tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81326084359836038912024-02-21T06:11:30.284+00:00South West Trains: Tales from Commuterville @My6PercentAn insight into the world of daily commuting on South West Trains. Hopefully it might entertain rather than bore.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-90921372187913290352012-11-01T12:19:00.000+00:002012-11-01T12:19:15.983+00:00On the subject of Suicide<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Last night all those using South West Trains were delayed. There
were various signalling problems late on in the day, but the majority of the
carnage was due to somebody committing suicide at Wimbledon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ll moan about delays and endlessly promote the need for
better service, but what I don’t understand is some of the vitriolic bile being
spewed out by some on Twitter last night. Yes, the disorganisation is an issue
and yes, the communication of the Twitter team should be matched by the staff
on the platforms, or as someone rightly said: “We all understand &
sympathise re disruptions/delays, all we ask is accurate info.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m not going to name and shame, for it really isn’t my
place, but did you happen to see some of the tweets last night? Oh. My. God.
Sometimes I hate Twitter. It makes you acutely aware that people exist who have
a completely different opinion to life and the universe. What on earth is the
point of telling the South West Trains twitter team that they are (in no
particular order): “W*nkers”, “c*nts”, “get up off your ar$e” “shower of
useless sh*te” (to name but a few).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In all the melee, it seems to have been forgotten that
someone died. And according to the Samaritans, someone takes their own life
with alarming regularity on the railways. Instead of blithely commenting on
their selfishness, or, as in one particularly grim case, offer to “get a
firing squad to save them the bother”, perhaps you non-sympathisers could stop
and think of the human element. Firstly of the train staff and emergency
services who had to bear witness to such a horrific scene and secondly to somebody
who felt so incredibly unwell/desperate/crazed that they felt there was no way
out. If you’re lucky enough to have never suffered from the kind of mental
torture that leaves you feeling like this, bravo. But don’t expect the great
majority of us to applaud your ill-informed opinions on suicide. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-53754836884058855462012-10-31T10:33:00.001+00:002012-10-31T10:33:03.473+00:00The Power of Information<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9C3NygWqI9Dfyrt2n5A8vaQxfGsK1LGKR8kFVboTlDK9htzB3q7dC1dB6ssGfn_ntvP5x7VlrUqhl2vc_63NG4UQspbq34Ujj8TBHiEsx-yQaEXltza1IRXZzlmLVKOCUXuOJqLyz-w/s1600/swt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9C3NygWqI9Dfyrt2n5A8vaQxfGsK1LGKR8kFVboTlDK9htzB3q7dC1dB6ssGfn_ntvP5x7VlrUqhl2vc_63NG4UQspbq34Ujj8TBHiEsx-yQaEXltza1IRXZzlmLVKOCUXuOJqLyz-w/s640/swt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>A guest blog by <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#bigdoodyboy" target="_blank">@BigDoodyBoy</a></u></span><br /><br />So, Monday 29th of October 2012 was another of those days Southwest Trains would like to forget. Overrunning engineering work and 2 passengers taken ill had a devastating effect on morning services with some lines not restored to full operation until after 16:00.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />If there was any doubt as to the effect, you only need to look at the photograph I took at 08:45 of the lower concourse at Waterloo. It clearly shows that no-one was arriving.<br /><br />Commuters were taking to twitter in droves complaining about a lack of trains and a lack of information. Three incidents bringing a whole network to an almost complete<br />standstill certainly warrants complaint although given how often it happens there must be some intrinsic logistical nightmare that just cannot be overcome. What intrigues me, though, were the complaints about lack of information. For the first time ever, I did not experience this problem and what a difference it made.<br /><br />We have all heard about information being power and we all believe that having better information would allow us to better manage our own travel options in times of adversity.<br />And so, we've all complained vociferously about its complete absence when Southwest Trains services go into meltdown. But would having better information really affect your decisions and effect a better outcome? From Monday's experience, I would say "yes". In fact, it would have to be a resounding "YES!".<br /><br />By 07:00 text alerts and twitter had informed me of problems on my line. Information was available on the t'interweb about the cause, status and the actions being taken. National Rail Enquiries live boards showed services running late, those delayed and those cancelled. I could also get arrivals information that corroborated the anticipated delays and monitoring this over breakfast showed that nothing was getting worse. All I had to do was choose one of three possible services which, given the information available, looked like the best one to get me past the problem area with the least disruption. The outcome? I took a diverted service and arrived at Waterloo only 5 minutes late but almost 15 minutes sooner than Southwest Trains anticipated. The fact that all of the information was correct, consistent and not subject to change at a moment's notice was a both a welcome surprise<br />and a key point in achieving the result.<br /><br />But what of others who just turned up? Well, on the train, at every stop, the guard announced that the service was diverted and gave details of the new stopping points. No- one could complain of not knowing where they were going nor be under any illusion as to how long things would take.<br /><br />This may have been the perfect storm of information availability, accessibility and reliability but it illustrates just how powerful accurate and timely information can be.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, Southwest Trains, next time you fail to run a decent service, at least provide actionable information to all affected people. You never know, they might actually start thanking you for it!<br /><br />Thank you.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-46392229979721031262012-08-16T11:45:00.000+01:002012-08-16T11:45:19.067+01:00Not me Guvnor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDfwtdp0QDYjcRc-HPJmRs7FqopfCRqjao984NTiWlTydO43dnPho1hdQTgMvWOZGvR9f8Tu_4i4oZZYleL7mpt7E3bCG256GollUhLR00yMqX_GEvD5dHrVO3YcuC721NNjcGyCzy10/s1600/for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDfwtdp0QDYjcRc-HPJmRs7FqopfCRqjao984NTiWlTydO43dnPho1hdQTgMvWOZGvR9f8Tu_4i4oZZYleL7mpt7E3bCG256GollUhLR00yMqX_GEvD5dHrVO3YcuC721NNjcGyCzy10/s640/for+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My 6%, your 6%, the national average of 6%... </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Train fares are all over the news at the moment: BBC are challenging it, Channel 4 seem opposed to it, Channel 5, well they've got some bird who works for the Daily Mail featuring, so that's the big news for them. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone seems to be angry. Bob Crowe is angry with the Train Operating Companies for having ga zillions of profit. The average Joe (me) seem to be torn between raging against the same machine and raging against the Government. The Conscientious objectors point out that we should all rage against the companies that lease the train carriages. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Who is to blame?", others cry. As Mavis from Corrie used to say: 'I don't reeeally knoooow'. Obviously. I'm but a mere commuter, with no insider knowledge on governance, train operators and the rest. But the more people they claim are responsible, the more diluted the message. And the less likely any action is to succeed. Same old story, rumbling on ... </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All I do know for certain is this: </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- I go to a South West Trains vendor, cross their palm with silver and get a ticket to travel. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- From January 1st 2012, I was made to pay 6% more for the pleasure
- I started keeping a diary of delays, problems, service etc. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You can see from this blog what the service is like, but that's anecdotal evidence, so who will listen to that? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- So here is a fact. A real fact, not manipulated for any gain or a figure massaged to make the service look either better or worse. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- From 1st January - 1st August 2012. 20% of all my journeys on South West Trains have been delayed (5 mins or more) or cancelled. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- From 1st January - 1st August 2012 I have recieved £0 of compensation </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Whoever is 'to blame', I pay my money in good faith to South West Trains. As I am being forced ('forced' because they have a monopoly and I have no other viable way of getting to London) to pay 6% more again from January 1st 2013, is it too much to expect that service should improve and compensation should be clearer and fairer? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Apparently so.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-58607717094220779252012-08-14T19:54:00.001+01:002012-08-16T12:55:04.723+01:00My 6%<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9ovG7uRLXMzGm6iDcD6QptESeqiIWAm7fTrcJcay8G_xax_2rTEJN134JYrvbJjRqM9ul6HE1DDP6vIqdjesi7rnwYsS8v0SqJGTNpiEF6432o4kl_MjeecyYH-0LngY6wbMLkm3sJw/s1600/south+west+trains+cancellation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9ovG7uRLXMzGm6iDcD6QptESeqiIWAm7fTrcJcay8G_xax_2rTEJN134JYrvbJjRqM9ul6HE1DDP6vIqdjesi7rnwYsS8v0SqJGTNpiEF6432o4kl_MjeecyYH-0LngY6wbMLkm3sJw/s640/south+west+trains+cancellation.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rail fares went up by 6% on January 1st 2012. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Service levels up? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Capacity increased?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Less delays? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Compensation for delays? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No. 20% of my journeys on South West Trains since 1st January 2012, have been delayed (5mins+) or cancelled.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And so we will have this infinitum for ever and ever. In today's Top news story, Rail fares are to increase by another 6% next January. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Is there really nothing that can be done? Is this it? Surely someone out there has a great idea for some form of protest that doesn't impinge or break laws, but does give decent coverage to help the cause?
