Now this REALLY pisses me off.

Before I go any further I'm sure most people have seen this weeks news about the next round of inflation busting increases to rail fares due to come into force from Jan 2nd. Now Me and De Wife are off to another gig in London next week and being a tight fisted old sod, I had thought I'd book De Wifes ticket on-line and take advantage of GNER's offer of a 10% discount for all fares booked on-line. As I was on-line I thought I'd check the Web for any interesting articles connected to GNER for this blog at the same time and came across this: -

http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1902501

For the benefit of those that can't be arsed to read the article, it seems GNER and other TOC's have decided to apply next years prices imediately to all tickets purchased online.

What a freaking con that is if they've already applied the increases. When I've bought tickets over the counter the cost has been £24.60 including Zone 1/2 underground. Apply the 10% discount and I should be paying £22.14. Visit the GNER web site and you'll find it's quoting £24.70 for the same journey. Not out of my wallet it's not.

The reason GNER offer a discount for orders placed on-line is because it's cheaper for them. Consequently I'm sure they're trying to drive orders on-line by offering the discount and get us all into the habit of buying on-line. However with this gem they make an extra .5% over the existing fares.

IF ANYBODY FROM GNER HEAD OFFICE IS READING THIS, YOU CAN STICK YOUR ONLINE ORDERS RIGHT UP YOUR FREAKING ARSE YOU FRACKIN RIP OFF MERCHANTS. C U Next Tuesday Suckers

Only it doesn't seem to work that way on this site just yet.

Since our friends at GNER have started posting comments, they've asked a number of questions of us commuters/passengers/customers, call us what you will, most if not all of which have been answered. Yet they don't appear to want to answer our questions. For instance, Ive asked how they felt about the proposed industrial action over the xmas period and whether no RP checks and Trolly service is a consequence of staff shortages born from the recruitment freeze. Both of these questions and others have been ignored.

This site seems to have the pottential to be a great debating platform as well as a general life on trains type blog. But it won't be if we only get one side of the story. I think it's only right that they're careful about what they say but that doesn't mean it's fair or reasonable to ignore a question altogether and expect us to lay our hearts and mind on the table. As far as I'm concerned this should be a 2 way thing and I'm sure you can post individual views or comments without running the risk of a visit from Lord GNER and his band of secret thought police.

What about it guys?

Following mondays news that Newtwork rail have made a £747m profit, The BBC are inviting commuters to post comments about their journey and/or what they think about rail travel in the UK generally.

Click the link if you'd like to add your thoughts: -

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4841&&&&edition=1&ttl=20061129085713

I'm sure we'll find ourselves grabbing our ankles again come January...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6190810.stm

When GNER doubled the daily parking charge at P'boro station last summer there was a significant increase in the number of motorbikes. At the time I suggested on this blog that these were fair weather riders and they';d be gone when the weather turned. Well they haven't.

Like most of southern England it was pissing it down in Tinsel Town this morning. As I rode my Scooter into town I though to myself that the fair weather riders would use the car today and I'd find a few empty spaces in the covered bike park. Wrong. There was no difference what so ever. Personally I think this is indicative of how strongly people feel about the increase to parking fees as people are obviously willing to put up with riding a bike in that weather rather than pay GNER a tenner.

I didn't travel yesterday as I had a day in lovely Bedford. This morning though I was back on the 07.20 in my usual seat. I didn't check the time but I think it arrived into P'boro and Kings Cross on time though I'm sure we would have been early had we not had to slow almost to a standstill just south of Stevenage.

The one thing I really noticed was the missing trolly and no RP ticket check which I wondered if it was due to staff shortages brought on by GNER's recruitment freeze? Perhaps one of our GNER friends can enlighten us.

According to The Times, The Dept for Transport has agreed to tear GNER's franchise up and start again. The bit that I don't get is where they say GNER will be allowed to run services for the next 2 years while the ECML is re-tendered.

Quite frankly this does stink somewhat. I wouldn't be surprised if this opened the floodgates and we see more opperators pleading poverty and asking for their franchise to be torn up too.

Went to the station this morning to buy De Wife a ticket for tonights journey to see The Killers at Brixton Acadmy. That was until I took one look at the departure board and decided to drive instead.

