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.