Do people really hate trains?

[Cobbles]

Trains in the Uk are vile.

On a regular 3 hour Virgin trek that I am subjected to, the toilets rarely seem to work and the "shop" seems to spend 50% of its time closed waiting for staff. On one occasion, the train actually ran out of water - hardly rocket science. GNER is worse, with foul old train sets interspersed with the 1990's ex Eurostar tackle. Also, it's appallingly expensive - if I use the train for anything over 200 miles I generally have to factor in an overnight stay by which time it's cheaper to fly. In Scotland, the majority of stock is tiny little sprinter DMU's with no space and as much speed as a Citroen 2CV.

 

[PacificOcean]

What amuses me is the Virgin Train to Birmingham. It trots up as merry as you please to Nuneaton, then rather embarresingly it has to be pulled by a diesal engine to Birmingham as I take it they haven't electrfied that part of the track.

And it may be just bad timing but every time we went to Stockport last year, that section of track between Stockport and Manchester was closed and we had to get a bus from Wilmslow. Five times in all. What are they doing on that particular bit?

 

[Velouria]

This has come out of trying to plan our wedding...

I'm quite keen to get somewhere that people can easily reach by direct train from London (maybe plus a short cab ride at the end) as we're looking out of town. But people keep saying things like 'Trains are a faff' or 'You can't ask people to go by train?'

Do people really object to them that much?

I suspect that people who do haven't been on non-local trains for a while. I know rush hour and local services can be crap, but, other than Virgin, I've found most trains going between longer distances these days to be reliable, quiet and comfortable. If not cheap, no. But I think trains are simple and nice and it's not asking much to expect someone to sit on a train for an hour or so to get somewhere, maybe reading, chatting or having a drink. Or am I the only person who thinks like this?

Trains can be a total pain in the arse. And people aren't going to want to possibly stand in their finery all the way to your wedding, which is a possibility with trains.

The really cool thing would be if you could charter a train to go to the wedding. Possible, but pricey.... Your naysayers would probably love the idea, then. Course then you're on a timetable & have no flexibility so won't please everyone...

Good luck

 

[LilMissHissyFit]

I have no problem with trains at all. My ex wouldnt entertain the idea of going anywhere by train, I dont think he'd ever actually been on one, was just regurgutating his parents view on everything

 

[mauvais]

I love trains

I take them everywhere and it's always pleasant enough. Never had a journey ruined or an appointment missed because of cancellations/late running, and avoided spending thousands of pounds on a car.

Virgin Trains, First North Western's new stuff, and Central Trains around Nottingham are all really good. Even the stations are noticeably improving.

 

[Hollis]

Yeah - but I'm fucked off with the high prices for last minute/last week booking.

 

[Markyd]

I love travelling by train but I can't rely on them and it means I have to mix with plebs who smell!

The second bit is a joke!

 

[geminisnake]

I love travelling by train but I can't rely on them and it means I have to mix with plebs who smell!

The second bit is a joke!

No, it's not. You live on the GNER line. A lot of the people who travel that line stink of cigarettes and alcohol, neither a scent I am fond of.

 

[Lava]

As long as they're running ok, trains are fab.

 

[davesgcr]

Went to Cardiff yesterday - snow and ice - blizzards - used local trains there all trains on time. M4 at a stand for hours outside Swindon - glimpsed from warm train.

To York today - 2 hrs each way and again spot on time - freezing weather but quality journey.

 

[Fuchs66]

In UK hmmm average, in Germany was good getting worse and in Japan Shinkanse brilliant regional trains hell, in Poland, bring a sense of humour. That about sums up my train experiences I'll get me snorkel jacket.

 

[8ball]

I was wondering how environmentally friendly trains really are and found this article:
http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/0000000CAF2C.htm

I'm not sure about some of the arguments.

Me, I use the train to get to work every day. There's apparently no legal limit to how many people they're allowed to cram onto a train and I'm waiting for them to be levering us in with crowbars soon. It's actually making me consider getting a car - someone puked on it yesterday morning . . .

 

[chio]

And it may be just bad timing but every time we went to Stockport last year, that section of track between Stockport and Manchester was closed and we had to get a bus from Wilmslow. Five times in all. What are they doing on that particular bit?

The lines round here have been plagued with engineering work for the past few years. Most of 2004/5 was spent with rail replacement buses between either of Crewe-Manchester or Stoke-Manchester; they closed each line in turn to do whatever they do to them.

In December, Crewe-Manchester closed again until March, which has just been extended until June. The Stoke-Manchester line is still closed most weekends. Until I started driving, it was like being cut off - certainly never going back to relying on the line.