St. Albans Commuters Face Another Day of Uncertainty Due to Weather
By StAlbansRobin | Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 14:38
Commuters at St. Albans City Station faced another day of travel chaos today.
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Commuters Kept Outside the Station This Morning
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Uncleared Platforms at the Station
The station was closed from around 8am to 8.45 today. Although most services were running this morning, the station itself was closed to avoid what one First Capital Connect staff member called "over crowding on the platform", despite the fact that, as was pointed out by many passengers, the platform was empty and trains with seats were seen arriving and departing.
If yesterday is any indication, the evening is likely to be punctuated by last minute cancellations, delays, full services, and trains stopping at all stations.
Several passengers were overheard, once they reach the platform this morning, complaining that, despite three days since the snow fell on Saturday, platform one had still not been cleared. Conditions were unpleasant and treacherous at best.
Regular commuters will recall that, in January this year, First Capital Connect was lambasted for performance problems, in part caused by their failure to respond to inclement weather conditions. It looks like the scene is set for yet another winter of travel chaos in St. Albans.
Comments
Yes, another wonderful performance from first capital connect. None of the poorly motivated staff will be clearing platforms of course, FCC probably hasn't thought to provide them with a shovel, preferring to give that money to its shareholders. First Group isn't the investment analyst's darling for nothing you know. It holds that exalted position because 'it's not over-exposed to rail activities. You can say that again.
Shutting of the station barriers this morning was ridiculous, but symptomatic of poorly trained, poorly informed, miss-managed staff doing their best to look after frozen passengers who are facing above-inflation price rises to welcome in the new year. It's pathetic and shameful. We're all mugs for putting up with it, repeatedly forking out and lining investor's/First Group director's pockets.
****master
first****italconnect.co.uk
By St Albans City Railway Station at 15:29 on 21/12/10
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