Christmas travel

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Sun Dec 22, 2002 10:52 pm

Despite many people wishing to visit relatives, the public transport system grinds to a halt for a couple of days at Christmas every year.

Out of interest, what, if anything, is running this year?

Cheers

John

ThinLizzy · Post by **ThinLizzy** » Sun Dec 22, 2002 10:55 pm

SWT services finish at 2200 tuesday night, and resume thursday

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Sun Dec 22, 2002 10:56 pm

johndibben wrote:Out of interest, what, if anything, is running this year?

My car.

2 adults, an 8 year old and enough presents to fill Santas sleigh twice over just cannot be transported 170 miles across England by public transport at any time of year!

markw · Post by **markw** » Sun Dec 22, 2002 11:05 pm

johndibben wrote:Out of interest, what, if anything, is running this year?

Cheers

John

For a while I thought it was going to be my nose but I seem to have avoided the annual festive snotfest this year...touch wood

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 12:17 pm

The Bedford branch is odd. Its closed from Christmas Eve to The day after New Years Day for the last few years. A replacement bus service is used.

No work on it that I know of, it simply closes

Good way to increase usage on branch lines

basildd · Post by **basildd** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 12:24 pm

Eurostar is shut from 2330 Christmas Eve until 0700 Boxing Day morning!

qzdcg8 · Post by **qzdcg8** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 4:01 pm

I can't get a train or bus between my house and the pub (250 yards)...

...so its "a pied, pour moi!"

Horgy · Post by **Horgy** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 6:45 pm

But then again, travel in Central London is free on New Years Eve, not sure who's footing the bill this year, but Smirnoff did it last year..

Horgy

GavinW · Post by **GavinW** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 7:00 pm

Heathrow Express is running between T4 and Heathrow Central. Bus to Paddington due to Notwork rail having a possession on the GWML.

I know as I am on duty at the depot for 12hrs from 0600 25.12

Ah the benefits of being deputy supervisor...................

basildd · Post by **basildd** » Mon Dec 23, 2002 8:58 pm

GavinW wrote:Heathrow Express is running between T4 and Heathrow Central. Bus to Paddington due to Notwork rail having a possession on the GWML.

I know as I am on duty at the depot for 12hrs from 0600 25.12

Ah the benefits of being deputy supervisor...................

I briefly thought about feeling sorry for you - except I have done too many of my own!

JohnKendrick · Post by **JohnKendrick** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 1:23 am

It's strange, but in the days when most things were shut over Christmas, the railways provided a limited service, even on Christmas day. Now even some of the Supermarkets are open, but for most there is not a train (or indeed any public transport) in sight.

In those days the job of running a service needed much greater effort. Not just turn up, switch on, and away you go as they do now (sort of). The crew had to turn up while Santa was still out doing his rounds to light the fire for the boiler (probably in a blizzard). Those running the services then were real heros, and proud of what they did.

The other side to this is that the government cannot be taken seriously in that they are promoting public services and wish to reduce road travel when one cannot travel between two city centres, let alone a branch line, on the day when most of the population wish to visit friends and relations on the other side of the country.

Yes, I know its not 1960 anymore, but is there not a lesson to be learnt? The job of providing a service would be much easier for those concerned now than it was then. So much for progress.

John

southcoasttrains · Post by **southcoasttrains** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 1:35 am

Gatwick Express is Running a half hourly service.

Stanstead Express is not running.

I guess it's just the Hex and Gex running.

I think Thameslink had a christmas day service planned.

and there used to be a Victoria - East Croydon service.
I could be wrong.

JohnKendrick · Post by **JohnKendrick** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 2:16 am

Those one off services are OK if they connect with something (like The Gatwick Express). You would think at least you could get between the likes of London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, York, Edinburgh, Glasgow. But if you're 40 miles away from one of these and going to 40 miles away from one of the others, even they are not much use.

If you're visiting friends and likely to one too many :drinking:

at least a train could get you home safely. All one can do now is risk someones life and your licence (or of course go without). Back in the 1960's no one worried about driving with one over the top or having one for the road before departure! But in those days you could catch a bus to the station, make your journey, and get a bus home at the other end. Albeit with a Sunday service, but the service wasn't considered poor.

I think the bottom line these days is that the service element counts for nothing now, each journey has to make a profit or it's not worth them being run. The wider picture (car crashes, inconvenience etc etc) is conveniently forgotten. Wheras the train crews in the past had pride in proving the service, today they would expect triple pay and a week off in lieu!! That is the real difference between now and then, and the accountants and management only have themselves to blame.

For the (now abandoned) transport policy of the present governemt to work, they would have to reverse that expectation back to service before profit. In the end, profits would come back as people reverted to using it.

John

johnw1934 · Post by **johnw1934** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 2:26 am

i hear MML are doing 2 return trips from sheffield - st. pancras (advance booking only though)... can anybody confirm this?

southcoasttrains · Post by **southcoasttrains** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 2:44 am

johnw1934 wrote:i hear MML are doing 2 return trips from sheffield - st. pancras (advance booking only though)... can anybody confirm this?

No services on Christmas Day and on Boxing Day.
I checked both the MML website and the railtrack timetable are showing services for the 27th but not earlier.

Taxis should be working though, but recommendable for local travel.

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