What is your controversial railway opinion/idea?

[shredder1]

Abolish seat bookings and first class if people are standing in second

 

[Rail Blues]

Alternatively, if you wish to go against the wishes of the OP then don't have a pop at him; start your own thread instead, where you can debate why your opinion is controversial for as long as you like!

Ahhhhh No debates.

Surely the clue is in the name 'discussion board.' trying to stifle discussion seems a bit like trying to stop pissing in a public toilet.

 

[B&I]

1. A lot of people on here are incresibly defensive about the current state of the railways, and will jump down the throat of anyone who suggests any change at all. Weirdly

2. Many of these people are also enthusiastic proponents of the theory that, where there are gaos in the rail network, travellers should use cars instead.

 

[backontrack]

The Far North Line should stay open and should be invested in by Holyrood.

You wouldn't expect that sort of view to be controversial on here, but there you go.

 

[underbank]

Abolish seat bookings and first class if people are standing in second

As long as first class ticket holders are refunded the differential cost. That would create a good incentive for the TOCs to balance their trains more sensibly according to demand or lengthen them if required when it comes to franchise renewals.

 

[Rail Blues]

Some of the most selfish behaviour on trains I've seen has been undertaken by old folk, in particular older women , who think nothing of spreading themselves out over a table bay on a crowded train, bags on seat and a picnic spread out across the table. Ask if anyone is sitting in the seat and they huff and eye roll and woe betide you want any of the table they've distributed their spam sandwiches or whatever it is old folk eat.

I would operate a three strikes policy. After fair warning, sandwiches get flushed down the loo, if they've not shifted their bags after this, they get flung onto the platform, followed by them at the stop after.

In its own way every bit as annoying as the young folk who sodcast techno music over their phone and put their feet on the chairs.

 

[shredder1]

As long as first class ticket holders are refunded the differential cost. That would create a good incentive for the TOCs to balance their trains more sensibly according to demand or lengthen them if required when it comes to franchise renewals.

Oh yes you`d have to refund them

 

[shredder1]

Some of the most selfish behaviour on trains I've seen has been undertaken by old folk, in particular older women , who think nothing of spreading themselves out over a table bay on a crowded train, bags on seat and a picnic spread out across the table. Ask if anyone is sitting in the seat and they huff and eye roll and woe betide you want any of the table they've distributed their spam sandwiches or whatever it is old folk eat.

I would operate a three strikes policy. After fair warning, sandwiches get flushed down the loo, if they've not shifted their bags after this, they get flung onto the platform, followed by them at the stop after.

In its own way every bit as annoying as the young folk who sodcast techno music over their phone and put their feet on the chairs.

I guess at 67 Im now old folk. Funny that because most of the selfish behaviour I`ve seen is from genertions younger than me.

I would operate a three strikes policy. After fair warning, sandwiches get flushed down the loo, if they've not shifted their bags after this, they get flung onto the platform, followed by them at the stop after.

 

[ic31420]

Faster speeds should be available on prescription lines and commuter services run on them (with modern stock). Particularly those with mainline connections.

 

[Rail Blues]

I guess at 67 Im now old folk. Funny that because most of the selfish behaviour I`ve seen is from genertions younger than me.

I would operate a three strikes policy. After fair warning, sandwiches get flushed down the loo, if they've not shifted their bags after this, they get flung onto the platform, followed by them at the stop after.

I didn't say exclusively, but it is the generation who generally bemoan a lack of manners and consideration for others, then go and show absolutely none for fellow passengers. If it is any consolation I have equally draconian views on where mobile phones belting out music should be shoved, sideways preferably.

 

[shredder1]

I didn't say exclusively, but it is the generation who generally bemoan a lack of manners and consideration for others, then go and show absolutely none for fellow passengers. If it is any consolation I have equally draconian views on where mobile phones belting out music should be shoved, sideways preferably.

I didnt say exclusively either?

 

[Rail Blues]

I didnt say exclusively either?

Fair point

 

[EM2]

Here is one: starting a thread doesn't give you a right to police a thread. It is a thread on a public forum, if you want to start dictating how the thread develops, set up and fund your own website.

Moderators do that. They have not deleted the thread, therefore it is safe to assume that they are happy for the thread to run in accordance with the opening post.

 

[shredder1]

Fair point

In fairness people are people regardless of age, I`ve had some very polite and well mannered young people offer to give me a seat, which is worrying because I didnt think I looked that old

 

[Rail Blues]

Moderators do that. They have not deleted the thread, therefore it is safe to assume that they are happy for the thread to run in accordance with the opening post.

And using the same logic they're happy to allow people to debate points raised as they've not deleted any of those posts, so I will continue to disregard your interjections, as it would appear most folk on this thread have. I would also consider some of your subsequent posts to be somewhat ill mannered and unrealistic given that you are soliciting views on contentious topics on a discussion forum.

A piece of well intentioned advice: this board is used predominantly if not exclusively by adults and I for one don't generally appreciate having the finger wagged at me like a naughty school child given I left school nearly 25 years ago.

 

[Rail Blues]

In fairness people are people regardless of age, I`ve had some very polite and well mannered young people offer to give me a seat, which is worrying because I didnt think I looked that old

I remember the first time anyone offered my mum a seat, she way mortified! She still took it though!

