04 Febuary 2012 Nightmare journey and just how bad South Eastern and Network where. Incredible failures and shocking customer service.
Last night Southeastern where a complete and utter joke. Around 9pm the system went completly down due to a 'Broken down train at lewisham' No explantation for almost half a hour. Everyone was told to take alterantive routes through Underground (which went down later in the evening) and London Victoria (Also went down) Finally the 21:26 left waterloo east around 22:30 (Recorded it via all my ranting through text messages) Gets half way to London bridge and it stops dead, in the tracks. The driver to his credit really pushed that trains limits to London Bridge
23:00 we leave London Bridge at speed no problems! Leaving Sevenoaks we have minor problems with the track again but when it's in the Tunnel it's a straight forward journey in to Hilldenborough arriving there at 23:35. Just outside Tonbridge we breakdown again and limp in to Tonbridge at 23:43 where we are told the train is going no further and to await on the platform for further annoucements.
When a group of people finally ask someone at Tonbridge why the train is not stopping at High Brooms and Tunbridge Wells he replied that the driver is refusing to go any further due to health and saftey grounds because he is over his hours. He did mention that the train guard wanted to go further (Probably to go home herself!) Looking around the station platform it's got almost 20 people waiting (Children also) and a waiting room full of people from what I would belive to be an earlier train. Plus over 60 people waiting for taxis.
Meanwhile on the nationalrail website it's still reporting that trains are still running fine (Don't you love these guys?) A traveller asked a member of staff will they pay for a taxi they where told to claim it from southeastern. Asked if there is any busses coming he said they don't know as they cant make it the journey due to the roads. I had seen busses go past the station and MANY cars.
At around 00:23 still waiting for a bus that probably never came I was given a lift and four others by a traveller and his father in their 4x4. It's nice to see when people are in need that some people do have some human spirit and will help out when people are stuck and in need. It's a shame that cannot be said to the staff of Tonbridge Railway (See Below and nationail rail and south eastern trains)
List of excuses over the four hour or so period
Broken down train at Lewisham
Signalling problems at London Bridge
Tracks frozen
Driver over his hours
Train wont get up the hill
Tresspasser on the line (Probably given up and decided to walk)
I've travelled with South Eastern for six years now and i'm astounded as to how bad it truly was last night. They should be ashamed of themselves. Customer service went out of the window last night, someone should have taken charge to get people home. Instead excuses where offered, this is what a train fair increase has given us.
I will sum the night up with a tweet that retweeted many times last night.
Lovely #southeastern staff at london bridge tho, lady told a guy to 'do one' and find his own way home. He was only asking... #miserablecow
23:00 we leave London Bridge at speed no problems! Leaving Sevenoaks we have minor problems with the track again but when it's in the Tunnel it's a straight forward journey in to Hilldenborough arriving there at 23:35. Just outside Tonbridge we breakdown again and limp in to Tonbridge at 23:43 where we are told the train is going no further and to await on the platform for further annoucements.
When a group of people finally ask someone at Tonbridge why the train is not stopping at High Brooms and Tunbridge Wells he replied that the driver is refusing to go any further due to health and saftey grounds because he is over his hours. He did mention that the train guard wanted to go further (Probably to go home herself!) Looking around the station platform it's got almost 20 people waiting (Children also) and a waiting room full of people from what I would belive to be an earlier train. Plus over 60 people waiting for taxis.
Meanwhile on the nationalrail website it's still reporting that trains are still running fine (Don't you love these guys?) A traveller asked a member of staff will they pay for a taxi they where told to claim it from southeastern. Asked if there is any busses coming he said they don't know as they cant make it the journey due to the roads. I had seen busses go past the station and MANY cars.
At around 00:23 still waiting for a bus that probably never came I was given a lift and four others by a traveller and his father in their 4x4. It's nice to see when people are in need that some people do have some human spirit and will help out when people are stuck and in need. It's a shame that cannot be said to the staff of Tonbridge Railway (See Below and nationail rail and south eastern trains)
List of excuses over the four hour or so period
Broken down train at Lewisham
Signalling problems at London Bridge
Tracks frozen
Driver over his hours
Train wont get up the hill
Tresspasser on the line (Probably given up and decided to walk)
I've travelled with South Eastern for six years now and i'm astounded as to how bad it truly was last night. They should be ashamed of themselves. Customer service went out of the window last night, someone should have taken charge to get people home. Instead excuses where offered, this is what a train fair increase has given us.
I will sum the night up with a tweet that retweeted many times last night.
Lovely #southeastern staff at london bridge tho, lady told a guy to 'do one' and find his own way home. He was only asking... #miserablecow