Stuck on the train!
Stuck on the train!
Since September I've gone to work by cycle and train. I get on a Virgin Pendolino where I have to put my bike in the rear guards compartment, this means I have to depend on station/train staff to let me on and off the train. I have had no problems with the train dispatch at Nuneaton, the staff letting me onto the train are always friendly and assure me each day they will phone ahead and ensure the train is met. Recently however, (including today) no one has been there to let me off. I end up stuck on a train which, after Rugby Station where I get off, turns into a fast commuter service to London. Today I had to use the emergency door release to let myself out, this seemed to cause more problems as it set alarms off on the train. Has anyone else had this problem? what do you suggest? I can't cyle both to and from work as I would prefer as there are no shower facilities at work. I have to be content with the shorter cycle to work (made possible by using the train) and a longer ride on the way home.
Stuck on the train
Is the stop at the station where you disembark very short? On the GNER on the East Coast Main Line where I live, they let me put my bike in the back, and then I ride in the passenger compartment.
This means I'm not with my bike, and so I have to make haste and run the length of the carriage to pick it up before the train is ready to leave, but at least I have a comfortable seat with passengers. Will Virgin not allow you do do this?
This means I'm not with my bike, and so I have to make haste and run the length of the carriage to pick it up before the train is ready to leave, but at least I have a comfortable seat with passengers. Will Virgin not allow you do do this?
Stuck on the train!
I was nearly stuck on Virgin Pendolino the other week, despite telling the guard I wanted to get off at Wigan. In the end, I banged on the train driver's door, shouting "I need to get out with my bike!" and he got out and opened the door himself. Phew!
It seems that given the direction my train travels in the driver (and I guess the guard) are at the opposite end of the train to me, I can get from the cycle area to a seat in the rear carriage and sit in comfort, however It is a short journey to, and a short stop at Rugby, if I got off the train and onto the platform to try to get someones attention I expect my bike would be taken to London without me. It is not possible to open the exterior door on this type of train unless you have the special key that the staff carry with them, unless that is you pull the emergency door release.
I have explained all this to both virgin trains customer services, who it seems manage platform staff at Rugby, and to Centeral Trains customer services who manage train dispatch in Nuneaton. I'm told by Centeral Trains that it is the platform staff at rugby who are resposible for checking cycles are unloaded, and that they follow thier policy and phone ahead of the train to ask for me to be unloaded. However I am told by Virgin Trains customer services and their platform staff at Rugby that it is not their job to meet and unload me, they say it is the train manager (Guard) who should unload the bike and unlock the door. Yesterday I found the Virgin trains "train manager" and she did agree to unlock the door for me, but she complained that it was not her job to do so.
I think that if you intend to travel on a Virgin Train with your bike, you need to be aware that you may have difficulties getting you and your cycle off the train. It seems that you need to find the train manager well in advance of your stop, and make sure that they know where to unload your bike. Despite a cycle reservation made over a week in advance, helpful platform staff who help load you bike, and cctv on the train, it is quite possible that no one on the train, or at your destination will know your bike is there unless you find them and tell them yourself.
I have explained all this to both virgin trains customer services, who it seems manage platform staff at Rugby, and to Centeral Trains customer services who manage train dispatch in Nuneaton. I'm told by Centeral Trains that it is the platform staff at rugby who are resposible for checking cycles are unloaded, and that they follow thier policy and phone ahead of the train to ask for me to be unloaded. However I am told by Virgin Trains customer services and their platform staff at Rugby that it is not their job to meet and unload me, they say it is the train manager (Guard) who should unload the bike and unlock the door. Yesterday I found the Virgin trains "train manager" and she did agree to unlock the door for me, but she complained that it was not her job to do so.
I think that if you intend to travel on a Virgin Train with your bike, you need to be aware that you may have difficulties getting you and your cycle off the train. It seems that you need to find the train manager well in advance of your stop, and make sure that they know where to unload your bike. Despite a cycle reservation made over a week in advance, helpful platform staff who help load you bike, and cctv on the train, it is quite possible that no one on the train, or at your destination will know your bike is there unless you find them and tell them yourself.
We had a similar situation on the night of the August floods when the only way from Swansea to London was via Crewe. We were appreciative of being let onto a pendulino unbooked but less so when the train staff at Euston left our bikes locked in until I found the emergency door release. Which requires two people to operate - one to hold down the lever whilst the other opens the door.
Twice recently I've tried to board a HST type trian.
The first occasion the train was longer than the platform, so I had no chance of getting to the guards van at either end, and just entered a normal carriage and tucked the front of my bike into the lugage rack at the end of the carriage.
It amused me that next to my Mercian was a Brompton, all folded up, - Tee Hee, no need for a folding bike, I thought.