 

[yorksrob]

All InterCity services should contain a buffet car stocked with a good range of reasonably priced ales.

Moquette should be used to cover seats, even in first class as leather looks too boy-racerish.

All decent sized interchange stations should include a railway themed bar bar selling a range of good ales and snacks including scotch eggs.

Station announcements should be recorded in a cut glass Queens English dialect. Regional variations to be allowed for manual announcements.

Solari boards to be installed at all terminals.

 

[EM2]

And using the same logic they're happy to allow people to debate points raised as they've not deleted any of those posts, so I will continue to disregard your interjections, as it would appear most folk on this thread have.

Most?

I for one don't generally appreciate having the finger wagged at me like a naughty school child given I left school nearly 25 years ago.

Well, that suggests that I'm about the age of one of your teachers, so that would be entirely appropriate.

 

[EM2]

I would also consider some of your subsequent posts to be somewhat ill mannered and unrealistic

Such as?

 

[Cowley]

All 140mph capable stock should run at that speed, and to hell with the signal spacings.

 

[shredder1]

I remember the first time anyone offered my mum a seat, she way mortified! She still took it though!

Hahahaha oh dear.

 

[squizzler]

The next person to suggest mainline electrification at 750v dc shall have their house re-wired at 12v dc (proportionally similar to that they propose) with car cigar lighter sockets. Let’s hear them advocate low voltage dc electrification after trying to run a modern lifestyle with kettles, microwaves and vacuum cleaners on that!

 

[xotGD]

There should not be barriers at level crossings, just normal green, amber, red traffic lights.

When there is a collision at a level crossing it should be reported as a road vehicle being driven into the path of an oncoming train, not being hit by a train as if it were some sort of malicious act.

 

[The Ham]

There should not be barriers at level crossings, just normal green, amber, red traffic lights.

When there is a collision at a level crossing it should be reported as a road vehicle being driven into the path of an oncoming train, not being hit by a train as if it were some sort of malicious act.

I would suggest that there's two problems with this idea.

Firstly (and most importantly) it would likely cause a lot of harm (most emotional as well as possibly physical) to drivers of trains who actually hit something.

Secondly, people are really stupid (no really, more stupid that that) given what they do when there are barriers present. The only reason I point this out is because it will impact more on point 1!

 

[Ianno87]

Quiet Zones have had their day*, only cause conflict and angst through their existence and should be abolished.

*That day was when Nokia 3210s and monophonic ringtones ruled the roost.

 

[Rail Blues]

Most?

Well, that suggests that I'm about the age of one of your teachers, so that would be entirely appropriate.

It wouldn't as I am now an adult rapidly approaching middle age and you are not in a position of authority over me or anyone else on this thread. It comes across as rude, pompous and condescending.

Such as?

Any of the posts where you pop up and issue 'No discussions ' edicts which I like most sensible people using a discussion board will pay no heed to.

 

[backontrack]

Quiet Zones have had their day*, only cause conflict and angst through their existence and should be abolished.

*That day was when Nokia 3210s and monophonic ringtones ruled the roost.

AND:

Overzealous gits who take it upon themselves to 'police' the Quiet Carriage and shout at people who make the slightest amount of noise (e.g their phone rings before they can get to the vestibule) ought to have their own mobile phone inserted rectally, and with some force.

 

[Dentonian]

When there is a known disruption/diversion on a line, the train should stop at the last station before he diversion to give passengers the option of getting off instead of turning their 8 minute journey into a 67 minute journey. That 67 minutes including a 35 minute wait on an unmanned station, which had it been 37+ minutes would have also included an absolute soaking.

Supplementary question, when were Northern drivers (and conductors where relevent) informed of the Suicide bid or was it Tresspassers at Ryder Brow, this (Friday) evening peak?

 

[InOban]

I would suggest that there's two problems with this idea.

Firstly (and most importantly) it would likely cause a lot of harm (most emotional as well as possibly physical) to drivers of trains who actually hit something.

Secondly, people are really stupid (no really, more stupid that that) given what they do when there are barriers present. The only reason I point this out is because it will impact more on point 1!

It's not as stupid as you might think. Drivers tend to obey traffic lights even when they can see it's safe -eg a pedestrian crossing after the last person has crossed, or a quiet, well lit crossing when it's clear there are no cars approaching. Even leaving the barriers, the flashing red lights should be replaced with standard red amber green. We associate flashing lights with a warning, not an instruction.

 

[transmanche]

There should not be barriers at level crossings, just normal green, amber, red traffic lights.

That's how it works on Tramlink, where even when the trams run on reserved track, they operate on 'street running mode. So all level crossings are standard traffic lights.

Source: citytransport.info
A tram on the Tramlink network, at a level crossing protected by standard traffic lights.

It's not as stupid as you might think. Drivers tend to obey traffic lights even when they can see it's safe -eg a pedestrian crossing after the last person has crossed, or a quiet, well lit crossing when it's clear there are no cars approaching. Even leaving the barriers, the flashing red lights should be replaced with standard red amber green. We associate flashing lights with a warning, not an instruction.

Spot on!