I've moaned about the season ticket benefits scheme on this site before because apart from the £20 worth of Go Eat Vouchers, they're really not worth having. I'll probably moan about them again unless they radically change the offer which brings me nicely to the point of this post.

I've recently had wi-fi enabled on my laptop and it struck me how useful it would be if GNER offered season ticket holders a set number of hours free access. Not only would it cost them not a jot, it would add a great deal of value to the poor bastards like me who regularly have to travel and work on the train. I thought an hour a week would be a fair an reasonable offer. I doubt it will ever happen though as I'm sure GNER would say they'd loose to much revenue which is tosh. In my experience, most people who could, don't use the service because it's so expensive. As things stand today, I could quite easily spend £25 per week. As it is, I wait until I'm in the office and don't spend anything. If I had an hours free access each week I'd most likely feel that GNER are trying to give me something I want, get into the habit of using it and end up paying the extra to get all the access I need.

Just a thought

Following on from an earlier post by platform6 re GNER winning the accolade of UK best of the worst TOC, here are a few comments I've found posted on't Tinternet as a result: -

Chris said - 'i dont think they are any better or worse than any of the other train companies ive travelled with.you have got to remember they had a head start from the other companies by taking over one of the most modernised sections of BR.'

Leo said - 'Unless there's been a very radical improvement in the last three years, then if GNER is the best rail operator, I truly dread to think what the worst must be like.

This next one is the one that really caught my eye and got me thinking: -

Viper said - 'Number one rail firm...not exactly much to write home about - have you seen the competition? I hope they arn't proud to be the best of the worst.
First and foremost standing on trains should be banned. If there isn't an avalaible seat then the train should't be allowed to depart with standing pasengers - it's just not safe, and I don't care to be treated worse than catle.
If they insist on allowing standing passengers - then those standing should be entitled to a 50%+ reduction in ticket cost.'

I beleive it's true that many of GNER's competitors are far worse but that doesn't necessarily make GNER's service good. I also beleive that standing on a train is far less dangerous than standing on a London bus for instance. Train crashes are thankfully so rare I see no reason ban it entirely but I strongly agree with the idea that standing passengers should be entitled to a 50% refund on the condition that all available seats are taken.

I caught the 20:00 train home last night as I'd had a quick date straight after work. I'm not sure if anyone else was on that service, but there was something clearly wrong with the heating. It must have been comfortably into the 20s. So warm in fact, it actually made me fall asleep. On the man sat next to me. He had to nudge me awake and off his shoulder. It's never happened to me before amd I was quite embarrassed. At least I didn't drool on him. Or talk in my sleep. I think.