I'd like to publicly welcome Platform6 as a co-authur of GNERcommuter.blog.co.uk. Like me he commutes into Kings Cross with GNER and lives in the same area of Tinsel Town. I'll let the man himself tell you more about himself if he so chooses. If not, enjoy his posts. PS I hope his spelling's better than mine.

On the train front it's been an interesting day. Not so much due to my journies because all was pretty much well and good with them. What's mmade it interesting is the following -

First we arrived 8 mins early again this morning (3rd day running)
Next Platform6 joined me as authur
Then there was a young lady on the 17.20 tonight in coach F. She chattered constantly all the way to Tinsel Town and every other word seemed to be the word 'like'. I've been picking up on this for a while but after listening to her for 3/4 of an hour, it suddenly struck me today that what I've noticed is the sudden increase in the use of the word 'Like' amongst females under 30. I'm begining to think it is now one of the most commonly used words in verbal comunications between women under 30. Blokes aren't much better either. Sadly I'm showing my age becasue I just don't get it, like!
Any how she helped me come to this conclusion and as I blog what I experience on the train I thought I'd mention it.
Finally we arrived back on time.

That's not the end of it today though. There's a bit I missed out.

The bits that's been really interesting is because our friend from GNER has continued to answer a few of our questions on the local community website. Of course he's very profesional and sticks to the subject of the Bus Service for which he is responsible. I have to say he's impressed me with his matter of fact approach to what is quite an issue up and down the country. In fact I've taken to him so much I was concerned he might be putting himself in an awkward position if GNER read and disliked his posts. I even went as far a asking if he could clarify if he was posting in an official GNER capacity or as a citizen with a vested interest? I'm pleased to say he posts in his official capacity and what he's had to say has gone a long way to answer a lot of unanswered qestions on the subject. If you read this North. Thanks. It's much appreciated. Check the link to the page on yesterdays post.

Cheers all

The debate about GNER's bus service in peterborough continues. We've now had a GNER person responsible for the service post a comment on the local community web site. Click the link to see what they had to say and what I and 1 other have to say in response.

http://www.hampton-web.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=4114#4114

No probs at all this morning by the way. Arrived a whole 8 mins early again.

I've seen it all from GNER today. Good service, bad service and the down right ugly side of their service.

Lets start with the good: -

1. The 07.20 arrive into Tinsel Town spot on time and arrived a whole 8 mins early. Of course this is yet another demonstration of how GNER allow some flexibility in their schedule to help them avoid paying, eh sorry, acheive their targets (and therefore avoid paying compo). In my view it's good that their tactics are so public because I can live in the hope that the regulator or whoever it is that sets their targets will one day wake from their slumber and start setting tighter targets.

2. There were seat reservations this morning and even the trolly was fully operational and manned.

3. On the way home we made an extra stop at Stevenage. I didn't hear the announcement which explained the reason becasue they seem to have turned the volume down lately (Perhaps they've been reading GNERSUCKS) and a couple in front were obviously hard of hearing which meant their conversationed rattled round the whole coach. As the guard checked my ticket I asked why we'd had the extra stop? 'We had to pick an old lady up as she got confused and was on the wrong platform when the 16.49 arrived.
'Great' was my first thought. 500+ people delayed because of 1 old lady. Would they do that for me if I missed my train? I think not.
I then started think that perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing that GNER had done. We would only be delayed 5 or 6 mins and I have to say I was impressed that GNER had gone so far to rescue an old lady.
Finally I couldn't beleive that GNER WOULD go so far for an everyday old biddy so found myself wondering how the bloody hell it was that Lizzy herself would stoop so low as to travel on a GNER public service. I mean, if it wasn't her just who was this old lady that forced GNER to go to such extreem measures. She just had to have been a VIP or something. That or it was their fault she was on the wrong platform in the first place or GNER just wouldn't have gone to so much trouble.
Answers on a postcard (Make that a comment)

On the bad side I'm pleased to say there is only one thing of note and even that isn't exactly headline news. Having said that, this is only true because the Ugly is one of the worst things that can happen to a commuter, particulalry if you live up the line where fewer trains tend to travel.

Anyway the bad side consisted of yet another example of Guards insensitvity towards customers with the wrong ticket. I've blogged about this befor and this was hadly any differant so I won't go on about it anymore. If you don't know, scroll down etc.

