Dear the girl who just spilt coke on my white skirt....

So it has been a while since I have been on a rant, I started to think that maybe I had started to mellow, accepted my commuter fate, and just accept it like the other lemmings  grin and bear it.

Not yesterday, not only was I sitting on a train which was probably averaging about 39 degrees Celsius minimum. This stupid stupid girl comes and sits in between me and a man (look, it's disgustingly hot, just wait for the next train or stand the eff up) so I had about 20 mins of her rubbing against me.  Do you understand that scratchy, invasion of personal space *someone rubbing against you and it feels excruciatingly annoying* feeling? I try to sleep and relax, to find that she's done the same, and no, it's not what you think, she doesn't lean on me, nor dribbles - no, she spills a can of Coke all over my white pristine cotton skirt (to make you realise how potentially angry this could make me, I been protecting my skirt all day, I didn't even pick up the Evening Standard in case of getting my skirt dirty).  What makes this situation worse is that she doesn't really alert me, I just notice as she's rubbing herself, and then to my horror I let out a 'what have you done?!' to her 'I'm so sorry', there were no conviction in her words, she didn't get up, offer to wipe me, repeatedly say sorry nor even take her headphones out of her ear - she starts playing with her hair instead. I am not even going to get started on the man opposite me who took up 3 seats with his giant spread out legs and 'if I pretend I am a fat dead person no one will sit next to me' attitude.

When are you idiots ever going to learn how to behave on trains? It's very hot, I'd just like some light relief when I finally get a seat - is that too much to ask?  I hope she reads this, and I hope she sits next to some irritating 10 year old on summer holidays with a big carton of Ribena and an unsteady hand sometime soon.

Twitter RAGE!!

I am sure a lot of you are now aware of the new Twitter account and website GA Complaints where commuters are encouraged to share their views on Greater Anglia, in order to hopefully try and create a 'movement' towards change and improvement on the lines. I haven't had a chance to 'tweet in' yet, but I am certain I will have the occasion over the wet, leafy, frosty, winter months.

On the website there is a poll where you can rate your service - currently it's pretty bleak with 72% of the 645 voters saying they receive a 'poor service'.  I know it's a complaint service, but wow the Twitter page is a depressing read - people are on the war path!! 

Does anyone have anything good to say about Greater Anglia?  these days? Apart from that leaflet that I received in the post this week telling me with joy about the 'off peak deals' and 'weekend deals' that reminded me how much I effing pay per year and what a mark up they must have!!!

I try not to be too negative against GA, I genuinely, up until the last ten days, have been pretty pleased with the service I have received in the last six months on the whole.  However, I am not sure my sentiment will remain the same when I find out the price increase of my season ticket in the New Year.  

I have noticed that people are really upset with the condition of the trains - generally I don't find the trains in that bad a way in terms of cleanliness - try some of the regional trains in France - and then come back to me.  Additionally, half of the time, it's your fellow travelers that have left 'your train' in a shambles and it's often fellow travelers that even hold you up! 

Another one of my bug bears during this time of year is what I like to call 'The Goldilocks Effect' :

Take Mr. X - he gets on the train in a hat, coat, scarf and opens a window, then Ms. Y (she's in a T-Shirt)moans she is cold, they have an argument,their fellow commuters can empathise with both sides but no-one obviously diffuses the situation...the window does probably get shut in the end and Mr. X takes off his winter wear (tutting), and Ms. Y red-faced through frustration, but the rest of us are now sitting awkwardly, texting, bbming, facebooking, tweeting "awkward moment on train this morning, #lovecommuting, #moronontrain, #imstill hot."  I am sorry to say, you can't please everybody.  

Now, I am a fine one to complain, and don't get me wrong, I like to give GA a good bashing when the trains are delayed, lines are bad and it's not ideal - but please remind me what service is 100% perfect?  I no doubt expect some backlash from this, but I would like to say it's not only GA that ruins my £4.5k service!!

Rail Fare Rise

I was just checking out BBC news as I grabbed a coffee at work to see there is already talk about the rise in rail fares next year - apparently double that of inflation, here is the article if you want to check it out.  There is no mention of the actual figures yet.  

doing some calculations...

Now, this extra money will be used as an investment to improve the network.  I used to get so incensed when a new increase was introduced, whereas right now as I read it, I am 1) not surprised by this announcement and 2) mildly hopeful that it will improve the service I receive.  Am I being naive?  Or should I just return to my cynical self?

What are your thoughts on the matter, do you think our already expensive tickets should be kept at the price that they are? Wonder what Greater Anglia think...thoughts kindly welcomed!