I've had an idea I'd like to throw at you all. While ever I can keep coming up with them, each week or fortnight I'll be asking a question and inviting you all to write your answers in the comments section. The questions could be in relation to how you feel about certain aspects of GNER's service or

Obviously I don't know if anybody thinks this is a good idea so I might as well do it anyway.

As a starter I thought I'd like to know what happened when you met the funniest or wiredest nutter you've ever had the missfortune to meet on a train.

Now I'm sure our mates from GNER have met more than a few so I can't wait to see if they post and answers but I hope you do. I'm sure there's more than a few passengers with a story to tell.

Mine concerns a certain Scottish gentleman back in the days when the end of coach B was the smoking cell. I hope you like it.

I was one of the last to board a particularly busy 07.40 service one moring and was surprised to see 2 spare seats at a table seat. Not being a daft person I thought great, put my bag in the overhead whats it and started to nudge myslef over to the window seat. I sat down at said table, got my paper out and proceeded to read the paper. Not once did I look at the sole person sat opposite who I didn't see when I boarded due to the back of the seat being in the way.

As we left the station I glanced over my paper to look outta the window. From the corner of my eye I spied what looked like a dozen tins of larger festooned over the table. I found this hard to believe at 07.40 in the morning. So unbeleivable that I had to look hard at the table to make sure that trip my mum took back in the sixties while pregnant with me, hadn't had some lasting affect on her offspring.

It hadn't. Not only were there 6 empty can on the table, there were 4 full ones too. Sadley I'm not finished becasue that's not all there was. In between and sometimes covering the cans was what can only be described as a Fagash beach. My first thought was no wonder nobody sat here. Being 7.40 in the morning I obviously wasn't thinking straight because my second was fracking GNERRRRRRRR. Too lazy to clean a fracking table. I should have known better because of course they.re not lazy. It was then that I looked at the bloke opposite so that he knew I was as discussted as he was. , staring at me like a group of Liverpool fans would stare at a bunch of Man U fans trying to get into the Kop on match day.

Fuck!

I'll desribe him. He's mid 60's, long, frizzey, unkempt grey hair and a full beard to match. What you can see of his face of the colour of an overipe strawberry. He's dressed in a white shirt and a very nice, expensive formal evening suit complete with hankey in the top pocket. It's of the style worn during the 40's in posh london nightclubs and the movies. Hope you know what I mean.

I'm sorry. I've led you up the garden. What I should have said is ' He's dressed in a stained white shirt and a very nice, very dirty, unironed, expensive formal evening suit complete with snotty yellow hankey in the top pocket. This is covered by an equally dirty, equally creased, equally expensive long, trench type coat. Shirt, suit and overcoat were also covered in fagash.

Fuckity fuck!

I looked arround for another chair or even a bit of sympathy. There was non forth coming. I had no option but to stay were I was or stand in the vestibule. I decided to risk it for a swiskit. (can't buy them anymore but do you remember the add?)

The journey continued. Matey boy continued to stare and I read my paper. He chain smoked incessantly and the ash fell where it fell. At some point I heard the crack of another tinny being opened and shortly after it went silent. I looke dup. He'd fallen asleep. As we got near Stevenage, I thought, 'KX in 20 mins. Im going to get away with this'.
Fuck how I like to tempt fate.

And fate usually wins. He certainly did this time only it was me who put the foot in it and helped him along the way. Kinda anyway.

After a while, matey boy start shuffling a little. The coach is all quiet so I can hear him but I don't look up. All of a sudden I hear a noise which reminds me of what it sounds like when your drunk and you miss the toilet and piss on the carpet. (Any bloke who sayes it hasn't happened to him, is a liar). I look at mately boy. He has a look of happiness, releif and joy on his face, though his eyes are closed. 'No? He's not? I thought. 'He's taking a piss'. I looked down at the bottom of my trousers. Wet and splashed. He fucking is!'

