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Trains and Tables.
morcus - 16/12/11 at 08:05 PM

Why do trains only have about two tables with 4 seats together these days and why is it that they're all occupied by 1 person even if you get on at the first station?

Obviously the second one isn't really down to the train companies but surely they could put in more seats facing each other for people travelling in groups. I went to London, on the high speed train, for a course this week, on the way up we went as a group of three and literally the only seats with anyone on them were single people on the tables. I did get to sit behind Vic Reeves but was too starstruck to talk to him. three days later only 2 of us this time and granted it was 4pm leaving London a half empty train but hardly any where for two people to sit together.

The old trains were almost all groups of four seats facing each other and I just don't see why they'd change that.

On a side note, when does the money come off an oyster card, when you get on the tube or when you get off?

loggyboy - 16/12/11 at 08:24 PM

angle of the seat backs means more seats if all seats face the same way.

ash_hammond - 16/12/11 at 08:51 PM

With reference to the Oyster the following happens:

As you tap in the maximum amount for the theoretical journey is taken from your account, say £8.

If you only make a zone 1 journey at £2, then £6 will be credited back your account as you tap out.

Thats why its really important to tap out.

With regards to trains its the flipping costs that gets me £189 return to London and that does not gaurentee a seat!!

jacko - 16/12/11 at 08:51 PM

It's bum's on seats = more money
Jacko

Ninehigh - 16/12/11 at 09:24 PM

Given the complaints I've heard about trains I wonder why they waste space on seats...

Simon - 16/12/11 at 11:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ash_hammond
With regards to trains its the flipping costs that gets me £189 return to London and that does not gaurentee a seat!!


That's why if I can't get to where I'm going without public transport, I won't go. I got three of us from Kent to Tweed Valley (south of Edinburgh) and home for under £150 worth of diesel

ATB

Simon

PSpirine - 17/12/11 at 12:38 AM

I begrudgingly take a train perhaps 3 times a year on average..

Last time I paid £40 for a one-way between Leamington and Manchester (direct train) - only to have to stand for 3 hours by the loos with about a bajillion other people, most of whom were drunk. Obviously didn't get my ticket checked till about Stoke as the conductor couldn't walk through the crowd until then.

The arrangement of the seats was ona completely different level of not caring for me at that point..


The worst thing is, I actually find the train experience potentially interesting and exciting, particularly getting a long-distance train. But not if it's so incredibly awful. They just put me off wanting to ever take one.


I'll just drive, ta. (London excluded)

morcus - 17/12/11 at 07:04 AM

I probably would have driven if I'd got money back for parking.

Agriv8 - 17/12/11 at 10:58 AM

I usaully go for a table seat even when I am on my own because its the only one I can get my knees in ( 38 inch ) inside leg !! and ussually have the laptop on

bobinspain - 17/12/11 at 11:50 AM

Back in the early 80s I worked in the MOD in Whitehall and commuted daily from a village half an hour's drive from Doncaster railway station.
I thought I was a real hero, until I dicovered there was a chap who did the daily commute from Hull to London.

When we moved to Essex in the 90s, my Witham-Liverpool St season ticket was £3,800. (It's now six grand).

Someone quoted on this thread £189 Sheffield-London rtn. Outrageous!

The two hour, high speed train from Barcelona to our place (250km) costs 25 euros with a booked seat. Bargain !

Confused but excited. - 17/12/11 at 02:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by bobinspain
Back in the early 80s I worked in the MOD in Whitehall and commuted daily from a village half an hour's drive from Doncaster railway station.
I thought I was a real hero, until I dicovered there was a chap who did the daily commute from Hull to London.

When we moved to Essex in the 90s, my Witham-Liverpool St season ticket was £3,800. (It's now six grand).

Someone quoted on this thread £189 Sheffield-London rtn. Outrageous!

The two hour, high speed train from Barcelona to our place (250km) costs 25 euros with a booked seat. Bargain !


The massive differential in costs between UK and Europe, is the British Disease. We moan about everything but do nothing, so we get screwed. They take to the streets if they don't like something. ie; Wheel clamps in Paris for instance.

Badger_McLetcher - 17/12/11 at 04:55 PM

Resisting the urge to go on the full rant, but basically the system of running the railways we have in this country is god awful. Another thing is that companies do not like having rolling stock standing idle, which means they pare what they have down to the bone. Thus the system is found wanting when peak demands hit.
As for the seating, as someone said it's just like airlines where they sandwich in as many as possible. I think (and I may be wrong on this) the load capacity of the train is given in seats, and they're allowed some multiplication of this number standing. Thus by increasing seat numbers you greatly increase rated load capacity, even though the actual space involved has not changed.

Simon - 17/12/11 at 05:15 PM

My wife's season ticket to London is £3.5k p.a.; when my bro lived in Lux he had unlimited travel on their buses (which were nearly as quick as cars) for 30ish Euro a month.

All the railway track should be sold to the pikeys and the lines replaces with tarmac and the stations turned in huge multistorey carparks

ATB

Simon