Stupid passengers

[ValleyLines142]

I think it is fair to say that we've all caught our fair share of trains from time to time.

However, how many times have you encountered a stupid passenger, from social problems such as loud, disruptive behaviour to genuine mistakes such as jumping on the wrong train? I have an example of the latter.

On Wednesday, I caught the 1654 Bristol to Cardiff service. When we left Newport, which bearing in mind is a good half an hour from Bristol, a guy asks the person next to him what time the train would be arriving at Bridgwater!

The person in question, a commuter in a business suit, asks whether he is aware that the train we were on was the Cardiff train, and not the Bridgwater train. The guy obviously panics at this point, but the commuter very kindly informed him of what to do next as he had the National Rail app on his phone. He advised him to get the 1800 Cardiff to Taunton service (once we had arrived into Cardiff at 1743), which got to Bridgwater at 1948. I believe he was trying to get the 1653 Bristol to Bridgwater, which was due to arrive at 1746, so he ended up being two hours behind schedule.

He had evidently jumped on the wrong train, although I don't see how this is possible as the 1653 to Taunton departed from platform 4, and the 1654 to Cardiff departed from platform 7!

The question is: how did it take him HALF AN HOUR to realise he was on the wrong train? If he'd have realised by say Filton Abbey Wood or Patchway then fair enough, but at Newport that is extreme, considering Bridgwater is completely in the opposite direction!

Any other instances of silly billies out there?!

 

[Bill Stanier]

That doesn't sound particularly unusual. Many folk today are geographically challenged, not knowing for instance that Blackpool is north of London while Bournemouth is south.

I blame sat navs. And stupidity, which sat navs foster and maps don't.

 

[gorgonwilliam]

The fact that the guy asked what time the train would arrive at Bridgwater was surely a fair indication that it was his first time using the route.
More importantly, how does a genuine mistake make a person "stupid"?
By that one comment you are clearly implying that you are totally perfect and never make mistakes.
He could possibly have been misdirected by a TOC employee who, not having listened properly to what he was being asked, directed the passenger to the wrong platform.

 

[yorksrob]

I must confess, as a commuter, I've jumped on the wrong train before - particularly where a different service has been routed into your regular platform. Have usually realised my mistake before half an hour though. (perhaps an irregular traveller might not recognise the scenery or intermediate stops ?

 

[ValleyLines142]

The fact that the guy asked what time the train would arrive at Bridgwater was surely a fair indication that it was his first time using the route.
More importantly, how does a genuine mistake make a person "stupid"?
By that one comment you are clearly implying that you are totally perfect and never make mistakes.
He could possibly have been misdirected by a TOC employee who, not having listened properly to what he was being asked, directed the passenger to the wrong platform.

Not at all, but geographically one would know surely?

I think he was saying something about how a dispatcher sent him on the wrong train, but at the same time you only have to look at the departure board and the announcements on board the train.

I've done it in the past too, although only on a local Cardiff service where I was able to get off at the next station.

 

[Whistler40145]

I was once on an Institution of Mining Engineers tour, which departed from Manchester Piccadilly P13, one of the branch lines we were visiting was Dorrington (Salop) & a normal got on and at Stockport asked what time we arrived at Darlington!

 

[quarella]

There is definitely a lack of geographical awareness. Lack of awareness generally. Headphones on. Board train at this time. Bury head in laptop/phone. Get off at this time. A lot of passengers mistake the arrivals board for departures and if they do ask station staff a large number seem unable to tell the difference between 'from' and 'to', or phrase the enquiry in such a way that they are not asking the question they actually want answered.

 

[Hadders]

Maybe someone got confused and thought he said Bridgend rather than Bridgwater.

 

[Hyphen]

It can happen to the best of us! I consider myself a seasoned traveller, and can usually answer most questions the travelling public throw at me (I presumably look like a seasoned traveller, and people ask me questions over staff - anyone else get this?).

However, one Friday afternoon when I was living in Sheffield, I left work early to visit my parents for the weekend - going to Nottingham by train. After buying a ticket, I looked at the departure boards to see an EMT Norwich service was a few minutes from departing. I ran up the bridge and down onto the platform 2/5 island.

I was aware of the 'usual' platforms in use, so headed directly for 5. I glanced at the board, noticed I had 50 seconds before departure, and jumped on the train. Doors closed, whistle blown, train started moving. Sat down, feeling pleased with myself I'd made this train and didn't have to wait half an hour for the Northern. It was only when we got to Dore and I felt the train nudge to the right, and an awful sinking feeling set in - I was on the Liverpool!!

After realising my fate was set, and that I was on my way to Stockport, it occurred to me - I looked at the board which must have said 'Liverpool Lime St', but was only focussed on the time. I even realised the cab destination blinds between the two units said Liverpool Lime St, but assumed they wouldn't change the middle ones. The worst thing of all - the Norwich was only on plat 2, and I would have had time to get it had I realised!

 

[EM2]

I've had customers insistent that they were catching a particular train that doesn't run on the day in question, and produce a ticket, only for it to be for the day before.