From what I could see, nearly every GNER train was running late and it was only just gone 11am. What it would have been like by 5pm and 10.30pm is anybodies guess but I didn't fancy running the risk so opted for the safer option.

Actually I don't but at least I got your attention for what is going to be a very boring post......

For the last 2 days I've caught the 07.40 becasue I couldn't drag myself out of bed. Both ran on time and fuck all happened.

Yesterday, the only excitement came when that fella on the 17.20 got what we now know to be a door on his head.

Today I got the 13.00 back to Tinsel Town and apart from a very fat asian lady and her mother who both had the most horrendous Billy Ocean, it was another very uneventful journey.

I'm working in Market Harborough tomorrow so the next journey will be Sunday when the enemy and I go see the Killers. I'm sorry to say I'm expecting delays so we're leaving and hour earlier than we wanted.

Finally many many thanks to the person at P'boro who's responsible for seat reservations. I forgot to hand mine in last week and didn't remember till Tuesday to drop it off. When I bought the enemies ticket for Sunday I asked if it was ready and blow me it was. All we need now is for GNER to replace that fucking printer and we're in like Flynn.

Its happened again, I have had my latest annual season ticket for less than one month and for the second time already the evil ticket machine at Kings Cross has rendered it usless. I am sick to death of queuing for replacements and as I have said before the ticket office staff must have something better to do than keep issuing them. WILL SOMEONE AT GNER OR TFL SORT THIS OUT, you know the problem exists you know where it happens, it can't take a rocket scientist to work out a solution.....

I say trouble but I haven't got a clue what actually happened. All I know is that as we pulled into P'boro, there was some guy (The guard I think) talking loundly in the vestibule between D & E. I only caughth snippits becasue I was concentrating on what I was doing and didn't realise something was up until I joined the que to get get off.

What I did hear was (presumably the guard) saying 'Nigel. Can you hear me? What job do you do. Come on you must know what job you do?
All I could see at this point was a fella holding what appeared to be a mobile phone to his forehead. Odd, I know but all became clear later.

As the train stopped the guard escorted a bloke off the train and he got his notebook out. My immediate thought was fuck, GNER really have been reading this blog and they've turned all their guards into community coppers as a consequence. I jest of course. I could see through the window that he was talking to a middle class fella in a light rain coat who was holding a hankey to his forehead. God only knows what happened to the poor sod and i'f anyone knows perhaps you'd be kind enough to add a comment to this post. Nosey bastard that I am.

The only knock on effect was that gorpers milled arround the exit from D&E and it took twice as long to get off as normal.

Other than that a very uneventful day on the trains for me. Long may it continue.

I found this site the other week and have been reading one or two of the posts connected to GNER. I was particularly interested when they found us but aparently one of their regular posters think this site is a boring self important rant.

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.railway/browse_thread/thread/51b38a79191ec56a/4e4800a276dafb0f?lnk=gst&q=gner+commuter&rnum=1&hl=en#4e4800a276dafb0f

I'm sure some people would find this site boring but I can't understand what's so self important about our postings? Anybody?

Next time there's 2 minutes to departure, all the doors behind you are closed and your stood by the door to the Buffet car. Don't just direct the little old lady onto the train, look down the platform towards the concorse at the 3 lowly figures mid carraige between your door and the previous door, turn, walk onto the train, shut the door and then run into the kitchen so the poor sods you've just ignored and made to feel right twats for beleiving you were going to show some common curtesy and wait for them to reach you. Instead, why don't you do the decent thing and wait or at the very least ask them to board at the door they've just passed. It don't take much pal. Just a wave of the hand that's all and perhaps a mouthed appology.

In case you hadn't realised, we're not thick or suffering from dementia or anything. We'll understand because we're the one who are running late for a change. These are the circumstances where train crew have every oppotunity to display just a little customer care becasue these are the circumstances where you can really help us after a shitty day at work and a struggling journey to KX. They're also the circumstances we remember most and when we'll be eternially greatful. They're the circumstances when the humans amongst us will start to talk to you almost as if we know you just because of that kind little act you once did for us. We'll circtainly remember you more than the toss pot colleagues of yours who treat customer like a comodity.

