Contents Listing - Articles & Features in this issue
iewpoint Photonews Rail Development News Traction Maintenance Depots a€ Old Oak Common Railfreight today a€" serving the steel industry Manchester Piccadilly Photoguide Catch a bargain Stocklist Front cover: The 18.15 Nottmgham-St Pancras and 18.15 St Pancras-Derby meet at Kettenng station in June 1984.
Article Snippets
ECENT conversations with regular commuters to London have revealed a number of interesting comments and observations. One individual had travelled by rail for a number of years but when an independent coach operator began operating a service to London which passed his front door (the station was three miles away) he opted to use it. Favourable comments were passed,not only about the convenience and lower price of coach travel but also the friendly atmosphere and personal service offered by the coach's regular driver. A second conversation was with someone who has only recently started to commute by rail over a 70 mile distance after many years of working close to home. His comments on service quality were generally favourable and he found the journey had enabled numerous business and social contacts to be made, provided the environment for work to be done if required, and all ' within a 'friendly' atmosphere: The final point was more than obvious over the Christmas period on the Great Eastern main line out of Colchester when railway carriages became mobile 'office' parties with decorations and music too! Although I am not a daily rail commuter I am a fairly regular rail user particularly of services operated by the London & South East sector. There are one ortwo areas which prove annoying a€ and which must be infuriating to regular travellersa€"such as the entry into Liverpool Street in the morning and Waterloo in the evening; cancellations due to 'industrial action' or overcrowding as a consequence of stock shortage. However, I consider that the quality of service is quite sound given the state of the infrastructure and nvestment available. Returning to the commuter's tales it would seem right that a choice of travel mode is available and, in theory, competition should sharpen the quality of service. So BR should be exploiting its natural advantages of speed and comfort and Jse the technology now available in signalboxes and on trains to keep its customers fully aware of any problems that are likely, the weather at their destination and any special services or affers that may be available. Personal and polite service from railway staff and the maximum provision of information will go a long way to maintaining customer confidence and preventing erosion of BRs commuter market.