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Louis Mendez’ journey back from Blackpool
Comments
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I actually thought that this morning. There are so many people with special needs, hidden disabilities, anxieties etc who could never anticipate anything to this degree and are potentially vulnerable. The level of care and support given in these situations just always seems bare minimum.swords_alive said:I actually find this scary and extremely aggravating. Getting stranded by a rail service on a day out should be unthinkable but happens no doubt regularly and few people get to hear about it. The saving grace here is it happened to a BBC journalist, Twitter enabled too! I hope your story gets a wider audience @LouisMend
Someone like Louis can embrace it and will become a tale for him in years to come, for others more vulnerable that could have been something they just can’t handle.33 -
usetobunkin said:Remember coming back from Accrington last season and being jerked around by Avanti at Preston
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Good pub just up the station approach right in front of you otherside of road, but for the love of me have forgotten the name of it. You can see the PNE floodlights from it.usetobunkin said:Remember coming back from Accrington last season and being jerked around by Avanti at Preston1 -
The old Vic?Lewis Coaches said:
Good pub just up the station approach right in front of you otherside of road, but for the love of me have forgotten the name of it. You can see the PNE floodlights from it.usetobunkin said:Remember coming back from Accrington last season and being jerked around by Avanti at Preston0 -
This is what wound me up the most. Happily, as you can all see by my Micky Apples-esque physique, I can handle myself in any confrontational situation.AFKABartram said:
I actually thought that this morning. There are so many people with special needs, hidden disabilities, anxieties etc who could never anticipate anything to this degree and are potentially vulnerable. The level of care and support given in these situations just always seems bare minimum.swords_alive said:I actually find this scary and extremely aggravating. Getting stranded by a rail service on a day out should be unthinkable but happens no doubt regularly and few people get to hear about it. The saving grace here is it happened to a BBC journalist, Twitter enabled too! I hope your story gets a wider audience @LouisMend
Someone like Louis can embrace it and will become a tale for him in years to come, for others more vulnerable that could have been something they just can’t handle.
But seriously, outside Euston station at 3am it turns out isn't for the weak minded. Loads of weirdos knocking about. The only reason Avanti finally provided cabs for those of us stranded is because I kept pushing for it. They were more than happy to leave most of those people stranded there with no realistic way to get back - let alone the ridiculous palming us off from one bus to another which felt completely underhand. The two people that stayed to get cabs only knew it was an option because I mentioned it. Avanti didn't give a toss and made it as hard as possible to get one.
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well done Louis for helping the others , these firms don’t give a fuck and shit on people13
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You are one of the good guys Louis.
Avanti are definitely to be avoided if possible3 -
Don't think palarse were playing yesterday.LouisMend said:
. Loads of weirdos knocking about.AFKABartram said:
I actually thought that this morning. There are so many people with special needs, hidden disabilities, anxieties etc who could never anticipate anything to this degree and are potentially vulnerable. The level of care and support given in these situations just always seems bare minimum.swords_alive said:I actually find this scary and extremely aggravating. Getting stranded by a rail service on a day out should be unthinkable but happens no doubt regularly and few people get to hear about it. The saving grace here is it happened to a BBC journalist, Twitter enabled too! I hope your story gets a wider audience @LouisMend
Someone like Louis can embrace it and will become a tale for him in years to come, for others more vulnerable that could have been something they just can’t handle.7 -
Should have stayed the night up there. I hear Blackpool is beautiful this time of year.0
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Avanti west coast , aren't all bad.
Our 9 received our money back for Carlisle after nearly 6 weeks in the form of a cheque.
A couple of us are thinking about Fleetwood in March , I can already feel my blood boiling.
These train firms have really put me off going away games over the last couple of seasons.
Get you back to London at 2am and you've got to fight the bustards to get you home.7 - Sponsored links:
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We were discussing this today on the way back. Total bedlam at Preston when trying to get the 1200 train when no-one seemed to know which train was for Glasgow and which for Euston. After being jerked around at Carlisle (at least I got my delay repay within a week), when Fleetwood was suggested I said I couldn’t handle Avanti again this seasonclb74 said:Avanti west coast , aren't all bad.
