|
Post by manorborn on Dec 9, 2011 21:23:10 GMT
I think that was the selfsame Chesham that I took - but I certainly heard no announcements at Baker.
I had the Tube Chaser app running on my phone and it was alternating between "Met - suspended" and "Met - good service".
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Dec 9, 2011 21:07:05 GMT
Northbound services were having some problems with a stalled train at around 5pm. If it was the Watford at platform 4, then I was in it, unaware of a problem until the driver told us. So I crossed over, missed the Uxbridge on 2 which was the one I really wanted (only I thought the one on 4 was going to leave first), got the following fast Chesham and then had a long chilly wait at Harrow whilst 3 or 4 Watfords sailed merrily by.
My question is - why did I learn of this from the driver? Why no announcement from the control room? Why no help from any station assistants (noticeable by their absence? It's hard to understand why the passenger comms are so poor at the flagship station. There was no announcement at HOTH either but I am well used to that. I think they are embarrassed at having to run services to Uxbridge.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Aug 9, 2011 21:09:55 GMT
Very nice set. I dimly remember travelling on the T stock as a young child - they had separate compartments like BR trains. I would love to see a picture of an interior but have never come across one. I'd like to see just how good my memory is.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Jul 5, 2011 13:28:26 GMT
The Waterloo smell was very noticeable when I began commuting there in 2006. There was quite recently another pong on platform 3 at Baker Street by the steps down to the Baker/Jubbly concourse.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Jun 20, 2011 16:48:41 GMT
Well it was jolly nice of them to cause no inconvenience to the public whilst undoubtedly making their point with the management. If only all disputes could be dealt with in such a passenger-friendly way...
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Jun 20, 2011 13:37:36 GMT
I was surprised (but very pleased) to find a normal service running Sunday night because this enabled me to see Ray Davies at the Festival Hall without the drag of driving into London. But why were LT so confident that the strike would cause no disruption? Was it scheduled in such a way that all staff were already on shift? If so, what was the point?
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Jun 9, 2011 15:53:21 GMT
I commute 4 days a week on the Met and ride the S stock at least 30% of the time now. When the train is not too full they are fine. When full then they are awkward for long journeys because the seats feel narrow and it is hard to fight past people in the quest for a possible empty seat that you can't see. Because there are fewer seats than on the A stock, if a train is taken out of the schedule then the next one will be crowded with a lot of people standing. This happened this morning, for example - my train filled up at Ruislip Manor and people getting on at Eastcote, who would normally expect to all get seats, were all standing.
But the aircon is great and the ride is smooth and the windows are clean. So go for a short journey and you'll enjoy it.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on May 13, 2011 12:00:01 GMT
The ride on the S stock is significantly better at speed. Sometimes the bouncing up and down as well as the sideways motion, on the A stock in the tunnels 'twixt Finchley and Baker, and on the fast section around Neasden, is so uncomfortable you can hardly hold a book straight or write. On the S stock I have recently become so engrossed in a book that I was surprised how fast the journey seemed to pass. I still find the seats hard though, there is nothing like settling into the soft seats just behind the driver on the A where you are out of the way of everybody else.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Mar 31, 2011 16:06:46 GMT
The Met trains used the bay platforms, which don't have DMIs, sadly. Thanks for replying, I'll make sure I go to Baker St if I have that situation again, as at least there will be a sign. It's a shame that the cuts will make the tube seem less safe at night, but I'm used to accountants seeing people as £x per year rather than appreciating what they actually do. Speaking as an accountant and a commuter, we are human as well, you know. The decisions about funding are essentially political - if you'd like to pay higher fares or more taxes then I am sure there can be more staff on the tube. But the moment you say more money is needed then you can be sure that everyone will start coughing and looking away and avoid eye contact.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Mar 17, 2011 22:46:46 GMT
Very sad news. I have followed this website for years. I'd also like to express my sincere condolences to his family
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Mar 1, 2011 21:57:23 GMT
I was at Baker Street around 6:45pm last night and was confronted with the "severe delays" message but the Uxbridge I wanted was waiting there and I suffered no delay at all.
It's all in the timing you know.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Feb 23, 2011 16:58:10 GMT
As another long standing Met commuter, may I heartily concur. Joined up thinking, I believe, is the expression. Or to put it another way, run the trains with the passengers in mind, not the schedules. And if otherwise fast trains are to stop at Wembley Park, then the staff there need to know well in advance so they can inform people who then have to cross the bridge.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Jan 25, 2011 14:56:26 GMT
I have travelled from that platform for many, many years and only now do I see that what I always thought was a sort of semaphore signal is supposed to be a track diagram. What are the hills doing at the base? Or do they represent some other aspect of the tube? Shame that the tiles have gone, whatever they depicted. They gave that end of the station a little character.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Jan 20, 2011 13:21:11 GMT
You are blessed with a member of staff who actually cares about the poor sods standing about wondering where their trains are. If the electronic displays actually worked we wouldn't be dependant on announcements
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Jan 20, 2011 12:40:57 GMT
Ribbit, I also commute from t'manor and you are spot on. I have resorted to pressing the Information button on the help pod thingy before now just to provoke some sort of response.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Dec 24, 2010 11:31:04 GMT
Metcontrol, thanks for clearing this up. I have often fumed when told that a good service was operating, when it was abundantly clear that there were problems. It's a shame that political considerations override your natural instincts to keep your passengers well-informed.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Dec 22, 2010 14:33:42 GMT
Thanks North End. I did not realise crews were now changing at HOTH, as opposed to WP. Seems odd, bearing in mind the facilities are at WP. Or is this to make it easy to make changes on the fast trains?
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Dec 22, 2010 11:55:33 GMT
Tubeboy, I had almost an identical discussion with the station assistant at Ruislip Manor a few days ago. There was 15 minute gap, enough to ensure that the next Met was jammed full (and it's a long way from there into town). He announced a good service was running. I suggested otherwise. Eventually he broadcast an announcement that there was a good service but there had been a gap. So all the passengers waiting on the freezing platform looked at each, tutted, and shrugged. It doesn't add to passenger confidence when there is so little sympathy.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Dec 22, 2010 11:33:46 GMT
Thanks for the replies. I still don't understand why the northbound service was slow if the problem was southbound. From my viewpoint as a mere passenger, it seems there is a huge amount of track north of HOTH to stack up trains going south if you need to, rather than delay people trying to get home. The second time it happened the driver gave us no information at all, so it was doubly irritating.
|
|
|
Post by manorborn on Dec 18, 2010 21:40:16 GMT
Twice last week this reason was given as to why northbound Mets in the evening were crawling and stop-starting between Baker St and HOTH.
May I ask a) how come this problem recurs? b) why do the trains continue to be slow after they have gone through the problem area?
|
|