The Ticket Collector

No Smoking on ANY UK station.

Smoking Ban finally arrives.

So its finally arrived, the national smoking ban. All of the railway companies have decided to make all of their premises and property completely smoke free areas.

If you are caught lighting up in a enclosed public area or on a railway station you will face a fine of £50. Railway stations are covered by existing bye-laws and belive it or not were smoke free before the new national smoking ban even came into force.

Also dont drop your fag ends on the floor as this will result in a fine of £80. There are lots of Enforcement officers just waiting around the corner to fine you.

FCC is the worst Operator - National Passenger Survey

The National Passenger Survey was released yesterday and it comes up with some bad reading for many of the Train Companies mentioned.

The latest survey compared the passengers satisfaction levels for individual train operating companies with the survey carried out in Spring 2006. Since 2006 four Train Companies satisfaction levels have declined significantly (First Great Western, First ScotRail, First Capital Connect and Northern Rail), and three have significantly improved (Midland Mainline, Arriva Trains Wales and Heathrow Express). Fourteen have had no statistically significant changes in their overall satisfaction results compared with Spring 2006.

• The lowest ratings for overall satisfaction were given to First Capital Connect [First Group] (71%), First Great Western [First Group] (72%), One [National Express Group] (72%), Southeastern (74%), and Silverlink [National Express Group](76%).

• The highest ratings for overall satisfaction were achieved by Heathrow Express (94%), Gatwick Express [National Express Group] (92%), Chiltern Railways (90%), Midland Mainline [National Express Group] (90%), c2c [National Express Group] (89%), and TransPennine Express [First Group] (89%).

One Railway issues new explorer ticket offer.

In order to celebrate the Community Rail lines, ‘One’ Railway has decided to issue a good offer on Bank Holidays and Weekends. They have issued a ‘one’ Day Explorer. The prices are £18 per Adult and £2 for Accompanied Children.

The catch is you cannot use the Explorer for travel between London Liverpool Street and Harold Wood/Chingford/Enfield Town/Waltham Cross/Theobalds Grove. Basicly you cannot use them in the London Travelcard area.

Below is a quote from their website.

What better way to celebrate our Community Rail Lines on the ‘one’ network, than by exploring them with a new ‘one’ Day Explorer ticket, initially available from 19th May to 3rd June and then again from 4th July to 9th September.The ‘one’ Day Explorer is valid for travel across the ‘one’ railway network at just £18 per adult and £2 for accompanied children (terms and conditions apply).

Check out the Community Rail Partnership Events taking place

Terms and Conditions

Not valid for travel between London Liverpool Street – Harold Wood/Chingford/Enfield Town/Waltham Cross/Theobalds Grove

Valid for travel all day at weekends and Bank Holidays and after 0845 Mondays - Fridays

Major Changes to FCC/GNER/Hull Trains in April&May

Traveling on the East Coast Mainline on any Saturday or Sunday in April or May? Or traveling over the Easter weekend?

Then please be aware that there will be major changes to normal timetables.

Due to the fact that there are lots and lots of changes and different diversions in place we have decided it is easier to post them all on a seperate page of their own.

These changes will affect First Capital Connect, GNER and Hull Trains. There maybe possible overcrowding on Midland Mainline Services.

http://www.theticketcollector.co.uk/wordpress/gn_changes/

Buses replace trains between Alexandra Palace and Stevenage (via Welwyn Garden City) every Saturday and Sunday between 31 March and 19 May.
On all Saturdays and Sundays, no trains will operate between Alexandra Palace and Stevenage via Welwyn Garden City or between Hertford North and Stevenage. A reduced train service will operate between London and Hertford North, calling at all stations, and between London, Stevenage and stations to the north.
A replacement bus service will operate in both directions between Alexandra Palace and Welwyn Garden City calling at all stations.
Additionally a limited stop bus service will operate to/from Finsbury Park calling at Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Knebworth and Stevenage (and vice versa).
A replacement bus will also operate between Hertford North, Watton at Stone and Stevenage. Trains to/from King’s Lynn will only operate north of Royston (where train connections to/from London will be available).

Major service alterations due to the closure of all lines in the Stevenage area
All lines in the Stevenage area will be closed as follows:
Saturday 21 April: After 1415
Sunday 22 April: All day
Saturday 28 April: After 1415
Sunday 29 April: Until 0915
Saturday 5 May: After 1415
Sunday 6 May: All day
Saturday 12 May: After 1415
Sunday 13 May: Until 0915
Saturday 26 May: After 1515
Sunday 27 May: All day
Bank Holiday Monday 28 May: Until 1200

At these times, services on the Great Northern route will be completely revised.
Great Northern route tickets will also be accepted on the Thameslink route for equivalent journeys on these weekends. Where buses replace trains, journeys times will be significantly increased.

Customers travelling between London and stations Hitchin to Peterborough and stations Hitchin to Foxton, First Capital Connect train services will operate between Peterborough and Hitchin and between Foxton and Hitchin.
Between Hitchin and Luton Airport Parkway a frequent replacement bus service will operate. Connections by First Capital Connect train services will be available between Luton Airport Parkway and London§. In London, First Capital Connect trains will serve St Pancras (Sunday only) King’s Cross Thameslink, Farringdon, City Thameslink (Saturday Only), Blackfriars and London Bridge.