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Help required. Apply within.
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-23952089657551522472012-08-05T18:05:00.001+01:002012-08-06T11:32:29.298+01:00The Big Society<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.twitter.com/#fridayshoes" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TCSaNqgxo27qpe21HvvJU05zP1Z1NnxT2hZyOw6MTn_ECmoizxh8MxVdkBxZy2SNoayxRAmSeuONJupFd07tPv4zLF-5sL9YSRJIj_w0M9KBTzXN6VijQd6g-NXuO7NggPcs2P0PvoM/s320/shoes.jpg" width="240" /> Friday Shoes Winner</a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Having witnessed one of the greatest sporting weekends in living history for Britain, it would seem churlish to moan about trains. So I won't. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In fact South West Trains have been remarkably quiet on my route. Plus obviously, we have the lollies. Well, we don't, but the #lollywatch is on and that's a rather splendid touch by South West Trains at London Waterloo. They're strawberry splits, in case you were wondering. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But even more anti-moany this week has been the real success of #Fridayshoes (if you don't know what I'm on about, see previous blog). Not only did we commuters manage to raise £260 out of nowhere for a small and very grateful charity (The Tree of Hope), but even my nemesis, the former root of all Signal failures, geese on the line and weather issues, the MD of South West Trains, agreed to match what we'd made. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm sure some could question the gesture, but in the spirit of the Olympics, I am not one of them. I couldn't care less about an ice lolly, but offering cash to help a great cause will stick with me; won't stop me continuing crusade for fairer compo, better service etc. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But it will stay with me. Thank you South West Trains, I'm very grateful.
</span>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br /></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TCSaNqgxo27qpe21HvvJU05zP1Z1NnxT2hZyOw6MTn_ECmoizxh8MxVdkBxZy2SNoayxRAmSeuONJupFd07tPv4zLF-5sL9YSRJIj_w0M9KBTzXN6VijQd6g-NXuO7NggPcs2P0PvoM/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-47932102129123690042012-07-16T12:14:00.001+01:002012-07-16T12:14:28.542+01:00The South West Trains Montage of Misery 7th - 16th July 2012<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to so many of you for continuing to send me your pictures for the South West Trains Montage of Misery. As I always say, this isn't just a place for me to moan, I would rather it was a collective way for us all to document just how rubbish South West Trains are.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">If this is your first viewing, it is a Montage of all that is crepe about South West Trains. If you're wondering why I keep using the term 'South West Trains', it is an attempt to get Google to notice me more. Hey, google, over here, cooee!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back to subject, this week's South West Trains Montage of Misery documents:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">- A tongue in cheek protest by cycling commuters. (Last Monday, South West Trains went from saying no non-folding bikes AT ALL would be allowed to travel during the Olympics, to completely changing their mind by Friday. Most amusing). Would a kids bike be allowed to travel?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">- The state of certain station platforms. More Chessington World of Tip Juice, then adventures</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">- Overcrowding, or what we now like to call 'normality' on South West Trains</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">- Overrunning engineering works. Which now happen so regularly they should just be called 'daily engineering works'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">- People in Ashford, Surrey wanted to take the train and go and see the Olympic Torch. South West Trains didn't duly oblige.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">- The continuing Curious Incident of the South West Trains cars in Weybridge car park (has been going on since March, see <a href="http://my6percentscommuterhell.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/curious-incident-of-trucks-in-park.html">original blog post here</a> for more info)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">As always, all pictures are really much appreciated. The only ones I do not publish are 'personal' ones (so any about staff doing the wrong thing, or those that focus solely on an individual. This isn't because I don't think individuals should be held to account, but more because I don't think it is my place to be the one to hold them there.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Any new ones to add for the next time, please either email me </span><a href="mailto:my6percent@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">my6percent@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> or tweet me </span><a href="https://www.twitter.com/#my6percent" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">@my6percent</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaSaOtALVoSjiWZqrmXUqlC5LJg9iH3em6Etukb_H1XhVZlJWVFkWwI-ZrfTwqjEudFfWGKk7J2aYzU7PhZsiIMug1qP2tx5Qinb5TMZUkHAZ06gIXtf9BqwRPQZmUaAyf3CWbT1dfzY/s1600/MONTAGE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaSaOtALVoSjiWZqrmXUqlC5LJg9iH3em6Etukb_H1XhVZlJWVFkWwI-ZrfTwqjEudFfWGKk7J2aYzU7PhZsiIMug1qP2tx5Qinb5TMZUkHAZ06gIXtf9BqwRPQZmUaAyf3CWbT1dfzY/s1600/MONTAGE2.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-69073519622589679662012-07-06T16:31:00.000+01:002012-07-06T16:31:45.553+01:00The South West Trains Montage of Misery 3rd - 6th July<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wow. Even the Montage of Misery appears to be attracting some love from you. Thank you for continuing to send these through. There are some absolute crackers. So many, in fact that I've had to forego the usual 'once a fortnight' rule for new Montages and put up a new one only 4 days after the last.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This one documents:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The continued and worsening severe overcrowding (many having to stand for over an hour on a daily basis) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The issue of bikes - should they be allowed at peak time? What services can they be brought on? Should they use up 4 seats when others are standing?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Great shot found by <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#jdgwarren" target="_blank">@jdgwarren</a> of the goose on the loose - a few months old, but amusing nevertheless.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The continued problem of the unusable car park, which has been going on since March (see this blog for more info <a href="http://my6percentscommuterhell.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/curious-incident-of-trucks-in-park.html" target="_blank">The Curious Incident of the Trucks in the Car Park</a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">And, for your amusement, a most enormous beanbag </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If this is the first time you've looked at this, it's a montage of all that is shockingly awful about South West Trains. You go on them though, so you probably know this already. If you have any you'd like to add to the next round (which by this rate will come tomorrow!), please do send them to me: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#my6percent" target="_blank">@my6percent </a>or email me at <a href="mailto:my6percent@gmail.com">my6percent@gmail.com</a></span><br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2raXamsg12Pvnwre0r-HE6p0Vp9IRji57GNuU5NmuCVoDjsqm5lhKeEk_WTEw49FFAr9NzA62prl63H9O6dsVm81x7-cIVOSs_MhblWVOR86tCpsdk1fuWyO47b4cDIvPVwzgWAqW_Bs/s1600/montage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2raXamsg12Pvnwre0r-HE6p0Vp9IRji57GNuU5NmuCVoDjsqm5lhKeEk_WTEw49FFAr9NzA62prl63H9O6dsVm81x7-cIVOSs_MhblWVOR86tCpsdk1fuWyO47b4cDIvPVwzgWAqW_Bs/s1600/montage3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Hi0AiSm-eAJymA8SBQtJ_sv5SDFvYjLaNMl89gcikiRUJmigb8plBKZj1G1YJ3SMN7VHE58RKElO16ebt3hjETXKZ7KPpey0K8j49jFIGPI9NghU7LWHdJnn3BBBTFRThZi0fgqmhIc/s1600/montage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-66164250467116829262012-07-06T13:44:00.000+01:002012-07-06T13:44:09.226+01:00I want to ride my Bicycle: A guest blog by @SimmoTheGypo<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzwD-BVMwCOXGKrWPGolflcq4zm469g-P2_lNXMFg8F_5X81cvIYhBGw11nxPhWL0my9CWqlbJ64a3v_u5dbjqvvnZdrc5bcETx9Rd7RJbxIdUixNkRRIbDtzbAE8uwwUzkzne1QXLX0/s1600/AxBTXH5CAAAGdaD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzwD-BVMwCOXGKrWPGolflcq4zm469g-P2_lNXMFg8F_5X81cvIYhBGw11nxPhWL0my9CWqlbJ64a3v_u5dbjqvvnZdrc5bcETx9Rd7RJbxIdUixNkRRIbDtzbAE8uwwUzkzne1QXLX0/s400/AxBTXH5CAAAGdaD.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South West Trains: On the issue of bikes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another guest blog for your delectation. They seem to be more regularly sent to me nowadays, which is great, because this isn't just meant to be me ranting away (as much as it looks that way). It is meant to be a place where you can share your opinions on South West Trains.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's face it, they are completely and utterly sh*tbags, in terms of reliability, space and schedule. The bright spots being many of their staff, who we've all (thanks to twitter) had the chance to converse/disagree/agree with. Shame their senior management, in their Ivory Towers, don't pay more attention, because one day, this abonimable level of service will come back to bite them. One day...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, enough of my witterings, here's <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#simmothegypo" target="_blank">@SimmoTheGypo</a> guest blog:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>KO</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Credit Suisse Type Light","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Credit Suisse Type Light";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Credit Suisse Type Light";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">Commuter cycling has never been more
