18,845 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 28, 2020 11:40:25 GMT
Having joined in some of the criticism yesterday, I feel I must now come to Coventry's defence. Although change had already begun before World War II, it did have quite a lot of external help with the remodeling of the city centre. It's easy for 'outsiders' to mock, but shouldn't we all try and be proud of the place we call home? One of the purposes of UK City of Culture is to change perceptions of places that don't have the best of reputations, and foster a sense of civic pride, which I think it did for Hull. Okay, that's my serious bit done for 2020. Normal service will resume shortly! 🙂 Also, those cities like Coventry and Sheffield took the brunt of the bombing along with London and were rebuilt in one of the most aesthetically’questionable’ eras of architecture so they deserve a break!
|
|
358 posts
|
Post by tysilio2 on Feb 28, 2020 13:13:36 GMT
See, best thread on the board by a mile!
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Feb 28, 2020 18:26:22 GMT
My son spent three years at university in Cambridge and it's a great place to get to/from London but for destinations further north and west it's a pain. While travelling between Cambridge and Coventry via London may seem a lot of extra miles it is, unfortunately the best and recommended route. Otherwise you have to go via, and change at, either Ely or Stevenage to get almost anywhere. Or Peterborough. I have spent a lot of time over the years hanging around Peterborough station for the obligatory half hour wait in each direction when trying to go almost anywhere north. Also, those cities like Coventry and Sheffield took the brunt of the bombing along with London and were rebuilt in one of the most aesthetically’questionable’ eras of architecture so they deserve a break! It's such a shame that post-WWII reconstruction & hideous brutalist architecture had to coincide. If only WWII had been followed by, say, the Palladian era! Or Gothic. Or Baroque. Or almost anything that wasn't ugly concrete tower blocks!
|
|
|
Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 28, 2020 21:09:22 GMT
See, best thread on the board by a mile! Okay, so here's a tale from before I discovered Theatre Board. Two shows booked, both then brand new. Bat Out of Hell 2.30 matinee at Manchester, followed by 7.30 Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Sheffield with Travelodge overnight. February 23 2017 I think. Unfortunately my chosen date coincided with Storm Doris. No problem getting to London, arriving at Euston Station at 10.45 I found my booked train was cancelled but previous one was running and I caught that with a few minutes to spare and found a seat. There was no " we advise you not to travel "or "delays likely" warning before departure. Travelled at normal speed for about 10 minutes and then stopped at a signal for ages, eventually the train manager announced that a blanket 30mph speed limit had been ordered as far as Milton Keynes. It took over two hours to get there and by then I realised I had no chance of reaching Manchester for 2.30. We waited at Milton Keynes for about 15 minutes - this was not a scheduled stop and the doors were not opened, nor was there any further announcement. Then a few minutes AFTER the train left Milton Keynes the train manager announced that the speed limit had been extended and we would be continuing to travel at low speed to the first booked stop at Crewe. This caused much annoyance as some people would have got off at Milton Keynes and abandoned their journey. It took a further two and a half hours to reach Crewe . The train manager was silent and unseen until he announced that the train would terminate there with buses on to Stockport and Manchester. Torrential rain, roads very busy. I reached Stockport at about 5.15 pm. All I wanted then was to get to Sheffield. Very few trains running and nothing showing for Sheffield but a delayed train bound for Nottingham arrived at about 6.25pm which I caught and got to Sheffield about 7.25. I had struck up a conversation with a local man who offered to walk with me to the Crucible as he knew the most direct route. We arrived just after 7.30 to my huge relief and the show had't started At 7.40 Dan Gillespie Sells came on stage. He announced that the show was going to happen but a key member of the cast (Hugo i think) was delayed on a train and they had to await his arrival. Dan talked about the show and answered some questions, at about 8 he was informed that the actor had arrived, and the show started at 8.15. It was of course wonderful and made up for all the hassle getting there. Uneventful journey home on Friday. Got my train fare back and rebooked to see Bat Out of Hell a couple of weeks later which went smoothly.
|
|
3,088 posts
|
Post by david on Feb 29, 2020 10:24:17 GMT
Just booked a day return to Chichester from London and theatre ticket for the CFT for a grand total of £20. Can’t really complain with that.
|
|
4,967 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Feb 29, 2020 12:11:58 GMT
I'm guessing you won't be booking for Standing at the Sky's Edge then, Dawnstar? A Barrie Kosky directed production of the Ring Cycle, set in and around Trellick Tower, must be your worst nightmare! 🙂
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Feb 29, 2020 13:09:52 GMT
TallPaul I very much doubt it. The NT would have to cast a dozen of my favourite actors in it. Oh no, I can think of much worse things than that!
