A Quick Reminder
Something of a flashback with the 17:15 train home from Manchester tonight. We limped into Oxford Road where suspicions were raised after we did not move for 10 minutes. Then the classic signs of trouble: driver emerging from his sanctum and walking up and down the train for no apparent reason and then the Grim Reaper himself - a fluorescent jacketed engineer clutching a torch and a screw driver. Hmmm.
But good news, the 17:33 has just pulled into the next platform and a mass exodous begins, although there has been no formal announcement from anyone. Just as the outpouring onto the platform begins, everyone starts to return to their still-warm seats. Everything is fixed, the rumour goes, and just after the 17:33 departs, we follow. Well, we get to Salford Crescent where the towel is thrown in and the train formally delared defunct.
Problems now for the Blackrod commuter. Although the 17:33 would have been fine, the 17:50 no longer stops at Blackrod, and we are faced with a long wait for the 18:10. I opt to board the 17:50 and arrange to be collected from Lostock where the train stops.
The good news about this is that it has been ages since we faced a number of problems and gaffes. And I decided to look up the records I took of November 2002 when things were at an all time low. If I were French, my response to a dire train service might have been to chain myself to the ticket office or to blockade one the entrances to Piccadilly somehow. But I am English, and my approach was to keep a spreadsheet in the knowledge that I could - but never would - use it as some sort of leverage or something.
Anyway, the spreadsheet shows that leaving from Blackrod in the morning that month, 0% of trains left on time and 88% within 10 minutes. Arriving at Piccadilly, 0% were on time and only 59% within 10 minutes. Coming home was even worse. One third of trains left on time and only 35% arrived at Blackrod within 10 minutes of schedule and 0% on time. This month included the famous events of November 4 when we pulled into Blackrod two hours late. Not bad for a 35 minute journey.
Things seem to have improved since then. Usually, the trains are vaguely on time, both in and out. Perhaps the new company, Northern Trains (motto: same staff, same trains, new ties) has something to do with this. Anyway, touching wood, hopefully the events of this evening will remain rare.
But good news, the 17:33 has just pulled into the next platform and a mass exodous begins, although there has been no formal announcement from anyone. Just as the outpouring onto the platform begins, everyone starts to return to their still-warm seats. Everything is fixed, the rumour goes, and just after the 17:33 departs, we follow. Well, we get to Salford Crescent where the towel is thrown in and the train formally delared defunct.
Problems now for the Blackrod commuter. Although the 17:33 would have been fine, the 17:50 no longer stops at Blackrod, and we are faced with a long wait for the 18:10. I opt to board the 17:50 and arrange to be collected from Lostock where the train stops.
The good news about this is that it has been ages since we faced a number of problems and gaffes. And I decided to look up the records I took of November 2002 when things were at an all time low. If I were French, my response to a dire train service might have been to chain myself to the ticket office or to blockade one the entrances to Piccadilly somehow. But I am English, and my approach was to keep a spreadsheet in the knowledge that I could - but never would - use it as some sort of leverage or something.
Anyway, the spreadsheet shows that leaving from Blackrod in the morning that month, 0% of trains left on time and 88% within 10 minutes. Arriving at Piccadilly, 0% were on time and only 59% within 10 minutes. Coming home was even worse. One third of trains left on time and only 35% arrived at Blackrod within 10 minutes of schedule and 0% on time. This month included the famous events of November 4 when we pulled into Blackrod two hours late. Not bad for a 35 minute journey.
Things seem to have improved since then. Usually, the trains are vaguely on time, both in and out. Perhaps the new company, Northern Trains (motto: same staff, same trains, new ties) has something to do with this. Anyway, touching wood, hopefully the events of this evening will remain rare.
posted by phil at 11:55 pm
1 Comments:
Beautiful prosey blogs.
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