Most of the local train service remains a scandal of national proportions (some 2,000 trains cancelled across Northern’s domain since the new timetable was launched, blunderingly, on 20th May) but I must admit I have been a small locus of punctuality all week. But no one should have to suffer a 6.30am train too often. Or, two of them.
Yes, this was me today (well, apart from the hair)…. and it’s only Tuesday…
This blog isn’t intended to be political and it’s been a little while since I had cause to depict the lousy state of the local train service. I know this can be a default position for the commuter, that it’s always terrible, but really, Arriva Northern have surpassed themselves in recent months with overcrowding and cancellations. I am lucky – I can organise my day to avoid peak rush hours, on the whole, hence the timing of this shot. Many cannot and are forced to put up with the same crap every week day.
Monday morning, and it’s raining, and you’ve just bought a weekly ticket for the first time in ages (meaning you’re going into Manchester every day this week) and the 06:59 turns up as a two-carriage piece of obsolete shit as it always does, only today the previous service through was cancelled so by Littleborough it’s already achieved full CTS (Cattle Truck Status) and we haven’t even had the Rochdale passengers on yet. Happy Mondays.
Pretty much everything on the railways heading north out of London passes through Doncaster, which remains a major passenger rail interchange and has these immense goods yards too; one of the few remaining places on the UK rail network where you do get a sense of what a lot of it probably looked like sixty years ago. Taken from inside the train as it departed platform 8 and returned me home after my short and ultimately pointless trip to London (thank you, Mr Putin).
One of those days when the sun just comes up at the right time, two minutes before the train arrives to take me to Manchester.
It’s actually not a bad place to catch forty winks, the train home — I manage it frequently. Like these two gentlemen, I am tired…. but have now just three days left before my summer break.
Another trip to London…. but just for the day. Platform 8, Leeds station, to which I returned approximately ten hours later. The first precisely timed shot for a while.
Ah, the joys of the 06:59 Hebden Bridge to Manchester Victoria service…. its cruddy carriages, standing room only by Todmorden, and then there’s that ‘6’ at the start of the time, which firmly puts it in the realm of ‘too early’. I dislike it, as you’ve probably gathered. Then again I doubt anyone has reached retirement age and fondly reminisced about the good old days on the 06:59.
Generally the theme over the last few days has been relaxation, and this seems to be the state of mind of this lady on the train to London this afternoon, particularly as this shot was taken before we had even left Leeds station. I did my best to adopt such an attitude today as well, despite the need to go down to London yet again to hang around at an embassy (you might see this tomorrow)….
