Kings Cross trip report

[Roland Perry]

Went to London for lunch, trains on time, up platform 10, down platform
9. Glad I didn't try boarding at Cambridge North as the service had been
cancelled between Ely and Cambridge, which accounts for it leaving
Cambridge platform 2. Lunch date was ten minutes late due to issues with
Southern's trains.

Same train (and same seat) both ways, dark green with it clearly visible
where they'd stripped the GWR branding off. Quite rough running at
several places with significant "bangs" from the bogies.

Ordered the tickets online, and printed the pdfs so when folded were
about credit card sized. Big surprise: grippers on the train home, but
didn't ask for senior railcard. But did ask younger person sat next to
me for their railcard. That train was comfortably full, the one down
almost empty (but playing far too many 'See it, say it, sorted'
messages).

At Kings Cross took the passageway from Northern Ticket Hall to Victoria
Line, and encountered many groups of people just standing around
chatting, rather than making their way to the tube platforms. On the way
back, exited Victoria Line via classic ticket hall, and noticed that the
screen in the passageway which is supposed to show departures, instead
had just "Welcome to Kings Cross".

Northbound train had platform announced at least 15mins before scheduled
departure. My companion asked why there wasn't a trolley service (so
20th Century, I know).

[Trolleybus]

Post by Roland Perry
Went to London for lunch, trains on time, up platform 10, down platform
9. Glad I didn't try boarding at Cambridge North as the service had been
cancelled between Ely and Cambridge, which accounts for it leaving
Cambridge platform 2. Lunch date was ten minutes late due to issues with
Southern's trains.
Same train (and same seat) both ways, dark green with it clearly visible
where they'd stripped the GWR branding off. Quite rough running at
several places with significant "bangs" from the bogies.
Ordered the tickets online, and printed the pdfs so when folded were
about credit card sized. Big surprise: grippers on the train home, but
didn't ask for senior railcard. But did ask younger person sat next to
me for their railcard. That train was comfortably full, the one down
almost empty (but playing far too many 'See it, say it, sorted'
messages).

Chimes with my experience. Senior railcards are very rarely demanded
even when the grippers are insisting on seeing younger people's
railcards. An exception seemes to be on the first day of an all-lines
rover when my railcard was checked several times.

[Roland Perry]

Post by Trolleybus

Post by Roland Perry
Went to London for lunch, trains on time, up platform 10, down platform
9. Glad I didn't try boarding at Cambridge North as the service had been
cancelled between Ely and Cambridge, which accounts for it leaving
Cambridge platform 2. Lunch date was ten minutes late due to issues with
Southern's trains.
Same train (and same seat) both ways, dark green with it clearly visible
where they'd stripped the GWR branding off. Quite rough running at
several places with significant "bangs" from the bogies.
Ordered the tickets online, and printed the pdfs so when folded were
about credit card sized. Big surprise: grippers on the train home, but
didn't ask for senior railcard. But did ask younger person sat next to
me for their railcard. That train was comfortably full, the one down
almost empty (but playing far too many 'See it, say it, sorted'
messages).

Chimes with my experience. Senior railcards are very rarely demanded
even when the grippers are insisting on seeing younger people's
railcards. An exception seemes to be on the first day of an all-lines
rover when my railcard was checked several times.

The surprise was there being any grippers at all. And of course they
appeared through the gangway to the adjacent carriage without any notice
at all, so no-one could have had their railcard out and ready in
anticipation.

[Peter Johnson]

Post by Trolleybus
Chimes with my experience. Senior railcards are very rarely demanded
even when the grippers are insisting on seeing younger people's
railcards. An exception seemes to be on the first day of an all-lines
rover when my railcard was checked several times.

I have been asked for my senior card but it's very inconsistent. Never
noticed any correlation, or not, with young person's cards.
(The next time I go out by train it will be with a disabled railcard,
having only recently discovered that hearing aid users count as
disabled for the purpose of railcards, after ten years of hearing aid
use. Got the card the day before the rates were increased.)

[Roland Perry]

Post by Peter Johnson

Post by Trolleybus
Chimes with my experience. Senior railcards are very rarely demanded
even when the grippers are insisting on seeing younger people's
railcards. An exception seemes to be on the first day of an all-lines
rover when my railcard was checked several times.

I have been asked for my senior card but it's very inconsistent. Never
noticed any correlation, or not, with young person's cards.

I suppose that depends on whether you happen to be sat next to a young
person at the time.

Post by Peter Johnson
(The next time I go out by train it will be with a disabled railcard,
having only recently discovered that hearing aid users count as
disabled for the purpose of railcards,

Yes, it does, and know someone in that situation.

Post by Peter Johnson
after ten years of hearing aid
use. Got the card the day before the rates were increased.)