Well I'm not having that. The next minute of so went like this: -
'Oi'. 'Are you having a fucking laugh?'
In thick Glaswegian -
'Me?'
Looks down between his legs confirming my suspisions.
'Ah, Sorry mate'
Slowly he moves his hands to shake his trousers of liquid. looking at me hard all the time
'Ah just split me beer'
Hands rise above table level holding a tin of Tennants Super.
I didn't believe him and stared back just as hard as can be
'I hope it is your Fucking beer'.
'Ya did ne think as was taking as piss did ya?'
'Yes, That's exactly what I heard and that's exactly what I think.
Passengers staring at me from all angles (hopefully waiting to save me should he pounce)
'Nah mate, not me. That's fucking discusting. I widne di that'
'Are you sure?'
'Ah corse I'm fucking sure ya cheeky cunt'

Fuckity, Fuckity, Fuckity fuck.

I put on a brave face and held my ground.
'Yes it is and just make sure you keep it that way and that's all you spill alright?'

'GRRRRRRRRRRRR' Was all he said.

Sadly (depending how you look on it) this story is a bit of an anti climax because apart from staring at me ALL the way into KX (15 mins or so) that's all he did. For once in my life I didn't wait until the train had stopped before moving me arse of the seat. Without warning I jumped up and got up as soon we got to the first tunnel, I walked to the other end of the coach and got as much space between me and him as I could. I his state he wasn't likely to be in any condition to follow or keep up and by the time he stood up other passengers would have been between us.

As we pulled into KX cross I looked over my shoulder. He was still staring at me. I never saw him again and hope i never do.

Sorry for the spelling and grammer. I'll edit it if I can be arsed.

This mornings 07.20 was 5 mins late into P'bor and 6 mins late into KX. The reason. Speed restrictions between Donny and Newark, we got stuck behind the 07.26 FCC from Boro to Huntingdon and then stuck again from Stevenage into London.

It just goes to show how a 5 min delay on the trip into Tinsel Town can frack the whole service up. A few minutes earlier and with the extra time GNER build into the Timetable, it's more than possible for them to make the time up and arrive on time. Get stuck behind the slower trains and that's it.

Take a look at the passenger focus web site. They've just released the customer satisfaction figs for the last 6 months. Not a lot has changed for GNER though. On the bright side there are more green positives than red negatives to report. Least surprising of all are the value for money figures with only 55% beleiving GNER offer value for money and only 48% satisfied with the parking facilities. I've included a PDF copy of the result for anybody wishing to look though they also give the result for all TOC's.

So far this year I have been served well on my daily commute, its the other times that I use GNER that I have not been happy with the service, and I would be amazed if "casual" users of the service ever return for another try.
On sunday I travelled to London with 2 companions on the 11.15am,which was the 1st GNER service to leave Peterborough. 11.15am for a first service??? I hope no one wanted to get to London before lunchtime!! Needless to say, with this being the first southbound service we never saw a seat, in fact we just about squeezed into a verstible area. We returned on the 16.30 which was packed, so again we stood all the way. For this wonderful service my companions payed £26.50 each. If there are more than two people travelling it must be cheaper to drive to a tube station and then just pay the tube fare and £20 for petrol. At least you get a seat in a car!!
I seem to remember it was Blairs policy in 1997 to improve public transport and get cars off the roads, instead fares keep going up and the service gets worse and worse, seems like another promise thats not been delivered to me.

P.S I am on the 23.30 again one night this week, the timetable still has an arrival time into Peterborough of 00.23, I bet it does not and I bet we are not told why.

That GNER have failed to put the seat reservations out on the 07.20. This morning was particularly gauling becasue there was no explanation, no appology, no nothing.

I reserve a table seat becasue every now and again I have to work on the train. This morning was one of those occations and because I didn't have my usual seat, I ended up in a paried seat. The tiny little tables on these seats just aren't big enough to fit my laptop on leaving me with little option but to stay in the office later in the day.

To GNER I say - Not fracking good enough. To the crew, you should be ashamed of yourselves for your lack of consideration towards the people who pay your wages. It only pleases me that there was a differant crew than normal this morning so I can't moan about Sean, Michael or Bernard who usually do a sterling job. On a brighter note we did have Matt Page checking tickets who is always entertaining and he was his usual jovial if not sarcastic self and I was happy to see and hear him.