At last we come to the ugly. In this case it was the cancellation of the 17.20 due to...... wait for it ....... Engine failure. Not too bad for me as I only have to wait 10 mins for the next P'boro bound train. However the 17.20 is a deisel loco which goes to Hull. Pity if you will, the poor sods who have to wait until 19.36 for the next direct train or catch the 18.00 and change at Donny. Whatever option they take they'll still end up at least an hour late and only then if everthing runs on time.

Finally, guess how many passengers I've seen on GNER's commuter mini buses so far? I'd offer a prize for the comment to the nearest 10 but i think you all know the answer, besides, who'd post an e-mail, home address or a telephone number on a public site like this to allow me to deliver said prize.

That's that amount GNER have compensated me in the form of a discount off the renewal of my season ticket. Not a lot considering the hours Ive wasted and evenings I've lost. It's better than nothing though.

1 more day off and gNER will have the pleasure of my company once more.

Big hoo har about that FCC train the decoupled itse;f. Seem that the train was travelling at 90mph at the time and not in the station as previously posted. I pity the poor sod who's got to explain that one.

Day off today and tomorrow to make the most of the bank holiday and how glad am I that I am.

Ar about 17.40 today I got a call from a neighbour who also commutes but on with first captal connect. 'Are you on the train'? she sayes. 'Got the day off, Why'? was my reply. 'I'm on a FCC service and the train pulled off and left half the carraiges behind. Were now sitting in the fast lan e waiting for thrm to send some guys out who know how to couple coaches together properly and tell us it's safe to continue. Most of the trains behind us have to be delayed so I thought I'd call and warn you it might be wise to go for a pint before trying to get home.'

I thanked her for the advice and pondered my luck. Not only have I missed the all of the major delays that have happen since the begining of June, this will hurt GNER's attempt to hit reliability and punctuality targets and therefore dupe me out of the few pennies in compo I'm so rightly due. Lucky or what?

I'll find out how lucky when I go in on Tuesday.

In contrast to my earlier posting about the difference between the train crews attitude towards customer service, I heard this story last night while chatting to two fellow passengers. Please bear in mind that I can't repeat the story verbatum so there may be the odd bit missing although the essence of the story remains true.

The GNER member of staff involved concerned a certain Miss Beckett and an attempt by the two passengers to have a meal in the restaraunt car. As the 2 passengers entered the coach they noticed plenty of seating available and sat down. After a short while this Miss Beckett approached the passengers to advise them that they were unable to serve them as they were short staffed and the restaraunt car was already full.

The pasengers took this on the chin but the gentleman asked Miss Beckett if GNER's refusal to serve them was at her discression. After avoiding the question a couple of time Miss Beckett eventually admitted that she did indeed have the dicressionary powers to serve the passengers or not. However as the gentleman had so firmly pressed Miss Beckett for an answer she went on to advise them that they had to leave the train at the next station which co-incidentally was P'boro.

Needless to say the passengers were stunned and rightly concerned. Consequently they went to the very back of the train to try and avoid her and ejection. We can only guess why Miss Beckett chose to eject two well spoken, highly educated, proffesionals like them but they beleived she felt threatened by them in some way and so decided to eject them. Unfortunately Miss Beckett found them cowering at the back and advised them that hiding wouldn't help and they would still be removed by the British Transport Police.

Thankfully another member of the train crew who presumably was senior to Miss Beckett overheard all this and told the 2 passengers not to worry and that he would sort it out. The train arrived and left P'boro with the passengers on board and they safely arrived in London.

After hearing this incredible story I promised to blog it and said my goodbyes. Take what you will from it.

I had to leave early tonight and caught the 16.05 from KX. On the way the guard came round and as he, to coin a phrase from my freind at http://www.gnersucks.co.uk/ 'protected the revenue', I couldn't help overhearing him tell the lady behind me that her ticket wasn't valid for that train and she had to pay an additional fee.

Now you may remember I comented a few weeks ago about a similar incident where the conductor concerned treated the passenger with utmost profesionalism and compasion. Today was differant.

The lady concered started to make an excuse when the guard interupted to tell her that they had made 4 announcements to check tickets were valid and they had therefore done all they could to avoid such an event. Next the lady tried to tell him that she had no cash but the Vulture spotted the prey in the form of a bank card in her handbag. He then re-stated his earlier sentence about announcements and all they could, twice more as she coninued her futile pleading for mercy.

What made this differant was the guards matter of fact attitude to the whole thing. Clearly this woman was embarassed, as have I been when Hitler himself refused to accept my dried out excuse for a ticket., but that made no differance to him. The contrast to my earlier blog in respect to the guards handling of each situation was staggering but a classic example of how some of GNER's best assits, are their few employees who stand out above the rest.

Michael Jaques, regular Guard on the 07.20 P'boro/KX, I hope you read this or hear of this one day because your one of the few. As is Sean but I can't remember his surname and some of his punchlines are wearing a little thin.

The number of hit's and page views on this blog is rising by the week sugesting somebody actually finds this blog of mine interesting.

If any regular readers would like to become a co-authur, please post a comment and we'll take it from there.

No probs on the train this morning and given how busy it was, it's a good job too.

On the company front, the link to the following article sugests GNER might be seeping ever further into the red and looking for legal loopholes to bail them out: -

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1220706.ece

Can't see how they can claim the government are at fault though: -

Who was it that grossly over estimated the revenue which could be milked from the ECML?
Who tabled a bid £300 million higher than their nearest rivals just over 12 months ago?
Who was it that promised UK Gov PLC £1.3 billion over the next 10 years?
Which company has a parent who can't meet loan payments?
Who knew rival operators were bidding to run services on the ECML while they were negotiating their own contract with UK Gov PLC?
Who chose to ignore warnings that massive increases to the price of fule and electricity were on their way?
Who agreed to remove contingency clauses in the contract, presumably to help them win?

Quite rightly, the DfT are so far refusing to re-negotiate the deal but for how long? GNER have frozen all recruitment and are considering redundancies. In summary I have a nasty feeling that it will be the staff and passengers who pay and suffer. Ticket prices will rise well above inflation again, service levels will fall, the staff who keep their jobs will be left to deal with the passenger backlash and of course those that are made redundant will loose their jobs. Mean while the fat cats at the top collect their bonuses for a bad job done badly.

I've just sent an e-mail of o the guys at the Train delays web site (see link) and it reminded me that I'm due to renew my annual season ticket inside the next month.

This year it will cost me 3.8% more than last year. £5088 is what they want out of me for the privilidge of traveling on their lovely train as much as I want as long as it's between P'boro and Kings Cross. Why I can't go a similar distance North on the same ticket is beyond me, but GNER say I can't, so I don't.

However GNER haven't been hitting their targets so if I were due to renew today, I'd get 5% off that 5 grand to compensate me for delays I MUST? have expienced over the last 12 months. Thing is I'm not due to renew until next month by which time GNER could have hit their targets and I'll get zero compo for all the delays I've had to endue over the last 12 months. Even the dimest of the dim can see there's something not quite right about that.

Anyway if GNER don't hit targets, I'll most probably get the 5% discount anyway. Now let me see? 5% of £5088 is just over £250. Sounds a reasonable amount doesn't it. Well consider this. I've endure countless delays of 10 mins here and 20 mins there. Over a year these delays add up to a day or so of time i've lost due to crap rail services. I have also had to endure a few occasions when I'v been delayed for 2-3 or more hours and consequently lost an afternoons work or an evenings R&R. My feelings are that the £250 is adequate for the 10 to 20 mins I endure but I should be given a full refund for all delays of an hour or more. £250 actually works out at £5 per week which is nothing but a bloody insult.

So my message to GNER today is this - Big hairy bollocks to you and your annual season ticket compo scheme.

Rant over, pint and mi dinner calling

I know I said there wasn't much else to blog today but that was before some kind person sent me this link: -

http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-7696

Once you've read this, it all starts to become a little clearer. I was wondering why the local bus operator, Stagecoach, hadn't kicked up a fuss about this new service. No wonder, they're running the services on behalf of GNER.

I was also under the impresion that you had to pre-book but it looks like walk on fares are available for daily or weekly tickets although the web site doesn't exactly make that clear.

The site advises passengers to be at the collection point 13 minutes prior to your expected departure time. Why? The site makes no mention of passengers booking specific buses which begs the question why 13 minutes? Why not 15 or preferably 5? In fact why not just turn up whenever you feel like it? I mean. The servcie runs every 20mins so it's not as if you have to wait too long for the next one is it?. And what do you do if the train is delayed.

