Regular visitor to Leeds. Always get the 19:45 back to London. It usually sits in Platform 6 for 25-30 minutes before departure but not last week. As we were finally allowed onto the platform at around 19:32, the set was just pulling in loaded with passengers. Surprisingly, we departed dead on time at 19:45 but there had obviously been no cleaning done. Tables were littered with newspapers and other debris.
Would you prefer to depart on time on a dirty train - or be delayed 15-20 minutes while the delayed incoming train is cleaned up?
Caught the 20:45 on Thursday night from Leeds to KGX, having been delayed it arrived in platform 8 at 20:41 and departed at 20:47, with the loading of a few food supplies and all passengers and staff in those six minutes. The guard quickly apologised for any issues with reservations and other such problems caused by such a turnaround, but there wasn't any to be seen.
The train was actually relatively clean, and I wonder if the previous guard had made an announcement asking passengers to take their rubbish, or if a cleaner had jumped on board at some point along the route.
I actually expected the service to be dirty considering it's delay, but it wasn't, and the lack of reservations was not a problem either.
Maybe you were just unlucky in terms of the previous passengers! I appreciated my service only leaving two minutes late despite it's late arrival, and accepted it may be a little dirty on board.