OK... the train network here in Greenwich and throughout south east London and Kent is Southeastern Railways. Not so long ago they were owned by a company named Connex (who I will reluctantly admit was part of the same family of companies as TVW, my previous employers). Now Connex were awful.
If a train arrived on time you would thank your lucky stars and double check to make sure you weren't dreaming. I spent many a "happy" hour at Westenhanger station waiting with no information for a train that should have been there two days ago.
They were so awful the Government took their franchise away and made Southeastern a public company pending tenders from private companies. And a miracle happened. The slam door trains disappeared, replaced by new Electrostar ones that Connex had been slow in getting out into service. Trains began to run on time! Things seemed to be getting better. Then Govia was awarded the contract.
They took over in April and things didn't seem to change much (a good thing!). But then I suppose it's hard to ruin a good thing straight away.
But the last month has been hell. Every morning the trains seem to be late. Sometimes they are cancelled. I've become reliant on my Oyster card and a hellish journey on the tube to get into work. Now if it was an ongoing problem (a faulty signal even!) I could kind of understand. But everyday it's different (and today according to my fellow travellers each one of us was given a different explanation; a medical emergency, staff abscence, a faulty train, a police incident being just four I heard just to explain todays cancellations!)
It's bloody awful... I hate using the Tube (I'm taller than the carriages, it's not pleasant!) and it's just not good enough. I wish they'd get their act together.
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