May. 13th, 2009

suzyscottdotcom: (Default)
It’s been a busy last few days, largely as I’ve had a TMA (Tutor Marked Assessment) TMA02 for my M150 OU course. Firstly, I got confused in my last post – T175 scores resulted in CMA41 (Computer Marked Assessment - multiple choice) getting 92%, whereas TMA02 for T175 pulled a 62% score.

On Sunday night, and then again on Monday night, I had real problems in sleeping – unable to remain still and calm. The Sunday was the worst I’d had it for quite a while – Caroline seemed to be upset over it, but I discussed it with her later - it’s something I’d kind of expect to start kicking off with the other HD symptoms around now. I’m getting a variety of symptoms in different things, at different times. Hopefully the sleep problems are not the start of something – indeed, last night I was fine. Given last night’s study on TMA02 for M150, not surprising. Half-done on Monday, so I was hopeful. Three-quarters done on Tuesday lunchtime, and finished by Tuesday evening – or so I thought – but the second JavaScript didn’t work. Lots of hair-tearing, but then, I managed to crack my knee off the sticking-out USB drive that held the work I’d done so far! Salvaging what I could via Caroline’s machine then meant losing the screenshots, formatting, headers and more. Never mind, got it in with a couple of hours to spare before the deadline!

After all that, another busy day, with various deliveries coming throughout the day. Having converted to a Sky package (a bit more for not a lot more), we now have an offer from o2 for broadband, which C is mulling over. It’s less than half the price of what we pay now for the back-up line, and it will mean we’ve just upped both lines in speed, and brought in a new digital HD satellite recorder, at little over the old price for two separate 8mb ADSL broadband access and phone lines. C was talking about you have to keep changing to get the best deal, and I guess it’s true in any part of the world.

Following various problems with the doctor, a complaint/access request has gone in. We’ve had the request to arrange a time to meet for the notes access request, and the complaint will be dealt with. I’d rather not have had to do it, but when you end up waiting 60-90 minutes after the time just to get in – that’s worth a whinge in it’s own right, isn’t it? Then there is everything else… as part of the complaint, I asked them to ensure that the referral request was sent to the CORRECT people, as an urgent request. Exactly what happens now is yet to be found out.
suzyscottdotcom: (Default)
Changes to the Summer 2009 National Rail Timetable. This list excludes changes on the First Capital Connect Great Northern Line, which I will cover in a seperate post.



Changes from 17 May 2009

New stations are opening at:
  • Imperial Wharf (between Clapham Junction and West Brompton) - expected to open during the next six months, and will be operated and served by London Overground.

  • Laurencekirk (between Montrose and Stonehaven) is expected to open on Sunday 17 May, and will be operated and served by ScotRail.

There are timetable changes affecting the following TOCs:

  • East Midlands Trains
    A new Summer Saturday service will run from London St Pancras to Scarborough direct, with a return service later in the day (runs from Saturday 23 May to Saturday 5 September inclusive)
  • Island Line
    Some services have been retimed to maintain connections with the revised timetable of the FastCat sailings between Portsmouth and Ryde
  • National Express East Coast
    Some weekday evening departures from London Kings Cross will be slightly retimed, as will some Sunday morning services towards London Kings Cross
  • ScotRail
    An increased level of service will run to and from Ardrossan Harbour to connect with the additional ferry services that operate during the summer months.
  • Southern
    On Sundays, services between London Victoria and Brighton will be increased and run faster. Also, a direct service is being introduced between London Bridge and Tonbridge, removing the need to change trains at Redhill.
  • South West Trains
    The bus service between Liphook and Bordon will be withdrawn
suzyscottdotcom: (Default)
Found this via East Midlands Trains website, and this via NRES... I did not catch word of last weekend's action, but I was aware RMT members planned action for 1st May 2009 - although that was since called off. BTW, the ASLEF AGM is taking place in Nottingham this week...

Important information for passengers – East Midlands Trains to provide very limited service on Sunday 17 May

Article posted on 13/05/2009

Due to virtually no drivers being available for work, East Midlands Trains will be providing a very limited service on Sunday 17 May and is advising passengers to re-arrange their journeys.  

The decision by drivers not to make themselves available for Sunday shifts would appear to be linked to the notification East Midlands Trains has today (Wednesday 13 May) received from ASLEF that it is to ballot its members for industrial action over on-going pay negotiations.

Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains said:

“For the second week running, it appears that the majority of our drivers have made themselves unavailable for work on Sunday. As we have had no indication otherwise, we can only assume that this is linked to the on-going drivers’ pay negotiations.

“This is an extremely disappointing and frustrating situation and it is not the correct way to conduct wage negotiations. Unfortunately, it is our passengers who will be most affected by the reduced services on Sunday which is the last thing we want.”

Commenting on the notification that East Midlands Trains has received from ASLEF that it is to ballot its members for industrial action, Mr Shoveller added: “ASLEF is clearly out of touch with the reality of the current unprecedented economic environment, which is affecting all sectors of the economy, from small businesses and major corporations to the public and voluntary sectors.

“Despite the constraints of the current tough economic climate we have been working extremely hard to put together the best possible package we can for our drivers and we are very disappointed that the union has chosen to ballot for industrial action, particularly at a time when negotiations are ongoing.