 

[table38]

I got on a southbound Victoria line tube at Euston on Tuesday, sat down and looked at the map above the windows and wondered why they were using Northern line stock on the Victoria line.

It all became clear when we arrived at the next station, Kings Cross...

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Funny, I did the opposite not long ago. Hopped on a train at Bradford Interchange for Halifax and had forgotten my phone so was gazing out of the window and realised I had no idea if I was on the right train since I couldn't recognise any of the scenery.

Turns out it was the right train, although on that service - the looping Selby to Wakefield via Halifax and Huddersfield, I did see someone kicking off at Bradford Interchange that the train although advertised as being for Wakefield, would not get there for another hour or more. More recently I think they advertise it as a Huddersfield train instead.

 

[edwin_m]

I got caught out once by the double platforms at Temple Meads in the days of XC HSTs. One too long for its half of the platform and the end coach was underneath the indicator for my train which was to arrive a bit later at the other end of the platform. When the conductor announced the train was going to Plymouth I had time to jump off but left my coat behind on the rack.

 

[Hyphen]

The only other time I did a silly like this, I was absolutely knackered after a long day in the office. I was heading to Chesterfield and duly waited on Plat 6 for a southbound service. I saw the EMT slow was leaving from Plat 7, but I couldn't be bothered rushing so opted to wait for the next Voyager. Despite showing on time on the boards, it ended up 10 or so late, and I was in a fairly fed up mood by the time it arrived.

Got on it, sat down, and just as the doors were beeping shut, I realised I was on a Reading - the only southbound train from Sheffield that doesn't stop at Chesterfield...! The worst thing about this was that not only had a let a train go that was stopping at Chesterfield, that I'd had about 15 mins on the platform to read the boards and be told it wasn't stopping!

I think complacency, and assuming I knew it all, led to these two incidents!

 

[LowLevel]

Earphones are the worst evils for transport going. If people miss important announcements because of them it's entirely their fault and would, I have to say, constitute stupidity. The EMT Liverpool service has already been mentioned - I know of a case of a passenger boarding a train at Nottingham wanting Norwich and being wrapped up in earphones so that it wasn't until leaving Liverpool on the return when the guard checked their ticket a second time they realised they were on the wrong train. Yes, the guard should have been more attentive doing their grip, but that's still insane. That included a layover in Liverpool.

I also know of a woman who called a colleague an incompetent b*****d when she missed two trains on the trot due to platform alterations during disruption but still refused to take her earphones out after missing the first and after that tirade was basically told to get off the station and find her own way home.

 

[Mugby]

There's more information than ever these days, principal stations have very large departure boards at the entrance, displays on every platform, announcements, most units have destination screens and side displays also, interior scrolling dot matrix screens, on train announcements, some still have window stickers - plus the fact that you can ASK and still people get wrong!

I was on an XC Nottingham to Cardiff recently which stopped at University, someone got on who obviously wanted an LM cross city service to Redditch and ended up in Cheltenham.
Not only the wrong train but the wrong train operator!

 

[Bevan Price]

Departure screens can be a menace if you are in a hurry, and instead of displaying the next train, they are lingering on some boring safety notice. It would be all too easy to board the wrong train in such circumstances.

I think I have twice accidentally boarded the wrong train, neither causing real problems.

1. Many years ago at Leeds Central, I was going to Doncaster. 2x2 car dmus together in the platform, so I joined the front coach. Train departed early - oops - it was for Bradford Exchange. Fortunately the guard recognised my error, and directed me to a Bradford - Kings Cross portion in an adjacent platform at Bradford - bonus was unintended, new track via Morley Top.

2. Carlisle, early hours of morning with ALR, 1970s. No announcements, no display monitors, no staff to ask. Northbound train appears at about expected time for Euston - Stranraer night service. Boarded train - it was only after we failed to turn left at Gretna Junction that I realised this was a Euston - Glasgow service. No real problem, just reached Glasgow a lot earlier than I had planned for that day.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Lost count how many passengers have ben on one of my services over the years with headphones and looked stunned when I informed them that they were on the wrong train, and still had the cheek to blame me lol

 

[Flamingo]

I once got on a Bristol-Cardiff train, and was very surprised when I looked up from my book at the first stop, and I was looking at Bath, not Filton Abbey Woods. I'd looked at the Arrivals, not Departures board.

It can happen to the best of us!

 

[Kite159]

On Saturday a family of 3 got onto a Pembroke Dock bound train at Carmarthen and asked the guard when it was going to Bridgend. Cue them dashing at Whitland to get to the Manchester bound train on the other platform

Last year at Waterloo I was coming up the stairs to find a Poole train getting ready to depart and needing to get back to Basingstoke, a Poole train would seem a good bet that it would stop at Basingstoke, but I managed to catch the Weymouth express (cut short due to engineering works) which doesn't stop at Basingstoke. Cue alighting at Woking and awaiting the next Basingstoke train (which I caught the stopper instead of the fast service)

Departure screens didn't help as it was on page 2 of 3, with an health & safety notice following.

