lost connections

lots of weekends start this way. not the station, though that is part of it, but rather that the train is late. 20 minutes doesn't sound like much, but when you were relying on a connection, and the time between your train arriving and the train you wanted leaving is 15 minutes, then 20 minutes can very quickly become an hour, two, even three if you are really unlucky. (this time, i got lucky and jiggled my way up the country via Coventry and Rugby and arrived just half an hour late).

i love rail travel, but when this happens i hate it. there is rarely an explanation, even less an apology and usually no one seems in any way eager to help. it is a real shame because when trains are done right, they're a marvellous, comfortable and relaxing way to travel. in this instance the train arrived, but was standing room only - in the aisles. it happens a lot. and it wasn't like it was cheap either...

so i came up with this theory: the busier a train gets, the cheaper it should be. assume those people who came first booked seats and are thus travelling in semi-comfort. then (as happened) assume that later people are told "you cannot book a seat" - which translates to "you'll stand this whole journey, good luck" - well, then it should be cheaper right? but it isn't. it is at that point that the price is the highest. it reminds of a scene in "Twin Town" when the boys are discussing the prices of 1 litre and 2 litre bottles of coke.

but why not "standing only" carriages? cheap and cheerful and you'll always know what to expect! :-)

like i said, i love train travel, but when it is like this, i hate it.