|
|
18,845 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 1, 2020 11:32:41 GMT
See, best thread on the board by a mile! We waited at Milton Keynes for about 15 minutes - this was not a scheduled stop and the doors were not opened, nor was there any further announcement. Then a few minutes AFTER the train left Milton Keynes the train manager announced that the speed limit had been extended and we would be continuing to travel at low speed to the first booked stop at Crewe. This caused much annoyance as some people would have got off at Milton Keynes and abandoned their journey. It took a further two and a half hours to reach Crewe . The train manager was silent and unseen until he announced that the train would terminate there with buses on to Stockport and Manchester. Torrential rain, roads very busy. I reached Stockport at about 5.15 pm. All I wanted then was to get to Sheffield. Yes, Virgin staff were always noticeable by their absence when anything went wrong which might result in them being challenged by the customers. I took my first Avanti West Coast trip recently and the customer service on board was still absolutely dire, and that was in First. But of course it’s the same staff, different uniforms, same attitude.
|
|
|
Post by FrontroverPaul on Mar 1, 2020 13:14:39 GMT
TallPaul I very much doubt it. The NT would have to cast a dozen of my favourite actors in it. Oh no, I can think of much worse things than that! Will you be venturing to Manchester to see Zorro at Hope Mill ? I'm combining it with Back To The Future in a couple of weeks.
|
|
4,967 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Mar 1, 2020 14:42:46 GMT
I'm pleased to report that Northern Railway finally, and rather belatedly, got its act together, with both of my journeys yesterday on time, or near enough as makes no difference, proving that I'm not completely obsessed with train punctuality.
I'm pleased I wasn't, but if I had been delayed, even I wouldn't have bothered claiming compensation; not because I don't want to rub Arriva's nose in it, but because my return trip to Leeds only cost a grand total of 20p!
Shame the new trains have such uncomfortable seats, and don't have enough carriages. Nottingham-Sheffield-Leeds, all major centres of population, really deserve more than a two carriage train running once per hour.
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Mar 1, 2020 15:00:46 GMT
Will you be venturing to Manchester to see Zorro at Hope Mill ? I'm combining it with Back To The Future in a couple of weeks.
No, I won't be. I've never been to Manchester, partly because it looks like it'd be horrible to get to, over 3 and a half hours each way. There isn't anyone in the cast I particularly want to see & the publicity about an immersive production doesn't appeal in the slightest. I've never been to any immersive theatre as the thought of it scares me!
|
|
18,845 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 1, 2020 15:05:53 GMT
Will you be venturing to Manchester to see Zorro at Hope Mill ? I'm combining it with Back To The Future in a couple of weeks.
No, I won't be. I've never been to Manchester, partly because it looks like it'd be horrible to get to, over 3 and a half hours each way. There isn't anyone in the cast I particularly want to see & the publicity about an immersive production doesn't appeal in the slightest. I've never been to any immersive theatre as the thought of it scares me!
I’ll be taking one for the team Dawnstar 😝
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Mar 1, 2020 15:14:48 GMT
BurlyBeaR I'm sure you can bear down on them if they try on anything you don't like!
|
|
507 posts
|
Post by jampot on Mar 15, 2020 23:39:25 GMT
With theate events likely to be cancelled I have pre booked £9 single train tickets from now to mid May to Waterloo with south west rail x about 28 ..it looks to me there is a £10 admin charge per ticket to claim a refund ...Or am I getting something wrong?
|
|
|
Post by talkingheads on Mar 15, 2020 23:56:17 GMT
With theate events likely to be cancelled I have pre booked £9 single train tickets from now to mid May to Waterloo with south west rail x about 28 ..it looks to me there is a £10 admin charge per ticket to claim a refund ...Or am I getting something wrong? If they are advance fare tickets they are non refundable, which is astonishingly greedy in the current climate but, for SouthWesternRailway at least, that's how it is.
|
|
578 posts
|
Post by lou105 on Mar 16, 2020 7:13:22 GMT
LNER are offering refunds and waiving the admin fee.
|
|
4,967 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Mar 16, 2020 13:40:47 GMT
LNER are offering refunds and waiving the admin fee. As are Northern from today, so credit where it's due (though they are now a sister company to LNER).
|
|
578 posts
|
Post by lou105 on Mar 20, 2020 11:41:20 GMT
LNER are offering refunds and waiving the admin fee. Quoting myself here but it seems LNER's offer is a rebooking free of fees, or a refund as credit for advance tickets. I think it's only open tickets that would get a full refund.
|
|
279 posts
|
Post by fossil on Mar 21, 2020 11:57:26 GMT
If you have an advance ticket it is worth checking if your booked train will actually run as the train companies are operating reduced timetables from next week. The National Conditions of Travel seem to indicate you can get a full refund if the train does not run:
30. YOUR RIGHT TO A REFUND IF YOUR TRAIN IS DISRUPTED AND YOU CHOOSE NOT TO TRAVEL 30.1. If the train you intended to use is cancelled, delayed, or your reservation will not be honoured, and you decide not to travel, you may return the unused Ticket to the original retailer or Train Company from whom it was purchased, where you will be given a full refund with no administration fee being charged. This Condition applies to all Tickets, including Tickets (such as Advance Tickets) that are otherwise non-refundable, and also applies if you have begun your journey but are unable to complete it due to delay or cancellations and return to your point of origin. 23 30.2. When applying for a refund under this Condition you will need to state the date, time and station where you would otherwise have started your journey from. You must write to the Train Company to notify them of your claim within 28 days of the date that you intended to travel.
|
|
279 posts
|
Post by fossil on Mar 23, 2020 19:46:28 GMT
Just had an email from National Rail Enquiries as I am on their mailing list. Looks like those Advance tickets we bought for our cancelled theatre trips can now be refunded.
