Railway Myths (2013)

[tbtc]

A couple of years ago we had a "myths" thread ((Pacers can't run on Third Rail" etc).

Since then, railways have evolved, so what about a 2013 version?

1. Class 350/4s are the long term plan for the TPE services to Glasgow/ Edinburgh

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Myth #2 - Southern DaySave's are not valid on Gatwick Express.


...oh wait...

 

[43074]

Myth #3: If Richard Branson runs my train service, nothing will ever go wrong.

 

[Qwerty133]

myth #4 all passengers prefer to travel in mk3s even if it makes there journey slower.

 

[455driver]

Myth #4: The customer is always right!

 

[Goatboy]

Myth #5: if your games console or mobile phone has a speaker, it is not socially unacceptable to play it on full volume without bothering with headphones.

 

[Chris125]

Myth #6 - It's a height limit in Ryde Tunnel that forces the use of tube stock.

While it would prevent some types of mainland rolling stock, the main constraint has always been on carriage length - sharp curves prevent the use of 20m vehicles.

Chris

 

[SS4]

Myth #(n+1): Virgin run XC

 

[D365]

Myth #4: The customer is always right!

We need a 'Like' button on this forum - wouldn't have been much use without you though

 

[tsr]

Myth #8: Dorking West Station is only used by approximately 16 people per year.

 

[455driver]

We need a 'Like' button on this forum - wouldn't have been much use without you though

Thank you, I am here all week!

 

[Domh245]

Myth #9: Every train operated by Northern Rail is either dirty, broken, overcrowded, a pacer or any combination of the above!

 

[Bishopstone]

Myth: TOCs have lots of spare carriages, which they refuse to add to busy trains out of spite or incompetence.

Myth: 'Extra carriages' can be added to trains in any number from 1 to 12, and all trains are compatible with each other.

Myth: The primary function of the railway is to transport cyclists to annual cycling events - for which purpose they should keep a fleet of 100 vans and some locomotives, just in case.

Myth (whatever your views about privatisation): Two-thirds of the price of every ticket is TOC profit.

Myth: season tickets are a 'rip-off'. What - like Brighton to London for about £16 return per working day, being barely more than an Advance or Super Off Peak fare.

Myth: Outsourced TOC Twitter feeds know what they are talking about.

Myth held by too many booking office clerks: The Gold Card FC supplement is the same as TOC-specific Weekend First.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Myth #10: All FGW services are over-crowded, short-formed, late, filthy and (according to social media) all staff are useless, rude, incompetent, lazy, stupid, unintelligent morons etc, etc. Also, if you ever provide the actual reason for a problem or a delay you are either lying, making it up or just giving an excuse (yes, I've been reading the FB page a bit too much recently...)

 

[43074]

Myth: If the people who run c2c also ran Greater Anglia, none of Greater Anglia's 'problems' would exist.

Myth: Combining InterCity and Local operations leads to better integration between them, as is the case with East Midlands Trains

 

[route:oxford]

Myth 11:

A reopened route must follow the exact path of the dismantled permanent way without deviation.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

If you travel on a 1st class cheap ticket on Virgin - you will be personally served by the bearded one with a cornucopia of fine foods and the finest wines available to mankind.


(known as a snackbox !)

 

[tbtc]

Myth #13: There are no trains in Lincolnshire on a Sunday

Myth #6 - It's a height limit in Ryde Tunnel that forces the use of tube stock.

While it would prevent some types of mainland rolling stock, the main constraint has always been on carriage length - sharp curves prevent the use of 20m vehicles.

Chris

Don't say that - you'll get people wanting to use the Island Line as a retirement home for 15m Pacers...

...ooh, Pacers plus sharp curves...

 

[oliMw]

Myth 14: All Services in Norfolk have up to 2 people on them at all times

 

[D365]

Don't say that - you'll get people wanting to use the Island Line as a retirement home for 15m Pacers...

...ooh, Pacers plus sharp curves...

Oh snap!

Random 'Myth' (n+1, n=14): No, the train will not wait for you if the barriers are coming down.

#..16: The yearly fare increases do in fact fund infrastructure

(Not a myth but I think we need a humour subforum under General Discussion for these myths, railway memes, puns (e.g. of a porcine variety; Bacon Chord) and the HS2 alternatives some protestors and MPs suggest (or not ) - me'thinks this should be a Mock The Week "Scenes We'd Like To See" topic - "Common Myths About The Railways")

 

[Gareth Marston]

Myth 17 TOCs not requiring subsidy overall means privatisation has been a financial success.

Myth 18 The growth in passenger numbers is entirely down to privitisation.

 

[AndyLandy]

Myth 19: Northern Rail refuse to clean their trains because they hate their customers.

 

[D365]

Myth #20: Virgin does in fact continue to own the Pendolinos and had First taken over, these would have been withdrawn and replaced with HSTs cascaded from GW, or worse... the dreaded P. In effect, WCML will revert to pre-privatisation state should Dicky&co be deposed from their throne

 

[ChiefPlanner]

This is the sort of debate I like ...

Myth 21 - all rail staff leap out of bed at 2.23 am each day , determined to provide the worst possible service to customers ..including dirtying each train before entering service with extra attention to those used by Daily Mail readers from the Surrey commuter belt.

 

[Chapeltom]

Myth 22: Travelling with Northern Rail is always a deeply unpleasant experience and they are too tight-fisted to buy any more carriages.

 

[317666]

Myth 23: If a train is newer then it is automatically better.

 

[AndyLandy]

Myth 24: Nothing has ever gone wrong on the ECML since it was taken over by DOR.

 

[TheManWho]

Myth 25: Greater Anglia is an absolutely awful operator, and have done nothing to improve the service to the good people of East Anglia

Myth 26: The good people of East Anglia deserve brand new trains, and Greater Anglia should be investing in them

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Myth 27 - the DfT does not interfere with train service specifications , is incredibly reactive to proposals for change - and welcomes changing the status quo ..

 

[oliMw]

Myth 28: Greater Anglia's 321s should be taken out of service immediately because they are to old

Myth 29: Nothing ever goes wrong with Virgin Trains