The site doesn't say what time services start in the morning though it does say what time it ends. Neither does it say what time the service ends in the evening though it does say what time it starts. Having said that you can download the timetable.

I was hoping I could use the service when I'd been for a few sherberts after work but it will have to be a short one. The last bus is at 8.54pm meaning I would have to catch the 8pm train from KK.

Finally I'll just mention that for the last 2 days I've followed an empty bus home on my Scooter.

No problems for me this morning but there might be trouble on the way home. Aparently lightning has taken out signals somewhere north of Doncaster.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5262148.stm

For the 2nd day running, if your planning on traveling on the ECML, check services are OK before leaving home.

Too late for me though as I'm already in the office.

Not a lot else to blog today. Having said that, lack of headlines to blog is probably a good thing.

Tip of the day - If you live North of Newark and are intending on traveling with GNER today, check the trains are still running because the signals are down.

I got to Tinel Town station this morning to find the 07.20 was running 4 minutes late but there's nothing unusual about that. I met up with a freind on the platform who'd arrived early today and she started telling me how the FCC train which had just left was rammed full and she was wondering why. Alarm beels started ringing at this poitn.

Shortly the man on the tanoy announced that there was a problem up north, the 07.00 had been cancelled, the 07.20 was a little late and all GNER services were subject to severe delays or total cancelation.

Another 5 minutes passed and our freind on the tanoy told us the 07.20 was approaching the station but also warned that due to the cancelation of earlier services, spare seats were limited. With that passengers how hadn't reserved a seat rushed over to platrom 3 to guarantee a seat on the 07.26 FCC. Those like me with a reserved seat stood resolutely keeping our fingers crossed that the printer was working and that we still had our reserved seats.

As the train arrived we all looked anxiously into each carraige to see if we could see the seat res tiockets. We could and we gave a collective sigh of releif. Safe in the knowledge that anybody sat in our seats could be lawfully removed we boarded the train to find the warnings were spot on. People were already standing in the vestibule ends and the few unreserved seats were soon taken.

As I waited for passengers in front of me to store their luggage and take their seat, I could see this fella hovering over my seat like a vulture waiting for his next meal to die. I smiled to myself as he was obviously hoping I hadn't turned up. Eventually I reached my seat at exactly the moment he placed his arse on it. 'Sorry mate' I said, 'That's one got my name on it'. He looked at me with one of those 'you git' looks, said nothing, gathered his belongings and ran off in the futile hope of finding a spare unreserved seat.

As we set off the guard appologised for the delay and told us theifs had stolen the signaling cabels in some place I'd never heard of. The bloke next to me said that was the 3rd version of events he'd heard since boarding but they all concerned signal cabels being cut in some way or other. Damaged, cut or stolen, it makes no difference. No signals = No or not many trains.

I'm therefore afraid delays are inevitable today though the blame does not lie with GNER.

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1218627.ece

Click the link. Looks like I'll be paying more to make up the shortfall.

I'm due to leave the office in a moment for my usual treck back to Tinsel Town but before I do, I'll quickly tell you about a colleague of mine who (thanks to her own absent mindedness) has got to travel from KK to Newark this evening to pick up the handbag she left on the train the other day.

If you read regularly you'll know I've also been bitten by GNER's policy on lost propoerty. For those that don't know what it is I'll tell you. If you leave luggage or property on a GNER train and your lucky enough to have GNER find it, you have to make your own arrangements for it to be return from the station at which it is removed.

In my friends case she has to spend £50+ (With GNER I might add) and a 4hr round trip to travel from London to Newark just so she can get her own property back. It's no wonder GNER don't offer a returns service becasue they've got the vast majority of us by the short and curlies with this one.

My message is don't loose anything on a GNER train if you want it back and are a bit skint.

The 07.20 arrived a whole 7 minutes late into Perborough & KK this morning. I don't know why because they didn't bother to tell us or appologise but I'll forgive them becasue with the exception of 1st class, the whole train was rammed.

There's not a lot else to report really other than to say I've still not seen one single passenger on GNER's new buses. Before you ask, yes I've seen them at the station, yes I've seen them at the local pick up and drop off points and yes I've seen them in transit between the station and Hampton. But not one passenger have I seen. I wonder how long GNER will give it before they pull the service. Anyone looking for a good minibus on the cheap should watch this space.

