Lowlander

Back in the mid-1980s most fish and chip shops still used beef dripping. The only place I know that still does that in London is the Fryer's Delight in Holborn - any local ones still do it?

If you can't get any info you could try https://www.mib.org.uk They're the car insurance industry's last resort when you can't trace the driver or if they're uninusured. Good luck

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > No Lowlander it is not snobbish, and if you read > back over what I wrote I was saying I am not > adding pressure to existing bus services which > others rely on, I choose to walk or drive because > I am able to do so. Would you rather me clogging > up the buses when I don't need to then? Anyway, > back on topic. The PO is a resource for everyone > not just car or bus passengers. > > Louisa. So instead you're adding to the traffic which holds buses up! Brilliant, thanks. Get on a bus, you might actually like it; always a seat available if you're old and decrepit.

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > titch juicy Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Can't you jump on a bus Louisa? > > > I hate buses and am not prepared to jump on one > when I have such a convenience on my doorstep for > X number of years. Equally, the short walk to this > PO is convenient and good for my health. The main > LL one is time consuming when you have other > things to be getting on with, and I am not > prepared to drive my car and add to the problems > LL area already has now M&S will be opening up, > causing mayhem for the poor folks on the > surrounding residential streets. My nearest PO > will be Dulwich Village. I am mortified. Very > angry indeed. > > Louisa. Typical snobbish blow-in behaviour to hate buses. Many of us use them because we can't afford a car,

If you can plan a day or two ahead the train is ?15.50 each way from East Dulwich to Peterborough. Takes just under 2 hours.

dirac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Anyone managed to claim back money because of not > being able to board a train because of only three > carriages rather than 8? Train left on time but > just no way to get on it... Yes I have done it once or twice (there are no three carriage trains, but occasionally four instead of eight).

I can see the need to use a bank branch if you operate a business or a shop. But as a retail customer? The last time I used a branch was 1995 - to open my first account.

peckham_ryu Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Worst things is the news reports that this bloody > hole is "30cm". It's not exactly an avalanche on > the line. Would you drive a 200 tonne train with up to 1000 passengers at 90mph over a 1 foot pothole? With no knowledge of the cause?

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've used it and it does save you money. > > But, beware some of the cheaper, dodgy car hire > firms in southern Europe which you often find in > the car hire search engines. My experience was > with Goldcar in Italy - they point blank refused > to accept my insurance and refused to release the > car to me unless I bought there's. Mind you, if > you google such firms you will find many differing > complaints about them. > > So, if you stick to the car hire household names, > you will same money with the 3rd party insurance. Goldcar...avoid like the plague. Just finished a two year battle to get ?1000 excess cover back from them - they retained it with no invoices alleging an incident but wouldn't give an invoice for the "repairs". Got the money back via credit card under Section 75. They added the excess cover in a very underhand manner. I had excess insurance with AXA but they wouldn't pay without said invoice.... Loz's advice is sound - use a reputable car hire company and credit card in addition to the excess cover.

New Girl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm currently stood at East Dulwich waiting for > the 1752 to London Bridge but it's delayed till > 1806. However a train with passengers just went > past without stopping. I just don't understand why > it can't stop. Frustrating! Probably a delayed train that's been diverted; if it stops at every additional station that takes an extra 3 minutes; so adding North Dulwich, East Dulwich, Peckham Rye, Queens's Road and South Bermondsey would add 15 minutes. Sounds trivial but the turnarounds are so tight at London Bridge (~10 minutes) that would mean the next outgoing service being cancelled).

titch juicy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > does anyone know if there's an easy way to claim > from them: > > 1. In arrears; i've been very slow on the uptake? > 2. With a season ticket on an oyster card? > > Thanks Within 28 days. Claim from the Southern website and put in your Oystercard number (on the back of the card).

