Newbury Train Station, GWR, Network Rail, Shame Shame Shame Options

[On the edge]

Let's face it, the rail service is in a semi derelict state and has been for as long as I can remember. As someone who used to commute regularly I have lost track of the number of times I have ended up sitting on my briefcase, on the floor, simply because there was no where else to sit. Plus the number of times when the train broke down, rails broke, signals broke or any number of other delays. There seems to be a collective folk memory, much like people telling you " in my day, we had proper summers" of little Choo choos puffing contentedly along pristine tracks all three quarters full of smiling commuters. I don't think it's ever been like that. And with a rising population, greater centralisation of jobs into the major towns and cities it's only going to get worse.

Yes, indeed what was nostalgically regarded as the best commuter pre nationalised Southern Railway had serious passenger complaints almost from the day it was set up. We still haven't solved the morning and evening peak issue rather as you imply, it's just got worse.

Ironic really, with today's ability to properly work at home round the clock and the IT lead shrinking of the old monolithic business enterprises, why do so many still need to flock to node towns every day within a fairly rigid time bandwidth?

The next revolution?

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Yes, indeed what was nostalgically regarded as the best commuter pre nationalised Southern Railway had serious passenger complaints almost from the day it was set up. We still haven't solved the morning and evening peak issue rather as you imply, it's just got worse.

Ironic really, with today's ability to properly work at home round the clock and the IT lead shrinking of the old monolithic business enterprises, why do so many still need to flock to node towns every day within a fairly rigid time bandwidth?

The next revolution?

Im sure you have experienced a Skype meeting at home where people are joining from all over the world?

Thats why people still go to the office.

[On the edge]

Im sure you have experienced a Skype meeting at home where people are joining from all over the world?

Thats why people still go to the office.

Oh yes; I suspect that's the point, we simply haven't yet adapted to the technology. Same sort of issue with many other things. For instance, why do we still have magazines? it's not only an end user issue, it's also a formatting 'look and feel' problem. Going to take awhile, but we'll get there. Little steps at a time.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Oh yes; I suspect that's the point, we simply haven't yet adapted to the technology. Same sort of issue with many other things. For instance, why do we still have magazines? it's not only an end user issue, it's also a formatting 'look and feel' problem. Going to take awhile, but we'll get there. Little steps at a time.

Dont get me wrong. Skype is great. But I still like to socialise and meet with my fellow colleagues. I like work. Sad I know!!!!

[On the edge]

Dont get me wrong. Skype is great. But I still like to socialise and meet with my fellow colleagues. I like work. Sad I know!!!!

This issue probably deserves its own thread. For me, you've hit the nail on the head. Nothing wrong with liking work; it could be argued that this ought to be a key responsibility of a good manager; ensuring the team like work because clearly that delivers sustained quality and productivity. One of the ways to this is to use the oft forgotten social need fulfilled by many through work. Massive question, then, would it be worth encouraging people working not at home, but in a very local environment, where several others albeit for different organisations, do their work in the same place? Each individual worker electronically in touch with his own co-workers, who he meets face to face only when strictly necessary.

[James_Trinder]

Massive question, then, would it be worth encouraging people working not at home, but in a very local environment, where several others albeit for different organisations, do their work in the same place? Each individual worker electronically in touch with his own co-workers, who he meets face to face only when strictly necessary.

This is precisely what one guy at my company does currently. Our main office in the UK is near Newbury but he works out of a Regus office where he lives in Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire with people from other companies. It appears to have been working quite well for him for the past few years.

[On the edge]

This is precisely what one guy at my company does currently. Our main office in the UK is near Newbury but he works out of a Regus office where he lives in Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire with people from other companies. It appears to have been working quite well for him for the past few years.

That's it, now the question is how to convince the rest of the organisation to follow suit and (the big question) to be happy about it.

We've managed the return of a small 'outsourced to India) call centre operation. So the firm has a uk based call centre operation, with no premises and a very wide 'open for business' bandwidth. Getting the pre existing 'back office' and more, the management to do the same was a jump they stalled at!

It's an intreaguing development path and could well invigorate local communities. This could also be the 'gig economy' grown up. Perhaps what Charles Handy came up with in his clover leaf business model for real.

[Andy Capp]

Take the 0747 or the 0751 🤔 The 0751 will be held; nope, not when it goes from 16 minutes late to 21 🙄

[On the edge]

Take the 0747 or the 0751 🤔 The 0751 will be held; nope, not when it goes from 16 minutes late to 21 🙄

Not worth worrying about, no one gives a s***. Indeed, why should they? Came back from South Wales a day or so back, brand new sparkly train. Middle aged chap in suit jumps in at Bristol with bag of food he's got from station buffet. A chicken thing, covered in sauce. Eats it, wipes hands on empty seat next to him and shoves waste packages in carrier which just gets left on his seat when he got out at Didcot. For customers like that, you don't need to provide a good service, they don't expect it.

[je suis Charlie]

Not worth worrying about, no one gives a s***. Indeed, why should they? Came back from South Wales a day or so back, brand new sparkly train. Middle aged chap in suit jumps in at Bristol with bag of food he's got from station buffet. A chicken thing, covered in sauce. Eats it, wipes hands on empty seat next to him and shoves waste packages in carrier which just gets left on his seat when he got out at Didcot. For customers like that, you don't need to provide a good service, they don't expect it.

People like that should be restricted to riding in a cattle truck. Bet if he'd got a smear of someone else's lunch on his clothes he'd sue the operator.

[Turin Machine]

Sorry, tried to post something, but not relevant. Oops!

[SirWilliam]

People like that should be restricted to riding in a cattle truck. Bet if he'd got a smear of someone else's lunch on his clothes he'd sue the operator.

Actually the law on cattle trucks is far more stringent than public transport. They must be pressured washed between loads and clean straw applied. Now if we were allowed to carry cattle prods such anti social behaviour may be eradicated.

[On the edge]

People like that should be restricted to riding in a cattle truck. Bet if he'd got a smear of someone else's lunch on his clothes he'd sue the operator.

Oh yes, perhaps I should have moved seat! Mind, trying to extract cash for even genuine failures is almost impossible; still it keeps the old brief in smokes.

[Andy Capp]

Same dilemma again today, ‘cept the bloke at the gate was contracted by the driver. 🙄

Update: the 0747 (in at 0757) wins today.

[Andy Capp]

New day; same cobblers: 08:58 two coaches; late one behind it. Joke service. It makes you wonder what the buses will be like.

[SirWilliam]

New day; same cobblers: 08:58 two coaches; late one behind it. Joke service. It makes you wonder what the buses will be like.

Large red/black/cream boxes with a wheel on each corner that carry a lot of people.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Large red/black/cream boxes with a wheel on each corner that carry a lot of people.

And take 70 minutes to get to Reading😦

[SirWilliam]

And take 70 minutes to get to Reading😦

Apparently the latest model has an engine.

[Andy Capp]

Large red/black/cream boxes with a wheel on each corner that carry a lot of people.

I don’t think it will be that many people.

Ever since the timetable was altered the trains now leave from all sorts of platforms. I’ve just missed one because of that. I hate our train service; pile of junk.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

I don’t think it will be that many people.

Ever since the timetable was altered the trains now leave from all sorts of platforms. I’ve just missed one because of that. I hate our train service; pile of junk.

My company is putting me up for 5 nights in a very nice hotel just down the road from my place of work. Be quite nice. I can have a lie in!!! They can stick the buses up there @ss.