Date: 2009-01-19
Journey Origin: Ascot
Scheduled Dep. Time: 09:10
Journey Destination: Waterloo
Estimated Delay: 5 mins at Ascot
Details of complaint: Yet another late train, but this time making me late for a meeting in London. That - sadly - is something I've grown used to over the many years using South West Trains on this line to Waterloo. To the point where I don't book client meetings before mid-day because it's highly likely I'll end up being late, thanks to the rubbish service from South West Trains.
What really make it worse this morning was the state of the train - totally filthy. Thick, wet mud on the seats, all over the floor, over the walls - it was literally like someone had stampeded a herd of sheep through the train.
Nice way to start the week, sitting in an overcrowded, dirty, smelly train for an hour.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Robbery
Yes, it's true. Yesterday I was robbed by South West Trains.
I had to get a monthly car park pass. £75
Despite the car park being littered with CCTV, I have spoken to several other commuters who's cars have been broken in to or vandalised, and even if they can get the police involved, demand SWT turn over the tapes, then wait months for the tapes to be sent - there's still 'no identifiable information'.
That's not even taking into account that very often the car park is totally full. Good luck finding a space if you arrive after 11am, or if a bunch of Railtrack vans have shown up work on the line.
Given that the car park is shared with the Honda garage (Clover Leaf Cars, great people) how can SWT possibly justify £75 a month of £5 a day to park there?
I had to get a monthly car park pass. £75
Despite the car park being littered with CCTV, I have spoken to several other commuters who's cars have been broken in to or vandalised, and even if they can get the police involved, demand SWT turn over the tapes, then wait months for the tapes to be sent - there's still 'no identifiable information'.
That's not even taking into account that very often the car park is totally full. Good luck finding a space if you arrive after 11am, or if a bunch of Railtrack vans have shown up work on the line.
Given that the car park is shared with the Honda garage (Clover Leaf Cars, great people) how can SWT possibly justify £75 a month of £5 a day to park there?
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Broken heating again
Date: 2009-01-07
Journey Origin: Ascot
Scheduled Dep. Time: 09:11
Journey Destination: London Waterloo
Estimated Delay: 0
Details of complaint: -3 outside, and once again no heating. It was so cold I ended up giving my coffee to the old lady sat next to me - she couldn't feel her fingers any more. The guard did come on to the intercom to apologise that the heating was broken in the last 4 carriages, and that it would be looked in to when we arrived at Waterloo. Helpful.
Journey Origin: Ascot
Scheduled Dep. Time: 09:11
Journey Destination: London Waterloo
Estimated Delay: 0
Details of complaint: -3 outside, and once again no heating. It was so cold I ended up giving my coffee to the old lady sat next to me - she couldn't feel her fingers any more. The guard did come on to the intercom to apologise that the heating was broken in the last 4 carriages, and that it would be looked in to when we arrived at Waterloo. Helpful.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
No heating, again
Date: 2009-01-06
Journey Origin: London Waterloo
Scheduled Dep. Time: 20:50
Journey Destination: Reading via Ascot
Estimated Delay: 0
Details of complaint: No heating again! It's below zero outside, it's almost 9pm, and there's no heating anywhere in the train. This is insane.
Journey Origin: London Waterloo
Scheduled Dep. Time: 20:50
Journey Destination: Reading via Ascot
Estimated Delay: 0
Details of complaint: No heating again! It's below zero outside, it's almost 9pm, and there's no heating anywhere in the train. This is insane.
Fare increase
My monthly season ticket has increased by 3.9%, pushing my yearly cost of taking the train in to Waterloo from Ascot up to £3207.60. On top of this, I have to pay £72 a month just to park my car at the station, adding another £864 to my yearly bill.
Over £4000 a year just to take the train in to London.
Non season tickets and off-peak fares have risen even more.
You can read more about the fare increases from all train operators - not just the useless South West Trains - at http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/press-release.asp?dsid=2074
Over £4000 a year just to take the train in to London.
Non season tickets and off-peak fares have risen even more.
You can read more about the fare increases from all train operators - not just the useless South West Trains - at http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/press-release.asp?dsid=2074
Delay, crowding, and no heating
Date: 2009-01-06
Journey Origin: Ascot
Scheduled Dep. Time: 09:10
Journey Destination: London Waterloo
Estimated Delay: 15 mins
Details of complaint: -4 outside and no heating inside the train, for the entire journey. Train was very overcrowded with many people having to stand for over half the journey.
Journey Origin: Ascot
Scheduled Dep. Time: 09:10
Journey Destination: London Waterloo
Estimated Delay: 15 mins
Details of complaint: -4 outside and no heating inside the train, for the entire journey. Train was very overcrowded with many people having to stand for over half the journey.
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