I wonder if any member has had the same difficulties with the incompetence of National Express station staff as I did this Saturday gone at Cambridge Station. I would love your comments on what I might of not done, what I should of done and would i be reasonable to take this up with the Head Offices of First Capital Connect (Station "owner") and NXEA (Station staff).
I tried to gain a platform ticket with an Italian friend on Saturday to do some spotting. Before I had arrived my friend had tried to gain access, he was point blank refused entry. So on my walk to the station i searched for "my rights" on google and came accross the very useful National Rail Enquires site guidance.
I often in my native South West Trains/First Great Western barrierland ask for a platform ticket, issued with one and I go and watch the Freightliners etc pass through.
I went up to the barrier staff who was a tempory worker from a agency company who did not have a clue, so i instantly asked after the duty station manager for permission to enter the platform, along the guide lines of National Rail Enquiries. A whole team of staff and managers came through, the first, a nice chap said yes ill let you through if you sign in at my office. Instantly a grumpy lady point blank refused access to the station, I told the woman that she had no legal right to reject me and my friend access, under the guidelines of National Rail Enquires that i quoted at her. I am lodging a formal complaint with NatEx head office as the woman was very much like "why would you want to train spot, your not 10 years old, theres a perfectly good bridge over there!". Rather humilating as you could all imagine! Now i assume it is just National Express (Ive heard the rumours about how awful they and FCC are before i moved here), or do many Cambridge spotters find it difficult to access the platforms when we have every right to do so?
I do feel rather angry and embarassed for my Italian friend that we were refused access to go and watch some 170, 317, 365, 379s pass by. I even told my friend that he could only take photos with written permission from the TOC, so he didnt bring along his larger camera?
Thank you for all your comments in advance.
I tried to gain a platform ticket with an Italian friend on Saturday to do some spotting. Before I had arrived my friend had tried to gain access, he was point blank refused entry. So on my walk to the station i searched for "my rights" on google and came accross the very useful National Rail Enquires site guidance.
I often in my native South West Trains/First Great Western barrierland ask for a platform ticket, issued with one and I go and watch the Freightliners etc pass through.
I went up to the barrier staff who was a tempory worker from a agency company who did not have a clue, so i instantly asked after the duty station manager for permission to enter the platform, along the guide lines of National Rail Enquiries. A whole team of staff and managers came through, the first, a nice chap said yes ill let you through if you sign in at my office. Instantly a grumpy lady point blank refused access to the station, I told the woman that she had no legal right to reject me and my friend access, under the guidelines of National Rail Enquires that i quoted at her. I am lodging a formal complaint with NatEx head office as the woman was very much like "why would you want to train spot, your not 10 years old, theres a perfectly good bridge over there!". Rather humilating as you could all imagine! Now i assume it is just National Express (Ive heard the rumours about how awful they and FCC are before i moved here), or do many Cambridge spotters find it difficult to access the platforms when we have every right to do so?
I do feel rather angry and embarassed for my Italian friend that we were refused access to go and watch some 170, 317, 365, 379s pass by. I even told my friend that he could only take photos with written permission from the TOC, so he didnt bring along his larger camera?
Thank you for all your comments in advance.