The Ticket Collector

Poor weather conditions in Scotland and England

We have just been informed that their are bad weather conditions expected in the next few hours. Speed restrictions are expected on some costal lines. Also be aware that poor rail conditions will cause some delays.

We are also hearing that delays are expected for tomorrow morning, we will let you know as soon as we recive the information, as this has not yet been confirmed.

GNER cancelations today:
15:30 Kings Cross (London) to Edinburgh due 20:19 - no reason given

London - Manchester Train Tickets for £1 (if you can get the site to work)

We have been emailed in this offer of tickets for a quid. It only works on London - Manchester and Return.

However we have not been able to get the stupid Virmin Trains website to work, so it seems that either the offer is so popular its crashed the site, or more likley its a false offer. Try it at http://www.mobitix.thetrainline.com/vt and let us know it it works.

People have been saying that there are no quid fares, but the ones that have got the site to work can get £5 and £7 tickets.

The catch.
As with all Virmin Train tickets theres always a catch and they are as follows:
You cannot get off early or combine it with any other ticket.
You must get on the train the ticket states, any other is forbidden.
You must book with a Credit Card and the Credit Card must be with your tickets to proove their yours.
Offer ends 26th October 2007.
The sites link is http://www.mobitix.thetrainline.com/vt

Arriva wins Cross Country - The in depth report.

Ok further to the previous post about arriva winning the new Cross Country Franchise here is what they plan to do.

Arriva has informed us that they plan to remove the on board shop and one toilet from each train set to provide extra seats and luggage space for passengers.

Catering provided to customers at their seats, including hot meals in first class on weekdays

You think you can get a trolley through a packed train during peak times? Haha

A new web-based ticketing system will be introduced from December 2009 which will allow customers to reserve seats up to 10 minutes before their train leaves, print tickets at home, receive and display tickets on mobile phones and receive customised journey information packs. The franchise will also accept smartcard tickets issued by other train companies;

Error the webpage cannot be displayed, due to another cockup by your train operator Arriva.

Wi-Fi access, which will be free in first class;

Yipeee, free internet on a train. Oh but wait dont GNER have this already and wait doesnt it only allow downloads at some pathetic speed of around 3Kbps.

Delay/Repay compensation arrangements.
50% of the price paid for a single-leg journey delayed by between 30 and 59 minutes;
100% of the price paid for a single-leg journey delayed by between 60 and 119 minutes; and
100% of the price paid for a return journey delayed by more than 119 minutes.

But you have to go to the shop to get proof you were on a delayed train, but oh no wheres the shop gone. Yep Arriva have done away with the shop to give you an extra seat. Ah but yes theres still the trolley, but nooo you cant find it - Techical Problems have foreced it off the train apparently. And the staff? All stuck at Birmingham New Street because they lost the train your on.

This is going to be one major cock up. Oh and remember Arriva is your friendly “lets go on strike every weekend” company. You think First Group are bad? Just wait till you see Arriva. Do the words Arriva Trains Wales ring fear into you? If not they should.

The next train to depart for somewhere up north is this lovely classic class 142 pacer, its a railbus. Imagine this on your 4 hour journey. It could well happen with Arriva.

Arriva wins Cross Country Franchise

God help us all is all I can say.

Virgin have lost the Cross Country Franchise and the company behind Arrivia Trains Wales and previously Arrivia Trains Northern (yes the one that went on strike every weekend) has won it.

It will be interesting to see how quickly they can bugger it up.

Arriva have no experince of running a long distance train company.

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.