popular.<span> </span>Brompton, the classic commuter
cycle maker has seen sales rocket in recent years; and Evans, the high-end bike
shop, has seen expansion fueled by rich city commuters, often buying expensive,
bespoke cycles. The London Cycling Campaign, a lobby group, has 11,000 members.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">London, thanks to this fashion, the ‘Boris
Bikes’ scheme, concern about the environment, the cost of the London Underground,
and events like the London bombings; resembles Beijing in parts, with many more
cyclists on the road.<span> </span>On the whole this
movement has been benign, however, friction often occurs.<span> </span>Cyclists, who flaunt road rules, frequently
come into conflict with other road users and pedestrians. The rise of the
militant cyclist – with head cams and loud cycle warning horns designed to
scare the wits out of pedestrians who have the temerity to cross the road –
have alienated some. Cyclists come under frequent attack and are subject to
aggressive abuse. Around 18 cyclists are killed each year in London, although
this is miniscule when compared to the number of journeys made.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">This has led to more cyclists on the road and
a rise in the number of commuters travelling to work with their bikes. For
years we have been used to the discreet city cyclist, with a folded up
Brompton, rubbing along quite nicely with their fellow commuters. For a while
this was the only way to bring cycles on some trains, certainly during peak
hours.<span> </span>If full-sized cycles were
allowed, they were traditionally housed in the carriage used for the post. <span> </span>But with the advent of new ‘high-density’
rolling stock, the ability to store bikes without affecting passengers has
diminished.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">I travel on South West Trains (SWT), and use
their Class 444 Desiro class trains.<span>
</span>These have space for 3 cycles in two carriages. On peak time trains
there is often more than this. On one occasion I witnessed 6 cycles in this
area, and the passageway to other carriages totally blocked. On other services,
with different rolling stock, the situation is worse, with the area with wall
seats taken up totally by bikes.<span> </span>Cross
Country’s busy Southampton to Reading route is frequently rammed with cyclists
and their full sized bikes. This abuse of bike rules appears to be repeated on
other lines and train operating companies (TOCs) thanks to the anecdotal
evidence on my6percent’s and SWT’s Twitter feeds.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">This results in comfort and safety issues for
the majority of passengers who do not take their bikes to work. Furthermore,
the space given over for bike storage could be converted to seating, perhaps
leading to around 20 seats per formation, thereby reducing overcrowding.
However, this is unlikely to happen: TOC’s see allowing bikes as part of their
PR on green issues; cyclists are a vocal lobby, and will argue strongly against
any reduction in on-train bike facilities.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">There is something Network Rail and the TOCs
can do about this. Policing the problem is an obvious way to get cyclists to comply.
Pre-booking could help, especially on peak-time services. The train manager, or
guard, who is responsible for the safety of the train, should be allowed to
order cyclists to leave if they overcrowd or abuse bike provision.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">Better provision could be made at terminals
and feeder stations for bike storage and security.<span> </span>London is fairly flat, and you do not need a
top of the range bike to get around. If cyclists left their “home” bike at
their origin station, and had a cheap bike kept at a terminal, or used a free
Boris Bike, then the only issue would be for passengers dealing with the BO of
their cycling co-travelers.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-41491627244073142472012-07-04T11:26:00.003+01:002012-07-04T11:26:43.969+01:00My friend's rant about public transport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1PudIWwNPXkxmPqbBQTzAh0CC33cRhaSPWH_URqbmMySjMwbrnnwWUh_Qrggq6MGqec_3wct7MPxTEM5M5ue_gXVQwnUoZDWdHHzuXrjFexfCY2XogcvvIBxzgqJarfut69kaT56Ydo/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1PudIWwNPXkxmPqbBQTzAh0CC33cRhaSPWH_URqbmMySjMwbrnnwWUh_Qrggq6MGqec_3wct7MPxTEM5M5ue_gXVQwnUoZDWdHHzuXrjFexfCY2XogcvvIBxzgqJarfut69kaT56Ydo/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My friend raises some good points about the shitness of UK transport. Thought I'd share. I called it a rant, but I am reliably informed it is in fact, a "carefully considered and calmly positioned polemic":</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Now, transport. I like it on the way into Berlin where it's always on time and you get the trumpetty announcements, and in Vietnam where the guard gives you noodles. I think it's AWFUL in the UK how we have to pay so much for such shite customer service (all apart from Lorraine at Liverpool Lime St who as previously documented, is my number one friend in the world). Also, shite product (crowded, smelly trains) and godawful pricing structures where workers who RELY on trains are penalised by paying the highest fares and having the worst delays. </span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">And if you dare to book a ticket on the same day as travel (who would do such a thing??! I ask you) you have to pay a sum that would otherwise get you an overnight stay in a 5* hotel. And it seems unless you're leaving London (those journeys always seem to go smoothly, hmmm), any other journey could get cancelled and you're thrown on a shitty bus at the drop of a hat - if you'd wanted a bus you would have booked National Express and paid a quarter of the price. </span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">And trains always have to wait for ages "for a platform" outside stations like New Street and Derby for ages - like, it's run to a timetable, do they not KNOW the train is coming or what??! And between small towns there is rubbish coverage. And you can't get phone signal. And the worst of it is, the train companies know they have a monopoly so they have no need to improve!!! Rah. Thank goodness for #Fridayshoes."</span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-47208952721605943582012-07-03T10:04:00.002+01:002012-07-03T10:10:30.074+01:00South West Trains - Montage of Misery - 20th June to 3rd July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SDOGI3HDcFrOGMOUX8YfO2NpQrDA_HGVECNY8BOeHv6joAy9r9LcxEBBCpr33U1GwchKAABQeIffvWBljibrX90P8Frnyl-N774l-LauO8NCWlnrmtSMm7szWwZN4cZHal9kQz8JJjI/s1600/AwAx8T4CMAA8bEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SDOGI3HDcFrOGMOUX8YfO2NpQrDA_HGVECNY8BOeHv6joAy9r9LcxEBBCpr33U1GwchKAABQeIffvWBljibrX90P8Frnyl-N774l-LauO8NCWlnrmtSMm7szWwZN4cZHal9kQz8JJjI/s400/AwAx8T4CMAA8bEL.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squeezing on South West Trains, as usual</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is the South West Trains Montage of Misery. Originally created to show a couple of photos of just how crepe South West Trains service was back at in March. It is now July and instead of improving has got steadily worse. Thank goodness they're not going to increase our fares soon (above inflation; I bet you cannot guess by what percent), that would seem grossly unfair.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This fortnight's offering of photographic narrative include: The Ghost of South West Trains and a man so used to not getting a seat, that he's taken to carrying a stool with him. A stool. Yes. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">As always, if you have any to add, just send 'em to me for the next batch: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#my6percent" target="_blank">@my6percent</a> for twitter or <a href="mailto:my6percent@gmail.com">my6percent@gmail.com</a> for pigeon post.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM2CYmkA_4tOUb_wxH1411vY_Bqk-ZxMpFNnJ60Tf_grK5OFqh7N85B1kLaDV4399fHsW6QOk4uNBb71ad6CO8kzrTIwC6_OZhfLoXV1wqaJLd1ue0xqtryAkfSyDc2ogyrria-dE4uQ/s1600/montage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM2CYmkA_4tOUb_wxH1411vY_Bqk-ZxMpFNnJ60Tf_grK5OFqh7N85B1kLaDV4399fHsW6QOk4uNBb71ad6CO8kzrTIwC6_OZhfLoXV1wqaJLd1ue0xqtryAkfSyDc2ogyrria-dE4uQ/s1600/montage4.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-43787244770779177882012-06-30T21:20:00.001+01:002012-06-30T21:20:23.439+01:00Handling the London Waterloo rush hour on Twitter<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjl9v8Ilcf6bDdvO1DnANlyxXb6WS-LuXcgKJTqgQCS8HU8HznVdlpwyGOKTM3jAHGHZ9GmVCcCydgG_6DdtRcGtV_jsZ1UHGZNj8dtbedkCkvY_bW_pcMe3isMU5hiIlEjqZbOEmogU/s1600/AwYlEmQCIAA2Mgj.jpg-large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjl9v8Ilcf6bDdvO1DnANlyxXb6WS-LuXcgKJTqgQCS8HU8HznVdlpwyGOKTM3jAHGHZ9GmVCcCydgG_6DdtRcGtV_jsZ1UHGZNj8dtbedkCkvY_bW_pcMe3isMU5hiIlEjqZbOEmogU/s320/AwYlEmQCIAA2Mgj.jpg-large.