NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=448821&in_page_id=1770

Passengers to be weighed to stop overcrowding on trains
Last updated at 11:38am on 16th April 2007

Heavy going: passengers will be weighed on Southeastern trains

Commuters are to be weighed as they squeeze aboard packed trains in an attempt by rail bosses to work out exactly how overcrowded services are.

Train operator Southeastern is linking the suspension of its carriages to a computer system that works out the weight of passengers getting on at each station.

Other rail firms are installing laser beams across carriage doors to count exactly how many people board each service.

Southeastern, which carries 200,000 commuters in and out of London during the morning peak, operates the region's two most congested rail services - the 8.03am Orpington to Charing Cross service and the 6.32am from Folkestone Central to Cannon Street.

Brian Rowley, service specification manager, said the new computer-counting system was a "real step forward" in the fight to ease overcrowding.

Other commuter operators - including Southern Railways and South West Trains - are also installing equipment to collect more detailed information than ever before.

Stagecoach owned SWT is to use laser counters on carriage doors.

I really don't know what to say besides I feel sometimes that our railways are run by a committee of incompetent weasels.

You think you have it bad, over here we got Amtrak! Yechhh.

(Most Americans don't even acknowledge the existence of railways)

EDIT: Isn't the Daily Mail a cheap tabloid?

EDIT: Isn't the Daily Mail a cheap tabloid?

Nah just biased to the right.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=448821&in_page_id=1770

I really don't know what to say besides I feel sometimes that our railways are run by a committee of incompetent weasels.

I heard about them weighing the trains. I don't know why they bother; they could just ask me.

Get the 07:24 to Cannon Street, and it's a moment of delight to realise that there is enough room to sit on the floor in the doorway. Twice in the last six months Southeastern have just left me completely stranded in London, with no more help than 'there might be a train somewhere, go and find it'. The first time I had to get the National Express, the second I found a train at Blackfriars, and packed onto it with about three million other people.

Why they don't run more 12 car trains, I'll never know.

You think you have it bad, over here we got Amtrak! Yechhh.

(Most Americans don't even acknowledge the existence of railways)

EDIT: Isn't the Daily Mail a cheap tabloid?

Cheap and nasty. Yes.

Apparently there are some great train services in the US...as there in the UK. However our (and your) rail infrastructure is old. Having said that the US doesn't really do rail for long trips....whereas in the UK it is used. There are passengers...its just that there is so much convoluted legislation and business interaction that it will eventually run itself into the ground.

We taxpayers are actually paying companies that are supposed to run a market.

Cheap and nasty. Yes.

Apparently there are some great train services in the US...as there in the UK. However our (and your) rail infrastructure is old. Having said that the US doesn't really do rail for long trips....whereas in the UK it is used. There are passengers...its just that there is so much convoluted legislation and business interaction that it will eventually run itself into the ground.

We taxpayers are actually paying companies that are supposed to run a market.

Yeah, there are some great services. The Coaster in southern California kicks ass, for one. However, most Americans probably don't even know what a train is.

Meh, the Daily Fail said it, so I have my doubts.

I heard about them weighing the trains. I don't know why they bother; they could just ask me.

Get the 07:24 to Cannon Street, and it's a moment of delight to realise that there is enough room to sit on the floor in the doorway. Twice in the last six months Southeastern have just left me completely stranded in London, with no more help than 'there might be a train somewhere, go and find it'. The first time I had to get the National Express, the second I found a train at Blackfriars, and packed onto it with about three million other people.

Why they don't run more 12 car trains, I'll never know.

Hmmmm.....and you didn't come to the get-together :mad:

Meh, the Daily Fail said it, so I have my doubts.

It is true...

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/news.php?id=90&u=index.php

Meh, the Daily Fail said it, so I have my doubts.

Well actually the Fail reported what

Brian Rowley, service specification manager, said the new computer-counting system was a "real step forward" in the fight to ease overcrowding.

I mean I understand critical thinking....but....

Hmmmm.....and you didn't come to the get-together :mad:

:confused:

I'm not really following the connection here...

So... rather than spend money increasing the number of trains/carriages they're gonna spend hundreds of thousands working out that they need to run more trains. Clever...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=448821&in_page_id=1770



I really don't know what to say besides I feel sometimes that our railways are run by a committee of incompetent weasels.One would assume that it simply be cheaper to install automatic ticket readers at stations (like they have at tube stations or oyster card thingies) rather than all this fancy crap. And then you could easily argue that it wasn't any sort of intrusion of privacy (which it still is), but simply an effciency saving for the benefit of the customer... or some other bollocks like that.

:confused:

I'm not really following the connection here...

We met in London...Canning St is in London.... :p

One would assume that it simply be cheaper to install automatic ticket readers at stations (like they have at tube stations or oyster card thingies) rather than all this fancy crap. And then you could easily argue that it wasn't any sort of intrusion of privacy (which it still is), but simply an effciency saving for the benefit of the customer... or some other bollocks like that.

I think bollocks sums it up quite nicely.

We met in London...Canning St is in London.... :p

Oh, I go to London everyday.

I didn't go to the meet because I believe you're all cyberpeople who are part of a super intelligent programme to deceive me, and there would be no one there if I ever did try and meet you. :p

I think bollocks sums it up quite nicely.Indeed.

...

Anyway, nice to know which paper you read. ;)

Oh, I go to London everyday.

I didn't go to the meet because I believe you're all cyberpeople who are part of a super intelligent programme to deceive me, and there would be no one there if I ever did try and meet you. :pYou over estimate our levels of activity. Once in a pub and drinking we can't be bothered to get again except to (a) order more beer (b) go to the toilet (c) throw sharp pointy things at walls or concuss small spherical phenolic resin balls with long phallic pieces of wood OR FOR VARIOUS OTHER PEOPLE (d) getting up to have a smoke.

We did joke about moving pub and not telling anyone, but that was (a) too much effort (b) everyone already knew about the joke as we all read the forums...

Oh, I go to London everyday.

I didn't go to the meet because I believe you're all cyberpeople who are part of a super intelligent programme to deceive me, and there would be no one there if I ever did try and meet you. :p

I worry about you sometimes :p

Indeed.

...

Anyway, nice to know which paper you read. ;)

Bastard! LOL

I worry about you sometimes :p

Pfft. Cyberpeople can't worry.