… of a “Service Status” ticker, right on the top of your website, that isn’t reliable (ignoring for a moment the fact that you can’t even run a reliable rail service for the commuters of Merseyside)?
There are no trains running on the West Kirby line this morning, thanks to a track failure at Meols, yet the Merseyrail website ticker says “all services running normally” …
… yet they Tweeted earlier this morning that there was a problem …
Which kind of implies that someone at Merseyrail at least knows roughly how to use a computer, and indeed if you follow the Twitter link, you get to this message below …
For F**** sake chaps, it’s not that difficult. If you’re going to suggest that you’re website provides up to date travel information that passengers can use to plan a journey, then do so. Either that or just admit that you don’t know your arse from your elbow and leave us all in the dark.
It’s utterly pointless.
Now I have to work out how to get a suitcase and a large toolbox into work, in the pouring rain, with no trains running. Thanks Merseyrail/Network Rail, great timing boys.
Oh, and thanks to my girlfriend for the phone call about the problem – maybe she should start her own “Service Status” website, although it might be tricky to update standing in a freezing cold bus stop 
UPDATE: Jane just called again, and described Birkenhead North station as “Hell with extra Demons”, and said that a woman on the ‘rail replacement bus’ had waited over half an hour for it to turn up. I’m taking the car …
UPDATE: 9:20, I’ve just got into work and they’ve finally made sure their website reflects the current situation. Nice of them to bother …
Trackback by MiseryRail — November 18, 2009 @ 8:40 am
New blog post: Whats the point … http://www.miseryrail.co.uk/2009/11/whats-the-point/
Comment by North West Media Man — November 18, 2009 @ 11:02 am
It’s no consolation to everyone affected but the problem was traced to a 650v power supply cable in Meols affecting signals, points, track circuits and the CCTV at Leasowe and Hoylake level crossings.
New cable is required in two places after rodents chewed through the rubber sheathing round the cable. Not an uncommon problem, I am afraid as it seems rats have a penchant for the stuff.
Hoping to have the new cable spliced in and the signalling systems etc safety tested so services can resume in the next 30 mins or so.
Comment by Chris — November 18, 2009 @ 11:37 am
I’ll bet the rat got a fright!
Comment by Anne — November 19, 2009 @ 12:19 am
If you hate Merseyrail that much then why use it? Why moan, do you rant about the bus service? No i bet you dont, no one seems to mind if a bus is cancelled do they, so why pick on Merseyrail…You need to get a life.
Comment by Chris — November 21, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
Hi Anne,
thanks for taking the time to comment. I use Merseyrail because driving is far too expensive and the Cross-River bus doesn’t run from Hoylake. So I have no reasonable alternative, unfortunately.
I’m quite certain that people DO mind when buses are cancelled – I used to get the 18a into Liverpool from Tuebrook, and I can well remember how three would turn up at once, while I was attempting to get across Rocky Lane, only for them to drive off as I got to the stop. It would often be ages then ’til another turned up. I don’t mention buses on here because I don’t use them nowadays, so I’m not in a position to comment.
There is also the point that the bus companies don’t (that I know of) keep harping on about how reliable they are, putting up posters telling us all how good they are and how much we love their service. Merseyrail do – and so they are inviting criticism. Perhaps if they just got on with the job of providing a rail service and laid off on the inane publicity, they might not wind so many passengers up when things go wrong. Which they do, frequently.
Lastly, you could have declared your interest in this subject – your comment was posted from a PC on the Merseyrail network (mr-50.merseyrail.org), so it’s a reasonable assumption that you work for Merseyrail, and are therefore unlikely to approve of what I write.
Chris
Comment by Eddie — November 30, 2009 @ 11:52 am
Hi Can I firstly say interesting website ! But I do find a lot of your crit towards merseyrail unjustified as they do run a very reliable service ! Things do go wrong from time to time but on the other hand I do agree regarding the posters ! People dont care they just want a train to get them from A to B !