I haven't logged any entries for a few days because I've had a few days R & R. First day back was yesterday but I've not been in today because I've been out to see my buddies at Market Harborough again. (Fiona, Emma, Philipa, If you read this, here's your very own mention in cyberland).

Not too much bother with GNER yesterday although the 07.20 arrived at P'boro and KK 5 mins late. The guard then had the cheek to apologise for being late and blamed a passenger who had to be removed at Newark. Thing is, us regular travellers knew we would have been on time had they not ran slow somewhere between St Ives and Stevenage. We know this because it usually arrives at KK 5 mins early if it arrives at P'boro on time.

There are 2 other little stories I'll mention today. The first one concerns GNER's Car Park at P'boro station. Half of it is flooded due to a burst pipe. (see link)

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=845&ArticleID=1692160

You've got to laugh given the controversy around GNER's car parks.

The other story concerns a young lady and her son who were passengers on Mondays 17.30. I sat on a table in coach E and opposite was the young lady and her son. The boy, who must have been about 5, was sat quietly watching one of those portable DVD player things but as he didn't have any ear phones, the sound was on but it was fairly low so it wasn't annoying or anything. A French lady and her daughter sat opposite as we left KK and started watching their DVD with the boy.

Suddenly this lady sat behind, poked her head between the seats and started mouthing off about how the lady with the DVD should be ashamed and how could she be so inconsiderate to other passengers etc, etc. Ordinarily I'd have kept well out of it but because this woman was so aggressive towards the lady with the kid, I suggested she move to the quiet coach if she didn't like the noise of the DVD. She said something I didn't quite catch and pulled a 'so what face' at me whilst the lady with the kid thanked me for the support. Then the woman started mouthing off again but this time she started pointing fingers and getting really abusive so I said I knew what it was like travelling with kids and that nobody else seemed to mind and that she was the one with the problem and not the lady with the DVD. This prompted more thanks from the lady with the DVD until the miserable one piped up again to tell us she had 2 grand children and how she would ensure her kids were more considerate. 'God help them' I said and with this the woman went bright red and sat down muttering to her husband how she was going to talk to the guard.

The best bit came when the guard finally arrived to check tickets. I could see misery guts out the corner of my eye lining up to 'have a word'. The guard had to go past me and the lady with the DVD first and as he did, he sat on my table and started watching the DVD and cracking jokes with the boy. The mother and I looked at each other and laughed one of those sadistic laughs you get real pleasure from because we knew no matter what her ladyship said, the guard would say nothing otherwise he would have asked the lady to turn the DVD off there and then. Needless to say old misery guts never said a word.

Priceless.

Congratulations to my boys who did us proud last night by beating Hull, away from home, 2-3 to The Reds. Nice one fellas.

It was a good day yesterday. I finalised a deal which will save my employer £12,000, I finalised the implementation plan for another project whcih will save my colleagues won hell of a lot of work, my team won away from home and I sold my old Scooter for more than I thought I'd get. Needless to say I went to bed an extreemly happy man last night.

One is to balme for the lck of seat reservations for the 3rd time this week.

What is the point in me reserving a seat if GNER can't be arsed to actually honour their commitment? I'll answer my own question and tell you - None. If it's a mchine breakdown which is to blame, for gods sake GNER, invest in a back up printer. Take the money out of your parking revenue. There should be a few extra pennies going spare in that pot. After all Label printers are not expensive. Click the link if you don't beleive me.

http://www.thebarcodewarehouse.co.uk/barcode+printers+label+printers/4

I was chatting to another regular this morning about season tickets, seat reservations and the generally crap customer sevice we endure each week, when we stated debating how long it will take GNER to to charge for seat reservations. I plumped for 12 months whilst he went for 6. Whatever happens we both agreeed that they're clearly looking for new revenue streams to pay for the £1. whatever billion they've promised the government over the next 10 years for the franchise. Seat reservations is one free service that's ripe for the milking.

I don't know if anyone from GNER reads this blog, but I hope I haven't given them an idea they hadn't yet considered.

by my usual 07.20 and 17.20 ran at half speed dutring some point in the journey and why both and arrived late. Not masses late but late enough to make me late for a breakfast meeting.

More anoyingly there was no explanation and no appology. As a seasoned rail traveller I can tell you it is worth knowing why a train is late or running slow because your guts start to gain their own intuition and they give you some idea of how late your likely to be. My guts are good but there are better. In such circumstances, if i'm delayed at the station I watch the guys who I know are lifers to see what they're doing. If they're doing the same as my guts are telling me to do, then I'm off. If I don't see any other people I recognise, I follow my gut. I'll only really question if my guts are telling me one thing and the lifers are doing another.

