the cost of trains is unreal

[Mich the Tester]

Yes. I can easily picture you as an officious jobsworth prowling up and down the carriages hissing at people, sucking your teeth and telling 7-year-olds to get their shoes off the seats.

I’d be happy to see a few more of those in Amsterdam, clearing out some of the plebs that occupy seats in 1st class with a 2nd class ticket.

[bogeyman]

I’d be happy to see a few more of those in Amsterdam, clearing out some of the plebs that occupy seats in 1st class with a 2nd class ticket.

A common problem in trains everywhere Mitch.

In the days when I travelled 1st on intercity trains in the UK, you could always expect a bit of a chavs' picknick when traveling from certain destinations (Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, especially).

They just seem to think it's their right to sit in a first class seat, and if you object, you are a stuck-up snob.

The fact that you are a stuck-up snob who has paid £80 more for your ticket, just to evade these oafs, and travel in peace and quiet makes no odds.

I did have a great moment of satisfaction however when the guard (or is that Train Customer Service Representative now?) practically manhandled a family of rowdy scallies out of first class on the Liverpool to Euston service a couple of years ago.

The guard was a brick shyt house kind of bloke and a scouser. He let them know exactly what he though of them, and the look of shame on their faces as they skulked out of the first class carriage was a picture to behold!

[minestrone]

As soon a steerage gets full up first class gets declassified and the chavs pour in.

Someone should tell the rail companies that people buy first class to guarantee a seat, not fight it out with someone who has paid less.

Probably one of the main reasons I ditched my last role was that commuting was such a bad experience. Still my mobile jammer certainly made it less of a pain.

[dinker]

How quickly people forget the nightmare that was British Rail.

[Mich the Tester]

How quickly people forget the nightmare that was British Rail.

affordable nightmare

[bogeyman]

affordable nightmare

Indeed.

Even their sandwiches were not that bad, despite the legends.

I have fond memories of whizzing (1st) from Paddington to Cardiff in the 1980's, on the newly introduced 125s, fortified by a nice ham sandwich and a can or two of some rubbish Scottish ale.

All for £25 open return !!

[expat]

How quickly people forget the nightmare that was British Rail.

Oh, I haven't forgotten. Even worse fare structure. Have had booking clerks arguing among themselves about the fare for my ticket.

And the London-Glasgow Fri pm always ran out of food before Crewe (FFS you've got a captive customer base, don't run out).

[Mich the Tester]

Indeed.

Even their sandwiches were not that bad, despite the legends.

I have fond memories of whizzing (1st) from Paddington to Cardiff in the 1980's, on the newly introduced 125s, fortified by a nice ham sandwich and a can or two of some rubbish Scottish ale.

All for £25 open return !!

The BLT sandwiches were very much dependent on the particular staff member who was preparing them. For some time there was a rather portly gentleman, perhaps himself a connoisseur of the club sandwich, who served excellent, hot, steaming, crispy BLTs on the route from Birmingham to London. Other staff members produced lousy, squidgy efforts that one wouldn’t feed to a rat. Things really went downhill when they started selling pre-packaged sandwiches, warmed up in the microwave.

[Bagpuss]

Wonderful rail network where a ticket from A to C costs £140

But 2 tickets from A to B and B to C cost £50 using exactly the same service.

This is one example I've seen today

[bogeyman]

The BLT sandwiches were very much dependent on the particular staff member who was preparing them. For some time there was a rather portly gentleman, perhaps himself a connoisseur of the club sandwich, who served excellent, hot, steaming, crispy BLTs on the route from Birmingham to London. Other staff members produced lousy, squidgy efforts that one wouldn’t feed to a rat. Things really went downhill when they started selling pre-packaged sandwiches, warmed up in the microwave.

Yes. The art of the bacon sandwich.

Deserves a thread of its own probably.