This long winded story is entitled ~ A Tale of Two Trains. Walk, Bus, Train, Train, Train, a Replacement Bus Service, Train, Bus and Walk. Boy what a journey. Normally the wonderful service provided by our second to none Railways is a Tonic to the jaded and exhausted. One may relax in comfortable surroundings with soft upholstered seats to recline in as one watches the Englands Green and Pleasant Land pass by the sparkling windows. Nowhere will one see the Serfs on their Cell Phones. The sounds of families enjoying their journey is muted as is the billing and cooing of lovers. This last weekend provided a superb example of how one may get value for money whilst using our Public Transport System. The 250 metre walk was, as usual uneventful. A Friday lunchtime. The brats were not in evidence, no doubt still sitting behind their desks rather than skateboarding or practising for the Tour de France along the paths. The air was cool and fresh. After an uneventful bus ride, free by courtesy of the wonderful government pass I enjoy now that I am a geriatric I walked through the Town Centre, bustling with people and crowded with happy shoppers carrying their purchases. Then climbed along the long ramp that has been provided by the Council to enable push-chairs and wheel-chairs and towed suitcases to climb the hill to the Station entrance. I had originally planned on travelling on Saturday. Then I saw that the mainstream Media, as accurate as ever, had forecast rail interruptions due to inclement weather. So I changed it to leave on Friday instead. The train leaving at 16h00 seemed perfect so I went down and booked a place. Mmm..., said the Sales Advisor, I dont think you should take THAT train, it is a Commuter. You will be lucky to get a seat as it is the train from London to Portsmouth. I took his advice and arrived at 14h30 and sat in the benches provided to those who love to watch the trains come and go. I bought a snack and sat and ate it, watching the stationary train resting at the platform. The announcers advised everyone that the train was delayed due to a break down that needed heavy repairs. At 14h55, five minutes prior to my train arriving that silent deserted train was cancelled and removed from the platform. At 15h00 on the button the Portsmouth train arrived. Wonderful. I was away on time and looked forward to an uneventful journey through Hampshire to Fareham. The familiar surge of excitement as one is thrown back into one;s seat as the train takes off came as a welcome and much sought after emotion. We travelled all of a thousand metres then stopped. After a few minutes as we contemplated the silence and the waving branches of the nearby tree the Train Manager came on. South West Trains regret to announce that due to damage to the tracks ahead we must wait until repairs are completed, About 30 minutes later, I was lying in a relaxed almost stupor, the train moved once again. And then we were treated to a close up look at the passing scenery as we moved along at about the same speed as the Metro from Durban to the South Coast ~ or about 30 kms per hour. The Train Manager explained that this was due to our being stacked, in much the same way as aircraft over Heathrow are stacked as we took our turn before being able to slot in to the inevitable build of traffic. Once again the Railways wanted to allow us to savour to the fill our views of the passing scenery. At last, almost an hour after we were scheduled to arrive we made it to Fareham. I spoke to a SWT bod dressed in a Hi-vis jacket. I just arrived on that train, quoth I. The late one. Not our fault, says he. It was a goods train. OK, said I, but what train do I now catch? The next one to Victoria. It is running late. So I caught it. Stood in a centre compartment by the doors as there was no luggage rack or space for the case. The Train Manager came in and spoke on the intercom. Having switched off the loudspeakers no-one in our spot could hear a thing. We asked him. He was in a foul mood. We are going to catch up time and wont stop at all. With that he stalked off having never answered the question I had asked. What time do we arrive in Chichester? We then stopped at Havant and he stopped anyone else boarding and tossed others who were going to intermediate stops along the way. What happened to those passengers who were hoping to get off before Chichester I have no idea. Southern Railways seems to be a different breed of Company from FGW and SWT. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To be continued.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 14:26:45 +0000
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