I didn't get his name because of his disappearing act. Just a classic example of how a simple act can piss a customer off no end.

We were fracking late too though god knows why.

Right, rant over.

I've not had the chance to do much blogging over the last few days becasue of work, lack of train journies and most importantly 'The Enemies' insistance that I participate in my sons Birthday.

While I've been away it seems GNER staff are to be balloted on strike action over the xmas period. Now which titfer brains came up with this one. Yes the impact on GNER and passengers will be maximised but so will the cost of Xmas on staffs bank accounts. I know I couldn't afford to loose a days pay over that period let alone a week or more. The question I'd like each an every GNER member of staff to answer before voting in favour of stike action this side of Xmas is can you afford it?

Another bit of major news to reach me is an interest from First Group to bid for the ECML franchise if GNER withdraw. From what I've seen and know of First Group, my view is that passengers can expect a reduction in service if they do take over from GNER.

The final piece of news I've heard concerns GNER's profits for year ending Jan 06. It seems pre-tax profits fell to £8.6 million compared to £22.2m the previous year. GNER claim profits have nosed dived because of reduced passenger numbers resulting from the July 7th bombings, higher energy costs, an increased wage bill and increased investment in rolling stock. All in all running costs have increased by £15m. They also claim the decision to allow competitors on the ECML has had a negative impact. What they don't tell you is that the competitors haven't started running services yet and most importantly that they paid their owners, US based Sea Containers, a £35.7m dividend in the months leading up to their chapter 11 application for bankrupcy protection while they try to re-finance.

On the train front the 07.20 was 3 mins late into Tinsel Town though 3 mins early into Kings Cross. Most annoyingly for most regular commuters was the fact that there were no seat reservations this morning because the printer in Newcastle broke down. I've said this before and I'll say it everytime they blame a broken printer. Buy another back up printer dick heads. It's the most obvious and affordable contingency plan for what is quite an importnat part of your service offering. Persoanlly speaking, you did me a favour as I forgot to renew my seat res which I guess makes me a dick head too.

Last night the 17.50 to Leeds was loaded up and ready to go on platform 2, when suddenly at 17.50 it changed into the 18.03 to Skipton. This was due to the failure of the set for the 18.03(now that MUST be GNER's fault??). So suddenly there were 2 train loads of passengers on one train, lucky its was a monday, although there were still many people standing. This plan did allow GNER to cover a train failure very quickly and of course I have no problem with that, but the poor guards announcment did get more than a few laughs.

"I would like to appologise for the cancellation of the 17.50 to Leeds, this was due to blah blah blah, this train is now the 18.03 to Skipton. I would also like to appologies to passengers on the 18.03 to Skipton because this train will not be able to go to Skipton (it was a 225) it will only be going as far as LEEDS."

The Leeds train was changed into a Skipton train that could only go as far as Leeds!!!! You could not make it up.

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=845&ArticleID=1885809

35 hours a week????? I wish....................

Thinking of using the trains at the weekend??....forget it if my experience this weekend is anything to go by. My son and I set off for London on Saturday to watch football, so we had to be at KX by around 2.00pm, we aimed to catch the 12.15 however that just said "delayed" on the board as did all south bound trains, there was a signal failure south of Grantham and no trains were getting through. Now I know once again that "its not GNER fault" but it would be nice if their staff on the station could give people some advise. "any idea when the trains will be moving again?" "how long do you anticipate this delay being?" "should we catch the 12.19 very slow FCC train that takes 1 hour 35 mins to get to London or will the GNER be a better option?" I might as well have been speaking to a brick wall. They did not know and did not seem to care. As has been mentioned on here by GNER staff, the attitude is very much "its not our fault". Well its someones fault and passengers need help and advise from front line staff.

19 years of this crap made me think getting the slow FCC would be the safe bet, and despite taking 1 hour 40 mins to get in KX it still beat the GNER. This train was so packed by the time it reached Potters Bar that people were left on the platform. This was mainly due to the larger amount of Gooooners who all got off at Finsbury park. We managed to get to our game with 15 mins to spare.

