Cross passenger on the 0703hrs train from East Dulwich to London Bridge (Lounged)

[Cassius]

I quite like travelling by bus, but I have felt far more threatened by anti-social behaviour on the bus than on the train, maybe because it is cheaper. I've seen a knife being waved around on the 37, and been surrounded by aggressive youngsters on the 63, not to mention being threatened at the 37 bus stop in Clapham.

[Frisco]

"Perhaps there should be a First Class carriage on this route and then we could choose not to mix with the riff raff. I very occasionally go to London Bridge and always disinfect thoroughly after every journey."

Did no one tell that that the sheep dip they make you go through is to protect the other passengers? ;-)

[barrymarshall]

EDOldie Wrote:

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> Class, it's wot you make it, 'Anthony "Tony" Neil

> Wedgwood Benn (born 3 April 1925), formerly 2nd

> Viscount Stansgate'

Exactly. That's why Benn renounced his peerage.

(From Wiki)

Benn's father had been created Viscount Stansgate in 1942 when Winston Churchill offered to increase the number of Labour Peers; at this time Benn's older brother Michael was intending to enter the priesthood and had no objections to inheriting a peerage. However Michael was later killed on active service in the Second World War, and this left Benn as the heir to a peerage. He made several attempts to remove himself from the line of succession but they were all unsuccessful.

In November 1960, Benn's father died and as a result he was prevented from sitting in the House of Commons. Still insisting on his right to abandon his unwelcome peerage, Benn fought to retain his seat in the by-election on 4 May 1961 caused by his succession. Although he was disqualified from taking his seat, the people of Bristol South-East re-elected him. An election court found that the voters were fully aware that Benn was disqualified, and gave the seat to the Conservative runner up in the by-election, Malcolm St Clair, ironically the son of a peer too.

Outside Parliament Benn continued his campaign, and eventually the Conservative government accepted the need for a change in the law. The Peerage Act 1963, allowing renunciation of peerages, was given the Royal Assent and became law shortly after 6 p.m. on 31 July 1963. Benn was the first peer to renounce his title, at 6.22 p.m. that day. St. Clair had already given an undertaking that he would respect the wishes of the people of Bristol if Benn became eligible to take his seat again, and therefore took the Manor of Northstead (i.e. resigned his seat) immediately. Benn returned to the Commons after winning a by-election on 20 August.

[macroban]

Change your name. Change your class. Neat.

[david_carnell]

EDOldie Wrote:

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> Perhaps there should be a First Class carriage on

> this route and then we could choose not to mix

> with the riff raff. I very occasionally go to

> London Bridge and always disinfect thoroughly

> after every journey.

Ahh, for a return to the "good old days". Can we have carriages like this back please?

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/cw/int/387_jamesyq.jpg

And proper waiting rooms with tea urns at stations:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/images/2006/06/14/carnforth_gallery_20060614_pic1_470x353.jpg

And station staff dressed in appropriate attire:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/18/Fat_Controller_TTTE_1.jpg/210px-Fat_Controller_TTTE_1.jpg

Now, that's a railway service!

[EDOldie]

I look a bit like that with a top hat on. Missed my vocation in life.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Oooh, I have something in my eye ...

[KalamityKel]

I had the most interesting bus journey into work - the typical packed in like sardines but this time wiv a silly man having a go at a woman for apparently making him squashed (I should add he was a rather "big" man). She politely pointed out there was no need to be rude and as he was being so unpleasant she was going to ignore him. Everything went silent and then he piped up again to which... now this was the fab bit... an old gentleman tapped him on the shoulder and said "now listen her young chap, you're doing urself no favours and you really had better just SHUT UP! :)) ah and we thought pensioners shouldnt b allowed free travel b4 9:30am!

[SeanMacGabhann]

Excellent, Kel!

would have made a great youtube clip....

[KalamityKel]

My typing is terrible 2day!

[Administrator]

I am now moving this conversation to the Lounge area where it can continue

[Jimbo]

-- moved topic --

[Jeremy]

We did have train carriages like that (although rather more scruffy) until a couple of years ago...

[Keef]

It was horrific just trying to get through the door!

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Didn't they change them because people kept falling out of the doors when the trains were moving? But I suppose if they look nice, we should bring them in anyway.

[david_carnell]

ChavWivaLawDegree Wrote:

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> Didn't they change them because people kept

> falling out of the doors when the trains were

> moving? But I suppose if they look nice, we

> should bring them in anyway.

Really?! What is wrong with some people? They ruin it for the rest of us. ;-)

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Very selfish if you ask me.

[Brendan]

Those old train doors still give me nightmares. When I was a little boy running around barefoot on a train from Johannesburg to Cape Town the conductor slammed one on my big toe. Ripped the nail clean off.

[KalamityKel]

ewwwwwww and ouchers!

[david_carnell]

Man, that sounds painful. Surely you could have carriages like that but with the modern sliding doors. The upside to the old slam door trains was that should you be running late there was still a chance of getting on the train even if the doors had closed. You can't do that anymore.

Any other suggestions for an improvement to our rail network?

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Yes, re-nationalise it!

[*Bob*]

ChavWivaLawDegree Wrote:

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> Yes, re-nationalise it!

Yeah.. and bring back hanging.

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Whatever!

[KalamityKel]

chav my dear r u slightly vexed 2day? I can see steam coming out of your ears!

Do u think they could standardise platforms so they are all the same height? I hate having to jump a long distance, when loaded with baggage and stuff, to get from the train to the platform...

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

I'm about to start my deep breathing exercises and then get on with some work!!