Well well well just when I thought it couldn't be worse..
We had established yesterday that we would have to take replacement bus to the airport today due to engineering works.
So we joined the platform to head to S Gorsford for the RRBS to the airport. And on the departure screen it was showing first train to the coast, and 2nd to Airport.. wait, we thought, we were sure there is RRBS to the airport! So I pressed he help point info button on he platform. We wanted to clarify if the screen was correct and we could indeed get the direct Airport train, or if we had understood correctly and there was a RRBS.
The in platform help point rang and made a connecting noise, which lasted ages. Then it seemed to connect to a automated service, telling me next train to the coast 2 minutes, airport 8 minutes!!!!! Hopeless,,,,, I could see this on the bloody platform departure screen..
So I cancelled the call and tried again and this time it just went straight through to that automated announcement thing with the next couple departures. I went upstairs to try and find some staff to ask, of course nobody at all in sight!!!
So as it turned out we did have to get a RRBS, so why the hell it was showing Airport trains is anyone's guess!
Anyway so getting out at S Gorsford, good luck trying to find the RRBS stop. Loads of exits and pathways from the station platforms but not a single sign directing to the RRBS or station staff to ask. Eventually after wandering around for a while found a bus stop with a member of staff who confirmed it was the right stop!
The bus that came went really around the houses. No dedicated direct airport service, only all stops buses. The bus stop guy said it would take 20 mins. It actually took 35 so almost double that !!
This city doesn't deserve to have any tourists... absolutely diabolical
Trains are coded towards Airport still hence why destination displays show that. It's to avoid confusion to passengers who may otherwise just stand there waiting and waiting.
The Help Point gives out the times because that is usually what people use it for. If you wait till the times have passed it will connect you with Metro control. If there is an emergency you press the emergency buttons.
There are clear maps in the stations which show where the replacement buses stop. You could have also asked a fellow passenger if they could help you. We're mostly friendly here.
There is no direct Airport bus because there is simply not enough need for one it would be carrying air almost all day. Replacement buses stop at the 7 stops (Regent Centre, Wansbeck Road, Fawdon, Kingston Park, Bank Foot, Callerton Parkway, and Airport) between Gosforth and Airport. 30 minutes isn't really bad, it's 15-20 minutes more than the train but I wouldn't say that's too bad. It's a highly residential area and the Metro divides it all so it takes longer as there are only certain places it can cross the lines. As Arctic Troll also says there was plenty of staff. When I went through at 8am there was 2 members of staff, then at 3pm there were 4 members of staff.
Saying the city doesn't deserve tourists because you couldn't figure out how to use a very, very simple ticket machine and dislike the fact there was no staff, something that only London really has (Metro do usually have static staff at Airport hence why it has a gateline) is absolutely crazy. Did you actually visit Newcastle itself? Since you haven't posted any negative comments about that I'm guessing it's just the transport you hate? In which case, please feel free to tell the Government to funnel some money to us so we can get new trains please
Long ticket queues will happen because you're dumping 50+ people from a plane and the majority I would probably say will take a Metro or Taxi. Metro aren't going to just have 20 ticket machines idling away for most of the day, so it's easier to have the 3(4?) machines they do and just have people queue than have more machines and be wasting money on them.
Newcastle Airport is not a major Airport, and after the main morning rush tends to be very quiet.
Metro maps are on every platform, every train, every ticket machine. In fact, if you need to view a map they are very very easy to come by. Printing paper maps is a waste of money, and only really useful in major cities with a more confusing system. We have two lines. It's not rocket science. As you say, you could easily download a copy of the map so you're not wasting paper. Metro have even launched there own little app now.
I have an AmEx card myself, but I always have another card on me just in case my AmEx isn't accepted.
This whole thread seems to be you were expecting a London (Underground) style service level and when you didn't you flapped and had to blame the system.
I'd love to see how you would react if you ever went to New York, or any other major city beyond London. Most mass transit systems have very little staff around, and London very much is an exception to that, especially in Europe and the US. In fact, I'd love to know if there are any other subway systems with such high levels of public facing staff as LU. The DLR is very similar in style to the Metro too with minimal staff, they have the PSA in the actual cars because they're auto but if they were in a cab you would barely see any staff on the DLR.
:roll:
