The Commute to London on a TRAIN! (Trains in general)

Member Name: Absy_Baby

Product:	Trains in general
Date:	07/05/09 (122 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Greener, frequency

Disadvantages: Frequency, horrid people, crowded, hot, pushed to death

Let me explain the reason for this review. I have spent the last two days commuting in to Waterloo, London, on the train, in rush hour.

My trip consisted of 2 train changes, I travelled over ground on First Capital Connect trains in to St Pancras/Kings Cross, I got the train at 08:37am, not even mid-rush hour. My ticket cost £20 each day, to allow me on the over ground train in to London and then on the underground to Waterloo.

The Overground.

First Capital Connect run services from Brighton to Bedford, stopping at both Gatwick (as far as I'm aware - there may be a change involved) and Luton direct.

The trains contain seats and space for people to stand, I cannot argue with size as it wouldn't matter how big or small the carriage was people would still be squashed and cram themselves on.

I am very 'old school' and think if a pregnant lady/elderly person is standing you should give up your seat, why do First Capital Connect not have these 'reminders' like the London Underground does, we should guilt people in to giving up their seats for the more reliant. However no-one on these trains seemed bothered, and it is sickening, so what you've been at work all day (on your arse) give up your seat, and have manners.

I think £20 is overpriced, and would definitely not commute full time as I think this is a massive expense, and although if the money I was offered counter-acted it, and I was still better off, I would still NOT consider working in London.

I was sat on the First Capital Connect 17:28pm out of St Pancras, and was lucky enough to get a seat, on a two, next to a gentleman in a suit. I am 5"1 and quite petite, I do not take up lots of room. This guy had his legs open, which ok so there's something there, you don't need to take up all my space, it's rude, personal space and all that, but even worse, he was reading a paper and instead of having it folded in half, which I assume is common courtesy as I always see the commuters doing it, he had it open on a double page, in my face AND was using my arm as a flipping arm rest.

I was mad!

I ended up flicking his arm off me several times and he still continued to put it back and gradually lean on me further. I don't like people who have no consideration for others, it's just bad manners, so I debated whether to stand up and start screaming at him, which I opted against although I would have loved to see his embarrassment. I opted for getting off at my stop with the most over exaggerated shove of him off me and stormed off. Pathetic I know. But I am quite a petty person, I just can't let stuff like that go.

The Underground.

With less chairs and more space to stand than on the overground trains I like the idea everyone can fit in, or can they?! Nope not really rush hour is horrible, people push and fight to get on the trains, I know you have to, to an extent but really I saw a wrestling match break out at one point.

The only thing I can moan about is the heat, the underground is obviously under ground but the heat is extreme, it's the one thing I can't handle. But it is made even worse when I'm standing struggling to reach the over head bar to hold on and have five peoples arm pits in my face. Yuk.

The underground travel card is a great idea, I love the fact I can go anywhere on the tube. I also like the fact you can choose zones to make it cheaper if you don't need all zones.

Overall the underground is more expensive than the New York subway and the French Metro but it is quite modern.

I love the fact when I got to London I feel like I've had a work out from all the walking I do under the ground on the underground trying to get to the right train, going the right way.

Overall I appreciate trains are far more green by cutting out all the car journeys, especially in London where traffic and congestion are also a big issue. I don't like the train etiquette, I think there needs to be rules and people should follow them, I only mean rules of common courtesy, nothing too crazy.

Also if you don't have a valid ticket on the underground the penalty charge has just risen to £50 and on First Capital Connect it is £20, but I'm sure they will rise it too when they cotton on.

My main concern is safety and with the crowded platforms and people literally prepared to push you under the train to get on the train, I am worried about people being pushed and shoved. It is quite scary, all stations especially on the underground should be like Canary Wharf, North Greenwich etc where there is glass separating the platform and the train, when the train enters the glass doors open and everyone can get on and off, no safety problems. Expect maybe being pushed up against the glass and dying from being squashed.

I travel quite a lot in and out of London NOT in rush hour, I like it and do prefer it to driving but give me traffic jams over rush hour trains any day!

Summary: Not my favourite method of transport in rush hour, give me traffic jams any day