Coming home was little better, the 18.00 was so full that we just squeezed on at 17.45. There were over 40 people standing in our vestible area. This time we shared the GNER experience with half the Toon army, who seemed to have booked every seat on the train. We eventually arrived into Peterborough 10mins late, having stood in a very packed area all the way. For the experience of the FCC journey down and standing all the way home my son payed £24.60.I have just booked return flights to Portugal next month for less than that, prehaps Easyjet could buy GNER when it finally all falls apart.

The only good news of the day was free parking in the GNER car park, the barrier was "permanently up" so we saved a fiver..whoop blooody whoop,I would rather have a train service.

At Chritmas in the past I remember GNER restricting the number of passengers on their trains, by checking seat reservations and issuing a limited number of boarding passes due to saftey issues. I wonder why this does not apply to the trains at other times of the year, if anything had happened to either of those trains, the consequences could have been catastrophic with that many people "wedged" in.

P.S the underground service was little better. With the Circle line closed, District line partly closed and No Piccadilly traind stopping at KX.

After listening to fellow P'boro passengers and reading comments added to this site, it seems GNER are having a really bad week punctuality wise. It continued this morning. The 07.00 was on platform 3 when I arrived at 07.11 and the 07.20 was 1 or 2 mins late into Tinsel Town and a full 5 mins late into Kings Cross. This was blamed on slow running somewhere north of Donny but we all know GNER can make time up between P'boro and KX so this doesn't explain why we nearly stopped between Stevenage and Wellin and lost 3 mins in the process.

By the sounds of things, It's been like this all week. I heard about the debacle with last nights Stamford connection and now see it mentioned in the blog. So what's going on?

Finally I learnt a new phrase this morning when I read the comments that have been added since yesterday evening. It's 'Dwell Time'. Apparently this is the offical phrase used to describe the additional/unofficial time GNER and other train opperators are allowed on the tracks outside of their scheduled running times. I.E. If a service is due to arrive into KX at 07.00, GNER actually have until 07.10 before the service is officially classed as late and they have to pay a fine to Network Rail. I've heard and blogged instances when guards have refered to this before but I never knew it had a name.

The things that piss us off about GNER tend to be the bits of their service that are decided by head office and/or out of their control, that we're being so touchy feeley with the GNER staff who've added comments to this site. What ever it is I'm more than happy to have them on here. Not only do we passenegrs get to hear what it's like from their side of the trench (sory isle), we gain an understanding of how the system works and because we're never going to agree on some issues, we get the oppotunity to debate a few contentious issues.

This brings me to another thing I've been thinking about since our new GNER friends started adding comments. I started this blog initially as a diary or record of what it's like to be a commuter in this day and age. I was also fed up with crap punctuality, shitty service from some staff and in some areas of their service (Lost property for 1) just down right crap customer service and I wanted to show crap service for what it is. So far I think firstly I, and now We have acheived this, but with so many interested parties regulalry adding comments I feel we're starting to enter a new dimension. What the fuck it is and where the hell it'll take us, I don't know but I'm open to suggestions and ideas.

The questions I'm aking myself at the moment is this - Should I let GNER people become co-authors or should I invite more regular commuters and keep it to commuters only? My only real concern with inviting GNER people to be co-authors is that they may say something Lord GNER doesn't like. I can see it now. There I am stood on platform 2, half asleep, waiting for the 07.20. Next thing I know each of my arms is grasped by a man in a black coat and GNER hat while one whispers in my ear 'Your that Fentyke guy aren't ya? Don't bother denying it we know exactly who you are and we'd like a word in your shell like. NOW.' Next thing you know i'm bundled into a toilet cubicle being threatened with a 100% increase to the price of my season ticket unless I reveal the identity of a certain blogger.

On the other hand if I have them as co-authors we loose the passenger diary aspect and the blog turns into more of a general life on train type diary/record/debating arena. If I keep it to commuters only should I invite more so that we get a bigger and more reflective picture from the customer aspect? Oh decisions, decisions.

Anybody else got any ideas where this blogs going or where it should go?

Finally just so as know. I've not travelled for the last 2 days so haven't had any comments to add on punctuality, service etc. I'll be back tomorrow though and I'll be keeping my eye out for the C U Next Tuesday who closed the gate on me last Friday. We will meet again and there won't be an 8 foot fence between us next time.