On the second occasion the front of the train was still alongside the platform, so I approached the guards van only to discover that it has two handles to open the door - which would have meant putting my bike down on the platform.
As I was keen not to delay departure of the train - which was already running late - I gave up and entered the next coach instead, which turned out to be First Class. You should have seen the dirty look given to me by the only lady passenger in the First Class coach as I tucked my bike into the luggage rack - priceless !
It was a long walk through the coaches to Second Class though...
The first occasion the train was longer than the platform, so I had no chance of getting to the guards van at either end, and just entered a normal carriage and tucked the front of my bike into the lugage rack at the end of the carriage.
It amused me that next to my Mercian was a Brompton, all folded up, - Tee Hee, no need for a folding bike, I thought.
On the second occasion the front of the train was still alongside the platform, so I approached the guards van only to discover that it has two handles to open the door - which would have meant putting my bike down on the platform.
As I was keen not to delay departure of the train - which was already running late - I gave up and entered the next coach instead, which turned out to be First Class. You should have seen the dirty look given to me by the only lady passenger in the First Class coach as I tucked my bike into the luggage rack - priceless !
It was a long walk through the coaches to Second Class though...
Happened again today, I've now been warned that using the emegency door release is "commiting an offence" and I should not do it. Yesterday I spoke to the train manager, showed him my ticket, and asked him to let me off at Rugby, he said no, not his job! Still trying to deal with Virgin customer sevices who say they will investigat and brief staff if its needed. It seems it will take several weeks for this to happen (if it ever does) and in the meantime I still get stuck on the train about 1 in 3 journeys.
"Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidarity to pure wind" -George Orwell.
What is the offence you are commiting? Surely it's an emergency as nobidy is there to assist you as you have been assured there would be and therefore you need to get of the train and you cannot through no fault of your own.
What is the train managers job then, they used to be called guards in my day and they used to be very helpful.
What is the train managers job then, they used to be called guards in my day and they used to be very helpful.
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mirian_and_alan
Stuck on the Train!
We've had this experience twice on Virgin Pendolinos, so we're pleased to discover this forum. The first time at Birmingham and last night when travelling from Warrington to Crewe. At Birmingham we pulled the emergency handle after a while, the door opened and we just walked off, leaving the alarm buzzing away - nobody seemed bothered on that occasion.
Yesterday, we had to produce evidence of our booking in Warrington before we were allowed on and we understood they had phoned ahead but when we got to Crewe there was nobody to let us off.
As the next stop was Rugby (!) and nobody appeared to let us off after about 1/2 minute, we used the emergency handle. A woman in a red coat appeared and tried to open the door from the outside but failed. She then came in at the other end of the carriage and played hell with us 'Don't ever, ever pull that handle' (What's it for, then, we wondered). She got more and more stressed out, trying to get the key to work and people were shouting at her down her walkie-talkie asking what the problem was. Eventually a station staff member came and opened the door from the outside and we got off with a great deal of relief and not any remorse.
As we had to wait for our next train, we witnessed the next chapter in the 'saga': they struggled to get the doors to close and we reckon we must have delayed the train by about 6 minutes!
Why does the bike carriage have to be locked and if it does, can't they rig up a buzzer for cyclists or something? Next time, we'll try the 'blocking the door' trick at the other end of the carriage. Meanwhile we've written to Virgin to complain but I expect we'll fare (sorry!) no better than other posters on this forum.
Season's greetings
Mirian and Alan
Yesterday, we had to produce evidence of our booking in Warrington before we were allowed on and we understood they had phoned ahead but when we got to Crewe there was nobody to let us off.
As the next stop was Rugby (!) and nobody appeared to let us off after about 1/2 minute, we used the emergency handle. A woman in a red coat appeared and tried to open the door from the outside but failed. She then came in at the other end of the carriage and played hell with us 'Don't ever, ever pull that handle' (What's it for, then, we wondered). She got more and more stressed out, trying to get the key to work and people were shouting at her down her walkie-talkie asking what the problem was. Eventually a station staff member came and opened the door from the outside and we got off with a great deal of relief and not any remorse.
As we had to wait for our next train, we witnessed the next chapter in the 'saga': they struggled to get the doors to close and we reckon we must have delayed the train by about 6 minutes!
Why does the bike carriage have to be locked and if it does, can't they rig up a buzzer for cyclists or something? Next time, we'll try the 'blocking the door' trick at the other end of the carriage. Meanwhile we've written to Virgin to complain but I expect we'll fare (sorry!) no better than other posters on this forum.
Season's greetings
Mirian and Alan
Slightly devious and underhand, but.........
Do you have any form of disability?
My wife occasionally commutes locally, but at Fareham you have to cross the rails. Due to arthritis she cannot carry the bike ( a Brompton) across the stairs and bridge.
