stuart
Member
Let's start with a simple question: which route is faster? The railmiles engine says the distance via Fife is 56 miles and via Stirling 69 miles (and some odd chains). But given a clear road and no stops which would be quicker? I suspect the answer is "via Fife", otherwise why would the main Inverness-Edinburgh service be routed this way.
(Stop reading here if you don't want the rant/vent.)
Yesterday afternoon I was onboard the 1B31 1246 Inverness to Edinburgh which was 15 minutes late approaching Perth. We were told that because of the late running, the train would run express to Edinburgh, and passengers for Fife were tipped out (and, so far as I can see from the timetable, left with about a 45 minute wait at Perth). Instead of simply missing intermediate stops, we were then diverted via Stirling, eventually arriving into Edinburgh 25 minutes late.
Only when we were arriving at Edinburgh did the conductor mention that there had been an earlier points failure - not sure where.
I think the thing I object to most is being lied to. We were told at Perth that the change of plan was to try and make up lost time. Although I never really believed this would happen, and reality bore out my own view, passengers' expectations of an on-time arrival were strongly set.
If they had said: "look, there's been a points failure so we're going to have to divert via Stirling, I know we're already 15 minutes late and realistically this diversion is going to add another 10 minutes, but it's still going to be the quickest we can get you there" then we'd all have settled down and made the best of it. Why make up a lie?
Indeed why do Scotrail (and presumably all TOCs are the same) think it is a good idea to lie to passengers and treat us like idiots? This is the thrid example I have experienced of such treatment (coincidentally all at Perth, but perhaps that's just because I use the station a lot!). Tell us the truth, and you might just get a bit of sympathy from us when there are operational difficulties.
(Stop reading here if you don't want the rant/vent.)
Yesterday afternoon I was onboard the 1B31 1246 Inverness to Edinburgh which was 15 minutes late approaching Perth. We were told that because of the late running, the train would run express to Edinburgh, and passengers for Fife were tipped out (and, so far as I can see from the timetable, left with about a 45 minute wait at Perth). Instead of simply missing intermediate stops, we were then diverted via Stirling, eventually arriving into Edinburgh 25 minutes late.
Only when we were arriving at Edinburgh did the conductor mention that there had been an earlier points failure - not sure where.
I think the thing I object to most is being lied to. We were told at Perth that the change of plan was to try and make up lost time. Although I never really believed this would happen, and reality bore out my own view, passengers' expectations of an on-time arrival were strongly set.
If they had said: "look, there's been a points failure so we're going to have to divert via Stirling, I know we're already 15 minutes late and realistically this diversion is going to add another 10 minutes, but it's still going to be the quickest we can get you there" then we'd all have settled down and made the best of it. Why make up a lie?
Indeed why do Scotrail (and presumably all TOCs are the same) think it is a good idea to lie to passengers and treat us like idiots? This is the thrid example I have experienced of such treatment (coincidentally all at Perth, but perhaps that's just because I use the station a lot!). Tell us the truth, and you might just get a bit of sympathy from us when there are operational difficulties.