You may have gathered, dear reader, that I'm not a great fan of First Group. So when I read today that group chairman Moir Lockhead has been given a knighthood in the Queen's birthday honours list I thought this must be the start of the silly season. But, no, apparently it's true.
My trip to Aberdeen on Friday was with First Scotrail. Here's the timetable of events.
11.10 Due to depart Edinburgh Waverley, Platform 14
11.11 Announcement to passengers sitting patiently waiting for departure that they should get off as the train that will actually go to Aberdeen is now pulling in to Platform 14 - despite numerous reservation tickets prominently displayed on the first train.
11.12 Passengers disembark original train - despite the announcement, no sign of replacement service on Platform 14.
11.20 Empty train arrives at Platform 13.
11.22 Frantic First Scotrail staff inform bemused passengers that the train now at Platform 13 is actually the Aberdeen train, when they previously advised it would pull in to Platform 14.
11.30 Depart Edinburgh Waverley - no reservations on any seats so passengers are sitting anywhere that takes their fancy.
11.35 First apology from First Scotrail.
13.00 Arrive Dundee - passengers for Arbroath, Montrose and Stonehaven are told to leave the train to catch the next scheduled service from Dundee as our train is late and would be travelling 'non-stop' from Dundee to Aberdeen.
13.01 Disgruntled passengers vent their feelings.
13.03 Second apology from First Scotrail.
13.30 Non-stop train to Aberdeen stops outside Montrose due to southbound train on a stretch of line that is single-track only.
13.33 Third apology from First Scotrail.
14.00 Arrive Aberdeen 23 minutes late.
14.01 Fourth and final apology from First Scotrail.
Saturday 14 June - Depart Aberdeen 09.50 by National Express Railways - a lot less hassle and infinitely better service. Arrive Edinburgh Waverley bang on time.
Well done, Sir Moir - just as well your knighthood isn't for services to organising a drink in a brewery...
7 comments:
You should be glad there was a train running.....
A bit like the trainspotter who was hit by a steam train. He was chuffed to bits...
He looks like Scottie off Star Trek. Maybe that's why the first train wouldn't go - "The engines cannae take it, Captain!"
You should try using the Fife Circle lack of service.
I'm glad you made it there okay...that is pretty sad.
I get a train to Aberdeen every morning and train home again at night. The one in the morning, run by Virgin, has been cancelled three times in as many months. The ScotRail one has always run on time, so far. But based on post I've read on various blogs, this seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
That's the Queen? She's changed a little since I saw her last.
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