🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <85d703be.0404070531.5df5c7b2@posting.google.com>, Professor
Herbert McGregor <profherbertmcgregor@hotmail.com> writes
>A colleague informed me earlier that the 15:30 service from Euston to
>Carlisle is 'pick-up' only at its first stop - Milton Keynes.  Why is
>this the case, when every other Virgin service during this time allows
>Milton Keynes customers to alight?  One can appreciate why the
>restriction applies to Watford (but on occasions when I've travelled
>on southbound trains calling at Watford, people board there and
>nothing is said), but why Milton Keynes?
>
>One can use the same analogy to suggest that GNER make Peterborough a
>pick-up stop, First make Didcot pick-up and Midland Mainline make
>Bedford pick-up.  Bizarre!

Presumably it is to deter commuters but 15.30 does seem a bit early for
the peak.
Some years back when the London-Brighton line operated an all-night
service Haywards Heath was set-down only on Brighton bound trains
and pick-up only on Victoria bound.
The reason behind this was for engineering work diversions via Horsham
and Littlehampton/Ford.  The railway did not have to provide
replacement transport between Brighton and Haywards Heath.

I also recall an incident on an evening peak West of England train which
was scheduled as pick-up only at Reading.
The regulars knew about this although no Reading stop was advertised at
Paddington. However on this occasion the train did not stop at Reading
and the evening commuters were deposited in Taunton! Needless to say a
lot of excess fares were collected.

--
Alan Osborn

> A colleague informed me earlier that the 15:30 service from Euston to
> Carlisle is 'pick-up' only at its first stop - Milton Keynes.  Why is
> this the case, when every other Virgin service during this time allows
> Milton Keynes customers to alight?  One can appreciate why the
> restriction applies to Watford (but on occasions when I've travelled
> on southbound trains calling at Watford, people board there and
> nothing is said), but why Milton Keynes?
>
> One can use the same analogy to suggest that GNER make Peterborough a
> pick-up stop, First make Didcot pick-up and Midland Mainline make
> Bedford pick-up.  Bizarre!

I wish they'd do that on all Virgin Trains calling at Milton Keynes
between 1700 and 2100 - that way they wouldn't take up valuable space
which could be used by Coventry, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton
passengers. Better still, adopt the policy I heard announced at
Watford Junction a few years back:
"The train now approaching platform 4 stops to set down only. Please
feel free to board this service. However, if you do, you will be
charged the full fare from Coventry."

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 07:02:40 -0700, James wrote:

> I wish they'd do that on all Virgin Trains calling at Milton Keynes
> between 1700 and 2100 - that way they wouldn't take up valuable space
> which could be used by Coventry, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton
> passengers.<snip>

This is, I understand, precisely what they *will* be doing in September. 
I believe that many services will not even be stopping - but I think
extending the set-down/pick-up only would be more sensible.

> "The train now approaching platform 4 stops to set down only. Please
> feel free to board this service. However, if you do, you will be
> charged the full fare from Coventry."

:)

I've seen a sign in Manchester recently on a private car park saying
something similar.  It went like this...

==========
PARKING

Please feel free to park here if you wish.  However, by doing so you agree
to pay a fee of £50, and agree that your vehicle may be clamped until
such time as this payment can be collected.
==========

Neil
-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
Mail me on neil at the above domain; mail to the above address is NOT read

> > I wish they'd do that on all Virgin Trains calling at Milton Keynes
> > between 1700 and 2100 - that way they wouldn't take up valuable space
> > which could be used by Coventry, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton
> > passengers.<snip>
>
> This is, I understand, precisely what they *will* be doing in September.
> I believe that many services will not even be stopping - but I think
> extending the set-down/pick-up only would be more sensible.

Good. As a former resident of Birmingham, this is intensely pleasing
to me, as the occupation of seats at Euston by Miltonians was a cause
of much irritation.