Hangers, luggage and possessions
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2011-10-01 20:52:59 - Graham Ellis
I started writing a piece about the contrasts over the last two days - checking out in Newmarket, training in Cambridge, journey home, and then today to Taunton. But in picking out pictures to illustrate the contrast I found a very similarness in the subject of luggage ...The place I stayed in, in Snailwell, this week was extraordinary. I ten to choose places that look as if they're going to be unusual - from which I can learn good and bad and bring it back as time allows. And the Flint Barn was mostly very good; things which are in the "we c/would do that" catergory. So this selection of hangers - which is not something I would advocate - is rather unfair to them. The ultimate judgement on my stay of "would I book there again" is positive - it's a yes. But I smile as I remember some of the things that would certainly have been absent at a Premier Inn!
The platforma at Chippenham station is only accessible by a set of steps, up and down which travellers have to haul their luggage. So you would expect the recently installed help point there to be able to provide help with luggage, wouldn't you? Wrong! - it connects you to a call centre for telephone enquiries, if what you want to ask isn't covered by the signs. But there's a booking office, usually staffed with helpful staff so it seems it's doubleing up on them a bit. Or at least there was a helpful member of staff on in the morning. By the evening, the ticket office was unmanned due to "staff shortages" which are quite common - so I guess we may be seeing the information system of the future.
The requirement on train refits is to get 72 seats per carriage. And all of First Great Western's long distance fleet has been so fitted. Which means there is precious little space for luggage on trains such as the 08:44 Chippenham to Taunton I travelled on this morning. Not a problem, or it wouldn't have been if the train hadn't emenated from London, and been carrying on all the way to Penzance! The problem looks like it's been perpetuated in future trains too. Senior management from another long distance train company show us draft layouts for a new extra carriage for some of there trains ... and again 72 seats, and again little luggage room.Luggage ... things we take with us ... possesions and looking after them. Sometimes we spend so much time looking after our things we don't look after ourselves. I admire the keen and intense gentleman I travelled back with on the train from Taunton as far as Bristol this evening. What he had with him was in two carrier bags. And his concentration was on life and railways and planning for better transport. I might not always agree with everything he says, but I admire his style, his knowledge, and his committment. He was returning to hospital, from where he had discharged himself for the day, for what he descibed as another session of pain. He headed out through the barriers at Bristol with his crutches (carrried, not used in his enthusiasm), and I wish him well. I'm omitted his name, but I know other rail campaigners will know who I'm talking about from the description. Like the Flint Barn. Different, but "like" button pressed. I look forward to seeing him out and about soon; he's put all those possesions that rule us into perspective.