to return home that side of Christmas. So I thought "f**k it, I'm getting on that train, but I simply cannot afford to p*y that." It's not like I was going for a bloody holiday. I was going to see my grandma for the last time. So I did, I got on the train and I had it out with the ticket inspector, who was initially unsympathetic until I got very upset. Anyway, to cut a long story short, he let me get away with it, and I got the coach back after my grandma has passed away. It does annoy me that nearly every train I have been on from London to Leeds (or vice-versa) there seems to be loads of empty seats, yet they think they can justify charging that amount to fill them on the day.

The cost of rail fare is madness, so much for trying to get people out of their cars and on public transport! If there are so many free seats then I agree that the fare on the day should reflect this and the tickets should be greatly reduced

Public transport seems to get more expensive the further out of London you get too and there are now free child fares. To go into London I could walk to my local train station and get in to London very easily but the ticket for the over ground is double the price than if I drive 4 miles down the road and park in the nearest tube station. If I am taking the children they travel free on the tube as they are under 11, on the overground they p*y half price the same as my tube ticket!

As for buses £6.40 return to get to the tube station & £3.20 per child.....or £3 to park in the tube station car park. There is no free school travel at all for secondary school children here either even though there is no school within walking distance, low income's have to p*y over £300 for the school bus, everyone else almost £1,000, so of course many families drive their children to school. Running a car is very expensive, but not as expensive as public transport would be for me.

Sorry to hear about your grandma.