TheKnightWho
Established Member
Unless "we" happen to be enthusiasts then aside from urban metros "we" are likely not travelling by train but by hire car.
The concept of Interrailing is lost on you..?
Unless "we" happen to be enthusiasts then aside from urban metros "we" are likely not travelling by train but by hire car.
This thread ( http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=138467 ) got me thinking - is there really any place, in the 21st century, for printing up loads of paper timetable booklets that almost no body will ever look at?
Are we not just offering a crutch to those unable to join the modern world? It isnt 1879 anymore. We have the ability to carry every timetable in the entire world on a small device in our pockets. Why bother with the paper? Or are they a useful tool when things go wrong or technology breaks down?
Personally I see no need for them and would stop printing them tomorrow. They are, to my mind, a complete waste of money. I can get all of the information via my phone or computer in less time than it takes to open the timetable booklet.
What are your views?
The cost of many things is going that way:
- If I fly I print the ticket at home.
- If I want hard copy receipts from an increasing number of things bought in a shop I print them at home.
- If I buy a ticket for a gig or theater I often print the ticket at home
- If I buy a coach ticket I print it at home
- If i want all the terms and conditions and the actual insurance certificate for my house I print it at home.
It is the way of the world.
Which is a good way of all those Companies moving the cost of paper / printing carts etc away from them, and onto the buyer ! Plus I kinow quite a few who have a mobile phone, and its just that a mobile phone ! many people do not want a gadget that does almost anythng EXCEPT make decent calls !
Well if you don't want to embrace new (well not even that new!) technology, then expect to be left behind.
Well if you don't want to embrace new (well not even that new!) technology, then expect to be left behind.
This thread ( http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=138467 ) got me thinking - is there really any place, in the 21st century, for printing up loads of paper timetable booklets that almost no body will ever look at?
Are we not just offering a crutch to those unable to join the modern world? It isnt 1879 anymore. We have the ability to carry every timetable in the entire world on a small device in our pockets. Why bother with the paper? Or are they a useful tool when things go wrong or technology breaks down?
Personally I see no need for them and would stop printing them tomorrow. They are, to my mind, a complete waste of money. I can get all of the information via my phone or computer in less time than it takes to open the timetable booklet.
What are your views?
Fair enough. But would most people need the full book rather than one leaflet on a regular basis?
A friend of mine, years ago when stations had their individual phone enquiry lines, had a phone number one digit different from Liverpool Lime Street. He bought a paper timetable and became quite adept in answering people's queries.When I was a kid, I plundered loads of pocket timetables from Scarborough station's information office (they were quite happy for me to take a few of each, as long as I didn't clear the lot out). As it was in the BR days, there was quite a wide variety.
I then set up an "information office" in my bedroom and encouraged relatives to come and enquire about journeys.
Not only was this fun, it also helped me learn quite a lot - about local geography, timetabling, organisation, etc.
Somehow I just don't see timetables on a phone offering the same scope, but staring at a phone does seem to be the primary leisure activity these days.
If you put the cost to the customer they are only likely to use it if they need it. If you provide it for free they'll take a loaf even if they don't.Ah, I see. It's not about paper timetables being obsolete - its about pushing the cost of producing them on to the customer.
At least we're clear about that then.
If you put the cost to the customer they are only likely to use it if they need it. If you provide it for free they'll take a loaf even if they don't.
Thousands of little paper booklets that get thrown away every x months is probably not good for the environment. I agree, if people want to print them, let them.
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Case in point where paper timetables are useful... I need to get from central London to Barnehurst at a particular time this evening. It's possible that the best train might be one from Cannon Street, Charing Cross or Victoria. I just tried the nationalrail.co.uk online journey planner, and it was a complete pain - as far as I could tell you had to check each possible London terminus separately. On the other hand, it was trivially easy with SouthEastern's paper booklets - which lists all the Barnehurst via Bexleyheath trains in one place.
This is the site I'm working on right now, with details of all trains from London to Barnehurst at 10am tomorrow (just as an example). It's not quite a paper timetable since you still need a computer or phone, but it does have all departure stations, and a list of calling stations, plus it has live updates.
https://traksy.uk/live/L+999+@10:00+departures+BNH
I'm interested to know if you find it more useful than the National Rail approach
That's very nice! A definite improvement on the National Rail site in layout and ease of getting information. I like the fact that the calling points are clearly displayed. I'll definitely keep an eye on your site! (Minor issue; Doesn't work in IE but I'm guessing that's related to the fact that it's still only a beta).
Case in point where paper timetables are useful... I need to get from central London to Barnehurst at a particular time this evening. It's possible that the best train might be one from Cannon Street, Charing Cross or Victoria. I just tried the nationalrail.co.uk online journey planner, and it was a complete pain - as far as I could tell you had to check each possible London terminus separately.
This is the site I'm working on right now, with details of all trains from London to Barnehurst at 10am tomorrow (just as an example). It's not quite a paper timetable since you still need a computer or phone, but it does have all departure stations, and a list of calling stations, plus it has live updates.
https://traksy.uk/live/L+999+@10:00+departures+BNH
I'm interested to know if you find it more useful than the National Rail approach
Nice site. But cancelled trains are still shown as running on the overview page. I have to click each train to see if it is actually cancelled.
You start typing 'london' for the 'from' station and the first pop-up option is it gives you is 'london - all stations'. This worked fine, giving me trains from all the three stations you listed.
And how useful was a printed timetable wenthw stations were closed?
How useful was it for the next week when there was an emergency timetable running?
And how useful was a printed timetable wenthw stations were closed?
How useful was it for the next week when there was an emergency timetable running?