Archives for the 'public transport' Category
spin
Friday, February 3rd, 2006
It’s amazing how much bias can be included in a newspaper article, especially one you expect to report factually. Today, The Times reports on the decision to axe the Gatwick Express rail service. The emphasis in the article is that cutting back this service is a bad thing. However, they conveniently fail to mention a [...]
the east cursed main line
Thursday, January 19th, 2006
Yesterday I travelled to London for the day, using GNER down the east coast. I think I’m cursed on this line, as the last time I tried to do such a long return journey in one day, I got severely held up (because a Virgin train in front of mine caught fire, causing us to [...]
and one step cheaper than the megatrain?
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2005
you could always print your own rail tickets. ebay deleted the on-train ticket machine before the auction could close. clearly it was stolen.
the greatest transport revolution since…?
Monday, October 31st, 2005
It’s been a long time coming, but today Stagecoach announced the launch of megatrain.com. Following a similar model to their low-cost intercity bus service, they will sell seats on less popular trains from just £1. They will initially operate this model using a couple of services, operated by South West Trains from London to Southampton [...]
expense for what
Sunday, October 2nd, 2005
not on my watch pointed out the following interesting article from the Observer today. I’d be quite miffed if I’d paid a few hundred quid for a Virgin train ticket, even if the did give me one of those awful snack boxes.
a first class experience
Friday, September 9th, 2005
Yesterday I moved to Edinburgh using a Virgin Train. I travelled first class, because for some reason it was the only advance ticket Virgin would sell me, and it was only £25. Unfortunately, Virgin’s complementary food wasn’t so first class, although there was a lot of it. During the journey I knowingly consumed E134, E127, [...]
cool not so cool
Wednesday, September 7th, 2005
GNER have announced that cyclists are now able to make reservations for their bicycles using their web site. The trainline removed this functionality some years ago, and so cycle reservations can only be made in person or by phone. Excellent move by GNER, except for the implementation detail. A cyclist fills in an online form, [...]
just (not) the ticket
Saturday, June 25th, 2005
I returned to Brighton this week, for my last proper visit. Having left Bristol I realised I’d forgotten my return train ticket, so had to buy a new one. This aside, Brighton was fun. The weather was ridiculously hot, and while sitting on my fire-escape balcony for the last time, I felt like I was [...]
cardy
Tuesday, May 24th, 2005
Due to my unwillingness to wait for Virgin Trains to release their weekend tickets for June (still waiting, on 24 May!), I have planned an alternative route to Newcastle at the end of June, from Bristol via London*. This means travelling GNER instead of Virgin. For 2 people, travelling with bicycles, this journey involves no [...]
virgin and spatial quotas
Tuesday, May 10th, 2005
quota A maximum or minimum limit on quantity – from dictionary.com But not according to Virgin Trains. They sell a number of ‘quota controlled’ advance tickets which offer substantial discounts on regular ‘open’ fares, making train travel feasable. Having purchased 2 tickets via their rather tiresome telephone line (it is not possible to make cycle [...]