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Blackpool North Pole?

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CaptainHaddock

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Yes, I noticed on the display at my local station that Barnsley has been spelt as "Barnsleigh". I'm sure someone somewhere might find it hilarious, I just think it's rather childish and will only serve to confuse passengers unfamiliar with the area.
 

Peter Mugridge

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Bit early for this annual Xmas humour to appear on the screens isn't it? Usually it's only in the couple of days before Xmas itself?
 

Tomnick

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It doesn't seem to have gone down too well in some quarters...

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancash...6fKwty8Xt14lw6mHCAfg9GVxao_xUrC2sIqjLvXL_rtr4

0_WhatsApp-Image-2019-12-09-at-232213jpeg.jpg

Signs for Blackpool North railway station have been changed to 'Blackpool North Pole'

Northern Rail have made the festive decision to change signs for Blackpool North railway station to 'Blackpool North Pole'.

But, this didn't go down well with some commuters.

Many train users took to social media to comment on Northern Rail's Christmas spirit, whilst also raising issues regarding the capacity and punctuality of services.

One user said: "Northern's attempt to show Xmas spirit with the Blackpool North Pole train, doesn't stop the disaster that its always late and now only 2 carriages - leaving half the passengers on the platform as they can no longer fit."https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/blackpool-man-given-suspended-sentence-17337274
Another added: "Northern rail trying to be cute changing ‘Blackpool North’ to ‘Blackpool North Pole’. Doesn’t make up for delays and cancellations all the time."

Similarly, someone else posted: "Nice and seasonal witty of Nothern Rail to rename the station to Blackpool NORTH POLE but I would much sooner they had run the service rather than cancelling yet AGAIN. #northernfail."

Some commuters complimented the name change, however.

One person tweeted: "Nicely played whoever has replaced ‘Blackpool North’ with Blackpool North Pole on the departure screens at Chorley train station. Someone’s having some fun on a Monday morning :)."

Another added: "I just wanted to say that I like what you have renamed Blackpool North. I am referring to the departure boards at Bolton. They have got it down as Blackpool North Pole which has made me laugh."

LancsLive have approached Northern Rail for comment.
 

Bertie the bus

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It might be a harmless bit of fun on 23rd or 24th December but on the 10th? Really? It looks like somebody is desperate to become a 15 second Twitter sensation.
 

transmanche

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It doesn't seem to have gone down too well in some quarters...
And, for balance, the same article also reports that some people really liked it.

I'm sure someone somewhere might find it hilarious, I just think it's rather childish and will only serve to confuse passengers unfamiliar with the area.
It might be a harmless bit of fun on 23rd or 24th December but on the 10th? Really?
Ahh, it's good to see that the spirit of 'bah humbug!' is alive and well on RailUK! :D:D:D
 

njamescouk

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"barnsleigh interchange" - only noticed it on the way out so no snap, but got this earlier.IMG_20191211_084201_1.jpg

shame they can't run a railway.
 

pdeaves

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And, for balance, the same article also reports that some people really liked it.
The article states that "Blackpool North, Barnsley, Hartlepool and Holmes Chapel have temporarily been given new names". This thread has already 'revealed' two of the altered names (Blackpool North Pole and Barnsleigh). Has anyone seen what the other two are, please?
 

Mathew S

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It genuinely amazes me how some people seem to believe that it's unprofessional to display a sense of humour :rolleyes:

Nice to see someone at Northern is trying to brighten up people's journeys and put a smile on passengers faces. Commuting, especially at this time of year, is pretty grim so every little bit of cheer is welcome in my book!
 

Aictos

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It genuinely amazes me how some people seem to believe that it's unprofessional to display a sense of humour :rolleyes:

Nice to see someone at Northern is trying to brighten up people's journeys and put a smile on passengers faces. Commuting, especially at this time of year, is pretty grim so every little bit of cheer is welcome in my book!

I agree, I’m not the most festive of people but I can see that doing this can cheer people up, it’s just a pity that some people seem to resemble the Grinch.
 

al78

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It genuinely amazes me how some people seem to believe that it's unprofessional to display a sense of humour :rolleyes:

Nice to see someone at Northern is trying to brighten up people's journeys and put a smile on passengers faces. Commuting, especially at this time of year, is pretty grim so every little bit of cheer is welcome in my book!

If they want to put a smile on passengers faces, they could try running a decent rail service. From what I read on here, commuting on Northern at any time of year is pretty grim.

(yes I can see the funny side)
 

The_Train

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Does it surprise me that some people find reason to complain about such a thing? Not in the slightest. Society seems to lack any sort of sense of humour these days - people are happier when they are moaning about something especially when it comes to the railways
 

SquireBev

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I think for a lot of people it's just a general weariness of this forced corporate banter, like the Virgin trains "Don't flush your hopes and dreams down this toilet" business.

It rubs a lot of people up the wrong way when companies rip them off with one hand and try to appear chummy and quirky with the other.
 

js1000

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Wouldn't mind the Blackpool North Pole joke if the Manchester Airport to Blackpool service wasn't such a shambles everyday! The real joke is Northern.
 
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Sense of humour and Blackpool North don't belong in the same sentence as discussed at length:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...riendly-station-in-the-country.114768/page-13.
Does it surprise me that some people find reason to complain about such a thing? Not in the slightest. Society seems to lack any sort of sense of humour these days - people are happier when they are moaning about something especially when it comes to the railways
Completely agree. Along with the lack of social skills.
 

SteveM70

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The article states that "Blackpool North, Barnsley, Hartlepool and Holmes Chapel have temporarily been given new names". This thread has already 'revealed' two of the altered names (Blackpool North Pole and Barnsleigh). Has anyone seen what the other two are, please?


HartleYule

Ho Ho Holmes Chapel
 

Kendalian

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Northern need to concentrate their efforts on running a proper service.

Blackpool N Pole was showing tonight on the display at Buckshaw Parkway. I didn't see anyone laughing stood for 20 min on the platform freezing cold when the 1705 Victoria-Preston was terminated short.
 

Starmill

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People are so grumpy. It's just a bit harmless fun.
People are always grumpy when their trains are cancelled.

If Northern were operating at best-in-class levels of reliability, punctuality and customer service (in other words, essentially just what people expect these days), then I am sure they would find the festive fun quite lovely.
 
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People are always grumpy when their trains are cancelled.

If Northern were operating at best-in-class levels of reliability, punctuality and customer service (in other words, essentially just what people expect these days), then I am sure they would find the festive fun quite lovely.

Would you rather have a cancelled train, or a cancelled train heading to an amusing sounding destination? Because I know which I'd prefer. It's just something to make people smile, but apparently no one wants to these days.
 

Starmill

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Would you rather have a cancelled train, or a cancelled train heading to an amusing sounding destination? Because I know which I'd prefer.
If my train is cancelled, I prefer apologies and sincerity - and not levity. That is the way plenty of people will see it.
 

SteveM70

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It’s the way of the modern world. I don’t care for it, but it’s harmless.

On the other hand what I do object to is Northern using their twitter feed to run daft quizzes and tell trainspotters where a certain train is when customers who are being delayed have their requests for information ignored

It’s a hard balance to strike.
 

farleigh

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They could cheer people up by dressing up as Santa on the platform and telling them their train is 'tinselled' instead of cancelled. Bound to have people in stitches.
 
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