Dogkennelhillbilly Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Gilloc Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Where can you find copy of old train times to > > claim against does anyone know? > > > If you poke about on the national rail website it > has historic data for train journeys actual and > scheduled and a rate times. It doesn't go back > that far though. This site goes back three months http://www.recenttraintimes.co.uk

titch juicy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "What do you do for a living?" > > "So, what did you get for your birthday?" Sorry , first question is a favourite of mine. Haven't asked the second one since I was about 10

Green Goose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Lowlander Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Green Goose Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > JoeLeg Wrote: > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > ----- > > > > Green Goose Wrote: > > > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > > ----- > > > > > Will the Luddites never learn? > > > > > > > > > > Ronald Regan sacked all the air trafic > > > > controllers > > > > > (ATC's)when they started getting Bolshie. > > He > > > > was > > > > > able to get replacements from the > military > > > and > > > > > elsewhere and all was running smoothly > > within > > > a > > > > > week! The original ATC's were never > > employed > > > at > > > > > control centers ever again. Real > Luddites. > > > > > > > > > > Train drivers and conductors are > > infinitately > > > > more > > > > > dispensible than ATCs. > > > > > > > > > > Problem solved. > > > > > > > > > > GG > > > > > > > > So you suggest that Southern Rail > requisition > > > > military personnel (and others) to replace > > > train > > > > drivers and conductors? > > > > > > > > Well, for starters Reagan was > > > commander-in-chief > > > > and could do what he damn well pleased. > > > Southern > > > > Rail don't appear able to get trains to run. > > > > > Also, Southern don't have any right to > > > > requestition military personnel (can't > > believe > > > you > > > > even need this pointed out to you), only > the > > > > government can, and the military is > > > > somewhat...overstretched right now. > > > > > > > > Of course the government can, if the > > government > > > > wants to take it over. But that's > tantamount > > to > > > > admitting that privatisation has failed so > I > > > doubt > > > > that's happening. > > > > > > > > Any more bright ideas? > > > > > > C'mon JoeLeg, I said Regan got ATC's "from > > > military and elsewhere" IRPT "elsewhere". > Also > > I > > > didnt say Southern should/could use military. > > > Driving a train is a far far stretch from > being > > an > > > ATC. > > > > > > There are heaps of people who could drive a > > train > > > with very little training. For example heavt > > truck > > > drivers could do it in a matter of hours. > > Driving > > > an HGV is much more demanding than driving a > > train > > > where everything is covered by safety > measures. > > > Apart from opening the doors all the driver > > does > > > is hold the "dead nman's" handle. > > > All the signals are interlocked and the train > > > cannot pass a red unless the driver overrides > > it. > > > > > > Next time you go to Gatwick and transfer > betwen > > > terminals , you will get on a driverless > train. > > > There are countless other mass transit system > > > around the world that are automated. It's not > > > rocket science. > > > > > > The organ grinder's assistant could even do > it. > > > GG > > > > > > It's relatively easy (for engineers) to > automate > > mass transit, it runs at a maximum 40mph or so, > > there's only one line in each direction and a > few > > minutes between each stop. That's why the > > Central, Victoria and DLR lines are automated > (and > > maybe more). > > > > > > When you get to automating mainline trains, the > > complexity of junctions, higher speeds > (Brighton > > mainline is 100mph in places), and heavier > trains > > with more intense weather conditions, means > that > > the cost is currently prohibitive. > > > > It takes 9 -12 months to a year to train > (excuse > > the pun) a train driver. > > > > Driving a 480 tonne train with 1000 humans on > > board at close to 100mph is not the same as > > driving a 40 tonne HGV limited to 50mph. > > More than a little exageration there, Lowlander! > > Your average 4 car southern train weighs 136 tons > and carries about 300 passengers. The average > speed is less than 30mph. Here we are not talking > HS intercity express trains but simple, slow > units. A typical run would be Croydon to London > Bridge. Slow, simple and nothing complicated. The > organ grinder's assistant could do it if he was > given a banana! > > Trust me, driving an HGV is MUCH more difficult. > Any Truckie could learn it in a few hours. I've driven a 40 tonne HGV (and reversed one through 180 degrees). It's surprisingly easy with practice. Granted, I haven't driven a train. You're right on the weight of a 4 car class 455; I had it in mind that an 8 class train was around 480 tonnes. Line speed on the route through Peckham Rye is 65mph. If you like we could go down to one of the preserved railways and spend a few hundred pounds driving real trains to see how easy it is?