I knew all was not well this morning when I walked onto platform 2 at 06.05 and instead of the 06.15 sitting there waiting for me, I saw a big old diesel engine parked towards the end of the platform. The indicator board said the 06.15 was "on time", but it looked unlikely. They eventually bought the 06.15 into platform 3 and it left at 06.23, by this time Gordon had moved on. Because we had used platform 3 that meant the 06.23 FCC was also delayed because the GNER was in the way. I know, as "diesel" has pointed out, that things like this are not GNER fault, but I imagine its almost impossible to sort out blame in these situations.
Thanks to the ceative timetable we eventually arrived into KX only 5mins "late" of the scheduled time but 15mins later than the previous day!!

I've received a small number of e-mails from people wishing to add comments to this site but have been, (for reasons unknown or too long to type) unable too. The advice that i've given is to register but is there another way? I notice a number of people add comments as a visitor but how do you do this.

Answers on a comments page please so the people who are having problems can read and try your suggestions

while the train is still standing on the platform at Kings Cross, please do everyone a favour and make sure you leave a bag or jacket or anything your fellow passengers can use as a clear indication that that seat is occupied.

I sat down in an unreserved seat on last nights 17.03 only for a young man to walk up to me and claim 'Your sitting in my seat! Look there's my bag on the parcel shelf' Now I'd already asked the other two occupents of the table if the seat was occupied and they confirmed that it wasn't. I was therefore a little taken aback when matey boy claimed the seat as his own. My first thought was to tell him to fuck off and find another but I didn't fancy the confrontation, the couple opposite had already explained they thought he was sitting in the other reserved seat and appologised to both of us, and becasue he was so polite I reluctantly picked my stuff up and moved.

My message is simple - Don't leave your seat whilst the train is standing in the station without asking your fellow passengers to keep you seat or leaving soemthing to display it is occupied. Had it been one of those packed services I would undoubtably have told him to fuck off and meant it. Other than that the journey was uneventful and we arrived into P'boro bang on time.

I wish I could say the same for this mornings 07.20? The screen told us it was on time but arrived into Tinsel Town 5 mins late. We then ran slow for some time between St Neots and Stevenage and eventually arrived into KX a good 8 mins late. I'll put good money on the cause being another of those local services on the fast line. For a service that had a particularly good punctuality record, delays on this service are becoming all too regular and GNER (regardless of cause Diesel) need to sort this out.

It looks like Ticket Office staff have reached an agreement with GEE ANY Awwwwww and will not be striking afterall. Passengers can still buy and collect tickets and staff are reassured that they're not about to get the chop. Good news all round I guess.

Shame that twat who closed the gate on me last Friday isn't about to loose his job. I'm sure GNER or FCC could do without such an uncharitable, ignorant, self absorbed, humourless shite like him. A number of people have been asked how the gig was and me being me, i gave them the full run down. Great gig, met the Arctic Monkeys blah blah blah, oh and this dickhead blah blah blah. Consequently it's still fresh in my mind and I'm still sore about it. I think I will be for days to come so don't be surprised if I mention it again.

What a day Friday was. Following a boozey industry awards thingy at the Grovesnor Hse on Thursday night, Friday morning came as a bit of a shock and with one hell of a fat head. I eventually checked out of the Hotel at 9.30am and reluctantly faced the tube from Old St to Angel. It's only one stop but I was expecting to be crammed up against somebodies armpit while another stranger smapled mine. What a releif. It wasn't like that at all and I was able to stand in my own space, nursing my fat head and wondering when the paracetamol were going to kick in.

After a blurry day in the office inturupted only by a full breakfast and a pint of Guiness I set off, for KX at 17.30 to meet De Wife at 17.43 because we were off to see a band called We Are Scientists at Brixton Acadamy. Was her train on time? Was it buggery. It arrived a good 13 mins late which was a good thing because I wasn't on time either and if I hadn't been at the meeting place, she'd just as likely to have set off to the venue without me.

Anyway because I'd had a late and boozey time the night before, I wasn't exactly looking forward to it. Partly because De Wife likes the band more than I do but more importantly becasue we had seated tickets, she wanted standing and I knew she'd mention the fact all night long.

