I am all in favour of the fare strike on First Great Western: old trains, stops missed, unscheduled cancellations, staff shortages, bottom passenger satisfaction rating. My fare strike consisted of going to find the conductor and asking to pay:
Since the introduction of the execrable Pacers, (these so called trains, with their 4 wheeled carriages, based on a 1970s bus body, screech and moan as they go around the slightest bend, wearing out the track) I have not paid for my journey home (I car share TO work, so there is no point in buying a season ticket), there being no opportunity to pay at either end. The train consists of 2 sets of 2 car Pacers, with no corridor connection between the two. The conductor stays in the rear two cars, and I find it more convenient to travel in the front two. So well done FGW for your excellent revenue protection. And for updating the trains: Pacers with destination blinds for Ellesmere Port and Windermere have been seen in Devon. If you tried getting to those places from Devon on a Pacer then you would probably die en voyage.
4 comments:
Fat controller strikes again, although I don't think he's actually on strike. (Confused)
Pacers? Oh, you have my sympathies! When I first started secondary school, I had to get Pacers most mornings. I soon started getting up 15 mins earlier so I could catch the Intercity instead!
That was 1990 - I can't believe the things are still in service...
When I was 16, I got caught and fined for fare dodging on a train - the usual trick was indeed to get on without paying and then hope the conductor didn't come round :]
We had those trains on the Manchester - Liverpool route I used to catch. They were like something from a nightmarish vision of society gone wrong. Cold, damp, uncomfortable and slow. I did a journey of 90 minutes one once, it was so miserable.
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