Been away with the kids for the last few days. Glad I was. Looks like more OHL probs south of P'boro again (yesterday being sunday impact ain't as bad) or were they just trying to fix it? I do seem to remember seeing something about engineering work. Anyway this was posted by CentralSimon: -
Fun and games again this (Sunday) morning.
Firstly the first northbound train out of KIngs Cross isn't until 0900. But today total chaos rained on the 0900 service. The OHL had come down AGAIN between Huntingdon and Peterborough - is this a monthly occurance now? - so GNER cancelled the 0910 Leeds train (I don't know why either), so the 0900 was retimed to leave at 0910, taking all the Leeds trains passengers and made additional stops at St Neots and Huntingdon. After leaving Huntingdon, noticed one of the power lines down on the London bound tracks and a big group of workers standing around. Didn't affect our train (so why cancel the 0910 Leeds train?). This is on top of the "planned" engineering work which closed Platforms 1-3 (so no southbound trains to London anyway!!!), which incidentally over-ran by 3 hours. This over-run should be noted against fairly decent weather we had over the past 24 hours !
I know this is not GNER but the story sends a shiver down my spine.
I bet they would not do it if it were a thug threatening to kick their teeth in. Where are the brave guards then?
student is being prosecuted after she briefly put her flip-flops up on a train seat.
Despite immediately apologising to the “rail enforcement” officer who reported her, Kathleen Jennings, 19, has been summoned to appear before magistrates today.
Miss Jennings, who is studying mathematics at Manchester University, has been accused of “wilfully interfering with the comfort or convenience” of other rail passengers.
Miss Jennings, a Cub Scout leader who also works with disabled children, said that she had just put the tips of her flip-flops on the unoccupied seat in front of her when the official approached her and said to her, “Are you comfortable?”.
Related Links
The world's strangest laws
She said last night of the incident in June: “I said sorry and moved my feet back to the floor. Then he said that he wanted to see me when I got off the train. I got off the train at Chester and he was waiting on the side. I was scared throughout the journey.”
On the platform, Miss Jennings, who lives in Oldham, was given an official caution by the Merseyrail enforcement officer, who noted down her description, phone number and occupation. She later received the summons to appear before magistrates in Chester.
Miss Jennings added: “I was crying my eyes out. I am not the sort of person who would do anything wrong. I have never been in trouble before and, working with children, I do not want a criminal record.”
She could face a fine and prosecution costs of up to £150 on top of her own legal bills.
Her father, Tony, said: “It’s ridiculous. Why couldn’t a fixed-penalty notice be given? She could end up with a criminal record on her CV, which could affect her future. It’s madness.
“Kathleen has always been an A* student and is a good, considerate girl. She’s never been in trouble.”
Merseyrail is the only rail company that prosecutes passengers for putting their feet on seats. It has taken about 250 people to court since its scheme began in February.
In May Babiker Fadol, 45, from Chester was prosecuted for the same offence. He admitted the charge and was given a one-year conditional discharge with £50 costs.
A company spokesman said yesterday that it could not comment on the individual case because of the impending court proceedings, but that the policy had been widely publicised through signs and loudspeaker announcements.
It has previously said that the policy was introduced to tackle antisocial behaviour and in response to “passenger feedback”. Enforcement officers use closed-circuit television “head cams” to provide evidence for prosecutions based on railway by-laws.
The company also has spent £32 million refurbishing its fleet.