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grahame
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« on: August 26, 2023, 10:27:52 » |
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Saturday has always been the quietest day of the week on The Coffee Shop, but on strike Saturdays that's now doubly noticeable. In the early days of industrial action where was a lot of talk, but no longer. We just seem to let it happen.
We have done a similar poll to this one in the past ... as time passes, how's it effecting you?
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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Surrey 455
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« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2023, 12:38:40 » |
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This summer I would have liked to make more day trips by rail. Unfortunately some of the Saturday rail strike days have coincided with good weather with the following day (Sunday) not so good so I tend to postpone my plans until another time - sunbathing in light rain or drizzle is not that enjoyable. The weather in the south today is not brilliant so I would not be making plans to go to the coast today even if the trains were running.
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Trowres
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« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2023, 12:48:36 » |
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I have made far less use of rail in the past year, compared with 1982 when there was prolonged industrial action.
The reasons:
1. In those days, trains seemed to run reliably on the days between strikes
2. Disappearance of that mysterious element: "goodwill" towards the industry (partly DfT» 's fault)
3. More likely in 1982 that I'd enjoy the journey (various reasons for this).
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GBM
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« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2023, 13:31:59 » |
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Too far from the railhead terminus, so car has mostly been my first choice for local journeys.
Train for some longer ones.
Unfortunately one of our party was going to return home from a cruise by train, but with the dispute planned, what was a direct trip would now involve 4 changes, with quadruple the travel time.
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Personal opinion only. Writings not representative of any union, collective, management or employer. (Think that absolves me...........)  |
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tomL
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« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2023, 16:31:30 » |
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I've had to cancel several turns/shifts at the heritage railway I volunteer with among other things due to strike days. I find myself expediting driving lessons (for a car  ) and sorting things out on that front, despite not really wanting to. I don't like the prospect of some of the rumors and conversations going around regarding what the gov's plans are with the railways, so still supportive of the action. The pessimist in me reckons we'll all have lots of time to reflect and look back on what we had as we queue on overly congested roads... |
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johnneyw
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« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2023, 22:23:18 » |
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Cheap advanced tickets aside, I just check strike days in advance and adapt accordingly, a bit like I do with the weather.
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Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
Posts: 5219
There are some who call me... Tim
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« Reply #6 on: August 26, 2023, 23:09:38 » |
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I chose ‘none of the above’.
I’ve probably travelled more km by train this year than ever before, and until this weekend I’ve been able to dodge the strike days.
My luck ran out this weekend, as I needed to make a 300km journey on Saturday, a strike day. I’m just back. I looked into going by coach, but that would have taken 6.5hrs. I couldn’t stay another night. So I drove. It was a fairly miserable business, involving the M25 and that special kind of driving one sees around there. It reminded me very clearly of why I prefer to travel by train.
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Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2023, 09:33:44 » |
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I'm pretty fortunate that Taplow is on the Elizabeth line which after years of sparse FGW▸ /GWR▸ services (and none at all on Sundays) now enjoys a frequent, regular 7 day service and hasn't been affected by the ASLEF» /RMT▸ action.......although the recent daily infrastructure failures haven't helped.
That said, I have tried to adjust plans to avoid travelling on strike days but that hasn't been too difficult on the 2 or 3 days I'm now office based - it's the ability of people to adjust in this way/WFH▸ that in large part has made the industrial action so ineffective and probably influenced the Unions to try weekends instead.
It has affected a few trips to sporting events but none that I haven't been able to overcome, although to my great regret I will be missing Rosslyn Park v Plymouth Albion on Saturday thanks to Micks W & L.
I do keep a wary eye on dates when it comes to my occasional trips to Plymouth and have driven a few times when previously I'd have taken the train.
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a-driver
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« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2023, 10:13:40 » |
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I still travel many thousands of miles by rail every week.  |
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Fourbee
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« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2023, 09:50:00 » |
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I've voted for travelling by rail less. I've been quite lucky - where I've committed money to accommodation it's been refundable (normally slightly more expensive than base prices) and I've not had to cancel. I've also had the coach in mind as a backup, but not needed it.
A friend of mine has a canny knack of suggesting meeting up on strike days before they're announced, one of which I circumvented by getting 3 buses each-way when it would have been a direct train, but I wouldn't do that out of choice due to comfort/time wasted. I usually enjoy travelling by bus, but not for extended periods of time.
I've got non-refundable accommodation booked for 1 night in October (it was a bargain I couldn't resist) and have already researched alternatives in case the worst happens and my luck totally runs out.
Until this dispute is resolved I wont be committing funds to accommodation for medium/long distance trips, where I can't get my money back or cancel at short notice.
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broadgage
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« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2023, 14:27:50 » |
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I travel less by train, but that is as much due to general discomfort, overcrowding and effective absence of catering as due to strikes. The strikes dont help though.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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grahame
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« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2023, 19:38:17 » |
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On Saturday I took an unexpected drive into Bath. Normally I would have avoided "strike day" and normally for Bath I would have taken the bus - but there's an abnormally complex story in that; giving a lift and taking the opportunity to have a town meeting on the way. Full - Full - Full the three car parks on the automated signs and my rider hopped out on Dorchester Street. I tried Manvers Street Car Park - what an ugly shunting mess with around a dozen other cars and gave up - really no chance and as there was no need (for me) to really be in Bath, headed out. Chanced upon a single "1 hour" space in Widcombe an walked in, over the railway bridge to the teaming square and bus station with the eateries in lovely weather and the crowds. What a contrast the station:  |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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Andy
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« Reply #12 on: September 07, 2023, 08:55:05 » |
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I have been affected on several occasions. I changed the day of travel when possible and used coach travel when a date change was not possible. The strikes have cost me money but my support of the industrial action has not weakened.
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2023, 05:25:53 » |
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I’m simply not booking anywhere near as much rail travel. Mileage on my car has gone up by around double this last 12 months. I’ve also used national express when suitable. I’d never used them until 2022.
When I have traveled by train it’s been an unpleasant experience. Cancellations, overcrowding.
Over 75% of my journeys have qualified for delay repay. Over 50% of those delay repays have been 100%.
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2023, 10:14:17 » |
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I’m simply not booking anywhere near as much rail travel. Mileage on my car has gone up by around double this last 12 months. I’ve also used national express when suitable. I’d never used them until 2022.
When I have traveled by train it’s been an unpleasant experience. Cancellations, overcrowding.
Over 75% of my journeys have qualified for delay repay. Over 50% of those delay repays have been 100%.
Highlighting the OP▸ , it would be interesting to note how much of this is a direct result of the industrial action and how much is due to the general malaise the railway is suffering from . |
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Poll