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South West Trains' commuter @JDGWarren surveys the shoes and delays from his control centre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was 8 30 on a Friday and a man was threatening to put his bag on the seat next to him just as the train pulled into a packed Wimbledon station.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As angry commuters remonstrated with him to make some space, My6percent was left with a different problem - geese on the line at Clapham Junction.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As South West Trains unofficial social media Czar, she knew thousands of commuters were about to be delayed. And many would turn to their phones for information.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At 8.33 she tweeted: "foul play on the line at Clapham. More to follow."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There was a lot more to follow. Being Friday, this was Fridayshoes day and by the time the geese had flown more than 150 pictures of loafers, sandals, winkle-pickers and plimsolls had been sent out - double the usual number.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaoaUmNdfNzFlKbMAcf-Yr_Yswn1wEfm99wiM1zZl3-WCuuS1j8kThg6OdMTvNNavygQtKX3TmzS_dUMOR3CEtlF-nYvC6ybT_bMdyDnGhti9mZ5puh6NG56ZuBaRLWmIiJlDCDMQNxY/s1600/gc2oh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaoaUmNdfNzFlKbMAcf-Yr_Yswn1wEfm99wiM1zZl3-WCuuS1j8kThg6OdMTvNNavygQtKX3TmzS_dUMOR3CEtlF-nYvC6ybT_bMdyDnGhti9mZ5puh6NG56ZuBaRLWmIiJlDCDMQNxY/s200/gc2oh.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But My6Percent was unruffled. "It gives me a shoe-induced high".</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"I'm one of those sandals with socks kind of people. There are some lovely trainers out there and I try and to put myself in their shoes, so I know what I'm talking about"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"As South West Trains are so clearly not delivering a decent service, we need to keep each other happy. Fridayshoes helps deliver that."</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-55171731828397890732012-06-28T09:28:00.000+01:002012-06-28T09:30:04.923+01:00#FridayShoes - The rules of engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4Hp79x_U-jc_3fSpaQlUB5GDS5X6FTxMO1viQJnTCJKzquy-OPzZa5zzklvx8SQ9DEBqFD4UZQNmkxu3XhGiu-Ncs0Vtq2a42c77f6mKtg_H2JYZF3tK0M_JMp_REoOIIjTQ0ts5FKk/s1600/decspoon4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV0NC8fEGgVBhhN8JT0xQp3elTj7KjvJq-aH8qEQFT0A1P6_k_lMjlXvuHZySRtwWw_jfH7EDew9dAWQV0g7KEr6JWzWuH75DNvlECzcgVOi0GOp1eKxvo2KeCyz2TeCnpG73T8f_y0A/s1600/Av-gou5CAAASTRf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV0NC8fEGgVBhhN8JT0xQp3elTj7KjvJq-aH8qEQFT0A1P6_k_lMjlXvuHZySRtwWw_jfH7EDew9dAWQV0g7KEr6JWzWuH75DNvlECzcgVOi0GOp1eKxvo2KeCyz2TeCnpG73T8f_y0A/s320/Av-gou5CAAASTRf.jpg" width="239" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4Hp79x_U-jc_3fSpaQlUB5GDS5X6FTxMO1viQJnTCJKzquy-OPzZa5zzklvx8SQ9DEBqFD4UZQNmkxu3XhGiu-Ncs0Vtq2a42c77f6mKtg_H2JYZF3tK0M_JMp_REoOIIjTQ0ts5FKk/s320/decspoon4.jpg" width="253" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear, dear FridayShoes! I think it started as a way to stop us all just moaning about our commutes and, as usual with social media, quickly took on a life of it's own.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">#FridayShoes is a game. A silly, addictive and fun game, that is meant to celebrate all that is unique about fellow commuters shoes. If you are reading this and you have never played, have a quick search on Twitter for 'fridayshoes', you'll soon see what all the fuss is about.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We would like you to join in and why not eh? It'll be Friday, nearly the weekend and hopefully you'll see someone with shoes you either really admire or are really amused by. It isn't meant to be a cruel game though, so no trolling please.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">THE RULES</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Find a fellow commuter with shoes you like the look of</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Take a picture showing them in all their glory</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tweet the picture, using the hashtag #FridayShoes</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone else who is playing will then be able to find your entry and I will try and Retweet as many as I can (although I do still have a job to do, so apologies if I miss any)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The winner is chosen by concensus. We've tried doing a poll, we've tried Facebook, they don't work. In all the frenzy of shoe-finding, I guess that is understandable.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Winner is announced at about 8pm, leaving you the entire day to search out those killer heels, ridiculous wedges, lurid-coloured trainers or (the old classic) sandals with socks.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-34185977364591869382012-06-27T11:00:00.005+01:002012-06-27T11:35:45.947+01:00South West Trains: Feeling The Squeeze - A guest blog by @lyricalbankster<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc-e9BS2j34MsJmRoB0N3evtxtXg1JNDZU_7xAKSh7unkZZLock9aNIf7huOe1QYmkbdkE8vR-SCAF_NIqfqeSwxqsuJfueAVoLki9bKPPqwNJtN4NBQBLChZQsGFzUGXQDVs5gYQPbE/s1600/ArvrRdmCAAIUbJK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc-e9BS2j34MsJmRoB0N3evtxtXg1JNDZU_7xAKSh7unkZZLock9aNIf7huOe1QYmkbdkE8vR-SCAF_NIqfqeSwxqsuJfueAVoLki9bKPPqwNJtN4NBQBLChZQsGFzUGXQDVs5gYQPbE/s640/ArvrRdmCAAIUbJK.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">An average commute for many</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs_3NbkoKOG18myJOvCuLSYBJ-CGN9mF7cFZ9s4_Gt9rKvxw1c5NhvgKOOBCjW8_hmFXGOLTbPPUF4kw-j7EMesKszNSFsj4UP7p9g3J9BvtMoc-ZxJlgf7O5LDFMpjV82_TEVGgUXKw/s1600/ApFneN8CAAE6Tcm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A guest blog by <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#lyricalbankster" target="_blank">@lyricalbankster </a></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In a couple of weeks’ time the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is due to publish its latest stats on over-crowding on the UK's railways. Figures published a year ago may have suggested South West Trains was doing OK, but a quick glance behind the numbers tells a very different story: one of cramped and deteriorating conditions much worse than those endured by customers of other operators.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />As a curtain raiser to the publication of the new figures, which are based on the performance during a three-month period last autumn, let's examine the previous report for an idea of what to look out for this time round.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />That report was entitled 'Peak Crowding and Passenger Demand' and the first thing to note is that in the league table of over-crowding, SWT appears to be performing reasonably well compared with other commuter operators, although it does have the highest proportion of over-crowded trains arriving at a London terminus.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />For the morning rush hour the 2010 figures show SWT carrying 3.4% over-capacity. By comparison First Great Western was an eye-watering 18.5% over-capacity, while Southern and National Express East Anglia were a snug 5.1% and 4.9% over respectively.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />In the evening, over-crowding is generally much less as commuters stagger their journeys home - but SWT actually rises up the ranking in the league of shame for the PM peak, overtaking both Southern and NEEA .</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />So how does ORR measure over-capacity? The figures are based on the booked formation of the service.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />An allowance is made for standing passengers and it is here that SWT is short-changing its customers in the most shameful way.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The ORR report is clear: "For most train operators the standing allowance is based on 0.45 sq metres per person. However for South West Train a figure of 0.25 sq metres is used."<br />Yup, SWT believes a fully grown adult should squeeze into a space half that deemed appropriate for most other rail commuters.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Remember too that both consumer magazine Which? and the Daily Telegraph have noted that even the 0.45 sq metre allowance is well below European Union rules for transporting livestock.<br />But the miserly space allocation may explain SWT's apparent reasonable showing in the over-crowding table of shame - it crams twice as many people into the same space before it is considered over-crowded.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So how many people are squeezed into these appalling conditions? Luckily ORR has the numbers: they make uncomfortable reading and even more uncomfortable commuting.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />In the morning rush hour, well over a quarter of standard class passengers arriving at Waterloo on SWT have been standing - that's the highest percentage of any terminus station in London and equates to more than 27,000 people on a typical day. Just shy of a quarter of morning SWT commuter trains are deemed over-crowded. In the evening peak over a fifth of passengers are standing. <br />SWT supporters will argue that this is because Waterloo is London's busiest commuter station. Well not exactly. London Bridge and Liverpool Street put on more services and carry more passengers.