Our 9 received our money back for Carlisle after nearly 6 weeks in the form of a cheque.
A couple of us are thinking about Fleetwood in March , I can already feel my blood boiling.
These train firms have really put me off going away games over the last couple of seasons.
Get you back to London at 2am and you've got to fight the bustards to get you home.2 -
You know what to do!!!!!!!!!!clb74 said:Avanti west coast , aren't all bad.
Our 9 received our money back for Carlisle after nearly 6 weeks in the form of a cheque.
A couple of us are thinking about Fleetwood in March , I can already feel my blood boiling.
These train firms have really put me off going away games over the last couple of seasons.
Get you back to London at 2am and you've got to fight the bustards to get you home.2 -
It is why I drive to most games, I discovered not too long ago that I struggle with anxiety on trains and in general public transport, I really hate it.AFKABartram said:
I actually thought that this morning. There are so many people with special needs, hidden disabilities, anxieties etc who could never anticipate anything to this degree and are potentially vulnerable. The level of care and support given in these situations just always seems bare minimum.swords_alive said:I actually find this scary and extremely aggravating. Getting stranded by a rail service on a day out should be unthinkable but happens no doubt regularly and few people get to hear about it. The saving grace here is it happened to a BBC journalist, Twitter enabled too! I hope your story gets a wider audience @LouisMend
Someone like Louis can embrace it and will become a tale for him in years to come, for others more vulnerable that could have been something they just can’t handle.
Driving ain't cheap but I never feel stressed travelling as the world is my oyster. They don't give a shit about people these train companies, I moan at them relentlessly for their South Eastern High speed services. The demand in Kent for those trains is too high now yet they still run 6 carriages services and allow people to sit on top of each other, it's a disgrace and pure greed
It sounded funny on twitter but when you break it down, it really ain't @LouisMend
Sorry you had such a shit journey from, I hope you chase them up about it and are compensated8 -
Been there.cabbles said:
You know what to do!!!!!!!!!!clb74 said:Avanti west coast , aren't all bad.
Our 9 received our money back for Carlisle after nearly 6 weeks in the form of a cheque.
A couple of us are thinking about Fleetwood in March , I can already feel my blood boiling.
These train firms have really put me off going away games over the last couple of seasons.
Get you back to London at 2am and you've got to fight the bustards to get you home.
Left Bromley about 6am got to Fleetwood 2.10pm
Never to be repeated2 -
@LouisMend
i dont know how you would feel about this, but there’s an article or blogpost lurking there that I reckon would get a lot of traction beyond your usual audiences. It must happen every week to fans of loads of clubs, and the way you write is very relatable for people who may not even be interested in footie.
The thing with the coach is downright shady. That definitely needs to see the light of day.16 -
The last few seasons following Charlton away has been a nightmare with trains, why can’t this country put on a reliable service ? They charge enough !0
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It's everyone that uses them though ,Prague.PragueAddick said:@LouisMend
i dont know how you would feel about this, but there’s an article or blogpost lurking there that I reckon would get a lot of traction beyond your usual audiences. It must happen every week to fans of loads of clubs, and the way you write is very relatable for people who may not even be interested in footie.
The thing with the coach is downright shady. That definitely needs to see the light of day.
Imagine taking two young kids on the train .
To be told the trains been cancelled and the you no longer have a seat reservation.
Andy Burnham has been on at Avanti west coast and the government for ages.0 -
LouisMend said:
This is what wound me up the most. Happily, as you can all see by my Micky Apples-esque physique, I can handle myself in any confrontational situation.AFKABartram said:
I actually thought that this morning. There are so many people with special needs, hidden disabilities, anxieties etc who could never anticipate anything to this degree and are potentially vulnerable. The level of care and support given in these situations just always seems bare minimum.swords_alive said:I actually find this scary and extremely aggravating. Getting stranded by a rail service on a day out should be unthinkable but happens no doubt regularly and few people get to hear about it. The saving grace here is it happened to a BBC journalist, Twitter enabled too! I hope your story gets a wider audience @LouisMend
Someone like Louis can embrace it and will become a tale for him in years to come, for others more vulnerable that could have been something they just can’t handle.