Until about 5 minutes into the gig my predictions were running true to form. We'd already met up with my boss and his misses who had standing tickets so she was jumping up and down with jealousy and bending my ear like a bastard. That was until Alex Turner, lead singer with the Acrtic Monkeys, the Base player and drummer sat in front of us. It was at this point that her moaning turned to gratitude. Despite being old enough to be his mother, she swanned and swooned all over him for the next hour and a half. I'm only thankful that A) He couldn't see her and It wasn't imediately obvious she was with me and C) She resisted temptation to interupt his evening and left him alone until the gig was over. It was at this point she nicked my pen, a picture I have in my wallet of my kids and asked him for his autograph. I stood next to him trying to look disinterested while my misses fawned when he looked at me. The next thing I know I've leaned over and instead of appologising for the misses I asked him if it was true he supported Sheffield Wednesday. 'Owls for promotion' was his reply which as a Barnsley fan, I found deeply offensive. So my misses walked out beaming (although I had to endure her sreaming Alex Turner for the entire journey back to P'boro) and I walked out slightly let down that one of my favorite bands were Wednesday fans.

We got back to Kings Cross in good time for the 23.30, sat down with a beer and a coffee and reviewed the evening. Reviewed probably isn't the right description because all she could talk about was Alex bloody Turner and I was only thankful that one of the lads I often see on a morning sat with us and changed the conversation. We arrived back into Tinsel Town bang and time but unbeknown to us, our eventful evening wasn't quite over yet.

Rather thank walk to the main station building we walked over the transport bridge hopeing the rear platform gate would be open. It wasn't but one of the fellas in front of us was obviously a rail employee and he had a Key. Before I continue you have to understand that this gate is regularly left open. Normal open hours are between 5 and 11am and 4 and 8pm to allow commuters easy access to the car and bike park but you often find it open outside these hours too.

So matey boy opened the gate and let his mate through. He started to shut it as we approached so, as I have on many occations, I asked him to hold it open while we went through. He didn't. Instead, without saying a word, he just looked at me and shut the gate. 'Oh thanks mate' I said. 'No problem' was his sarcastic reply and off he walked.

At first I thought he was having a laugh and it took a few minutes to sink in that he wasn't. It was then that I started the foul and abusive language towards him, but who wouldn't. I was so wound up I was all for climbing the fence and giving him a piece of my mind (I'm not one for fisty cuffs so that's the best i could offer) but De Wife talked me out of it. I was confused though. I'd asked him nicely and with a wooden fance between us he just point blank ignored me. I've seen and had loads of people with a key to this gate, hold it open for regular passengers so why did he do this? What was his motivation? There were no ticket checks at the main station and tickets we're checked on the train so it wasn't as if he was protectibg revenue. As far as I can see he's just a plane old fashioned wanker and I hope he's made redundant at the earliest.

I know he's a rail employee because 1, he has a key and 2, I've seen him before. I therefore know I'll see him agian. I'm now lookinng forward to that time so that I can loudly and publicly ask him why he did what he did without an explanation or appology. If any rail people can explain his actions, please do. It won't stop me having a pop at the fella because justified or not, he could have been polite, explained his reason or appologised. Basically he's the kind of rail employee I detest.

Finally I'll just mention this mornings journey. I turned up at 07.10 for my usual 07.20 train. Unfortuantely over running engineering works in York (I think) had caused a 23 min delay so I jumped on the 07.13 FCC service and arrived into KX at 08.18. I had to feel sorry for the poor people who had to stand from St Neots.

Those fine fellows at GNER have reduced parking charges at the weekend to help the shoppers of Peterborough. http://www.peterboroughet.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=845&ArticleID=1873387 It's now £5.00 a day on Saturdays and £2.00 on Sundays. Whilst this is a good move to help parking congestion the truth must be that no one in their right mind was going to pay £10 to park there at the weekend. Meanwhile GNER are still happy to screw £10 a day out of their loyal commuter customers.
When they introduced the new parking fees we were told they were only moving them to comparable levels in the City. We now know that is a lie, you can pay GNER £1080 or park at Queensgate for £590. I have been parking at Queensagte for a few weeks now and not only is it cheaper it is also a better place to park. Even in those few weeks I have noticed an increase in fellow commuters parking there, in fact you must be mad or have too much money to even think about paying GNER £1080.