To be a rep to the public at a time of crisis
well, couldn't really think of another title. This blogg is dedicated to all the commuters who remained calm at Charing Cross station yesterday evening upon the news that there had been a major signalling failur in Sevenoaks and ALL TRAINS were cancelled or rerouted. Great ! How to get home ???
And the whole saga had actually started for me a lot earlier as I started my usual journey homeward around four fifteen. Having walked the 15 minutes to Greenford Station, we the commuters were still experiencing the consequences of Central Lines computer failure from yesterday. This computer failure had the amusing side affect, that on Greenfords' train arrival notice board, at one point in time it was saying that the next train to Epping will be arriving in 1 minute, you blinked and whoops it had turned into a North Acton Train arriving in 11 minutes. That was monday. Tuesday ended up taking the 1st train along, which stopped at North Acton. There had to wait 'only' about 5 minutes for the train to Epping, standing room only, which brought me safely to Oxford Circus. No probs catching the Bakerloo train down to Charing Cross, in plenty of time for the 17:19 when over the tannoy system the anouncement of the signal failure came through. And the station concourse was 'packed' with people for Chelsfield, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and beyond. Outch! First things first though, called home to say I shan't be able to pick the kids up at six.
Then it became apparent that the best thing to do was take the 17:27 'slow' train to Orpington and pray that (a) Bus replacement services would be operating; (2) a cab might be available; or (3) trains would be back and running again. So took the train to Orpington, and sat next to an 'old acquaintance' actually who commutes in also from 7oaks, but catches the 06:31 train (which I used to take in my previous job). So we had a good chat and natter about this, that and the other, glad at least we had managed to get a seat.
Minor chaos in Orpington as it seemed no buses were laid on, nor were there any cabs to catch. Fortunately though, systems were getting back up, and a delayed Sandwich train just arriving on platform 3 would be stopping at all stations to Tunbridge Wells (except Hildenborough, to the annoyance of one lady in the carriaqge I ended up in). So back into the station, platform three, front of the train and standing room only. Still the train got away, through Chelsfield, Knockholt, Dunton Green, and very slowly (so not all symptons had yet been resolved) into Sevenoaks. Needless to say, got home by seven.
And so, whilst writing this, it sure takes a lot of patience on the part of employees of the SE Train company, who had to face the crowds, no hoards, of commuters complaining about:
(1) being let down by the train company,
(2) when it costs so (!) much, and
(3) what has happened to the alternative routes,
(4) why is nothing being done, and
(5) how am I going to get home.
And I thought how strange and selfish we all are in situations like that - what can the poor platform rep in Orpington do about the technical failure in Sevenoaks ? Nothing! So why have a go at him ? You shouldn't ... ... ... ... and didn't. And one more thing, whilst contemplating with 'the Boss' on how to get home, I was reminded again that all things work out for the best in the end.
And the whole saga had actually started for me a lot earlier as I started my usual journey homeward around four fifteen. Having walked the 15 minutes to Greenford Station, we the commuters were still experiencing the consequences of Central Lines computer failure from yesterday. This computer failure had the amusing side affect, that on Greenfords' train arrival notice board, at one point in time it was saying that the next train to Epping will be arriving in 1 minute, you blinked and whoops it had turned into a North Acton Train arriving in 11 minutes. That was monday. Tuesday ended up taking the 1st train along, which stopped at North Acton. There had to wait 'only' about 5 minutes for the train to Epping, standing room only, which brought me safely to Oxford Circus. No probs catching the Bakerloo train down to Charing Cross, in plenty of time for the 17:19 when over the tannoy system the anouncement of the signal failure came through. And the station concourse was 'packed' with people for Chelsfield, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and beyond. Outch! First things first though, called home to say I shan't be able to pick the kids up at six.
Then it became apparent that the best thing to do was take the 17:27 'slow' train to Orpington and pray that (a) Bus replacement services would be operating; (2) a cab might be available; or (3) trains would be back and running again. So took the train to Orpington, and sat next to an 'old acquaintance' actually who commutes in also from 7oaks, but catches the 06:31 train (which I used to take in my previous job). So we had a good chat and natter about this, that and the other, glad at least we had managed to get a seat.
Minor chaos in Orpington as it seemed no buses were laid on, nor were there any cabs to catch. Fortunately though, systems were getting back up, and a delayed Sandwich train just arriving on platform 3 would be stopping at all stations to Tunbridge Wells (except Hildenborough, to the annoyance of one lady in the carriaqge I ended up in). So back into the station, platform three, front of the train and standing room only. Still the train got away, through Chelsfield, Knockholt, Dunton Green, and very slowly (so not all symptons had yet been resolved) into Sevenoaks. Needless to say, got home by seven.
And so, whilst writing this, it sure takes a lot of patience on the part of employees of the SE Train company, who had to face the crowds, no hoards, of commuters complaining about:
(1) being let down by the train company,
(2) when it costs so (!) much, and
(3) what has happened to the alternative routes,
(4) why is nothing being done, and
(5) how am I going to get home.
And I thought how strange and selfish we all are in situations like that - what can the poor platform rep in Orpington do about the technical failure in Sevenoaks ? Nothing! So why have a go at him ? You shouldn't ... ... ... ... and didn't. And one more thing, whilst contemplating with 'the Boss' on how to get home, I was reminded again that all things work out for the best in the end.
posted by Daddy_Stony at 08:25
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