At leats we ran on time (At least I think we did but they didn't make an announcement to say we were late, early, or on time and I didn't look at the clock)

Thanks to a visit to the dentist yesterday, I was based at home during the day, but went down to London in the evening to watch football. We caught the 17.26 down which was diverted via the Hertford loop due to a power failure at Potters bar, but it still only took 1hour 5mins which is about as good as one can hope for I think. No problem, the guard kept us informed and we made good time.

My problem, for the second time in the last few months is with the 23.30 home, once again it left on time, but then slowed/stopped/switched line 4 times during the journey,once again no explanation was given during the journey and when we got to Peterborough 15mins late once again we got NO APOLOGY. Does anyone know why this happens? I normally find the information and apologies given by GNER staff to be professional, however it seems different with the 23.30, we are not all pissed and asleep on that train, so a bit of customer care would be appreciated.

This goes out to all the poor sods sat in coach D on this mornings 07.20 who endured the tremendous noise generated by one single passenger and his snoring. This bloke made David Guest's snoring on I'm a Celebrity sound like a mouse with a bad cold. At one point I thought the tables were starting to vibrate but even this turned out to be nothing more than the fellas nostrils flapping in the wind.

On a more serious note, I was pleasantly surprised to find minimal delays this morning. Yes the 07.00 was about 10 mins late but everything else appeared to be running on time. Considering this is my first trip in since last Thursday (Firday ended up as holiday and I've been sick for the lasty couple) this was good news for me. Hope it lasts until home time.

Sean gave his usual announcments and Matt we his usual cheery self as he checked our tickets. I was a bit disappointed Bernard didn't give us an announcement about the trolley and refreshments despite Seans promise that he would ( maybe I missed it) but I suppose you can't have everything.

One thing I'd like our GNER friends to explain does actually concern the trolly. The question is can it go backwards? When the trolly had finished serving, A lady whom the trolly had already passed by some 6 feet, asked for a cuppa. She was refused because the trolly had passed her and as we now know, GNER can only serve seated customers from the trolly. A few of us looked at each other and wondered why they didn't push the trolly back the 6 feet or so to her seat. So was the bloke just being lazy or doesn't the trolly have a reverse gear? Whatever the reason it was a classic example of poor customer service.

I would like to thank the staff of FCC for their efforts last night. I arrived at KX just after 5pm, the first thing that surprised me was the lack of people there concidering that no trains had left for hours. I soon found out why, the GNER/Network rail staff on the main concourse were advising that "there will be no trains leaving this station tonight please make other arrangements". After wondering around for a while I moved down to the platform 9 - 11 area to see what was happening there. Here I found a different more helpful attitude "we will get some trains out tonight and hopefully soon". And they did, a couple of trains did leave, I could not get on the first "all stops" train, but we were soon advised that a "12 coacher" will arrive on platfrom 8 it duly did and we set off for Peterborough at 18.45ish. My carriage was half empty!!!

The FCC staff at Kings Cross were very helpful and professional and seemed to have a good idea of what was happening, once on the train the driver kept us fully informed of developments throughout the journey, we arrived into Peterborough around 20.45. I was one of the lucky ones, I was home, for many people they were just a little closer to their destination. I hope they all made it home.

Once again a big thank you to all the FCC people involved last night.

This morning it was once again FCC that came to the rescue, they seemed to be opperating a full service unlike GNER whos 06.15 06.40 and 7.00 were all cancelled.

I've just received news that GNER have cancelled all Northbound services as of 13.45pm and Southbound services are being held or terminating at Peterborough. I've also heard a rumour that part of the roof at KX has been blown off so there are no FCC services either.

I've no idea how true either of these news items are and no way of verifying them. If anybody has any better information please add them to the comments page for all to see.

For those that don't know, Dr Mike Mitchell is head of Railways at the DFT.