"Strike action will only inconvenience passengers, whose fares we rely on to pay our employees.”

Advice for passengers for Sunday 17 May:
•        Any passengers with pre-booked tickets for Sunday 17 May can either use their ticket to travel on any train on Saturday 16 May or Monday 18 May
•        East Midlands Trains tickets will be accepted on other train operators’ services – please visit the East Midlands Trains website for details of alternative routes
•        A very limited train service will be provided by East Midlands Trains between Leicester and London (calling at intermediate stations) on Sunday afternoon and evening. However these services are expected to be extremely busy. Rail replacement buses will also be provided on some routes.
•        Alternatively, passengers can claim a refund on their unused ticket.

The most up-to-date information about the services which the company will be able to run on Sunday will be available on eastmidlandstrains.co.uk or by phoning National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.


Severe disruption to the East Midlands Trains network on Sunday 17 May

Last updated 13/05/2009 16:26
Route Affected
All East Midlands Trains routes
TOC Affected East Midlands Trains
Description

Because of members of train crew being unavailable, East Midlands Trains are only running a very limited service on Sunday 17 May.

A limited train service is expected to run between London St Pancras and Leicester on Sunday afternoon and evening, but no other East Midlands Trains services are expected to run.

Exact details of times for these services have not yet been confirmed. Please check again closer to the time of travel.

Alternative Routes

Customers may use the following alternative services:

  • Liverpool - Nottingham - Norwich: Use any combination of the routes below via Sheffield, Nottingham, Peterborough & Ely depending on the journey required.
  • Stoke-on-Trent - Crewe: Use London Midland services
  • Lincoln - Doncaster: Use Northern Rail services
  • Nottingham - Sheffield: Use Northern Rail services
  • Sheffield - Manchester - Liverpool : Use First TransPennine Express or Northern Rail services
  • Grantham - Peterborough: Use National Express East Coast (see note below) 
  • Peterborough - Ely: Use CrossCountry
  • Ely - Norwich: Use National Express East Anglia
  • Lincoln - Grimsby: Use Stagecoach InterConnect 3 bus services
  • Boston - Skegness: Use Stagecoach InterConnect 7 bus services

Other alternative routes and services may also be available with other Train Operating Companies on Sunday 17 May as well as those listed above.

Ticket acceptance and refunds

Customers with East Midlands Trains tickets dated for Sunday 17 May will:

  • Be able to travel on other Train Operating Companies services on all reasonable alternative routes on Sunday 17 May (Please note: National Express East Coast are expected to only accept East Midlands Trains customers with Advance tickets if they are travelling to connect with a Eurostar service or a flight, and a Eurostar / flight ticket or booking document will need to be shown).
  • Be able to travel on East Midlands Trains services on Saturday 16 or Monday 18 May.
  • Be able to travel on Stagecoach bus service X1 between Kettering and Corby (George Street)
  • Customers that decide not to travel can obtain a full refund from the tickets point of sale

suzyscottdotcom: (Default)
I've had two press releases on coffee in two hours yesterday... the other one I might come back to once I've been able to sample it...!


COFFEE & TEA AT 1984 PRICES ON GATWICK EXPRESS

To celebrate its 25th birthday, Gatwick Express, the non-stop rail air link
between London's Victoria station and Gatwick Airport, is offering travellers
tea and coffee at 1984 prices - just 26 pence - on 14 May 2009.

Catering has always been popular on the 30 minute journey between London and the
airport. By offering hot drinks at 25 year old prices, customers will be
reminded of the long established customer service ethos which Gatwick Express
still delivers after a quarter of a century of operating.

Chris Burchell, managing director at Gatwick Express said: "Until 1984, the
train link to Gatwick Airport was limited, using dedicated carriages from part
of another rail service. The British Rail Board, wanted to provide a dedicated
air link to the airport in order to counter the perceived distance from the
capital both to the UK market and more especially to potential passengers
overseas. Converted rolling stock from Midland Mainline was used and in 1984 the
Gatwick Express was launched sporting full InterCity colours and the ability to
reach speeds of 90 miles per hour.

14th May is a landmark birthday for Gatwick Express. In the past 25 years, over
125 million people, including British Royalty and heads of states from all
around the world, have travelled on our trains."

Gatwick Express is also staging a pop-up fashion show on the station concourse
at Victoria Station during the rush hour on Thursday 14 May. Uniforms from the
past 25 years will be modelled alongside some other iconic 1980s clothes.

-ends-

Notes to editor:

Converted rolling stock from Midland Mainline was used to form the Gatwick
Express service in 1984. This service formed part of Anglia and Gatwick
Intercity Sector and was liveried as Intercity and not part of the South Eastern
livery. As part of the privatisation process, Gatwick Express became its own
company in 1994 and was put out to franchise.
suzyscottdotcom: (Default)
... here's a blast from the recent past - how subtle those words seem now!
http://busesonly.fotopic.net/p56018997.html

Profile

suzyscottdotcom: (Default)
suzyscottdotcom

September 2010

S M T W T F S
    1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Mar. 9th, 2026 10:05 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios