Written by John Kruse, one of the leading experts on Bailiff Law, this consumer friendly guide is essential reading for anyone who comes into contact with a bailiff.
The book is easy to understand and clearly explains the rights
a bailiff has, and also what they cannot do when collecting debts and repossessing goods etc.
More and more in the news there is issues with our trains. The main ones now are overcrowding and cramming in more people onto smaller seats.
It is one of the most difficult areas to complain about. For example I am a member of the no450 group for the portsmouth to waterloo line - NO450.CO.UK
Since re-newing their franchise SWT has replace peak time trains from portsmouth with Class 450 Trains, which have 3+2 seating (across the width of the train) which are cramped and uncomfortable. These replaces trains with 2+2 seats (class 444), with plenty of space, well suited to the long distance travel from portsmouth (1 hr 40 mins to london).
So you try complaining to SWT and they tell you that the government mandated them to provide more seats, so you have to complain to you MP, who says it is the department of transports fault (my MP is conservative). The privatisation of the railway seems to make it harder to complain about issues with the railways not easier !
So what are my rights, do I have a right to be able to sit in a seat that does not cause me back pain due to being crammed against other people ? How do I exercise that right ? Any ideas?
Good point! I have had a look at National express, their quickets london to portsmouth is 2hrs 40mins and much cheaper. But there isn't really a commuter service. Also no stops near me, Liss near petersfield. So I am still a captive market to them unless I move jobs.
If you're not happy with the response that you receive from a Train Operator, you are entitled to raise the issue with these people. Passenger Focus - Putting Rail Passengers First
This used to be the Rail Users Consultative Committee at one time, an independent body who mediated on behalf of passengers.
Having worked for a well known train operator for many years, I would have to say, however, that many of the problems faced by passengers, such as yourself, are outside of the control of the Train Operators. This is because of strict, but often nonsensical limitations placed on them by the franchising agreements.
To give you an example, which took years to rectify, the first train to London from a well known destination in the South West had to leave after 0515 in the morning, and arrive in London by 0959, calling a specific stations en route. The problem was, with the rolling stock that the company operated, (which was fixed formation of 8 coaches) the shortest possible journey time that was allowed by Railtrack under the "rules of the route" was 4 hours and 50 minutes, meaning a 1005 arrival.
The only way that the train operator could comply with the franchise agreement, and meet Railtrack scheduling rules, was to run dedicated rolling stock for that train, and it's evening return service, with one coach missing to allow better acceleration out of stations. Of course, this led to frequent overcrowding and, where the dedicated set was not available for any reason, the train ran late. It took ten years and renegotiation of the franchise agreement before the SRA allowed the train to depart at 0507 in the morning allowing the operator to put back the missing coach.
MBNA - Agreed to refund £970 in full without conditions. Cheque received Sat 5th Aug.
Lloyds - Settled for an undisclosed sum.
The new carriages are universally hated by the users.
I am sure as you say some of this is out of the operators hand. Which simply makes the issue worse. From a recent meeting with SWT rep. they blamed the issue also on a train carriage leasing company demanding too high a rate for their carriages. The trains "open market" where every part of the maintenance/ carriages etc. had to be split up under different companies doesn't help.
What do we do about train travel ?
Reply With Quote
