wrote:
I remember many years ago that somebody got off a charge of
travelling without a ticket because they had waited a long time in
a queue then rather than miss the train got on without a ticket.
At Watford Junc this morning two machines were out of order and the
queue at the one working machine and at the booking office would
have meant a wait of at least 20 minutes if not longer.
I managed to buy a ticket from the excess window otherwise I would
have got back in the car and driven to work.
Are there any figures around for what is an unacceptable wait
because this morning was a shambles.
It will be a long time before I am stupid enough to rely on National
rail again.

But you don't think it's stupid to base your expectation of the service
from any Train Operating Company anywhere in the country solely on this
one incident at Watford Junction?
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

What are suggesting, that I drive to say St Albans and start my journey
there because Thameslink aren't as uselss as Silverlink. If I live in
Watford and start my journey in Watford then surely I should expect to
be able to buy a ticket without queuing for 20 minutes. As it happened
I didn't but lots of people obviously did. Not much use in considering
rail travel if you have to add an indeterminate amount of time to your
journey to cover the purchase of a ticket.

Kevin

) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

What are suggesting, that I drive to say St Albans and start my journey
there because Thameslink aren't as uselss as Silverlink. If I live in
Watford and start my journey in Watford then surely I should expect to
be able to buy a ticket without queuing for 20 minutes.

You could walk to the Met line station?

wrote:
What are [you] suggesting,

If you're replying to my post, it would be helpful not to snip all of
it.

that I drive to say St Albans and start my journey there because
Thameslink aren't as uselss as Silverlink. If I live in Watford
and start my journey in Watford then surely I should expect to
be able to buy a ticket without queuing for 20 minutes.

Yes, but why do you assume that this is always a problem on the basis of
this one incident?

As it happened I didn't but lots of people obviously did. Not
much use in considering rail travel if you have to add an
indeterminate amount of time to your journey to cover the
purchase of a ticket.

But you have indeterminate delays in every mode of travel. Have you
never been in a traffic jam in your car? I should stay at home if I
were you.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

wrote to uk.transport.london on Thu, 24 Mar 2005:

What are suggesting, that I drive to say St Albans and start my journey
there because Thameslink aren't as uselss as Silverlink. If I live in
Watford and start my journey in Watford then surely I should expect to
be able to buy a ticket without queuing for 20 minutes. As it happened
I didn't but lots of people obviously did. Not much use in considering
rail travel if you have to add an indeterminate amount of time to your
journey to cover the purchase of a ticket.

But how often is there (a) a very long queue and (b) ticket machines out
of order?

If I know I'm going to travel, and suspect there will be a queue at the
time of day I wish to go, I usually try to buy my ticket earlier in the
day, or even the previous day. And, of course, for many journeys,
buying in advance is a very great deal cheaper!
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 20 March 2005

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:20:18 +0000, Mrs Redboots wrote:
But how often is there (a) a very long queue

Always in peak

and (b) ticket machines out of order?

About 60% of the time one of them is out of order, about 30% of the time
they are both out of order, at least at my local station. Pay by card? No
choice but the ticket window.

If I know I'm going to travel, and suspect there will be a queue at the
time of day I wish to go, I usually try to buy my ticket earlier in the
day, or even the previous day. And, of course, for many journeys,
buying in advance is a very great deal cheaper!


Most people dont want to plan travel in advance. The beuaty of a car is
"I need to travel, I travel". It's only on very long distance trips,
mainly airplanes, that people buy well in advance. For daily and weekly
tasks people travel spontaneously.

--
Everything I write here is my personal opinion, and should not be taken as fact.

Paul Weaver wrote to uk.transport.london on Fri, 25 Mar 2005:

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:20:18 +0000, Mrs Redboots wrote:
But how often is there (a) a very long queue

Always in peak

and (b) ticket machines out of order?

About 60% of the time one of them is out of order, about 30% of the time
they are both out of order, at least at my local station. Pay by card? No
choice but the ticket window.

From your original posting, it sounded as though you only go there once
in a blue moon.....

If I know I'm going to travel, and suspect there will be a queue at the
time of day I wish to go, I usually try to buy my ticket earlier in the
day, or even the previous day. And, of course, for many journeys,
buying in advance is a very great deal cheaper!


