Opinions articulated here are solely those of who have placed them. TWEM does NOT necessarily sustain or oppose the views expressed.

Click here to add a comment. 21 January 12, 2009 - 02:56 PM Peter Burton   It is appalling that some train companies are now charging for “online” bookings. I remember the days of queuing for ages at ticket offices and then missing trains as a result. It is entirely logical that advance booking should be cheaper and everything should be done to encourage “online” bookings. Whilst of course walk on fares must be retained, it is an expensive luxury and maybe the train companies need to reduce their overheads (staff/equipment) on tickets sales. Charging for online sales reverses this by putting more pressure on ticket offices. 22 January 11, 2009 - 07:35 PM Tim Anderson   "Advance" tickets (which are as confusing as ever, since they have multiple prices) are now non-refundable. Whose bright idea was that? It really is painful - either pay the exhorbitant full prices - even "super off peak" is now £54.00 for me (Beeston to London), while "Anytime" is a breathtaking £131 - or buy advance tickets and risk seeing all your money evaporate if a meeting is cancelled. Tim 23 January 11, 2009 - 07:31 PM Tim Anderson   Poor service for Nottingham and Beeston in new timetable. Journey times from Nottingham were better in 1999. Beeston has lost its best morning train (7.36, the old "Robin Hood"). Nottingham has all the old HSTs, which I dislike because I use at-seat power for a laptop. The so-called "Robin Hood" now does not arrive in London until 9.30. By contrast Long Eaton now has a splendid service. Any chance of improvement in future? Tim 24 January 10, 2009 - 05:10 PM John Moores   EMT lowered some web fares. 25 December 29, 2008 - 02:29 PM Frank Turner   I cant believe that EMT have the audacity to put up fare prices on this disastrous, terrible service they deliver to the public, they should be deeply ashamed, but I bet their not. Keep the profits coming Tim...never mind the passengers. 26 December 24, 2008 - 10:20 AM Frank Turner   Liverpool - Nottingham is congeted at peak times and most other times, i would of thought that Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool are large cities. Why is the results of the survey top secrate? This is the problem, its all cloak and dager.... 27 December 23, 2008 - 12:02 PM Stephen Abbott   I know all about Nottingham-Liverpool and often rely on it for part of personal journeys north. Travel is truly in 'third world' conditions at times. Moreover, along with other TravelWatch volunteers, I gave my own time this summer distributing 3500 survey cards to passengers, and have spent many hours since analysing the astonishing 45% which were returned! The results of this work cannot yet be made public, but it is an example of what is going on behind the scenes to try to convince DfT. The DfT's objective in funding 1300 extra vehicles nationally is simply to cure crowdng in and out of London and other big cities during the travel-to-work peaks - they (as yet) have no concern for crowidng at other times as happens on Nottingham-Liverpool. 28 December 22, 2008 - 01:28 PM Paul Clark   The fact is that East Midlands Trains under the Franchise terms are not allowed to lease/buy rolling stock at will. The DfT control the amount of rolling stock out there. Complain to your MP and the Transport Minister whose constituency is right in the centre of the East Midlands Trains area to get this changed – or make it and election issue at the next General Election which could well be in 2009. No one denies (except perhaps the DfT) that there is a serious problem on the Norwich - Liverpool route. We really need to keep the pressure up on this one with MPs and those who control these things – Not least of which are the ROSCOs whom might consider reducing their leasing costs to the TOCs. 29 December 21, 2008 - 10:19 PM Frank Turner   You say the overcrowding on Nottingham – Liverpool is a result of government funding no extra vehicles for the franchise despite growing passenger numbers. What about Stagecoach funding it. They are not running this service for the good of the passengers; it’s about profit for them. They are a multi-million pound company and this is just another way of generating revenue while we suffer. The service on Nottingham – Liverpool is absolutely appalling and if you think its acceptable then you have obviously never used it. Maybe some fault could be pointed at the DfT but very much fault at this new useless operator. (They are responsible for it). Instead of going to Market Harborough to London, try Nottingham to Liverpool on a Saturday morning or any morning or late afternoon, then post the results of that!!!! 30 December 18, 2008 - 08:26 PM Stephen Abbott   Most passengers on the Midland Main Line have faster trains, and frequency or time of last train has improved on many services - last Nottingham-Mansfield now 22.05 (23.05 Sats)instead of 21.05, last Nottingham-Leicester now 23.10 instead of 21.54. East Midlands Parkway and Corby will allow more people to access the railway. Crowding on Nottingham-Liverpool is a result of government funding no extra vehicles for the franchise despite growing passenger numbers. I do not work for EMT nor for any other company in the railway industry. 