According to a report in 'The Times', Dr Mitchell thinks it's entirely appropriate for commuters to pay £5000+ for a season ticket but they shouldn't expect a seat to go with it. You can read the article for yourself at:-
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-2553000.html

Ordinarily I'm not a violent person. I haven't been involved in a fight since I was a teenager and I've never ever started any form of physical violence against anybody. However I'd happily make an exception for this Tosser. Personally, I take great offence to his comments and, along with my fist, I'd love to ram them straight down his throat.

Like every other UK citizen, I woke up this morning to the sound of strong winds. Very strong winds. Like most rail commuters I expected the wind would affect my journey. I wasn't disappointed. It did. Happily it didn't have the affect I thought it would though.

I stuck the telly on after I got back from flying the dog and learnt that FCC and GNER were running an emergency timetable (which wasn't a surprise). Following a very blustery and somewhat dangerous ride on my Scooter, I arrived at the station at my usual time of 07.10. I expected to be greeted by a throng of people waiting for the next service but found an empty platform instead.

At first I presumed this was because a service had just left but an announcement over the tannoy dispelled that idea. Then I thought people were probably sheltering in the station building but they weren't. In actual fact many had obviously (and wisely) decided to stay at home. The nutters like me who'd made the effort started to gather and shiver on the platform.

The tannoy told us all that the next GNER service would be the 07.26 and it was on time and would arrive on platform 2. In the same breath he told us the next train on platform 3 would be the 07.26 FCC service to KX. Great, 2 trains departing at the same time could make for an interesting blog entry. Sadly it didn't and both arrived and left without a hitch.

As the train arrived one or two of us were mutter how the train was likely to be full and with no seat reservations we expected to stand. Wrong again. Obviously the 07.26 was originally the 07.20 so I even had my usual seat. That said the train was heaving and a number of people did indeed have to stand all the way.

Despite an unscheduled stop at Stevenage we arrived into KX less than 10 minutes late. As we pulled into the station the guard warned passengers to be carefull alighting as there was a power cut at KX and only emergency lighting was available. Given the weather, the problems with the leccy and large amount of travellers, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how well GNER were coping. I just hope it continues for the rest of the day.

No sign of Sean on this mornings 07.20 and consequently no explanation for the lack of seat reservations yesterday morning. No shock there then.

Also heard that last nights 17.50 was cancelled but no explanation given and this mornings 07.00 was running nearly 10 minutes late. The 07.20 arrived and left on time but for reasons unknown arrived into KX 3 minutes late. God knows what the problem was. All I can tell you is that from Stevenage onwards we ran slow and at one point almost caame to a complete stop. At this rate the season ticket discounts will soon be re-instated.

Seans replacement was a guy I haven't yet come across. His tannoy announcments we great though. The first thing I noticed was his accent. To me at least he sounded like he'd been transported straight out of the WW2 movie 'Reach for the Sky'. It wouldn't have surprised me if he came on the tannoy shouting 'Bandits at 12 o'clock', 'Oh no Gingers caught a blighty one', 'You've got one on your tail Basil'.

The other thing I noticed was the detail in his announcments. Firstly he gave us the usual run down and appologised for the lack of a trolley servcie which was due to staff shortages (The atomic watches can't be having much of an affect). He then went very quiet until, as we passed through Potters Bar he came on to request passengers leave vua the nearest door and not to walk through to first class so they can exit from the front. This was becasue they had a quick turn around at KX and such passenegrs would get in the way of his staff as they were trying to prepare the train. Then he gave us an update on the situation with the Tube and advised passengers on route to Heathrow to find an alternative route as the Picadilly line was closed between Acton and Hyde Park Corner. Finally as we pulled into KX he told passengers where the taxi rank and tube was. Shame he didn't explain why we ran slow or appologise for being late.

for those interested in submitting a tender for the ECML. The Ticket Collector will tell you who's going for it.

The big surprise comes from Sea Containers who haven't ruled themselves out just yet. It's unlikely but not so unlikely that it's outside the realms of posibility. There's also the speculation about posibility that the existing GNER managment team might submitt an independant bid but again I think that's unlikely.