"On Friday we announced that there will be reduced train services from Monday 23 March.
It is recommended not to travel unless it’s essential. Today, train companies have updated their refund policies for train tickets by offering fee-free refunds on all national ticket types, bought before 0700 Monday 23 March.
There will be no refund fee applied to Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Anytime and even Advance tickets, which are usually non-refundable. For Advance tickets, please apply before the departure of the first reserved train printed on the ticket. For more information on the updated refund policies please visit National Rail.
To request a refund, please contact the train company or retailer that sold your original ticket. "
|
|
4,967 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Jun 20, 2020 13:15:19 GMT
Remember when we used to moan about endless engineering work on the ECML, and King's Cross being closed for an entire weekend?
How I wish we could still moan!
|
|
5,593 posts
|
Post by lynette on Jun 20, 2020 16:51:48 GMT
Car parks. Invest in car parks. Back to the good old days when you could and did drive into the West End, found a parking spot or used a car park. Car sharing and charabancs will return, all needing car parks.
|
|
4,967 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Jun 20, 2020 17:05:10 GMT
And what have they done instead, lynette? From Monday, the Congestion Charge is not only increased, but applies until 10pm, seven days a week. It's supposed to be only a temporary measure, but as you'll recall, they said that about income tax!
|
|
4,799 posts
|
Post by The Matthew on Jun 20, 2020 18:01:02 GMT
From Monday, the Congestion Charge is not only increased, but applies until 10pm, seven days a week. Given how rapacious they are I'm surprised the Mayor of London and the councils haven't simply decided to become highwaymen. Some of the things they're doing are borderline illegal anyway, so why not just drop the pretence?
|
|
5,593 posts
|
Post by lynette on Jun 20, 2020 18:49:08 GMT
The increase in congestion charge is very mean spirited. Not just for entertainment but for people visiting hospitals and other important stuff. They have to drive in. Have you tried taking a wheelchair on the tube? Or even a buggy. No need to amplify the point. I sometimes think the Mayor is on a different planet and in thrall to some power we don’t know about.
|
|
356 posts
|
Post by lichtie on Jun 20, 2020 19:44:22 GMT
They were told to bring back the congestion charge (and increase it) by the government in exchange for the TfL bail out. That's almost certainly just a dumb political bid to improve the Tories chances in the next mayoral elections, by trying to pin the blame on Khan. And since London is still nowhere near getting air pollution down to a legal level, there won't suddenly be an explosion of new car parks in the centre. Or any other big city. Eventually public transport has to go back to normal regardless, just like all the other parts of the economy the goverment would like to fully reopen now.
|
|
4,967 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Jun 22, 2020 9:32:57 GMT
There was a comprehensive interview with Sadiq Khan in yesterday's Sunday Times. I knew the reintroduction of the Congestion Charge was all part of the TfL bailout, which is why I deliberately used the word 'they', but it was a negotiation and, despite being a lawyer by trade, Khan blinked.
No economy has ever been stimulated by imposing extra taxes!
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Apr 22, 2021 16:55:15 GMT
Just leaving this here
|
|
4,967 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Apr 23, 2021 14:23:09 GMT
I'm sure NR and its contractors are doing other things too, but this is one of the reasons, perhaps the main one, for the current possession.
There's something about eras coming to an end that makes me emotional.
|
|
|
Post by marob on Jun 19, 2021 14:54:42 GMT
What’s going on with the trains at the moment? I booked a few nights away in London in August, just went to look at the train tickets and they all say sold out 😱
Are they stopping people getting on if not prebooked?
I can book each individual stage as a single, but before the pandemic I was told that if one of those trains is late you’re not necessarily entitled to travel on the next one. If it’s booked as one journey you’re covered, if it’s split you’re not. Is that right? Does it depend on the type of ticket? (I think I might have bought those tickets in one of those sales Virgin used to do.)
Loads of availability the day before, of course, so I could stick an extra night on the beginning, but that adds a lot more expense.
Would more seats be available if the final stage of unlocking happens? I’m guessing that’s not likely since they seem to increasingly be referring to a third wave. The way things are going I’m starting to wonder if there’ll be some sort of restriction stopping me going at all by then. ☹️
|
|