Zebedee Tring Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Is the Central Line automated? There's certainly > more than one line in each direction - there's the > Hainault loop and branches to Epping, Ealing and > West Ruislip. The Jubilee Line has only one line > in each direction but the DLR is far more > complicated. Yes the Central line is automated, and the DLR whilst more complicated is still relatively slow with a maximum speed of 50mph, and the network is tiny compared to Southern's. It's not impossible to automate the mainlines, but some parts still have Victorian signalling. The cost and time to do it is so prohibitive that it's not going to happen for another 25-30 years at the earliest, and even then it will be tentatively rolled out on single track lines. Even Japan and Europe have no plans to automate mainlines.

Green Goose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > JoeLeg Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Green Goose Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > Will the Luddites never learn? > > > > > > Ronald Regan sacked all the air trafic > > controllers > > > (ATC's)when they started getting Bolshie. He > > was > > > able to get replacements from the military > and > > > elsewhere and all was running smoothly within > a > > > week! The original ATC's were never employed > at > > > control centers ever again. Real Luddites. > > > > > > Train drivers and conductors are infinitately > > more > > > dispensible than ATCs. > > > > > > Problem solved. > > > > > > GG > > > > So you suggest that Southern Rail requisition > > military personnel (and others) to replace > train > > drivers and conductors? > > > > Well, for starters Reagan was > commander-in-chief > > and could do what he damn well pleased. > Southern > > Rail don't appear able to get trains to run. > > Also, Southern don't have any right to > > requestition military personnel (can't believe > you > > even need this pointed out to you), only the > > government can, and the military is > > somewhat...overstretched right now. > > > > Of course the government can, if the government > > wants to take it over. But that's tantamount to > > admitting that privatisation has failed so I > doubt > > that's happening. > > > > Any more bright ideas? > > C'mon JoeLeg, I said Regan got ATC's "from > military and elsewhere" IRPT "elsewhere". Also I > didnt say Southern should/could use military. > Driving a train is a far far stretch from being an > ATC. > > There are heaps of people who could drive a train > with very little training. For example heavt truck > drivers could do it in a matter of hours. Driving > an HGV is much more demanding than driving a train > where everything is covered by safety measures. > Apart from opening the doors all the driver does > is hold the "dead nman's" handle. > All the signals are interlocked and the train > cannot pass a red unless the driver overrides it. > > Next time you go to Gatwick and transfer betwen > terminals , you will get on a driverless train. > There are countless other mass transit system > around the world that are automated. It's not > rocket science. > > The organ grinder's assistant could even do it. > GG It's relatively easy (for engineers) to automate mass transit, it runs at a maximum 40mph or so, there's only one line in each direction and a few minutes between each stop. That's why the Central, Victoria and DLR lines are automated (and maybe more). When you get to automating mainline trains, the complexity of junctions, higher speeds (Brighton mainline is 100mph in places), and heavier trains with more intense weather conditions, means that the cost is currently prohibitive. It takes 9 -12 months to a year to train (excuse the pun) a train driver. Driving a 480 tonne train with 1000 humans on board at close to 100mph is not the same as driving a 40 tonne HGV limited to 50mph.