31 December 17, 2008 - 09:29 PM Frank Turner   "EMT (Stagecoach) have improved services for the vast majority of passengers" I would like to meet the people you are talking about, because i haven't met anyone with that opinion. The refurbishment of the trains will not change the problem of severe overcrowding on Liverpool - Norwich line. "TWEM and associated groups to make the case for more resources to DfT" I would like to see evidence of that!! You dont work for EMT by any chance? possibly a manager/director. 32 December 16, 2008 - 04:55 PM Stephen Abbott   With the new timetable introduced on Sunday EMT (Stagecoach) have improved services for the vast majority of passengers. Yesterday I went from Market Harborough to London and back, 83 miles each way, in a total elapsed time of 2 hours 0 minutes 17 seconds! Liverpol-Norwich remains a problem, but refurbished trains are starting to appear. A lot of work is going on behind the scenes by TWEM and associated groups to make the case for more resources to DfT - who are the real culprits through inadequate specification of the franchise. 33 December 15, 2008 - 08:18 PM Frank Turner   At the end of November last year just after Stagecoach took over our rail services, there were many complaints about the service on all the new connect routes taking a turn for the worst, moor overcrowding, less carriages, old dirty trains. David Horne was interviewed on East Midlands Today he said " things had got worse but improvements were on the way". Well its been a full year and we have seen NO improvement at all, Indeed the situation has got much worse. Its time they went and let some one else have ago... 34 November 28, 2008 - 03:48 PM Paul Clark   Pressure groups such as TravelWatch East Midlands and the Campaign for Better Transport lobbied to get peak evening trains restored at Bottesford, between Nottingham and Grantham. Tim Shoveller, managing director for East Midlands Trains said: "We've listened to all the concerns raised, and have subsequently carried out detailed counts of the number of passengers using our services to travel home from work in Nottingham." (Nottm Evening Post). Some services are to be restored. So groups like TWEM (focus groups?) are a waste of time, “….just hands in glove with the train operators and DfT, waste of time...”. I get the true picture I think. 35 November 28, 2008 - 08:54 AM Mark Peters   On 1/5/08 this sit TWEM said it was "Call to address passenger dissatisfaction with the East Midlands Trains Liverpool-Nottingham-Norwich rail route." What is going on, 6 months ago!!!!! I think these focus groups are a waste of time, they dont seem to help at all, i think there just hand in glove with the train operators and DfT, waste of time... 36 November 27, 2008 - 01:39 PM Frank Turner   http://trainsardine.org/ Check this site out, its come to this to see something done about East Midlands Trains shocking services. We are sick of being treated like animals, although i bet they are treated better, sack Stagecoach - They took our rail service back 25 years over night. 37 November 11, 2008 - 01:58 PM Stephen Abbott   Colin Hewitt may have mis-read my earlier comment - while supporting targeted railcards, like him I see problems with a card for all-comers 38 November 06, 2008 - 02:10 PM Colin Hewitt   In response to Stephen Abbott, I agree that targeted railcards (e.g. Senior Citizens) are fine, but all a national card will do is deter those occasional users who will see the railways as expensive if they don’t belong to “the club”. (You can be sure that rail fares would go up to compensate for the revenue lost on the railcards – there is only so many a train can hold so revenue for a well loaded train would otherwise fall). The person with the company car will see no incentive to use the train – and is more likely to go for a budget/discounted airline internally than use the train. It would not be worthwhile for people who only make relatively short journeys. They will not see it as cost effect to buy a card and will seek alternatives as the train for local journeys will be seen as expensive to the non railcard holder. Again the issues are more rolling stock and to make train travel attractive and the BEST option. This may be e.g. high speed rail? 39 October 20, 2008 - 11:05 AM caveat emptor   Don't be misled by the new TV advert' for the Trainline. It refers to advance bookings and Trainline, giving the impression that Trainline is cheaper than the station, when Trainline charge £1 more. FOR THE CHEAPEST DEALS,avoid the Trainline but buy in advance, either at the station OR via East Midlands Trains website. 40 October 17, 2008 - 02:02 PM Stephen Abbott   Railcards for specific groups were introduced to increase railway income, and this they have done. Although some types were protected on privatisation they continue to be a commercial incentive not a social obligation. By the same argument a national railcard for all-comers is unlikely. [Top] Page # 1  2  3  4  5  [Bottom]