tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post2193662782860915830..comments2023-11-22T09:11:01.567+00:00Comments on George Szirtes: Train drainGeorge Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-32094412420745634242011-08-18T11:42:43.032+01:002011-08-18T11:42:43.032+01:00A gentleman's speed, Gwilym!A gentleman's speed, Gwilym!James Hamiltonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-89796776555823076092011-08-16T14:47:56.828+01:002011-08-16T14:47:56.828+01:00I was at a museum looking at an exhibit about trai...I was at a museum looking at an exhibit about trains. They showed some 100-year old railway timetables. In those days it took 12 hours to get from Vienna to Venice. It still does. Official.Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-8546804914575065952011-08-16T14:44:30.793+01:002011-08-16T14:44:30.793+01:00George, your train service is not so bad. I went f...George, your train service is not so bad. I went from Vienna to Venice and back on the train three times, and every time a nightmare. One time we even broke down in a tunnel and were stuck for 30 mins, it took 8 locomotives to make the trip. Another time we were forgotten for 2 hours in a siding. And another time, train security nearly ripped the sleeping compartment door off, broke the security chain anywhere - to check my passport. It seems they get illegal immigrants hiding under seats and things far worse - you'd never sleep if you knew. <br /><br />OK, there might be faults on the UK trains. But they are far from being the bottom of the league.<br /><br />ps - good start by Wolves. Or are Blackburn now even worse then I fear?Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-10745637352965914702011-08-15T22:41:25.527+01:002011-08-15T22:41:25.527+01:00Yikes! As a local, I feel a little responsible for...Yikes! As a local, I feel a little responsible for not having improved your Brum experience by pointing out the great things New Street has to offer. Err.. so let me think.. it has an exit.. that might well be it. Or - you can binge on Millie's cookies til you're too high on E-numbers to remember where you are. Also helps provide the energy needed for effective looting.rosie breesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17642449267389306430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-59158529017131881912011-08-15T22:22:27.190+01:002011-08-15T22:22:27.190+01:00James - does that mean Mussolini is arriving late?...James - does that mean Mussolini is arriving late?George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-46800782211889343042011-08-15T22:21:52.996+01:002011-08-15T22:21:52.996+01:00Well, I suppose I was travelling second class, Cha...Well, I suppose I was travelling second class, Charles. I expect the first class carriage got there quicker.George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-26089195241977907342011-08-15T22:20:46.507+01:002011-08-15T22:20:46.507+01:00To be approaching Bristol Temple Meads is to be ap...To be approaching Bristol Temple Meads is to be approaching annihilation, Diane. Mind you, curled up under a table and wailing with pain is my normal position.George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-83332396173933448092011-08-15T22:18:46.342+01:002011-08-15T22:18:46.342+01:00Dana, that is like one of those 'We were so po...Dana, that is like one of those 'We were so poor...' stories. Why don't you have a train? Every home should have one.George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-21352783682704938722011-08-15T16:58:30.745+01:002011-08-15T16:58:30.745+01:00At least you have the option of a train.At least you have the option of a train.danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09902311224633734779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-7794094906846148982011-08-15T13:11:04.572+01:002011-08-15T13:11:04.572+01:00Once on a Sunday evening train from Birmingham to ...Once on a Sunday evening train from Birmingham to Ely, I found myself -- and in my train -- approaching Bristol Temple Mead. Have you ever wanted to crawl under the table, curl up, and wail with pain?Dianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-65997062328332052612011-08-15T07:14:45.374+01:002011-08-15T07:14:45.374+01:00Yeah, say what you want about the actions of conse...Yeah, say what you want about the actions of consecutive recent governments, at least the trains didn't run on time.James Womackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436726394033888723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-31942529868738177892011-08-14T22:52:20.985+01:002011-08-14T22:52:20.985+01:00The worry here, of course, is that many of your fe...The worry here, of course, is that many of your fellow passengers may be tempted to vote for Mussolini, who promises to get the trains running on time. The other thing is travellers' different expectations (of efficiency, of facilities, of the friendliness or otherwise of officialdom) in so-called first-world and third-world countries. The UK, in terms of daily experience, wavers between the two. Second-world? Your experience today has the whiff of the relegation zone.charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16580118367334638930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-50711501246100919482011-08-14T20:34:11.271+01:002011-08-14T20:34:11.271+01:00Just like Adlestrop, really. Accent on strop. Coun...Just like Adlestrop, really. Accent on strop. Count me in as a contributor, Charles.<br /><br />This is the post-modern world, looby. We passengers shrug in an ironic post-modern way. Shrug rules. I suspect I was frothing a bit above.George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-46748366612915377222011-08-14T19:19:37.720+01:002011-08-14T19:19:37.720+01:00And the worst is, no-one, apart from the passenger...And the worst is, no-one, apart from the passengers, gives a toss.loobyhttp://loobynet.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-63290853310405440662011-08-14T18:35:33.863+01:002011-08-14T18:35:33.863+01:00I recall a book proposal from a couple of years ag...I recall a book proposal from a couple of years ago ... Working title: The Middle of Nowhere. Alluding to the moment when you glance out of the train window and realise it has stopped, for what reason and for how long no one tells you, in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere. The entire book to be made up of such moments, each described in several paragraphs of exquisite prose. I think it's a goer. Certainly more of a goer than any your trains today. My sympathies.charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16580118367334638930noreply@blogger.com