If you delayed in transit? Your knackered and your life is in the hands of GNER and Network Rail. Just like those poor sods last summer who got stuck just outside Tinsel Town, on the hottest day of the year, with no air con, for 4 hours. They had to call ambulances out and everything. GNER were even giving the contents of the bar away. Non-alcoholic of course. However. If the guard tells you the drivers had a coronary or there's one under, you know your in for a long stay. But if he says there's a train broken down ahead and they've got to move on to the slow lane, you know your looking at 10 to 15 mins.

So you see. knowing the cause can help. The appology is just common courtesy and something everybody has the right to expect.

So there you have it. That's a genuine in-sight rhat is. You should thank me cos that bit of useless information might come in handy one day.

Enough from me for now.

Eh! Hang on. There was one other thing I must mention. It's one of those 'I don't know how true this is' statements. Apparently a group of GNER commuters have all cancelled their season tickets, banded together and hired a bus to take them into Central London and pick them up. Had to laugh at that one.

Finaly I'll just mention that I've not seen anybody on GNER's buses yet either.

Off this time. Defo.

Nope, got say a quick COME ON BARNLSLEY.
We play Hull away tonight and got beat at Home by Cardiff Satdi. Not expecting much this season but it would be nice to proove the doubters wrong.

Cheers

Fentyke (YOUUUUUUUUUUU REEEEEEEDSSSSSSS) Sorry girls (no i'm not)

With the exception that we arrived on time and not early, this evenings journey home was much like this mornings, i.e. no seat reservations, no explanation and no appology.

Shame on you GNER.

Just seen this on the independants web site.

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1197305.ece

The words 'Deserting', 'Ship', 'Rats' and 'Sinking' ship spring to mind though I'm sure Mr Garnett has other reasons for jumping.

The title sums this mornings journey up. Nothing else to say about this morning other than why? No excuse or appology was offered for the lack of seat reservations and the 07.20 maintains it's consistancy by arriving early yet again.

I'm certainly not going to complain about the punctuality of a train that arrives early but I'll happily complain about the seat reservations and GNER's inability to be able to advise customers before the train arrives. I say this becasue the majority of commuters from Tinsel Town reserve a seat specifically to avoid the risk of having to stand. This also has the added benefit of letting us know where to stand on the platform, which seat to head to but most importantly, what to expect when the train arrives. The least GNER could do is let us know of any changes to the norm etc. I know it's a minor inconvenience but service failures are service failures and deserve reporting on this Blog.

I guess we shouldn't expect too much to ask from a company that sees it's commuter customers as nothing more than Cash Cows.

I've just got back from Market Harborough. Had a loveley ride through the Northamptonshire countryside. A lot more enjoyable than sitting on a train for and hour and a half to three quarters.

Anyway thanks are due to my fellow GNER blogger from http://www.gnersucks.co.uk/ Cos he's heldped me just about figure out what's going on here. Still got a lot to learn but I think the basics are there now.

For those that have seen the site before you'll see I've managed to organise it a little more clearly, added some proper links to other relevant sites and I think I know what tagging is all about.

On the GNER front I learnt today that you might not have to book for the Bus and there may be a walk on fare of £3. I thought this was great if you were planning on a few beers after work. Taxi fares between here and the station range from £6 to £12 depending on who you travel with and what time, so the bus seems like good value. That is until you find out the last bus leaves the station at 8.45. It'll have to be a short drink.

I've got to go to Market Harborough today and the misses has run off with the car. This leaves me with 2 options - take the trian or the Vespa. As it's looking like it could rain and I don't really want to get my new Scooter wet I thought I'd check the trains out first. This is what I found: -

To arrive at 3pm I would have to catch the 12.54, change at Leicester and arrive at 2.20pm. 1 hr 25m to travel 40 miles when I can do it in 40 in a Car or on the Scooter. No better on the way home either. Closest train to 5.15pm is the 17.38, again I have to change at Leicester and I won't get back to Tinsel Town until 1hr 47m later. The cost of this little excursion would be £21.50.

So, in summary, in the time it takes to get there on the train, I can get there and back and there again. It will cost me