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.