Falcon1200
Established Member
Has anyone from Network Rail or the Train Operators ever answered the simple question 'why trains are so often boarded so late at Euston'? That is the crux of the issue.
Has anyone from Network Rail or the Train Operators ever answered the simple question 'why trains are so often boarded so late at Euston'? That is the crux of the issue.
They just cite "safety" which is ironic, because it's far more dangerous! But, sadly, someone will have to die before the railway wakes up and does something. All rail safety procedures have taken someone to die before they get implemented. It's very sad the railway can't be more proactive when it comes to safety.Has anyone from Network Rail or the Train Operators ever answered the simple question 'why trains are so often boarded so late at Euston'? That is the crux of the issue.
If, God forbid, that happens then some senior folk in Network Rail should get serious jail time. They can't deny that they have been made aware of the situation. Perhaps that is necessary to get those folk off their asses to earn their wages.They just cite "safety" which is ironic, because it's far more dangerous! But, sadly, someone will have to die before the railway wakes up and does something. All rail safety procedures have taken someone to die before they get implemented. It's very sad the railway can't be more proactive when it comes to safety.
Going by contemporary eventsYou maybe need a Youtube "influencer" or something to film it all ( on a couple of occasions) and splash it all over the news channels.
Wasn't there some 'fly on the wall' series about the operation of Paddington some while ago? That station also seems to often crop up in discussions about late boarding. Was the issue exposed in that programme?Going by contemporary eventsmoresome action would come following a prime time tv series.
There are other reasons people with disabilities avoid Euston too. It is notorious for forgetting to unload wheelchair users, leaving them stranded on the train.I know several of my friends ( some with disabilities) avoid Euston like the plague for this very reason.
There are other reasons people with disabilities avoid Euston too. It is notorious for forgetting to unload wheelchair users, leaving them stranded on the train.
going into things with the assumption that they won't work and being on the defensive and offensive from the off
Good point well made and I don't suppose you're alone by any means in fact you're not, as I often am likewise but I just feel his whole attitude stinks a little bit and as someone who also relies on assistant at various points in journeys I have sometimes had to defend myself and other disabled travellers against people like him as it quite often understandably offends and upsets staff members who at the end of the day are only human and working with a box of tools that worked once but now is in need of a bit of TLCI'll be honest, I go into any contact with the railway at present on the assumption that it won't work, and am usually proven right. And I'm not disabled.
If the railway was doing things correctly he'd have no material at all.
The outside board is great when it's throwing it down or you want to stand with the smokers to be at the back of the queue when the train gets announced with minutes to go@ModernRailways - there is now a departure board outside.
I do however think the stupid new board layout is part of the problem.
No, Euston was specifically named and shamed by our accessibility trainer (who is herself a user of a wheelchair who travels a lot).TBH I don't think Euston is specifically bad for that, the whole railway is, it's cultural.
I don’t think anyone is going to pay for staff to not work 75% of their working hours.But why is it "minutes to go" and the rush? Are the platforms further away from the concourse? Is that a contributing factor? Is it the layout? At Paddington, you can see all the platforms clearly(ish) and you can pretty much guess which is going to be your train before its called ( slowly watching customers "edge" towards the platform in anticipation) then up the platform pop on the screens, queue rush for the train.
Would it help if the cleaners got on at MKC, cleaned the train as it was going along( Other TOC's seem to do this) and get off at Euston.? So no cleaning time at the buffers at Euston at all?
But why is it "minutes to go" and the rush? Are the platforms further away from the concourse? Is that a contributing factor? Is it the layout? At Paddington, you can see all the platforms clearly(ish) and you can pretty much guess which is going to be your train before its called ( slowly watching customers "edge" towards the platform in anticipation) then up the platform pop on the screens, queue rush for the train.
Would it help if the cleaners got on at MKC, cleaned the train as it was going along( Other TOC's seem to do this) and get off at Euston.? So no cleaning time at the buffers at Euston at all?
This is in danger of drifting off topic so feel free to report and start a new thread if you wanted but for me as a disabled person although not a real chair user, Dug is a total embarrassment to disable travelers generally, if we all behaved like him then the railway and indeed many other industries but soon stop allowing disabled people to use their services, I find him inflammatory and with a very large chip on his shoulder and going into things with the assumption that they won't work and being on the defensive and offensive from the off
I do agree. It's thanks to his antics that trains go round with no toilets available as they don't have accessible ones, so no one gets one. And he also campaigned to get RRB wheelchair accessible so now there simply aren't any RRB a lot of the time.Good point well made and I don't suppose you're alone by any means in fact you're not, as I often am likewise but I just feel his whole attitude stinks a little bit and as someone who also relies on assistant at various points in journeys I have sometimes had to defend myself and other disabled travellers against people like him as it quite often understandably offends and upsets staff members who at the end of the day are only human and working with a box of tools that worked once but now is in need of a bit of TLC
That was how the Hillsborough disaster began.Always remember that crushes can be quiet and subtle. Not saying that this video shows a crush, but worth remembering.
Did they only change the board layout so they could make money by using the old boards for advertising? It was nothing to do with improving things for passengers but they don't want to admit that?@ModernRailways - there is now a departure board outside.
I do however think the stupid new board layout is part of the problem.
When people cannot see the planes at airports, does that generate anxiety in the same way?I think Euston is different from other London termini in that the punters can't see the trains. This generates a degree of anxiety, let alone any other cack-handed attempts by staff to "help" the situation.
How do they arrange things in say, the US, where platforms are often not visible?
Is it largely down to short turn-round times, set swaps or other disruption? Or is it a CBA attitude by staff on the ground and poor invisible management?
When people cannot see the planes at airports, does that generate anxiety in the same way?
That was how the Hillsborough disaster began.
Is it largely down to short turn-round times, set swaps or other disruption? Or is it a CBA attitude by staff on the ground and poor invisible management?
I think Euston is different from other London termini in that the punters can't see the trains. This generates a degree of anxiety, let alone any other cack-handed attempts by staff to "help" the situation.
Or is it a CBA attitude by staff on the ground and poor invisible management?
The problem really is that people know the platform will be announced sufficiently close to departure time that the only option is to sprint across the station as staff have no qualms in closing the barriers before passengers have made it. No amount of painting "do not run" on the floor will alter that. If they don't announce the platform soon enough it is clearly & simply their fault.When people cannot see the planes at airports, does that generate anxiety in the same way?
Now if only there was some sort of electronic seat booking system (up to departure) that was readily available.I'd say at the moment it's mostly down to delays and cancellations, particularly the latter because a cancellation puts about 600 people on the concourse for 20 minutes to an hour waiting for the next train, and none of them have reserved seats, and all of them know they'll have to be quick or they'll be standing.
Now if only there was some sort of electronic seat booking system (up to departure) that was readily available.
Excellent post, definitely my nominee for post of the year so farI do agree. It's thanks to his antics that trains go round with no toilets available as they don't have accessible ones, so no one gets one. And he also campaigned to get RRB wheelchair accessible so now there simply aren't any RRB a lot of the time.
I don't really like playing the disabled card, but I find a quiet mention and people are willing to help (usually!) instead of kicking up a massive fuss.
Ok - Is Euston the only main line London terminus that has been totally reinvented, demolished and rebuilt ( bye bye arch) is that the reason? Paddington, Waterloo, King's Cross, St P. Have any of them been "gutted" ( yes OK rebuilt in part but still recognisable) to the extent Euston has? London bridge gets "crushes" if service is disrupted, but its got a stonking big concourse and they seem to have proceedures to deal with it ( OK not perfect). Liverpool Street is still Liverpool Street even after 1980's refurb.