Feeding advice for bantams (one broody, one moulting)

[merlina]

Yesterday I had the most traumatic train ride on a CrossCountry train. A ridiculous number of people and their luggage were jammed into the train (plymouth to edinburgh); All the aisles/spaces were rammed solid with people; they were so squashed on they could not get off at their stop; children were urinating on the floor or on their seats because they could not get to the toilet. A woman on the floor could not get up and was being walked on; a severely disabled woman had booked a seat but could not use it because someone sitting in it refused to get up - she cried in pain for hours. No staff could get through the jammed carriages to help anyone. A woman in front of me had her three kids piled on top of her.

I got off at Birmingham and met a really distraught lady (at a guess aged 80+) who had had to stand, had been hit in the face by falling luggage and had not been met by the 'assistance' people who were supposed to ensure she got a seat. We talked to a rail worker who said he'd seen that train like that often on Sundays.

Ironically, I'd arrived early and was going to get on the previous train but didn't because it looked really busy (people standing in the aisles) and so I decided to wait for the train I'd booked a seat on - because I was one of the first on the train I actually got my seat - the guy who was in it actually got up when I asked him

 

This *must* be a serious breach of every health and safety rules in the book?

 

I've never seen anything like it.

[chuckmum6]

That sounds totally horrendous! I must say it does put me off train travel, my experiences of having to stand for hours because the train has had a couple of carriages removed. I am shocked by the behaviour of some of the passengers you describe though. The additional thing is of course you have to pay a small fortune to be treated like this too!!!!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

And people wonder why I drive!

[WitchHazel]

That sounds appalling.

i hope you will complain, escalating to the Rail Regulator as necessary.

 

Does the network operator have a Facebook page? Can you post on that?

Edited to see - ah, see you have already done so.

I would also put your xcomplaint in writing - letter, not email.

[merlina]

Yes I went and found their Facebook when I got in - I was sooooo cross!

I'm surprised others hadn't - there was a lot of very cross people

I shall be writing a proper letter of complaint when I've calmed down a little and can write more rationally

 

And to think I took the train as I thought it would be less stressful than driving

[snowberry]

Mobile phone footage usually makes them jump a bit higher after you've posted it on Youtube. Also,twitter

[Egluntyne]

Write to your MP.

[Chucky Mama]

[Alis girls]

I think I would have pulled the communication cord and had a good rant. Dispicable the disabled cant sit in a booked seat. I bet 1st class was empty. I used to take boat train from Nunaton to Euston -was always full. hated it - i also drive now. They should be ashamed of themselves. in a crash no one would get out alive. shame on them and good luck with your letter - dont mince your words - give it em with both barrells blazing.

[redbug]

Safety comes strongly to my mind - how can it be when stuffed on a train like sardines. Disgraceful! You would not be allowed on a bus with that many people. Definitely a letter of complaint.

Good job they did't have to use the brakes - many people would have been hurt!!

[Lavenders_Blue]

That is absolutely appalling, I am at a loss for words to express how dreadful I think this is. You absolutely need to escalate this complaint right to the top. As others have said, the thing that beggars belief is the fact that one is expected to pay for the privilege of this dreadful service!

[Charlottechicken]

That does sound horrendous, good for you for complaining. Animals would not be kept in those conditions, and you paid for the privilege

 

I used to travel on the cross city line in Brum, to work, many years ago. By the time the train reached my station we used to pile into the guards van as it was so packed. I always headed for the window as there was a grille across it that I could hold on to. Colleagues who used the northern side of the line recalled that a woman fainted once in the guards van, but it was so packed she didn't fall over, just dropped a few inches in height

 

As has already been mentioned, what happens in an accident, or even if the brakes are applied sharply??

 

Where is the health and safety

[..lay a little egg for me]

In today's "health and safety gone mad" climate that we so often complain about, it's astonishing that this kind of thing hasn't been stopped. There surely should be some kind of law about putting on extra carriages if there are more than x people standing.

 

Definitely complain everywhere! Good luck on your campaign!

[Chicken deficient]

That sounds absolutely awful. I used to live in London when I was younger and have horrible memories of bad things happening on packed tubes and that was only over a few stops. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for you poor people over such a long distance. Given what they charge for train journeys, that is totally appalling. I think you should ask for a refund and that people should be getting compensation for the obvious distress that the experience must have caused them.

[C&T]

a severely disabled woman had booked a seat but could not use it because someone sitting in it refused to get up - she cried in pain for hours.

 

I've been on some dreadful trains out of London at rush hour - but never have I been on a train where no-one would stand up for a lady (or man!) in this situation. I struggle to believe that no-one in that carriage who had a seat wouldn't have given it up for her. Wow! The entire situation should never have been allowed - but I hope those sitting near this woman are able to sleep at night...