She has now registered as a disabled user and this is a different attitude altogether. As a "Cyclist" you have to find staff to assist. As a "disabled passenger" they are there waiting!
This is a genuine action in our case, but if you are able to use this system o effect - it is up to you.
Do you have any form of disability?
My wife occasionally commutes locally, but at Fareham you have to cross the rails. Due to arthritis she cannot carry the bike ( a Brompton) across the stairs and bridge.
She has now registered as a disabled user and this is a different attitude altogether. As a "Cyclist" you have to find staff to assist. As a "disabled passenger" they are there waiting!
This is a genuine action in our case, but if you are able to use this system o effect - it is up to you.
Does anyone believe that a certain, long haired bearded entrepeneur has any interest whatever in anyone's welfare, once he's got their money? In my humble opinion, he does less harm at 10,000 feet in his hot-air balloon.
There's a certain amount of political correctness (as distinct from sincere committment) in appearing to provide for cyclists; apparently there is some element of this in the franchise, and by saying that they cater for cyclists (and I'll imagine that their published information for cyclists reads like a wonderful welcome) they appear to comply, but their actual behaviour exposes the truth. By behaving so badly towards cyclists (as related above), they can deter cyclists from using their services, and then, when the franchise comes up for renewal they can say something along the lines of : "..........look at our wonderful provision for cyclists, but they don't use our trains.........", and then sustain persuasion to have any element for provision for cyclist removed from the next franchise agreement.
The sad thing is that Virgin Trains (in my opinion the worst of the main line train operators) survive, whilst GNER, in my opinion head and shoulders the best operator (as precipitated by experience), has suffered demise due to the financial failure of it's American parent company. Actually, National Express has take over GNER's franchise - we'll have to see how this works out.
Recent experiences, over the last few years, make me very nostalgic for the time when trains had guards' vans, with space for a score or more bikes, and all you had to do was to turn up at the station and be sure of getting to Aberdeen, Inverness or wherever, to start your tour. I was once on a crowded Leeds to Edinburgh train, which was so full that I had to travel in the guards van with my bike - along with two or three heavily laden backpackers, one of whom brought out his primus and brewed tea for the assembled company, including the guard ( the guard said it was against the rules, and if an inspector boarded we had to say that the guard didn't know - he did have a second cup however).
I'd better stop reminiscing - mind you, I like to read other people's reminicances..............
I'm sorry about this, but I can't help picturing a little choir of bikes, assembled forlornly outside of Virgin's closed passenger assistance office, singing ;
"Oh Mr Porter,
what shall I do,
I wanted to go to Birmingham,
but they've taken me on to Crewe..........
Does everybody know the tune?
Or perhaps : "......another fine pickle you've got us in to
Mr. Brans(t)on......".
JohnW.
There's a certain amount of political correctness (as distinct from sincere committment) in appearing to provide for cyclists; apparently there is some element of this in the franchise, and by saying that they cater for cyclists (and I'll imagine that their published information for cyclists reads like a wonderful welcome) they appear to comply, but their actual behaviour exposes the truth. By behaving so badly towards cyclists (as related above), they can deter cyclists from using their services, and then, when the franchise comes up for renewal they can say something along the lines of : "..........look at our wonderful provision for cyclists, but they don't use our trains.........", and then sustain persuasion to have any element for provision for cyclist removed from the next franchise agreement.
The sad thing is that Virgin Trains (in my opinion the worst of the main line train operators) survive, whilst GNER, in my opinion head and shoulders the best operator (as precipitated by experience), has suffered demise due to the financial failure of it's American parent company. Actually, National Express has take over GNER's franchise - we'll have to see how this works out.
Recent experiences, over the last few years, make me very nostalgic for the time when trains had guards' vans, with space for a score or more bikes, and all you had to do was to turn up at the station and be sure of getting to Aberdeen, Inverness or wherever, to start your tour. I was once on a crowded Leeds to Edinburgh train, which was so full that I had to travel in the guards van with my bike - along with two or three heavily laden backpackers, one of whom brought out his primus and brewed tea for the assembled company, including the guard ( the guard said it was against the rules, and if an inspector boarded we had to say that the guard didn't know - he did have a second cup however).
I'd better stop reminiscing - mind you, I like to read other people's reminicances..............
I'm sorry about this, but I can't help picturing a little choir of bikes, assembled forlornly outside of Virgin's closed passenger assistance office, singing ;
"Oh Mr Porter,
what shall I do,
I wanted to go to Birmingham,
but they've taken me on to Crewe..........
Does everybody know the tune?
Or perhaps : "......another fine pickle you've got us in to
Mr. Brans(t)on......".
JohnW.