§On Sunday 29 April only, Thameslink route services will only operate north of West Hampstead Thameslink. Jubilee Line connections will be available between West Hampstead and central London.

Customers travelling between London and stations Cambridge to King’s Lynn First Capital Connect train services will operate between King’s Lynn and Cambridge. We advise customers travelling to/from London to use ‘one’ services between Cambridge and London. In London ‘one’ services will serve Tottenham Hale§ (for Victoria Line connections to/from Finsbury Park and London King’s Cross) and Liverpool Street.

§Due to engineering work, on Sunday 6 May only, the interchange between ‘one’ services and the Victoria Line will be at Seven Sisters not Tottenham Hale

Customers travelling between London and Stevenage A rail replacement bus service will operate between Stevenage and
Hertford North. Limited stop First Capital Connect train services will operate between Hertford North and London King’s Cross.

Customers travelling between London and Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North and Knebworth. A rail replacement bus service will operate between Knebworth, Welwyn North, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Cuffley and
between Potters Bar and Cuffley. Limited stop First Capital Connect train services will operate between Cuffley and London King’s Cross.

Customers travelling between London, Finsbury Park and stations New Southgate to Welham Green. Rail replacement buses will operate between Alexandra Palace and Welham Green calling at all stations. However we recommend that customers travelling to/from Welham Green, Brookmans Park and Potters Bar connect at Potters Bar with the Potters Bar - Cuffley bus service (for rail services between Cuffley and London).

Additionally, customers may travel on the Piccadilly line between Cockfosters and London King’s Cross or on the Northern Line between High Barnet and London King’s Cross.

Customers travelling between London and all stations to Hertford North.
A regular rail service will operate between London and Hertford North, calling at all stations.

Major service alterations due to the closure of all lines in the London King’s Cross area over the Easter Weekend, Saturday 7 to Monday 9 April 2007.
From approximately 2200 on Saturday 7 April until approximately 0900 on Monday 9 April all lines in the London King’s Cross area will be closed:
Services on the Great Northern route will be completely revised.

Great Northern route tickets will be accepted on the Thameslink route for equivalent journeys on these weekends. Where buses replace trains, journey times will be significantly increased.

Customers travelling between London and stations Hitchin to Peterborough and stations Hitchin to Foxton.
First Capital Connect train services will operate between Peterborough and Hitchin and between Foxton and Hitchin.
Between Hitchin and Luton Airport Parkway a frequent replacement bus service will operate. Connections by First Capital Connect train services will be available between Luton Airport Parkway and London. In London, First Capital Connect trains will serve St Pancras (Sunday only) King’s Cross Thameslink, Farringdon, City Thameslink (Monday only), Blackfriars and London Bridge.

Customers travelling between London and stations Cambridge to King’s Lynn.
First Capital Connect train services will operate between King’s Lynn and Cambridge. We advise customers travelling to/from London to use ‘one’ services between Cambridge and London. In London ‘one’ services will serve Tottenham Hale (for Victoria Line connections to/from Finsbury Park and London King’s Cross) and Liverpool Street.
Customers travelling between London and stations Hatfield to Stevenage.
A rail replacement bus service will operate between Stevenage, Knebworth, Welwyn North, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and St Albans. First Capital Connect train services will operate between St Albans and London. In London, these trains will serve King’s Cross Thameslink, Farringdon, City Thameslink (Monday only), Blackfriars and London Bridge.

Customers travelling between London and stations Gordon Hill to Watton-at-Stone.
First Capital Connect train services will operate between Gordon Hill and all stations to Watton-at-Stone. Rail replacement buses will operate between Gordon Hill and Oakwood. At Oakwood, Piccadilly Line services will be available to/from Finsbury Park and London King’s Cross. Additionally, customers may travel on ‘one’ Services between Hertford East, Tottenham Hale (for Victoria Line to/from Finsbury Park and London King’s Cross) and Liverpool Street.

Customers travelling between London and stations Finsbury Park to Welham Green and stations Bowes Park to Enfield Chase.
Rail replacement buses will operate between Turnpike Lane, Alexandra Palace and all stations to Welham Green and between Turnpike Lane, Alexandra Palace and all stations to Enfield Chase. At Turnpike Lane, Piccadilly Line services will be available to/from Finsbury Park and London King’s Cross. Additionally, customers may travel on the Piccadilly line between Cockfosters and London King’s Cross, on the Northern Line between High Barnet and London King’s Cross or on ‘one’ Services between Enfield Town, Seven Sisters (for Victoria Line to/from Finsbury Park and London King’s Cross) and Liverpool Street. Customers travelling to/from Harringay and Hornsey should use local bus routes 29 and W3 or Piccadilly Line services.

http://www.theticketcollector.co.uk/wordpress/gn_changes/

Save 20% on most items from station shops.

Thanks to a comment on a fellow bloggers site GNER Commuter, you are able to get 20% off on items from most stores on railway stations.
The Card is called a BITE card and can be ordered from http://www.bitecard.co.uk.

This gives 20% most items from retail outlets on Railway Stations, The site has a list of what accepts the card.