I've done it before with the diesels out of Waterloo, mistiming it to get onto an Exeter train which only stops at Andover between Salisbury & Basingstoke instead of the Salisbury 'stopper', nice 30 minute wait at Basingstoke

 

[muz379]

Lost count how many passengers have ben on one of my services over the years with headphones and looked stunned when I informed them that they were on the wrong train, and still had the cheek to blame me lol

Headphones are such a menace , ive been on trains before when the guard has been making an announcement that the train is being diverted or cancelled short for some reason and someone has missed it because of their headphones . to only pull them out 20 minutes later wondering what is going on .

 

[transportphoto]

Reminds me of this... https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BGZc_m9CYAE191m.jpg

TP

 

[Qwerty133]

The women who asked 'which train for Leicester', at Leicester.
The man who thought it acceptable to have a phone conversation with the loud speaker on, even if train staff can't do owt as its not music.
The man who started shouting goodbye and waving when he saw someone miss the train.
probably seen others but thats all I can think of immediately

 

[Paul180]

I must confess, as a commuter, I've jumped on the wrong train before - particularly where a different service has been routed into your regular platform. Have usually realised my mistake before half an hour though. (perhaps an irregular traveller might not recognise the scenery or intermediate stops ?

I have done that be fore at woking wanting a Guildford train i jump on a train on the wright platform and time as I usually get, looking out of the windsor thinking I have not realized before That there are 4 tracks between Woking and Guildford, Then it suddenly dawn on me that there are not 4 tracks between Woking and Guildford but 2, I was on the wrong train next stop Basingstoke.:cry:

 

[EM2]

The women who asked 'which train for Leicester', at Leicester.

I've had customers ask me 'how do I get to St Pancras?', when stood in St Pancras.

 

[sd0733]

I saw a passenger the other day when I was passing back who I felt sorry for as she had added hours to her journey, she was going Chester to Southend via London. Someone presumably told her she needed Liverpool Street and she then caught a Virgin service to Liverpool from Euston. Ended up back in Crewe to have a second trip down to Euston!

 

[kevconnor]

Let this be a cautionary tale to never try to book anything whilst under the influence of anything stronger than a polo mint.

A number of years ago made some last minute plans to head back to Manchester from Sheffield where I was living at the time. decision was made whilst at the pub one Wed evening having some midweek drinks and then think it would be a good idea after getting home to fire up the laptop and try and book some cheaper advanced tickets online. Advanced tickets purchase with YP railcard at £5 and suitably satisfied head to bed. Friday comes around and head from work to Sheffield Station go to ticket machine to collect tickets and reservation number doesn't work. after some frantic checking of emails by phone soon realised they had been selected to collect from Manchester, thinking that is odd as I am travelling from Sheffield I head to the customer services desk to see if anything can be done. after some phone calls informed I can collect them from ticket office but then asked why am only just collecting them now from Sheffield as my train is due to depart in 30 minutes from Manchester. Face Palm

 

[chorleyjeff]

I think it is fair to say that we've all caught our fair share of trains from time to time.

However, how many times have you encountered a stupid passenger, from social problems such as loud, disruptive behaviour to genuine mistakes such as jumping on the wrong train? I have an example of the latter.

On Wednesday, I caught the 1654 Bristol to Cardiff service. When we left Newport, which bearing in mind is a good half an hour from Bristol, a guy asks the person next to him what time the train would be arriving at Bridgwater!

The person in question, a commuter in a business suit, asks whether he is aware that the train we were on was the Cardiff train, and not the Bridgwater train. The guy obviously panics at this point, but the commuter very kindly informed him of what to do next as he had the National Rail app on his phone. He advised him to get the 1800 Cardiff to Taunton service (once we had arrived into Cardiff at 1743), which got to Bridgwater at 1948. I believe he was trying to get the 1653 Bristol to Bridgwater, which was due to arrive at 1746, so he ended up being two hours behind schedule.

He had evidently jumped on the wrong train, although I don't see how this is possible as the 1653 to Taunton departed from platform 4, and the 1654 to Cardiff departed from platform 7!

The question is: how did it take him HALF AN HOUR to realise he was on the wrong train? If he'd have realised by say Filton Abbey Wood or Patchway then fair enough, but at Newport that is extreme, considering Bridgwater is completely in the opposite direction!

Any other instances of silly billies out there?!

Me
At York got on tpe train at correct platform but it went North instead of South.
Realised in a nanosecond after it set off. Guard was very understanding with my stupid geriatric confusion.
I should have got the next train from the same platform.
I got a train in the correct direction from the same platform an hour later.
Many years ago intending to go to Blackpool from Preston I got on train behind a Newton Heath 5XP assuming it was yet another Manchester to Blackpool train. But it went straight ahead at Maudland instead of bearing left. Spent two hours at Lancaster waiting for the next train back - doh.

 

[TheWalrus]

Has anyone ever done a really bad one, ie got a train at Taunton by mistake and ended up in Reading, King's Cross and York or Euston and Warrington for example?

 

[muz379]

whenever anyone asks if the 142 standing in the platform next to them is going to "insert name of any far away place you wouldnt want to go on a 142 here"

Or the cute passengers that always ask where first class is on a 142