Most people dont want to plan travel in advance. The beuaty of a car is
"I need to travel, I travel". It's only on very long distance trips,
mainly airplanes, that people buy well in advance. For daily and weekly
tasks people travel spontaneously.

I think you'll find that those going on longer-distance rail journeys
now buy their tickets in advance, since, just like on an aeroplane, it
is a lot cheaper to do so (business travellers funding the rest of us,
as per usual). For local trips, of course, a Travelcard suffices....
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 20 March 2005

Mrs Redboots typed


I think you'll find that those going on longer-distance rail journeys
now buy their tickets in advance, since, just like on an aeroplane, it
is a lot cheaper to do so (business travellers funding the rest of us,
as per usual). For local trips, of course, a Travelcard suffices....

Watford Junction is outside Zone 6 (but a bus pass will get you there on
a 142 or 258) and 8.5 miles from here. It's hardly the sort of place I'd
pop to get a ticket. Getting tickets online require several days to
allow for the post...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

"Mrs Redboots" wrote in message
...
About 60% of the time one of them is out of order, about 30% of the time
they are both out of order, at least at my local station. Pay by card? No
choice but the ticket window.

From your original posting, it sounded as though you only go there once
in a blue moon.....

I wasn't the OP, just my experience at Twyford

(earlier you wrote)
If I know I'm going to travel, and suspect there will be a queue at the
time of day I wish to go, I usually try to buy my ticket earlier in the
day, or even the previous day. And, of course, for many journeys,
buying in advance is a very great deal cheaper!

(then wrote)
I think you'll find that those going on longer-distance rail journeys
now buy their tickets in advance, since, just like on an aeroplane, it
is a lot cheaper to do so (business travellers funding the rest of us,
as per usual). For local trips, of course, a Travelcard suffices....

For those in London that travel regularly. As for longer distance, do you
have any authorative figures to back up your absurd statement? Regardless,
what "cheap tickets" can you pick up by going to the station the previous
day or a few hours in advance? Why would you spend an hour goign to the
station and back just to buy tickets? Perhaps if
1) Local stations had fastticket machines
2) They worked and didn't run out of tickets
3) If the f.t. machine wasn't working you could pick your ticket up with
minimal hastle from the ticket office, or on board
4) You had a guarenteed time your ticket wil be available, not (after paying
for it), getting an email stating
Unfortunately due to a technical fault you will not be able to use this
for the next 2-5 hours.

Then you might have a situation where people will buy things like CDRs in
advance.

Paul Weaver wrote to uk.transport.london on Fri, 25 Mar 2005:

"Mrs Redboots" wrote in message
...
About 60% of the time one of them is out of order, about 30% of the time
they are both out of order, at least at my local station. Pay by card? No
choice but the ticket window.

From your original posting, it sounded as though you only go there once
in a blue moon.....

I wasn't the OP, just my experience at Twyford

The OP was talking about Watford Junction, I believe, which is in rather
a different place!

(earlier you wrote)
If I know I'm going to travel, and suspect there will be a queue at the
time of day I wish to go, I usually try to buy my ticket earlier in the
day, or even the previous day. And, of course, for many journeys,
buying in advance is a very great deal cheaper!

(then wrote)
I think you'll find that those going on longer-distance rail journeys
now buy their tickets in advance, since, just like on an aeroplane, it
is a lot cheaper to do so (business travellers funding the rest of us,
as per usual). For local trips, of course, a Travelcard suffices....

For those in London that travel regularly. As for longer distance, do you
have any authorative figures to back up your absurd statement?

Go to www.nationalrail.com or www.thetrainline.com and check fares
there. ITYF that it is very far from absurd. Say I wanted to travel to
York to see my daughter - if I was able to book a week in advance, I
might be able to travel for as little as £37.50 - a standard open return
is £144.00.

Regardless,
what "cheap tickets" can you pick up by going to the station the previous
day or a few hours in advance? Why would you spend an hour goign to the
station and back just to buy tickets?

To save over £100 I would - wouldn't you????
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 20 March 2005