Commuter anger over new train connection rules (From Halstead Gazette)
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Commuter anger over new Greater Anglia train connection rules between Manningtree and Harwich
12:00pm Saturday 12th January 2013 in News By Helen Barnett
Paul Turvey at Harwich Town train station who believes the new policy is ridiculous
TRAIN users are furious their connecting services will no longer wait for delayed trains.
New rules about the connecting train between Harwich and Manningtree came into practice on Monday, January 7.
The change means if a main line train from London or Norwich is late to Manningtree, the Mayflower Line train to Harwich won’t wait for transferring passengers.
They could be stranded at the station for up to an hour until the next Mayflower Line train arrives.
Critics said it is a way for Greater Anglia to keep train time statistics healthy, while disregarding customer service.
A spokesperson for Greater Anglia said: “We will continue to monitor these arrangements in line with our commitment to provide the best possible service for all our customers."
Comments(5)
Opsiomath
says...
2:12pm Sat 12 Jan 13
If so, this is total madness as the only way home at night is very very expensive taxis
If people can't rely on connections they'll stop using trains whenever possible
skinnr
says...
5:47pm Sat 12 Jan 13
There has also been considerable adverse coverage in the media about this arrangement.
Neil Skinner
Chairman MRUA
Frating16
says...
10:32am Sun 13 Jan 13
floppy123 wrote:If it's 20 mins late going back to Harwich, it will be 10 mins late coming back, if it's late coming back, the connection at Manningtree for the Main Line trains will be missed ! and why should those who are on the train on time, be delayed for the one or two that get off a late train ? Are we saying delay the majority for the minority ?
This is stupid, the train only waits for 7 minutes anyway so it can be back on time, the amount of times when i was at college i kicked off because the trains were delayed, it took over an extra hour just to get home! The mayflower line can wait for 20 minutes without it being late back to manningtree it sits there for 10 minutes and harwich for 10 minutes! I just feel sorry for the people who are even worse of than me!
Arthur Fonzarelli
says...
8:51pm Sun 13 Jan 13
If the local train departs Manningtree more than 7 minutes late then it would be difficult for it to arrive within its threshold for being ontime at Harwich Town.
As for the argument for delaying the minority over the majority then consider this.Train operating companies are judged on performance (the % of trains ontime). If given the choice of having 95% ontime trains of which carried 50% of their passengers or
50% ontime trains which carried 95% of their passengers then they would choose 95% ontime trains.
floppy123 says...
1:10pm Sat 12 Jan 13