But seriously, outside Euston station at 3am it turns out isn't for the weak minded. Loads of weirdos knocking about. The only reason Avanti finally provided cabs for those of us stranded is because I kept pushing for it. They were more than happy to leave most of those people stranded there with no realistic way to get back - let alone the ridiculous palming us off from one bus to another which felt completely underhand. The two people that stayed to get cabs only knew it was an option because I mentioned it. Avanti didn't give a toss and made it as hard as possible to get one.
Plenty of brass up there that time of night mate. They would've done a turn in one the phone boxes, depending on what you are after4 -
No doubt just after they left Transformations....Gribbo said:LouisMend said:
This is what wound me up the most. Happily, as you can all see by my Micky Apples-esque physique, I can handle myself in any confrontational situation.AFKABartram said:
I actually thought that this morning. There are so many people with special needs, hidden disabilities, anxieties etc who could never anticipate anything to this degree and are potentially vulnerable. The level of care and support given in these situations just always seems bare minimum.swords_alive said:I actually find this scary and extremely aggravating. Getting stranded by a rail service on a day out should be unthinkable but happens no doubt regularly and few people get to hear about it. The saving grace here is it happened to a BBC journalist, Twitter enabled too! I hope your story gets a wider audience @LouisMend
Someone like Louis can embrace it and will become a tale for him in years to come, for others more vulnerable that could have been something they just can’t handle.
But seriously, outside Euston station at 3am it turns out isn't for the weak minded. Loads of weirdos knocking about. The only reason Avanti finally provided cabs for those of us stranded is because I kept pushing for it. They were more than happy to leave most of those people stranded there with no realistic way to get back - let alone the ridiculous palming us off from one bus to another which felt completely underhand. The two people that stayed to get cabs only knew it was an option because I mentioned it. Avanti didn't give a toss and made it as hard as possible to get one.
Plenty of brass up there that time of night mate. They would've done a turn in one the phone boxes, depending on what you are after0 -
@pico has never heard the last of it!clb74 said:
Been there.cabbles said:
You know what to do!!!!!!!!!!clb74 said:Avanti west coast , aren't all bad.
Our 9 received our money back for Carlisle after nearly 6 weeks in the form of a cheque.
A couple of us are thinking about Fleetwood in March , I can already feel my blood boiling.
These train firms have really put me off going away games over the last couple of seasons.
Get you back to London at 2am and you've got to fight the bustards to get you home.
Left Bromley about 6am got to Fleetwood 2.10pm
Never to be repeated0 - Sponsored links:
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Happened to me last year with LNER - youngest is autistic so it's a right faff anyway and we'd done all the 'this will be the train we'll be on, we're in this carriage, we'll all be on a table seat togther, you can be by the aisle so you're not squished, you'll be facing forward, it's 2 hours etc etc' then got cancelled and rerouted in the wrong direction for an hour first.clb74 said:
It's everyone that uses them though ,Prague.PragueAddick said:@LouisMend
i dont know how you would feel about this, but there’s an article or blogpost lurking there that I reckon would get a lot of traction beyond your usual audiences. It must happen every week to fans of loads of clubs, and the way you write is very relatable for people who may not even be interested in footie.
The thing with the coach is downright shady. That definitely needs to see the light of day.
Imagine taking two young kids on the train .
To be told the trains been cancelled and the you no longer have a seat reservation.
Andy Burnham has been on at Avanti west coast and the government for ages.
No seat reservation, nowhere to stick all the cases etc, no idea which platform to be on, rammed trains. All on top of trying to navigate little 'un dealing with change, noise, lack of space.
Absolute nightmare.
