My wife and I recently had an 8-in-15 Freedom of Scotland Rover. During
our 8 days' travelling, we notched up about 50-60 NR trains, but only
two were running late in any way that affected us. 

One was from Stranraer to Glasgow, which ran 15 late because the boat
was late into port - we missed our connection at Kilwinning to Largs,
but got the next one all right. The other was a train from Aviemore to
Inverness, also about 15 late - no reason was given, though in examining
the photos later, I did notice that a windscreen had been cracked - and
our 9 min connection for Aberdeen was not only held for us, but we also
came in on a helpful platform.

Well done First Scotrail.

-- 
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p10907004.html
(37 126 at Hereford, 11 Jun 1985)

Chris Tolley wrote:

> 
> My wife and I recently had an 8-in-15 Freedom of Scotland Rover. During
> our 8 days' travelling, we notched up about 50-60 NR trains, but only
> two were running late in any way that affected us.


My wife and I did the same 3 or 4 years ago (years start to blur after
a while!) with only one problem - coming back down the Far North line,
the train was terminated early because of a mechanical problem, but a
well organised bustitution got us to Inverness only slightly later than
the train would have done.

There were a few minor niggles, most notably the lack of cleaning
and watering facilities at the outlying stations was noticable on return
journeys. A passenger's experience of the railways can be just as
tainted by a filthy toilet as a cancelled train.

Cheers

mark-r

-- 
"Let's meet the panel. You couldn't ask for four finer comedians -
so that answers your next question..."
 -- Humphrey Lyttleton

"Mark Robinson"  wrote in message 
news:432EB7AF.43789E1B@simsol.co.uk...

>
> Chris Tolley wrote:
>>
>> My wife and I recently had an 8-in-15 Freedom of Scotland Rover. During
>> our 8 days' travelling, we notched up about 50-60 NR trains, but only
>> two were running late in any way that affected us.
>
> My wife and I did the same 3 or 4 years ago (years start to blur after
> a while!) with only one problem - coming back down the Far North line,
> the train was terminated early because of a mechanical problem, but a
> well organised bustitution got us to Inverness only slightly later than
> the train would have done.
>
> There were a few minor niggles, most notably the lack of cleaning
> and watering facilities at the outlying stations was noticable on return
> journeys. A passenger's experience of the railways can be just as
> tainted by a filthy toilet as a cancelled train.
>


I did something similar in 1970. A First Class All Scotland Rover - 7Days. 
Cost 33.

Excellent value as I had a Mk 1 First compartment to sleep in each night 
between Glasgow/Edinburgh and Inverness or southbound as suited. Next 
morning there was always a convenient Breakfast on or just off the station 
before exploring the outer reaches of these fair Isles.

KW

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 14:05:51 +0100, Mark Robinson wrote in
, seen in uk.railway:

[....]

> There were a few minor niggles, most notably the lack of cleaning
> and watering facilities at the outlying stations was noticable on return
> journeys. A passenger's experience of the railways can be just as
> tainted by a filthy toilet as a cancelled train.


ISTR trying to make this point to TPTB on far too many previous
occasions. But they don't, can't or don't want to understand it. :-(

-- 
Ross, a.k.a.
Prof. E. Scrooge, CT, 153 & bar, Doctor of Cynicism (U. Life)
Hon. Pres., National Soc. for the Encouragement for Cruelty to Dogboxes
Proud to be the target of various trolls, sock puppets and other idiots

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:24:48 +0100, Ross 
wrote:


>ISTR trying to make this point to TPTB on far too many previous
>occasions. But they don't, can't or don't want to understand it. :-(


I think VT make some attempt[1] to understand it, if the lovely[2] new
wooden-panelled and spotlessly-clean toilets at Crewe are anything to
go by - but I agree the regional TOCs usually do not.

Is there some kind of theory that any thread on uk.r, if prolonged
long enough, will eventually result in a discussion about the bogs?

[1] Eau de Tiolette de Voyager excepted.
[2] Those moaning about the size of the new facilities may wish to try
those on platform 5 (I think) which are more than adequate.

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:07:57 GMT, Neil Williams wrote in
, seen in uk.railway:

[...]

> Is there some kind of theory that any thread on uk.r, if prolonged
> long enough, will eventually result in a discussion about the bogs?


Bogwin rather than Godwin, perhaps?

-- 
Ross, a.k.a.
Prof. E. Scrooge, CT, 153 & bar, Doctor of Cynicism (U. Life)
Hon. Pres., National Soc. for the Encouragement for Cruelty to Dogboxes
Proud to be the target of various trolls, sock puppets and other idiots

Mark Robinson wrote:


> A passenger's experience of the railways can be just as
> tainted by a filthy toilet as a cancelled train.


Indeed. But in our case, that side of things was fine as well. 
-- 
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p10589969.html
(66 246 at Wigan North Western, 21 Jul 2004)

"Chris Tolley"  wrote in message
news:1gqd4xx5dqxmt.1epx8z685ltwt.dlg@40tude.net...

> Mark Robinson wrote:
>
> > A passenger's experience of the railways can be just as
> > tainted by a filthy toilet as a cancelled train.
>
> Indeed. But in our case, that side of things was fine as well.


It seems that the Indian Railways Minister is on a mission to clean up train
toilets:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1787806,00.html

Peter

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:55:58 +0000 (UTC), "Peter Masson"
 wrote:


>
>"Chris Tolley"  wrote in message
>news:1gqd4xx5dqxmt.1epx8z685ltwt.dlg@40tude.net...
>> Mark Robinson wrote:
>>
>> > A passenger's experience of the railways can be just as
>> > tainted by a filthy toilet as a cancelled train.
>>
>> Indeed. But in our case, that side of things was fine as well.
>
>It seems that the Indian Railways Minister is on a mission to clean up train
>toilets:
>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1787806,00.html
>
>Peter
>

Is that where Branson got the idea from, then?
-- 
Tessy @ nospam.com
Life is complex: it has real and imaginary parts