I am writing this from an unplanned contemplation break at Rochdale Station this morning. I was due to travel on the 0911 Northern rail replacement bus from Manchester Victoria followed by the 0943 train from Rochdale to Hebden Bridge.
Our bus left Manchester Victoria accompanied by bus coordinator on time. It was not apparent to me that any delay occurred. The bus arrived at Rochdale at 0943. I assumed that the 0943 train would therefore be able to wait for 2 - 3 minutes to allow me and everyone else on the bus who wanted the train (probably about 20 people) to walk upstairs and catch it. This would have been all the time needed.
Of course, this did not happen. At the moment the screen on platform 2 says that the train is still due so there is a large group of people waiting for it. However, it is apparent from NRE that the train departed right on time. He is very polite but unable to provide any form of alternative transport but over an hour to wait for the next train. I have tried to ask what the policy for such connections is. The man in the ticket office says it is the bus coordinators fault, and that the train could have waited. The bus coordinators say it is the train company's fault because the train did not wait. The truth is unclear to me.
I do have to question how this sort of thing can still be happening if I'm honest. In particular it's hard to believe I'm surrounded by people who think that the train is coming despite the firm implication that it left some time ago, not reflected by the screen here.
Why is there such a difficulty in organising relatively simple planned engineering work timetables? And why is there so little response on the day?
Our bus left Manchester Victoria accompanied by bus coordinator on time. It was not apparent to me that any delay occurred. The bus arrived at Rochdale at 0943. I assumed that the 0943 train would therefore be able to wait for 2 - 3 minutes to allow me and everyone else on the bus who wanted the train (probably about 20 people) to walk upstairs and catch it. This would have been all the time needed.
Of course, this did not happen. At the moment the screen on platform 2 says that the train is still due so there is a large group of people waiting for it. However, it is apparent from NRE that the train departed right on time. He is very polite but unable to provide any form of alternative transport but over an hour to wait for the next train. I have tried to ask what the policy for such connections is. The man in the ticket office says it is the bus coordinators fault, and that the train could have waited. The bus coordinators say it is the train company's fault because the train did not wait. The truth is unclear to me.
I do have to question how this sort of thing can still be happening if I'm honest. In particular it's hard to believe I'm surrounded by people who think that the train is coming despite the firm implication that it left some time ago, not reflected by the screen here.
Why is there such a difficulty in organising relatively simple planned engineering work timetables? And why is there so little response on the day?
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