Who ever wins will be expected to honour GNER's existing commitments (source P'boro ET) e.g Pedestrianise P'boro station to name but one. Not sure how that will go down though.

My money is on the Virgin/Stagecoach joint venture. I may even take a punt and buy some stagecoach shares. Just take a look at their price over the last 12 months: -

http://www.sharecast.com/cgi-bin/sharecast/story.cgi?story_id=1025037

If there's one things that GNER can do (or not as the case may be) to wind me up on a Monday morning it's cancel all seat reservations, as they did with this mornings 07.20.

As usual for a Monday, it was very busy this morning. Not a day you'd want GNER to fail with the seat reservations then. Unfortunately they did. I got lucky but only becase while most walked past, I asked some dopey lady to move her clobber off the spare seat. Had I not. I would have been standing just like the shy people who walked past rather than ask the dopey lady to move her stuff.

As yet we don't know what the casue is though Sean (the Guard) promosed to find out and let us know tomorrow. (I bet he never mentions it). My guess is the printer broke down again and they haven't taken my advice and purchased a back up.

Friday wasd a bad day for GNER. I bumped into a number of people who'se intended service had been cancelled which were mainly afternoon services running between 1pm and 4pm. I guess the winds were a bigger problem on friday than they were earlier in the week. Even so, I know of at least 3 services which were cancelled and I see from The Ticket Collector, other services were affected too.

But then we all know that. This morning, platform 2 at P'boro station resembled the terraces at peterborough United on a satdi afternoon.

I arrived at 07.10 to hear the tannoy appologise for the 13 minute delay to the 07.00. I wasn't surprised. It was windy.

What did surprise me was the claim that the 07.20 was allegedly running on time and would arrive on platform 2. At 07.18 the 07.00 hadn't arrived. The screen said it was still running 13 mins late and would arrive on platform 2. The screen also said that 07.20 was still on time and would also arrive on platform 2. Hello! said I. I can't wait to see how their going to fit 2 trains onto 1 platform. This would be interesting.

With seconds to go and the 07.00 approaching the platform, the screen changed - Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. The 07.20 was running 5 mins late. The 07.00 stopped and left in record time. I chose not to join the 07.00 as it looked too busy and I knew I had a guaranteed seat on the 07.20 (subject to seat reservations being on display). The platform screen changed to say the 07.20 would be next on plat 2 but it was now on time again. Was it? Had GNER found a way of bending time and space? Naaaa. It was just another cock up.

It actually arrived 2 mins after the 07.00 had left. As I boarded I glanced at the screen on more time. This time it said the 07.200 had departed. A few of us jokingly asked what service we we're actually boarding and if we'd end up in France or worse still, Scotland.

Needless to say there were seats aplenty as many regular 07.20 commutersd had joined the 07.00. I decided to go sit in my regular reserved seat for no other reason than to make the dopey cow in the next seat move her coat, 3 bags and laptop. Pathetic I know but it was only circumstances that had released a large number of seats and had the 07.00 not been delayed it would have been very busy on there so I thought I'd teach her a lesson. She moved her stuff with a huff and a puff.

Head on over to the Ticket Collector to see the list of TOC's who will be tendering for the ECML:-

http://www.theticketcollector.co.uk/wordpress/

I don't know where they get their information and I'm damn sure they won't tell you (I wouldn't) if you ask. Just be glad that they do.

On another subject I've been reading the desciptions of experiences of the French TGV and German ICE trains with interest. Like Diesel I've had the pleasure of traveling on the TGV from Paris down to the south of France and caught a Couchette back up north and apart from the fact that I'm nopt a UK TOC employee and the TGV crew didn't treat me like royalty, my experience was much the same.

In addition I hoverheard a german lady just yesterday morning comparing the German rail experience against the UK's and a GNER 225 with the ICE. Needless to say her conclusion was that the only railway the UK were capable running efficiently ran on a 00 guage track with plasic people, landscape and buildings.

This weeks early morning experiences seem to back this up. Mondays 07.00 was late, yesterday FCC 07.13 didn't turn up at Peterborough station where it starts! and this mornings 07.20 was nearly 7 mins late (the guard said this was because we followed a local service into KX but that wasn't the full story as we were running slow from about 2 miles notrth of Steveange.

It's a distinct posibility if't Yorkshire Post is owt to go by.
Apparently Mr Branson has teamed up with bus opperator Stagecoach to lauch a bid for ther ECML franchise.

This is not good news as far I'm concerned. I have nothing against Mr Branson and I think some of his companies provide an adequate level of service.

(Here comes the inevitable BUT)

But, I've not heard or seen much to convince me that Virgin run a good, reliable, affordable train service on the WCML so why would the ECML be any differant under their leadership. If anything I'd expect service to get worse. I think we could expect and of the following and more: -
The refurbed Diesels would be moved over to the WCML as their punctuality and reliability ratings are aparently worse than GNER's.
Season ticket benefits would be abolished.
Prices would go up.
Front line staff memebers would go down.
Trains will become dirtier.
Trolly service stopped.

Shall I go on or don't I need too?

Talking of the trolly service there wasn't one on this mornings 07.20 because of staff shortages. Perhaps the short staffing was because the trolly dolly slept in because they hadn't received their atomic watch. In fact the whole train ran about 5 mins late so perhaps the entire crew were waiting for the postman to deliover their new wathces before setting off to work.

I jest of course.

Hey Deisel, Tall Un et al. Have you got your watch yet and does it have Mickey Mouse on the face because this just has to be some kinda joke?

Click this link before reading on
http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1958444

Do GNER really believe staff with acurate watches will have any affect on train punctuality. I guess they do and I hope they're right but I don't think they are. If staff punctuality is delaying services to a large extent, the simplest and most cost effective solution I can think of is to instruct staff to turn up no later than 5 minutes prior to departure. That way it doesn't matter if an individuals watch is 90 seconds off the pace. They'll still be there before departure time. I don't expect GNER staff will like this sugestion but if they're late, fine em or give them a 3 strikes and your fined. Whatever penalty is in place, if it is to be an adequate deterant, it has to be enforced.

Any of our GNER friends care to enlighten us as to what the current regulations are and what penalties may or may not be implace or enforced?

One other thing on the subject. Why only Yowrkshire? Is it that Yorkies are worse time keepers? Are we to assume GNER don't trust their yorkshire based staff? Or have they simply chosen Yorkshire because they're the most pliable or gullible or whatever.

I've not travelled today thanks to a visit to the Doctors and lunchtime meeting here in Peterborough. Hope all was well on the ECML for the poor sods who had no choice but to endure them.

Happy new year folks, its that time of year when we all do too much thinking I guess, and following Fentykes comments the other day about selling points I have been thinking long and hard about the service we get now compared to "the old days". I spent the first 10 years of my commuting life on the Fenchurch Street "misery" line, so for me things certainly improved in 1988 when I moved to Peterborough.

I believe that privatisation has improved the overall service but, boy, do we pay for it. The trains are cleaner, and customer service has improved dramatically, delays I feel are about the same as they always were, I guess that they are just part of life without vast expenditure on the whole infastructure.

However I think that I get more frustrated/angry with things like fare increases nowdays because they feel like they are just going to line the pockets of the franchise holder and the government. Back in the 1980's the general feeling was that BR could not afford to spend the required money beacuse they did not make a profit and therefore did not have it to spend, and the government had many more important things to spend money on like the health service, education etc. Where as today the government seems to receive a vast amount of money to let someone else run the trains, what happens to this money they receive? maybe if they charged the franchise holders less, more money could be spent on train improvements and dare I say "ticket prices could be lower".

I am the first to admit that I do not understand the structure of network rail, maybe the money goes to them? But after "Liar Byers" and the Railtrack debacal I dont really trust anything this government tells us.

I would be interested to know what other commuters and particularly the GNER boys think of privatisation from their perspective. Prehaps one of you could also enlighten me about where the money goes that the government receives from GNER etc.