Jeremy it's a little more complicated than that but essentially: 1. GTR took over the franchise knowing that there were not enough drivers to cover all workings 2. They relied on overtime to fill the gap 3. As part of this dispute, GTR took away certain staff benefits (partner's subsidised travel, free parking) 4. Required as sick note for all sickness, which means staff stay off until they can get a doctor's appointment before returning to work (imagine that at DMC!!) 5. Failed miserably in trying to reschedule staff rotas The unions and drivers for their part have: 1. Not done as much overtime as they used to (they're not contractually obliged to work it, and during the summer holidays for instance many don't) 2. Dug their heels in over the extension of Driver Operated Only trains 3. Arguably taken longer sick leave as they are now obliged to get a sick note Whilst I blame both parties, the Government and GTR should be considered to be about 80% liable for this mess. Someone in charge needs to sit both parties down and get an amicable solution. And recruit more drivers. Even the tube drivers, who are traditionally a more militant lot, have never caused disruption on a comparable scale.

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > any bright sparks able to explain to a simpleton > like me how ED LB trains are affected by a > Forest Hill/Sydenham sink-hole ? > Aren't they completely separate lines ? Separate lines, yes. Basically...combination of the depot being in Selhurst, and congestion there; drivers relying on services through Forest Hill to get to work, diversions; and the complete intransigence of Southern to try and work around those obstacles.

I only drink black tea and coffee. Reading this makes me wonder should I get a discount? Certainly a few years ago hardly anyone asked for soya milk, so coffee shops had to throw surplus out after a few days, hence the premium. 50p is a bit high I agree.

Good summary Burbage. I had thought, charitably, that GTR had simply failed to conduct proper due diligence when taking over the franchise, and had been caught out when they realised that their predecessor was short on drivers. It's finally dropped that their due diligence was focussed on another area - obtaining a guaranteed revenue stream in return for very little work.

uncleglen, that's irrelevant as (a) CCT stopped that element, and (b)the private sector is far from immune to corruption. National Rail (who run the track and infrastructure) are a nationalised company. The East Coast line was publicly run for 6 years from 2009 to 2015.

first mate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Surely that cannot mean any disruption at all? > There is a difference between outside influences > that disrupt the service and bad management? If a > service is not fit for purpose is that not grounds > to take action? Does Southern advertise? If so how > is the service presented? I'm no lawyer so would > be interested to hear from one but if the service > is beyond accountability, protected by a useless > contract, that has to be addressed. In the same way you can't sue an airline, coach company, ferry service or toll road for loss of earnings. When you travel on the trains, you do so by accepting the National Rail Conditions of Carriage. Southern, despite their abysmal performance, have not breached them or any other contract. The only way to solve this is to revamp the franchising system on the railways. Sadly neither Labour nor Conservatives seem willing to do that. Ultimately we are beholden to the politicians.

There have been several attempts by lawyers over the last 20 years to sue rail companies for loss of earnings, but no successes. You could get a refund on a season ticket for the time left on it, and/or compensation (80p per journey!) if you're delayed more than 30 minutes. To start legal proceedings, i.e. sue them, you'd do well to employ a qualified lawyer. The process would go like this: 1. Go through their complaints procedure to try and get the compensation you're after 2. Establish a legal case (preferably with the help of a solicitor), based on the various terms and conditions, passenger charters and National Rail Conditions of Carriage (NRCoC) The contract is quite vague (Department for Transport specify the timetables and service levels and contract that to GTR, who in turn run Southern). Passengers are bound by the National Rail Conditions of Carriage: http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/national-rail-conditions-of-carriage/ which as others have said does not allow for consequential loss Conditions of Carriage and charter: http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/passengers-charter/ Complaints procedure http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/customer-services/ The best step would be to find a firm of solicitors who would be willing to take this on (preferably on a no-win no fee or pro bono basis), then organise a class action suite.

Louisa, there's an M&S in Brixton and on the Walworth Road. Do people drive to them? From memory there's very limited parking at either of those. I'm a natural cynic, but who in their right mind would drive to an M&S food only store?

Monday pm - 1808 train from London Bridge to ED, uneventful and on time Tuesday am - 0830 train from ED, standing room only by Peckham Rye Wednesday pm - 1740 train from London Bridge, only 4 coaches Thursday am - 0830 train from ED, standing room only by Peckham Rye