What happened to the 07.20 this morning is anybodies guess. Platform staff didn't know what was happening, commuters ddin't know and neither did on board staff.
Looking at the departure board in the main building, there was no sign of the 07.20 but there was mention of a service we've never seen before which was the 07.24. I heard a few people asking station staff what was going on but some didn't know whilst others just said that the 07.20 had been retimetabled to 07.24, it was just for today but they didn't know why.
With an extra 5 mins to play with I opted to fill the time by getting a cuppa. I'd just got served when I looked round to see the train arriving on platform 2. I looked at the clock and it said 07.19 so I grabbed some sugar and legged it. We then sat there for a full 4 mins until 07.24 when the doors closed and we pulled out. A few mins later the tannoy beeped and the lady CSM gives us the usual buffet car open, trolly in standard class type announcment then says the train is scheduled to arrive at 08.10 (it didn't) which is 2 mins earlier than the 07.20 is due to arrive when it's running on time. Needless to say it didn't arrive at 07.10, 07.12 or even 07.15. In fact we arrived at 07.20.
Clearly NXEC HO still have serious problems communicating with customer facing staff. The thing is if they can't communicate changes and/or the reasons behind them to staff, what chance have customers got of obtaining up to date and accurate information? This morning was just laughable and I suspect that some cummuters opted to jump on the 07.14 FCC instead of waiting the extra 5 mins for the 07.20 (which is fine by me as the 07.20 is a lot quieter).
And before anyone acuses me of moaning, I'm not. I'm just telling the tale.
2008-04-04 @ 10:16