by
Fentyke
@ 10/12/2007 - 10:18:43
I didn't know what to expect this morning but I certainly expected better than what we got.
I arrived at the station in good time for the 07.20 and took my place on the platform as usual. 07.20 came and went as did 07.21, 22, 23 and it arrived at 07.24. Not only was it slightly late, it was also a 125 diesal (where as it's normally an electric 225) and it was 1 coach shorter than normal. To make matters worse there were no seat reservations. Well I say there were none but there were the odd few NXEC seat reservations but all of them were therefore the ad hoc traveller who no oubt booked via NXEC direct where as us commuters booked via GNER.
As usual when there are no seat reservations, there was a mad crush for the doors as people fought to get to the front so they stood half a chance of getting a seat. Persoanlyl I didn't have to rush as I noticed that becasue the train was shoprter than normal, the doors we not in the usual alignment with the platform. Consequently most people were pushing to get on coach C where as the doors for coach B (the quiet one) was relatively clear so I moved 6 feet to my right and got a seat with ease. There were many who weren't quite so lucky and it was standing room only for a good proportion of Peterboroughs morning commuters.
A few people moaned about the change of rolling stock and the lack of seat reservations and a few even threatened to waltz into the travel centre this evening to complain. I sat and listened but resisted temptation to point out that they were on a hiding to nothing and sat back with my book (Peter Kay's Autobiography The sound of laughter) thinking how glad I was that there was firstly a train to travel on and secondly that I had a seat and finally that the blokes next and opposite me didn't smell.
I had hoped to try and use one of my last remaining buffet vouchers when the trolly passed just to see if NXEC were accepting them as promised. Sadly I didn't get a chance becasue there was no trolly service (Staff shortages again so no change there). I then got my ticket out and laid it on the table but they never came to check it so even that little act was a wasted effort.
We finally arrived into Kings Cross 30 pages later and 10 mins late. All in all it has not been the best of starts to a relationship between my good self and NXEC. Of course things could get much much worse becasue this mornings irritations were only minor but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will actually get better. It is only day 2 of NXEC's reign afterall.
One thing I did notice was the new logo on the outside of the rolling stock which as far as I can see, has been written with a marker pen. To say it looks cheap is an understatement but I guess it has been a bit of a rush job to get some form of NXEC branding to replace the GNER brand name. Anyway, I'll be travelling home mid afternoon today as it's my sons nativity play tonight and he's promised to give me a good kick in the nads if I fail to show. We will just have to see how that goes. The journey that is, not the nativity play.
