It's oft said that the average American's only experience of rail is being stuck at a crossing while the worlds longest, slowest freight train creeps past. Given the generally disdainful attitute towards trains here I wonder what the British equivalent is. (@garethdennis.bsky.social I guess) - ThreadSky

stonewolf.bsky.social • 50 days ago

It's oft said that the average American's only experience of rail is being stuck at a crossing while the worlds longest, slowest freight train creeps past.

Given the generally disdainful attitute towards trains here I wonder what the British equivalent is.

(@garethdennis.bsky.social I guess)

Comments

tonstadtlagerplatz.bsky.social•49 days ago

Waiting on Platform 16 at Leeds and hearing that the Manchester/Liverpool express is delayed, so should one take the slow train that leaves in ten minutes, but might be held back to allow the delayed express through.

tonstadtlagerplatz.bsky.social•49 days ago

Because the rail link between two of the largest cities in the United Kingdom is only two tracks.

garethdennis.bsky.social•49 days ago

train ticket booking websites

cadburymoose.bsky.social•49 days ago

The Avanti ticket machines, which reliably "lock up" and stop accepting your collection code partway - then pop up an "are you still there" dialog box that you can't dismiss. Fortunately BHM and BHI both have staff-operated ticket machines and can print your (pre-paid) tickets. 3:O#>

cadburymoose.bsky.social•49 days ago

The websites are f***ing annoying, too. I know where I want to go, when, and via where, just show me the fr*gging timetable and pricing. (Being able to filter on the operator would be good, too.)

I miss https://www.transportdirect.info (which we used to run), that was simple to use and it worked. 3:O(>

blizard.io•49 days ago

This is the average person in Spalding, Lincolnshire's, experience with trains too.

heysfan75.bsky.social•49 days ago

{Start} Complaining it's too expensive/will just be late then blindly comparing it to somewhere in Europe they have never been to then saying 'Bring back British Rail' and finally refusing to pay for any of it because {GOTO Start}

neverwright.bsky.social•44 days ago

Missing a connection because two separate train companies don’t realise that the blow of cancelling one train, could be softened by adjusting the arrival of another so commuters don’t have to wait 30 mins (although I appreciate that it’ll probably cause a problem. Actually no I don’t).

stealthisbook.bsky.social•49 days ago

Maybe not as common, but certainly more frustrating is when that train has stopped, blocking every crossing in town. No worries that they're ignoring regs, because they will dutifully sound the horn as required

backpaw.bsky.social•50 days ago

Desperately hoping your delayed first train crawls into the interchange station before the connection you should have had 20 minutes to board leaves without you.

tuftyindigo.bsky.social•50 days ago

being stuck at a station while no trains at all creep past?

youjogirl.bsky.social•49 days ago

The complete absence of a railway line between two cities fairly close to each other that really ought to have one, such as Hereford and Gloucester (thank you Beeching)

lupestripe.bsky.social•50 days ago

East Midlands Railway

coleridgeandbeyond.com•49 days ago

This train is exceptionally crowded because of the cancellation of a previous service. Please make use of all available space. No seat reservations are in operation. There will be no refreshment trolley service because it cannot get through safely.

proogs.bsky.social•49 days ago

It depends where you are in the country. London/commuter - having to wait 5 mins for a tube is a disgrace. Northern trains - generally not terrible if you're traveling for leisure but if you rely on the timetable it's 50:50 as to whether it works or not.

v1v3k31.bsky.social•49 days ago

15 mins sometimes on the Heathrow Branch. Worse than EL

badwolfbrock.com•50 days ago

Rail replacement bus services.

lilcrowther.bsky.social•49 days ago

With a twee little sign on the front saying ‘Choo choo I’m a train!’.

bestfoxes.com•49 days ago

I was gonna reply this exactly

badwolfbrock.com•49 days ago

They’re what happens when people here are cursed by atrociously bad luck.

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