This photo doesn’t really do the scene at James Street this evening justice. The platform was totally chock full of passengers, and that was BEFORE the train arrived.
James Street station crowds
Sadly, thanks to taking the photo with a CrapBerry, I missed the best shot as they arriving passengers attempted to squeeze through the waiting throng.
I really should have bought an iPhone!
Over on the MerseyTarts blog, he’s not happy at some of the reaction from those “on the Peninsula side”. I agree with most of what he says. The railway does need to be maintained, and this will inevitably cause some inconvenience, to some people, some of the time.
My problem with the current situation is that the people of The Wirral get the inconvenience, and Merseyrail get the compensation. (more…)
And the chaos at James Street.
I stood yesterday evening for a couple of minutes in the passageway outside the underground lifts at James Street, and the number of confused passengers was shameful. There is NOTHING to tell people what platform to use, unless you happen to be lost at the same time as a tannoy announcement is made.
It is totally ridiculous. I might try and get a video of it later in the week, if they don’t try and throw me out for being a terrorist!
It looks like Merseyrail did …
Read this article from the Penalty Fare Appeal Support website.
Race goers wishing to travel home using Merseyrail services were forced to purchase a £3 day pass before being allowed to board the train.
Passengers were unable to purchase a £2.25 single ticket to get home. It has been reported that confrontations between staff and passengers occurred who were furious having to pay an extra 75p for a ticket that they didn’t need.
And what will it take to get them to offer a discount to their long suffering passengers?
Who knows?
Not me. Yet. I’ve tried to find out the amount that Merseyrail will save during the current engineering works, but it’s not proving easy.
I contacted Network Rail, (more…)
Merseyrail Wordle cloud
Created using Wordle
I’m not entirely au fait with the layout of James Street station, I only use it if I’ve been out for an after-work tipple or two, by which time it’s usually pretty quiet. But I think I might get to know it a bit better over the coming weeks.
It’s like a warren in there!
Mind you, the confusion (not just for little old me) was considerably added to by the almost total lack of any information (more…)
The Liverpool loop is now closed for engineering works. All Wirral line trains will depart/terminate at James Street station. For 7 weeks …
This in itself isn’t too bad, but Merseyrail are charging the same price for a ticket to use the line. I pay £3:65 for a ticket from Hoylake to Liverpool, and there will be no reduction, despite the fact that the service will be considerably poorer. It doesn’t take a seasoned commuter to work out that James Street station will be chaos in busy periods.
Merseyrail Customer Satisfaction Survey
If you’d like to pass on your opinions of Merseyrail (the good and the bad), you can now do so online. Visit the Merseyrail Customer Satisfaction Survey
Eh, not likely.
I asked this evening if MerseyRail would be offering their passengers on the Wirral line a discount during the engineering works that are coming up, even if just a token amount, as some compensation for the disruption that they will suffer.
This was the reply from one of their ever-jolly staff …
“They never have before, so I don’t see why they should make an exception for you.”
Not much you can say to that really. Not without the risk of landing an ASBO, anyway.
