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.