I remember the old BR strap line of 'Let the Train take the strain'. Diesels comment on yesterdays post made me think. Flexibility and affordability used to be one of the trains main USP's (unique selling points). But I think those days are long gone.

Many services have been cut and those that remain are often cancelled at little of no notice. Likewise many services are full leaving passengers with little option but to stand. Walk on fares are unaffordable by all but those with a fair level of disposable income or business travellers.

So what are the trains USP's now? Wi Fi! No traffic jams! Moist Pork Pies and sandwhiches made with fresh bread!

Answers on a comment please.

It's good to see people returning to the site after the festive break. Xmas week we were only getting about 25 visitors a day which rose to 54 yesterday and we've nearly hit a massive 40 this morning. I did think about putting a post up last week but that's about all I did. In truth I did once look at the site meter once and read any comments I'd not seen but other than that I was either too busy with the rugrats or too inebriated to turn the PC on let alone read or write anything.

It was a good day on trains for me yesterday but the problems at GNER continue. Fares have risen well above inflation for the umpteenth year running, there are still likely to be some redundancies (though probably not as many), this mornings 07.00 was running a full 42 minutes late (god knows why), there was no trolly on the 07.20, strike action is still a very real posibility, there's a huge hole in GNER's pention fund, Tolly Dolly Rob is still a member of frontline train crew (he was on last nights 17.20) and the weather is so shite it's only a matter of time before it starts to affect the nations train services again.

Oh to be a commuter.

Mine was good (an average of 4 pints per day made sure of that) and hope yours was too. With that said I'll start 2007's entries and wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2007.

This morning it was back to normal for most of us, not least GNER. Unfortunately because Peterborough has been ommited from GNER's new promotional literature promoting city breaks, Peterborough City Council have taken offence over the festive break. They're upset that Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, York, Leeds and London are clearly displayed on the posters but not dear old Tinsel Town. They claim that the 1000's of commuters who use GNER to get into London and back and the support the council have given GNER to renew the franchise warrents a mention. Click the link for the full story: -

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=1950043&SectionID=845

Like fuck it does. Firstly the cities mentioned are major cities everyone has heard of and would like to visit one day. Peterborough isn't. Thes cities have many attractions and things to do. Peterborough doesn't. In fact Peterborough has very little to attract people planning city breaks. Yes we have a lovely Catherdral but that takes about and hour or so to view which could then be followed by a trawl round the shops and then what? Not a lot that's what. Back to the hotel for 'Tiffing' followed by dinner and then finally a bit more 'Tiffing' before sleep.

Perhaps if Peterborough had a bit more of a pull for city breaks, GNER hadn't lost the franchise and the city council waved all charges on GNER, paid a proportion of our season tickets, they might have a case. As far as I can see, they contribute very little towards GNER on a day to day basis and GNER get their money from us passengers. If anything, GNER should put a little message at the bottom of the poster which reads 'This poster has been paid for by Peterborough commuters and our thanks extend to them for their generosity.'

Thankfuly the 07.20 was bang on time this morning, as was I. I arrived a good 10 minutes early to make sure I had time to collect my seat reservation which I handed in the Thursday before Xmas. It was a good job I did as it took me a full 10 minutes to get it and when I did get to front of the Que I found they hadn't reserved my seats for today. Can't complain though as the train was half empty and they've reserved me the same seat both ways until March 2nd.

There was no RP check this morning but Bernard was back on the trolly with his monumental announcements. He even prompted me to buy a cup 'o' tea from him as he passed my seat. £1.30 was paid by one of my last few go eat vouchers and 30p cash. This made me think that I should have bought a cuppa from the station as it's about the same price, the drink is more flavoursome and being larger, it's better value. I also considered how the cost has gone up over the last 2 and a half years. Compare todays £1.30 to the £1.10p I paid back in Sep 04 and you'll find an 18% increase when inflation has been running at under 3% for a number of years now.

This brings me nicely onto the final part of todays entry - Increases to fares. I heard a number of passengers moaning this morning. Some wished they'd had the foresight to renew season tickets before the new year. Some moaned about the level of increase. Whatever it was they were moaning about, they had a point. I sympathised.