After trying to do my bit to help save the planet I have decided to try and take the train when ever possible to cut back on my fossil fuel energy use.
As a result I travelled to London with Wrexham and Shropshire railways – what a pleasant way to travel, clean comfortable and sociable caring staff.
So pleased with that journey I decided to take the 12.22pm Arriva train from Shrewsbury to Birmingham for a late afternoon business meeting, returning on the 8.57pm London Midland service from New Street.
What a contrast with Wrexham and Shropshire. The journey into Birmingham started well, between Shrewsbury and Telford the guard made two trips through the train, then the train became very full at Telford.
In the carriage were a number of young ladies, sorry females, who had placed shopping bags and other items on seats next to them.
Two of these females were asked for the luggage to be placed on the rack, with grunts and groans it was done, leaving five females ignoring the standees and not moving belongings.
With old people standing and with luggage on the seats I thought the guard would sort the issue out. To my amazement on leaving Telford, he opened the door from the rear cab, looked up and down, and immediately returned.
So then the return trip, no guard appeared and at one of the stations a number of youngsters aged from about 12 to 16 boarded playing explicit music at full volume and boasting that they hadn’t paid for tickets.
Tomorrow it is back to the car – I am not saving the planet for the likes of those morons.
Barrie Davies, Shrewsbury
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7 Comments
Arriva Trains are terrible. I don’t know how they keep winning franchises. Their trains are dirty, unreliable and the air con never works even on the hottest days. I find London Midland to be much better except when the Arriva train that was supposed to leave before them is cancelled or seriously delayed
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This is a common issue with rail travel in Shropshire, I am afraid that guards are never around especially on Arriva trains at any hint of trouble, they lock themselves in the rear drivers cab. As for females putting stuff on the seats, I agree, its always happening, always the young travellers, so much for higher A level results lets have manners back on the curriculum, a lot of these youths would not even get a D- in manners
By the way I am young myself
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Yes. The overcrowding in the rear driver’s cab must be very trying for the staff on Arriva Wales Trains. I can’t understand how they can cope, the poor dears.
Apparently the staff do not know how to cope with walking up and down the train and do not know how to contact British Transport Police.
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Well thanks to Matt I have a question answered , I thought Arriva had placed a large Churchill nodding dog in the rear of one of its trains as it passed through Shifnal the other day, it was the guard nodding off, and as for British Transport Police, no chance , have you not seen the posh Police cars lined up outside Shrewsbury Station, they now have them with Blue flashing lines to play with and two tones so why would they want to go near a dirty , smelly and be intimidated on an Arriva train like we have to ??????????
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Possibly somewhat better than a Virgin train, I paid £80 for a return ticket to London. Stood all the way there due to overbooking/lack of seating, and on the return trip we made is as far back as Oxford where the train stopped and we were all chucked off due to “bad weather causing problems on the tracks” (needless to say that train turned around and went back on those supposedly dangerous tracks) what’s more, no Virgin rep to compain to around at Oxford, and no chance of any recompense either for the lost expenses/cost of return home. Arriva may well be dirty/noisy/bad but at least those trains do run.
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What another bad day on the trains. The fast train to be birmingham was late so I had to catch the stopper. It was on time but it takes to long. On the return journey the Arriva was so late again I had to catch the stopper which ran late due to an incident in Birmingham. On top of that I understand fares are to go up for the second time this year. Why dont they collect more on the trains, as there must be a forune lost at Telford. Its hit or miss the ticket office is open. Bring back ticket checks at stations and maybe they would not have to go up so much!
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It has to be noted that so many are travelling on these trains and not paying, especially the full trains, like everything else those of us that are lawful and pay our dues are paying over the odds to pay for those that dont care. However the deterrent when they are caught is as big a farce as the Arriva railways themselves
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