<br />To be absolutely transparent, more standing passengers arrive on a typical day at London Bridge, but remember as they're travelling on non-SWT services they've got twice as much space as their Waterloo counterparts, and still the percentage of over-crowded trains arriving at London Bridge is less than a fifth.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />So why is SWT entitled to shoehorn its passengers into half as much room as other train operators?<br />According to two written answers by government ministers in 2008, it's because South West Trains uses Class 455 units which have been "specifically configured with low density seating and appropriate grab rails for standing passengers to ensure that passengers can stand in relative comfort for short-distance journeys".</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />What those answers did not say was that Southern also uses the Class 455 units and it still allows the standard 0.45 sq metres of space for standing passengers. London Overland and certain Southeastern 'Metro-style' services have also been granted a dispensation - a far-from-comfortable 0.35 sq metre allowance, but that’s still the equivalent of two pairs of size-12 #fridayshoes larger than SWT allows.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />In fact South West Trains is being disingenuous at best if it is using the 0.25 sq metre allowance across its entire network. The minister's written answer in 2008 specifically says the reduced allowance should be for services using the Class 455 units - by no means all SWT services - that "stop within 20 minutes of leaving Waterloo". For plenty of SWT services - including Waterloo to Woking, identified by the Daily Telegraph as the second busiest commuter route in the country - the first stop is more than 20 minutes after leaving Waterloo, even on the rare occasions that there are no delays.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The ORR today appears to imply that no passenger should have to stand on services that don't stop within 20 minutes of Waterloo.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Crucially that's not the same as saying passengers shouldn't have to stand for more than 20 minutes. But it does add weight to the argument that on services with a first stop of Woking, Basingstoke or Winchester passengers unable to find a seat in standard accommodation should be allowed to sit in first class areas.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />It is worth pointing out that in her "Delivering a Sustainable Railway" report presented to parliament in 2007, the then Sectary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly did address the issue of seating and appropriate standing times. She insisted all passengers on so-called "inter-urban" services were entitled to a seat.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />She added: "For commuter services, these planning standards [set out in the report] provide that passengers should have 0.45 square metres of space, equivalent to just under five square feet, and that passengers should not normally have to stand for more than 20 minutes."</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That was five years ago. We should have a clearer idea in just a couple of weeks if we are any closer to that ambition, or whether, as many passengers fear, the trend of last year has continued and we're further away than ever.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-45019888797870464962012-06-20T14:28:00.001+01:002012-06-20T15:13:42.779+01:00South West Trains Montage of Misery - Jubilee Weekend to 20th June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0yYvuVbmuA3kyaBLUZ2tI_A54dszqkvpywQsoAofr15qTHf6TO6sCLowqgtDgK7UwcQIXQ6vZuX72gpjMd7IFqUEmNZLgRtSlYgqMCxC6_7ep-6bw0DxNKInBEItBdafen9Uaho5n5Y/s1600/AuYIo7TCIAANEVk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ04H9OpLBYUO2vSThA4pKOshWmHNDfBv0W_jciBif8P1dUTidR-6s_VK9JPO1QNsHmXbCn4_0pTVjKCC61rWN5n9s6w602QlyYoWNY4kpWiSr640fL15xOmS3BSuG8CLD4KGCNxvRGbU/s1600/AvxOTYLCMAEbvYj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3IbzNSwx3HklSkodrM_TxygyzvpSYB_G2KZQDBWZEU_UMVdO4hMkI5SFzB9k10I9LXbFLsgY2BInqVKiJKAtRx85pjeB5Ja4k-aGKD81IF4b1Z9khoGx1nRiRPljYp1KeY_97VxjwYg/s1600/AuYIo7TCIAANEVk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PLQSbH1OEU11sIypPEx0_PokpzhfLyZzx-CU5GcL7vFL9bPAquQo0Gg66Wvd40PSkwLmcvoWar6FHmM-XP8VP1hyphenhyphenTSfEg2qpsLA2u3rg3A6QDb1DO11gYcIPt57WK0fQnjK-Q8Dv8NI/s1600/AvIV0OfCIAINpH1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PLQSbH1OEU11sIypPEx0_PokpzhfLyZzx-CU5GcL7vFL9bPAquQo0Gg66Wvd40PSkwLmcvoWar6FHmM-XP8VP1hyphenhyphenTSfEg2qpsLA2u3rg3A6QDb1DO11gYcIPt57WK0fQnjK-Q8Dv8NI/s640/AvIV0OfCIAINpH1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">London Waterloo - Always a delight to commute here on South West Trains delay days!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some choice pictures for your delectation, depicting the Misery of South West Trains commuters. They include a couple of choice shots taken during the 'Olympics Dry Run' where, it was universally agreed by those travelling on South West Trains, they failed. Or, to use twitter parlance:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">#SWTrains #EpicFail</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09VwmYJYIJ5GYtM9ly7YZlnm1IllCzj-nIURS8MflL_z8C65fLO03QkdDWGQNwEcjIAMjEloDoF3WjTQbkatKNl9WwQJjNMePt11Vj9U-J3ZiWdf2QGztX6WlpCj1sHpAJLpkmAuAT4E/s1600/montage+jun20th.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09VwmYJYIJ5GYtM9ly7YZlnm1IllCzj-nIURS8MflL_z8C65fLO03QkdDWGQNwEcjIAMjEloDoF3WjTQbkatKNl9WwQJjNMePt11Vj9U-J3ZiWdf2QGztX6WlpCj1sHpAJLpkmAuAT4E/s1600/montage+jun20th.png" /></a></div>
<br />
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /><br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0yYvuVbmuA3kyaBLUZ2tI_A54dszqkvpywQsoAofr15qTHf6TO6sCLowqgtDgK7UwcQIXQ6vZuX72gpjMd7IFqUEmNZLgRtSlYgqMCxC6_7ep-6bw0DxNKInBEItBdafen9Uaho5n5Y/s1600/AuYIo7TCIAANEVk.jpg"><br /></a></div>
<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-44840541374545393202012-06-15T17:13:00.004+01:002012-06-22T11:11:03.308+01:00Boo, hiss etc.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxmmmq5vYz3aGijIP1K2YR39F8H3seA0Mb5sJJMvi0LIa68cI9x5Yv3Tetb0LMNVtFcJhDUP2ijMHErV7fTaDFoeqoSaPGxebahKBJFyTVgEZaZUFxKRgdwMWMUx8ftMaV_JB0hxpaeM/s1600/228658626_ed127a2ff4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxmmmq5vYz3aGijIP1K2YR39F8H3seA0Mb5sJJMvi0LIa68cI9x5Yv3Tetb0LMNVtFcJhDUP2ijMHErV7fTaDFoeqoSaPGxebahKBJFyTVgEZaZUFxKRgdwMWMUx8ftMaV_JB0hxpaeM/s400/228658626_ed127a2ff4.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is very hard to write about a Strike without having formed your own opinion by the time you've finished typing the word itself.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I personally have never agreed with them that much, I'm from very much a righty background and our household did most certainly not carry the Thatch card. As an adult, I've probably become more tolerant, if that's the right word (and I'm not sure it is) of the idea of a group of people holding a management to ransom. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Normally when I've thought about strikes, it's been the way the media have mostly reported; Nurses ditching their shifts in favour of more money, boo hiss etc. But here at South West Trains we have a whole different, not wholly emotive report. The media may well try and make it so of course. God only knows whether they'll bother with it at all, when Timmy Mallett is appearing at The Leveson. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Most people I spoke to on Twitter about it - Should the SWTrains staff strike over a lack of bonus over the Olympics - were mainly of the opinion that they shouldn't and maybe they are right. But I don't agree. Ssh no one and I mean NO ONE tell my Father! 1 day in 5 (my average over 2012 so far) I am held to ransom by South West Trains and their appalling service. I don't get any compensation from them. Not a single bit. And I should. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So why should I begrudge their staff the opportunity of getting what they think they are owed from their board of directors? Yeah, it'll make my journey unbearable and delayed. But they already are. Mine may not be a particularly popular view, and a little bit lefty, but there we have it. Whether they strike or not, my train will probably be delayed (1 in 5 days at least) so let 'em argue over a few hundred quid. If I had the opportunity to strike on South West Trains, I'd take it.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-9918854373056399002012-05-31T21:08:00.001+01:002012-06-01T11:59:06.937+01:00Oh my god! Shoes!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So on Jubilee Friday, it was agreed that we should commemorate this momentous moment in some way. Naturally it was decided that the best way to mark this occasion was to have a Best South West Trains Shoes competition. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why not join in?! The competition is pretty simple and hey, it could even be fun </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On your commute on Friday morning, take a surruptitious picture of a pair of shoes you think to be a worthy winner</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nothing mean please. Then send them to me. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I will Retweet </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">General consensus will decide the winner </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Winner will be announced. They'll probably be none the wiser, but who knows?! Maybe they'll see it and we can crown them, in some weird and totally unnecessary ceremony?! </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If it proves popular, we will do it again. If it doesn't well, no harm done! </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To get you in the mood is this classic ode to shoes
</span></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCF3ywukQYA" target="_blank">Oh my Gad. Shoes</a></span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-88375043631676639442012-05-29T12:32:00.003+01:002012-05-29T12:32:32.516+01:00Spotted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPyJ3xwnZw3JpZ8xpKmXhsCrTr3T893BkbNNZLeJjXDnpkKvo9U09du7BW52qP0UUJWEXbzO2ywdifR7mqa-xkrJ95s6P1AWEZMZsNSukp4BEbirg5B0XCI83vWhfhMApjXWmi4_NC1s/s1600/spotted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPyJ3xwnZw3JpZ8xpKmXhsCrTr3T893BkbNNZLeJjXDnpkKvo9U09du7BW52qP0UUJWEXbzO2ywdifR7mqa-xkrJ95s6P1AWEZMZsNSukp4BEbirg5B0XCI83vWhfhMApjXWmi4_NC1s/s400/spotted.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO5QmFaChhqDxC_Fw1kVEsShVab4RElYVmYjwoGX809ocPpQAM9av7ZK1EsUj1u3nBX3osntNsjn8CaH4LiEPp-n97CCQlf2cB5xnZVjfPmJwhACOWjfO_6n3aHF5JaTFSHeX6Qwk7oc/s1600/spotted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you remember in the good ol’
days when people read Heat magazine? (Yes chaps, even you did in 2002!) and do you remember
the Spotted section: “Dean Gaffney in Nandos, he was lovely”? Well I learnt
today, that South West Trains has its own underbelly of celeb activity. Myself,
I’ve never seen a single celeb on my journey (booooo) but having had all of the
below brought to my attention, I shall keep a beadier eye out from now on.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Big thanks to <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#mc_larney" target="_blank">@mc_larney</a> for coming up with this most glorious of topics to discuss on a (mainly) delay-free commute</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bear Grylls – taking time out of
his busy rodent eating life to join the happy throng</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lord Lucan – of course, he gets everywhere</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Rob Brydon – doing a great
impression of a delayed train, no doubt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mark Kermode – I don’t know who
Mark Kermode is … Just googling… Ah yes, I do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Graeme Souness</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">James Bolam – everyone’s favourite
miniature grandpa!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Penelope Keith – In First Class
one assumes?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Will from the Inbetweeners – Is he
the one with glasses… Just googling… Ah, yes he is. I wonder if he leaves his briefcase on the seat next to him?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">David Gower</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Amanda Holden</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ricardo Fuller</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Alistair Stewart – who I am
reliably informed is off Police, Camera, Action</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Robert Powell</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Brian Blessed – surely the best
celeb spot of them all?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Burn Gorman – <span> </span>WHO?<span> </span>- ‘im
off Torchwood and Layercake, apparently</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Danny Dyer – presumably filming
World’s Most Dangerous Commutes?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Charlie Dimmock – Is it too long
ago to make a bra gag?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Martin Davies – ITV weatherman</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">David ‘Calamity’ James – No? Too
long ago to make the calamity reference? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">David Frost – Giving the Nixon
treatment to some poor South West Trains employee as his train was delayed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lord Sebastian of the Olympics Coe
– smaller than you’d expect apparently</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mick Hucknall – Although <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#cllrdavehowarth" target="_blank">@CllrDaveHowarth</a>
maybe mistaken. You sure it wasn’t ‘er off the news programmes?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Martin Clunes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Zoey Lucker – no idea</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nicola Roberts – she don’t need no
good advice, she’s already wasted (that will mean nothing unless you loved
Girls Aloud as much as me)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ali Bastian </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Claire Sweeney – I still miss
Brookside</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Clive James – hopefully offering
some pithy commentary on South West Trains delays</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hugh Dennis – apparently offering
evils, although he may have just been squinting</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Maaaaatt Daaaaamon - although strictly he was just in Waterloo. Whilst we're on him, is it too passe to do the Team America quote? I'm never sure.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And congratulations to the TOP SPOT (as chosen by the inventor of this highly entertaining game <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#mc_larney" target="_blank">@Mc_larney)</a>... Drum roll please...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Winner is snotty Lord Seb Coe followed by 'ol Leslie Grantham & <s>#</s>swtzlistcelebstalker = <a href="https://www.twitter.com/#PaulHT46" target="_blank">@PaulHT46</a> - amazing list of spots!</span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-31823672243407795002012-05-25T11:11:00.003+01:002012-05-25T11:15:40.527+01:00South West Trains: Montage of Misery - w/c 20th May 2012<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The previous montage got so big, that Google wouldn't let me add any more pics. So here we are with a new Montage of Misery. All these pictures are from this week (w/c May 20th 2012) and are indicative of a completely shit train service. Could be any week really. From now on I am going to try and do one of these every week, unless (god forbid) South West Trains service is so darn good that no one sends me any photos. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This has never happened before, but hey miracles might just happen</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Keep sending the pics - normal place </span><a href="https://www.twitter.com/#my6percent" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank">@my6percent</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> on twitter or </span><a href="mailto:my6percent@gmail.com" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">my6percent@gmail.com</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqN_IZlDrQxfCB3WNYeXUd10-n7RRxP6L89KJcFv3m8ACnD7X3fvk9uxYkn4QaDZY0cIl4u8_iKAICNUSrwKaaJix7IoSw9qMAMnRlRyJY-ditv0kYxp74-8fD0Q-aGlofRNQEGcUgpo/s1600/New+Montage+25.05.12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqN_IZlDrQxfCB3WNYeXUd10-n7RRxP6L89KJcFv3m8ACnD7X3fvk9uxYkn4QaDZY0cIl4u8_iKAICNUSrwKaaJix7IoSw9qMAMnRlRyJY-ditv0kYxp74-8fD0Q-aGlofRNQEGcUgpo/s640/New+Montage+25.05.12.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-38604725820513823142012-05-23T11:18:00.000+01:002012-05-23T11:18:54.886+01:00It's Groundhog Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyB0ilHIc_U_mo0NpqMXg2r6N2Qxx2eg_Gu_SXXwr83bZP27PSCxIJssxNtHRezuvtFuoU-EUkFzwMijxicKHEAPBK0lQHeZif7mFo1CADXIutu6lxfpJJ2I77Xip9ujt9xiQxFCagtE/s1600/Atgp-7BCMAAcDjL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyB0ilHIc_U_mo0NpqMXg2r6N2Qxx2eg_Gu_SXXwr83bZP27PSCxIJssxNtHRezuvtFuoU-EUkFzwMijxicKHEAPBK0lQHeZif7mFo1CADXIutu6lxfpJJ2I77Xip9ujt9xiQxFCagtE/s1600/Atgp-7BCMAAcDjL.jpg" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So May 22<sup>nd</sup> was a bit like all the other South
West Trains delay-filled days. I shouldn’t overdramatize, it’s only 20% of my
journeys that are delayed (by 5mins+ or cancelled). So only every 3 days (!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Like so many of you, I was standing there in the melee at
Waterloo. Wasn’t it horrible? I don’t know what is worse the delay itself or
that horribly oppressive feeling of being squished up against a ga zillion
people all waiting for that glorious nugget of information about which platform
to rush to in one big swirling mass. One tweeter described it as being like 28
Days Later. Probably a little rash, but you get the idea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The longer these delays persist, the less apathetic people
seem to be getting and that’s a good thing. South West Trains don’t deserve a
deafening silence, they deserve to spend some of their £50 million profit (in
2011) on sorting out their service. And yes, before you even think it, I do
realise they can’t be held responsible for suicidal people (or as @SW_Trains
decided to call them “A suicidal female”). But they can be held responsible for
sorting the ensuing mess out efficiently and politely. There were mentions of
abusive staff, or staff who had no idea what was going on… What’s the point of
bigging up in the news sites that you’ve ‘drafted in extra staff to help with
the issues of commuters’, if they’re just going to stand there and stare
blankly as if caught in a train-induced trance? Give them the correct info, or
don’t feed them to the wolves. It’s not entirely fair on them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What seemed to have got lost yesterday was that
approximately 10 minutes before the “Suicidal Female” (their words, not mine)
there were announcements about signalling problems at Vauxhall. I’m presuming
they magically disappeared?! According to all the news reports, you’d think
they had never existed. Why do ITV, The Evening Standard, The local rags bother
to report something if they’re not going to report the actual story? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If these delays continue to be every 3 days (my own personal
experience) then why the HELL should I pay for the pleasure? Why should you? As
you’ll see from my previous blogs, it’s so completely impossible to get a
proper refund anyway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Most maddening of all is the feeling of complete
helplessness. Nothing any of us can do seems to change anything in regards
their service levels. The only bright spot being their twitter feed reports
delays efficiently and (mostly) accurately. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I want to help bring about change to this complete monopoly
on my journey, I just don’t know how. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-51175225321410959592012-05-11T12:48:00.000+01:002012-05-11T12:48:20.473+01:00The South West Trains Montage of Misery - 11th May<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday Clapham Junction was without power for hours. I thought I'd get loads of pictures that would adequately show you the carnage of shutting Europe's largest train station. Alas, they were all too dark!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Still... there are plenty of other pictures to pour over. Enjoy and keep 'em coming, either to </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/#my6percent" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank">@my6percent</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> or </span><a href="mailto:my6percent@gmail.com" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">my6percent@gmail.com</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfY3j-QwddDSpWUw4K4uO7rCAz4zD64Mml9r-ksdpcolrFiw74jjUoAEB12DjHAxtteVEc7MkSwQ_gq5A38xduAQt606Zeo8qNGGpRMeT8FiddpehK6l-OgCWsYeK8dSK1oSsDXLz0eg/s1600/Montage+11.05.12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfY3j-QwddDSpWUw4K4uO7rCAz4zD64Mml9r-ksdpcolrFiw74jjUoAEB12DjHAxtteVEc7MkSwQ_gq5A38xduAQt606Zeo8qNGGpRMeT8FiddpehK6l-OgCWsYeK8dSK1oSsDXLz0eg/s1600/Montage+11.05.12.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-29491355799394604622012-05-10T14:25:00.002+01:002012-05-10T14:25:43.100+01:00It's like Thunder, Lightning, your SLAs are Frightening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9OwT6AmUxlaIhmmknBVR8BSTwMRAR2w_uCPdGpsMtykDRaIJit4Oh4lza9vYItkDn04hea2xF-Tq8RKUAv-_SauV6BTltVe4jf_r8FA9FNxQMf_7nNeIlD0Q0wL7yROVU8x3DhvUgHU/s1600/image4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9OwT6AmUxlaIhmmknBVR8BSTwMRAR2w_uCPdGpsMtykDRaIJit4Oh4lza9vYItkDn04hea2xF-Tq8RKUAv-_SauV6BTltVe4jf_r8FA9FNxQMf_7nNeIlD0Q0wL7yROVU8x3DhvUgHU/s320/image4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A guest Blog from <a href="http://www.twitter.com/#bigdoodyboy" target="_blank">@BigDoodyBoy</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On the 4th of April I wrote to Southwest Trains Customer Service
department complaining about the shocking level of service on my specific line where
the level of on-time trains had fallen below 50% over a 2 month period. The
upshot of the ensuing conversation was that as a season ticket holder I would
be compensated like everyone else for overall service when I renewed my ticket.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, as you can imagine, I felt that this was an
inadequate response as it did not deal with the specific problems on my line and
was also a bit presumptious with regard to my renewal. So incensed was I that I
read Southwest Trains Passenger's Charter. This was such an enthralling piece
of prose that I sought out other similar reading material, finally settling on
the National Rail Conditions of Carriage and both Southern Trains and
Southeastern Trains charters as my reading material for train delays.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What has now become clear is that Southwest Trains offer
compensation in line with the basic minimum set out in the National Rail
Conditions of Carriage while other organisations such as Southern, Southeastern
and even Island Line (a sister Stagecoach group company) offer enhanced
packages.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, let's look at what compensation is available to you
under the charters. Most importantly, the compensation packages are split into
two types: individual event and service level. There is also a distinction
between people who hold short term tickets (daily or weekly) and those who hold
long term tickets (monthly or annual). As you would expect, those with short
term tickets are offered compensation based on events whilst those with long
term tickets are offered compensation for both events and overall service
levels. So far, this seems pretty sensible. But, as they always say, the devil
is in the detail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some of the Southwest Trains compensation package seems
reasonable for the event type of compensation. For example if you purchase a daily
ticket and don't use it because of delay or cancellation, you get an immediate
cash refund. Also, if you are delayed for more than an hour and hold a daily or
weekly ticket you are able to claim a full refund for that journey. However, monthly
and annual season ticket holders are not entitled to claim for these specific
events which seems a little unfair. It is interesting to note that both
Southern and Southeastern understand that this is unfair and do offer monthly
and annual season ticket holders this specific event compensation. They also provide
an enhanced package offering 50% discount on delays over 30 minutes. I should
point out, however, that Southwest Trains do offer a kind of event type
compensation to long term ticket holders under their compensation package for
monthly and annual season ticket holders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In their emails to me Southwest Trains Customer Service
department describe their compensation package for monthly and annual season
ticket holders as a "special compensation package" which would give
the impression that it provides enhanced compensation in comparison with short
term ticket types. And indeed on first inspection this would appear to be the
case in so far as the package offers compensation for events and overall
service.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In terms of the service level compensation package, long
term ticket holders will be granted a level of compensation should the number
of slightly delayed trains reach around 10% of all peak hour services across
all lines. This sounds great until you delve a little deeper to work out how
compensation payments are triggered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Firstly, the metric is an average across all peak services
over approximately 6hrs each day or around 50% of all services. But this does
little to compensate travellers for specific ongoing problems on a particular
line and I'm sure that this is a bone of contention for many who feel unfarily
treated by this overall averaging method. However, this is the least of your
concerns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Second, the definition of a late train is based on the
arrival time at it's destination and not at points in between. This means that
trains running late at all intermediate stations are not counted as late if
they arrive at their destination on time. And guess what? The timetables are
constructed with approximately an extra 5 minutes towards the end of the
journey. How many times have you been running late all through the journey only
to end up on time at Waterloo or Reading or Southampton? So, the majority of
travellers who experience delays are cheated out of compensation by carefully
crafted timetables.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thirdly, trains only count in the statistics if they call
at all the intervening stations. This is why late trains are often made to
"run fast" from a certain station. To those already on the train,
this is a good thing as they catch up some of the time they have lost. However,
it affects a greater number of people at intermediate stops for whom their
service becomes cancelled. And it affects an even greater number of people who
will not receive compensation for late running trains because the number of
late running trains has been manipulated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fourth, within the service level compensation, there is a
distinction between reliability and availability or late trains and non-running
trains. This is another way for Southwest Trains to manipulate the service
statistics. With compensation payable only when one or other category breaches
the service level, they can ensure that if they approach the late running
service threshhold, they can cancel what would otherwise be a late train. Ever
noticed how late running outbound trains become cancelled services inbound and
vice versa?</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fifth, the number of items outside Southwest Trains
control is vast and allows many late services to be discounted. I think we can
all understand that Southwest Trains cannot be held accountable if someone
jumps in front of a train or is taken ill or if an animal strays on to the tracks.
However, Southwest Trains are allowed to discount delays caused by signal,
track and power problems which are the responsibility of Network Rail. Note
also the careful wording of announcements when it is a little hot or a little
cold or a little wet and trains are running a little late. By defining a
slightly damp day as "unusual weather conditions" they are
potentially allowing the service to be discounted due to the "exceptional
weather" clause. To a paying passenger, however, these are perfectly
"valid" delays but no compensation is payable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, the service level compensation is not customer
focussed. There are numerous times when you will be delayed but the delay won't
count and the compensation package will not deal with ongoing service problems
in one part of the service.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But what about the compensation for events which seems so
fair for short term ticket holders and those travelling with other train
operators? These are called void days and these are days where it has all gone
horribly wrong for a particular "service group" over an entire peak
period. When a void day is declared compensation is payable on slightly
different terms. I won't bore you with all the details but basically, as a
season ticket holder, you will get compensation even if you don't renew. So
this is a good thing. Er, maybe not entirely. By declaring a void day,
Southwest Trains can remove from the statistics all services in the group over
an entire peak period. So, a single compensation payment of approximately 0.2%
of your ticket price rather than risk triggering a 10% refund due for overall reliability
performance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, these are only options that are available to
Southwest Trains should they wish to hide their real performance and I make no
accusation that this is in fact how they behave to cheat customers out of
compensation or to present service statistics that are far removed from the
real world. I will, however, present my own statistics and leave you to draw
your own conclusion. For the year to end Feb 2012 Southwest Trains published
statistics remained well within the service threshholds at over 90% and yet my
real world experience was that only 68% of my trains were on time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, the "special compensation package" is
nothing of the sort unless Southwest Trains mean that it is special for the
board and shareholders who benefit from increased profitability from
non-payment of compensation. With the partnership between Southwest Trains and
Network Rail there is now an opportunity to accept joint responsibility, to accept
more causes of delay and think about a revised compensation package based on
"real world" passenger service experience. For too long we've endured
"operating" centric SLAs, now we need passenger service centric SLAs
with fair compensation for all.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-67795963428436480702012-05-08T13:31:00.000+01:002012-05-08T13:31:06.418+01:00The Montage of Misery continues to grow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSSMwzamdLidh5DJcMvl7lgU2p61ts5_6r-mm3S5P54ymd-O_CJsxHWzjISnc5z6QRBIl9vfFURIHDm9hsHmz74boGUOIXLJTQUZmeMWk1OIIsoYCngoBw9J0QqJIdY-9ObYvE-BjjIo/s1600/Picture1.png" /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-14085057673979880442012-05-03T11:04:00.000+01:002012-05-03T13:05:04.103+01:00The Curious Incident of The Trucks in the Park<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Isn't it terrible that the prices of South West Trains car parks have rocketed over the last few years?" is something I've read often on Twitter.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, imagine the surprise of one commuter, when the priciest of car parks was not available to use because South West Trains contractors were taking up the space, at 8am, on a week day. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No great drama though right? He thought he'd refer it to South West Trains and all would be sorted relatively quickly. <a href="http://www.twitter.com/#sw_trains" target="_blank">@SW_Trains</a>, the WICC, did their very best and contacted the station. The customer talked to the station staff too, whose response was "We're not mind readers, we didn't know it was going on". Well, no, you're not mind readers, but I am presuming you're not blind and can see what frequents your car park?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This has been going on since March: </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8XPw35EeOZe62iovzSBv-bEN4NcIzj2DVa0RZzdHG3Yrs0KTBbxOVrIol4CiJf-RTLoH1BKVYL9a2g2gI3y4-H_UF75S2jGp0GdGzlfkFEuD36BHjqzaEN4kxTEtKySfRSnA6iTiNMI/s1600/ApDo_EbCMAAfE1-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8XPw35EeOZe62iovzSBv-bEN4NcIzj2DVa0RZzdHG3Yrs0KTBbxOVrIol4CiJf-RTLoH1BKVYL9a2g2gI3y4-H_UF75S2jGp0GdGzlfkFEuD36BHjqzaEN4kxTEtKySfRSnA6iTiNMI/s640/ApDo_EbCMAAfE1-.jpg" width="588" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6uqk45F9HhBodUpUMYyKsa1R01AkBRkr1nf2ekcXoQcGzVvaEp20LoMsRIT2175CBB2ZmeAIKBIwCULUrWePvAXdI643mY5Wd0iAN6W4PS0zC3TjByPpg1ND43KLvtyFqtJ88O4ogbc/s1600/AryuHQCCIAEmacG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6uqk45F9HhBodUpUMYyKsa1R01AkBRkr1nf2ekcXoQcGzVvaEp20LoMsRIT2175CBB2ZmeAIKBIwCULUrWePvAXdI643mY5Wd0iAN6W4PS0zC3TjByPpg1ND43KLvtyFqtJ88O4ogbc/s640/AryuHQCCIAEmacG.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvMakhA9E32UwrL7y_fmc3AjEJXicnBBF0MMDX6DI_0wp1IIS72vWnKml7tveXNm45P05i8avfbD06RKFtWfUE_MI97vX8ytcnEZ5PVofbYIhA00e_Z1hajF3YBUmglTMssj6UH9B6Y4/s1600/Ar8_pPmCQAA_yJD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvMakhA9E32UwrL7y_fmc3AjEJXicnBBF0MMDX6DI_0wp1IIS72vWnKml7tveXNm45P05i8avfbD06RKFtWfUE_MI97vX8ytcnEZ5PVofbYIhA00e_Z1hajF3YBUmglTMssj6UH9B6Y4/s640/Ar8_pPmCQAA_yJD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0dy5OwvleWpYCbOL365Q58pspmupOKv5MDgYTF7oXUNQsJ1V_E08TRkVXrnLAW-IPxpidMHEDmF476oMsrJ-ekuh-hgxHQRdG7wczseqxTrQIvanhGujmMMrb6hTEp5Zp9VXITid_U4/s1600/Ar4MAsiCEAAwtXS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0dy5OwvleWpYCbOL365Q58pspmupOKv5MDgYTF7oXUNQsJ1V_E08TRkVXrnLAW-IPxpidMHEDmF476oMsrJ-ekuh-hgxHQRdG7wczseqxTrQIvanhGujmMMrb6hTEp5Zp9VXITid_U4/s640/Ar4MAsiCEAAwtXS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PaXbWseW5bjPd6UAqFD-nH6cw8-H6Ek-UFbY3y9opYze3AFIPFzhe0Hl0Q3jI41vpqPpeqvDt-YmbECB7h1ArUwh8C9J2eHrS3fYB6BYz8q2RqI12LhoirHqON0sqa8OiSl6XUjjKBU/s1600/Ar4L0XwCEAANkGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PaXbWseW5bjPd6UAqFD-nH6cw8-H6Ek-UFbY3y9opYze3AFIPFzhe0Hl0Q3jI41vpqPpeqvDt-YmbECB7h1ArUwh8C9J2eHrS3fYB6BYz8q2RqI12LhoirHqON0sqa8OiSl6XUjjKBU/s640/Ar4L0XwCEAANkGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-53342424595280927672012-05-03T10:09:00.001+01:002012-05-03T10:09:52.343+01:00The Hand of God<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1986, before he snorted the entire Colombian coke supply, Diego Maradona helped win an important football match with a Hand of God.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Back in the present, South West Trains are winning their enormous profits (not turnover, no, they make millions in actual profit), with similar declarations of religious basis. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fair enough, no one can stop lightning, but you can at least mitigate the problems that happen afterwards. Some people were stuck for several hours and there didn't seem to be any contingency for looking after them. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Many have reported that South West Trains have refuted their claims for a refund because of God. This was my favourite response and is definitely worth copying and retweeting! Thank you </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/#mhdpartnership" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank">@MHDPartnership </a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">for letting me share!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OVyg4CpMlkc9SIvUDnGBfjJRzSW6hrasUo1FxY42J7tpKdaykRhXtg7TYrq-AJDn1X_nJ_7Rndgg-vO4CkPm8tO3A4a8-OmqU73ZNWcMeQq1LcjjqCeaVZLEagkYlGHrtHNy6aT0jxc/s1600/large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OVyg4CpMlkc9SIvUDnGBfjJRzSW6hrasUo1FxY42J7tpKdaykRhXtg7TYrq-AJDn1X_nJ_7Rndgg-vO4CkPm8tO3A4a8-OmqU73ZNWcMeQq1LcjjqCeaVZLEagkYlGHrtHNy6aT0jxc/s1600/large.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132608435983603891.post-88074090963825102952012-04-30T13:34:00.000+01:002012-04-30T15:34:42.950+01:00The Montage of Misery expandeth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy Mondays one and all. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Below is an update from the Montage of Misery, which documents the woeful service offered by South West Trains.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Got any to add?! Email me (<a href="mailto:my6percent@gmail.com">my6percent@gmail.com</a>) or find me on twitter (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/#my6percent" target="_blank">@mypercent</a>) </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8x4v-LYAtG4iVIkuH0YsLtm965VtmJy-iSujU4Slc1XGszmRHoV6Wb2MzhkVqLkblJ9aSvs6gigEFrEnxEPHK34FWW8Hni2oCH8PKQiV8Ras9DPgC3h36kTEq4iZL-tcMjefmEY47As/s1600/montage.png" /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0