I get things go wrong sometimes (though far more often than they should), but it's the way they deal with it that's terrible - no one ever has a clue where to point you.
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I suggest we commemorate this instead of "Back to the Valley" call it "Day Return to the Valley" with a mosaic of Louis sliding thru the gates5
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In the real world, some people don't own cars.golfaddick said:If only people had their own means of transport that could take them from A to B under their own steam (or petrol or diesel....)
Must get onto my old mate Mr Ford.
You probably can't see the little people from up there in cloud cuckoo land, but they exist.
Running a rail company is a licence to print money. Anything goes wrong they just hand the keys back to the government and fuck off without penalty, or they just get more taxpayers money to make up the shortfall in their expected profits. Companies that are continually failing to meet all targets just get their contracts renewed with virtually no scrutiny.
Read all about it in my favourite magazine every fortnight, forever.17 -
What a 24 carat helmet you really are.golfaddick said:If only people had their own means of transport that could take them from A to B under their own steam (or petrol or diesel....)
Must get onto my old mate Mr Ford.5 -
Organised a trip for a couple of Americans from Edinburgh to London. East coast was closed so via Preston, they had reservations which meant nothing, no visible help available, just rubbish. That cost about as much as their flight from the US. It means that you can't rely on train travel for anyone with a vulnerability.0
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Sure, even though I have not experienced it recently, I’ve read enough about it to empathise with all of you and as a “rail advocate” it pisses me off and breaks my heart in equal measure. But the only way to get this fixed is to create the maximum amount of noise. The thing about Louis is, he’s got a nice approachable style, easy going bloke who just wanted to go to the footie and get back home safe and sound to his young family. Non footie people might find it easier to empathise with him than with something from a formal fan group - although they are important too because they represent a lot of votes.clb74 said:
It's everyone that uses them though ,Prague.PragueAddick said:@LouisMend
i dont know how you would feel about this, but there’s an article or blogpost lurking there that I reckon would get a lot of traction beyond your usual audiences. It must happen every week to fans of loads of clubs, and the way you write is very relatable for people who may not even be interested in footie.
The thing with the coach is downright shady. That definitely needs to see the light of day.
Imagine taking two young kids on the train .
To be told the trains been cancelled and the you no longer have a seat reservation.
Andy Burnham has been on at Avanti west coast and the government for ages.
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As a slight aside, when we visit the UK we try to use public transport as often as possible. Much as we both love train travel, we are finding that we are using the coach more and more. Yes it's slower and the options are more limited, but on many routes it's more reliable and so much cheaper.
Going from London to Glasgow in August we are actually flying as you can't book a train yet, and looking at the price of going there and back on the railway (as far in advance as you can book at the moment, in order to get an idea) it was cheaper on BA. We would have paid a bit more for the train for environmental reasons, but not being able to book now (and having no firm date as to when we could book) swung it for us.2 -
I don't know how we put up with the trains in this country. They affect so many people, make lives and journeys miserable, and charge us up the arse - to the point that flying in a jet is a cheaper. Usually when there is so much public anger over an issue it will force a change but not in this case. It's hard to imagine what kind of 'trigger event' could actually get everybody behind it at the same time and demand real, actual changes to be made.
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I got told I'm needed in the North West of the country next week, could be two days could be 4, might not happen at all. I'd choose to get the pendolino from Euston but I know because of cost I will end up driving in a van. So purely on cost the train is out.
I've been stung by the train operators having paid for reserved seating, turned up and found the train isn't running or the 3 trains before were scrubbed so 3 trains worth of increasingly pissed off people are jammed onto the 1. Never an apology or explanation just fuck you, cram into it or jog on.
Louis' story is an outrageous liberty and how operators are allowed to shrug and walk away is disgraceful6 -
The only time I went to Blackpool I got home about 330am, although I ought to add it was an evening kickoff LOL. Got up and went to work a few hours later, I'd want a day off nowadays. I went on the coach and we detoured to the Elephant on the way back to drop off one fan who was pissed as a fart, that's what I call service.0
