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Northern trains


First southbound train (16.51) absolutely disgraceful after the match tonight - only two carriages and not far short of hand to hand combat to get on board. I just made it. It wasn't far short of travelling in India, with passengers sitting on the roof...

I've emailed the useless b@$tards at Northern Rail previously and been assured that services/number of carriages etc are carefully planned...Oh aye! What a f***ing joke! I recently travelled from Stockton to Sunderland on a weekday afternoon and found myself on an empty train comprising four carriages - versus the usual two totally rammed carriages on matchdays... Honestly man, you just have to laugh! You really can't make it up.

As a fairly regular passenger, I'm going to email them again - to say that I will VOLUNTEER (yes - work for FREE!) to tell them what services should have a minimum of four carriages operating - including the first services (north and southbound) after every Sunderland home game and all northbound services from Nunthorpe from 10.00 to 13.00. It's hardly rocket science is it?
 
First southbound train (16.51) absolutely disgraceful after the match tonight - only two carriages and not far short of hand to hand combat to get on board. I just made it. It wasn't far short of travelling in India, with passengers sitting on the roof...

I've emailed the useless b@$tards at Northern Rail previously and been assured that services/number of carriages etc are carefully planned...Oh aye! What a f***ing joke! I recently travelled from Stockton to Sunderland on a weekday afternoon and found myself on an empty train comprising four carriages - versus the usual two totally rammed carriages on matchdays... Honestly man, you just have to laugh! You really can't make it up.

As a fairly regular passenger, I'm going to email them again - to say that I will VOLUNTEER (yes - work for FREE!) to tell them what services should have a minimum of four carriages operating - including the first services (north and southbound) after every Sunderland home game and all northbound services from Nunthorpe from 10.00 to 13.00. It's hardly rocket science is it?
Why not contact Look North and Tyne Tees News . Its a story that dosnt involve Newcastle though , so probably not be interested \ Also Email the North East Mayor about it .
 
First southbound train (16.51) absolutely disgraceful after the match tonight - only two carriages and not far short of hand to hand combat to get on board. I just made it. It wasn't far short of travelling in India, with passengers sitting on the roof...

I've emailed the useless b@$tards at Northern Rail previously and been assured that services/number of carriages etc are carefully planned...Oh aye! What a f***ing joke! I recently travelled from Stockton to Sunderland on a weekday afternoon and found myself on an empty train comprising four carriages - versus the usual two totally rammed carriages on matchdays... Honestly man, you just have to laugh! You really can't make it up.

As a fairly regular passenger, I'm going to email them again - to say that I will VOLUNTEER (yes - work for FREE!) to tell them what services should have a minimum of four carriages operating - including the first services (north and southbound) after every Sunderland home game and all northbound services from Nunthorpe from 10.00 to 13.00. It's hardly rocket science is it?
I travel from Seaton/Hartlepool and today was pretty hectic.

Mad they only have two carriages after the match.

They clearly don't care. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out the 16:51 would be over full for two carriages
 
First southbound train (16.51) absolutely disgraceful after the match tonight - only two carriages and not far short of hand to hand combat to get on board. I just made it. It wasn't far short of travelling in India, with passengers sitting on the roof...

I've emailed the useless b@$tards at Northern Rail previously and been assured that services/number of carriages etc are carefully planned...Oh aye! What a f***ing joke! I recently travelled from Stockton to Sunderland on a weekday afternoon and found myself on an empty train comprising four carriages - versus the usual two totally rammed carriages on matchdays... Honestly man, you just have to laugh! You really can't make it up.

As a fairly regular passenger, I'm going to email them again - to say that I will VOLUNTEER (yes - work for FREE!) to tell them what services should have a minimum of four carriages operating - including the first services (north and southbound) after every Sunderland home game and all northbound services from Nunthorpe from 10.00 to 13.00. It's hardly rocket science is it?
They’ll send you the usual copy and paste reply of they have all rolling stock in use

You might get 2 complimentary passes if you request them! Make sure you don’t fill the dates in and you’ll be able to reuse them
 
I travel from Seaton/Hartlepool and today was pretty hectic.

Mad they only have two carriages after the match.

They clearly don't care. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out the 16:51 would be over full for two carriages

The Northumberland Line needs the 4 car trains on a Sunday, that's where some of them were.

It's crush loads all day otherwise since it can't cope with an hourly frequency.

Just saying.
 
First southbound train (16.51) absolutely disgraceful after the match tonight - only two carriages and not far short of hand to hand combat to get on board. I just made it. It wasn't far short of travelling in India, with passengers sitting on the roof...

I've emailed the useless b@$tards at Northern Rail previously and been assured that services/number of carriages etc are carefully planned...Oh aye! What a f***ing joke! I recently travelled from Stockton to Sunderland on a weekday afternoon and found myself on an empty train comprising four carriages - versus the usual two totally rammed carriages on matchdays... Honestly man, you just have to laugh! You really can't make it up.

As a fairly regular passenger, I'm going to email them again - to say that I will VOLUNTEER (yes - work for FREE!) to tell them what services should have a minimum of four carriages operating - including the first services (north and southbound) after every Sunderland home game and all northbound services from Nunthorpe from 10.00 to 13.00. It's hardly rocket science is it?
We took the kids for the day and had the pram and had absolutely zero chance of getting on the 16.51 but what wound me up more was people point blank refusing to move down the carriage. People stood with bags of room and refusing to budge. 2 carriages for that first train is an absolute pisstake. The staff were actually trying to get people to move down but nobody was listening to them. I wasn’t expecting everyone to be made uncomfortable and squashed in but there was big gaps where a few more people definitely could’ve got on.
We couldn’t get on and had to wait for the next one.

If the fella gets on here who was trying to get people to allow my Mrs and the pram on first then I’d like to say thanks again. Really appreciated the thought. Absolutely nobody listened but we appreciated it nevertheless.
 
We took the kids for the day and had the pram and had absolutely zero chance of getting on the 16.51 but what wound me up more was people point blank refusing to move down the carriage. People stood with bags of room and refusing to budge. 2 carriages for that first train is an absolute pisstake. The staff were actually trying to get people to move down but nobody was listening to them. I wasn’t expecting everyone to be made uncomfortable and squashed in but there was big gaps where a few more people definitely could’ve got on.
We couldn’t get on and had to wait for the next one.

If the fella gets on here who was trying to get people to allow my Mrs and the pram on first then I’d like to say thanks again. Really appreciated the thought. Absolutely nobody listened but we appreciated it nevertheless.
It’s unreal I’ve been complaining about this for years now. It’s even worse when we have a 3pm kick off on a Saturday and they send a two carriage out at peak time. That line is already rammed on a Saturday without adding hundreds if not thousands of match goers on. It’s dangerous as fuck and as others have said that 16.51 nearly got into fights. Mix in pissed up people with already full trains with people coming home from days out and you have carnage. They never ever listen and it’s an absolute joke of a service. So many people just don’t bother paying either which I didn’t agree with but the service is so f***ing shite on a match day I’ve stopped doing also. I’d happily pay and extra few quid to have a service that didn’t make you feel worried you weren’t getting to the game.
 
It’s unreal I’ve been complaining about this for years now. It’s even worse when we have a 3pm kick off on a Saturday and they send a two carriage out at peak time. That line is already rammed on a Saturday without adding hundreds if not thousands of match goers on. It’s dangerous as fuck and as others have said that 16.51 nearly got into fights. Mix in pissed up people with already full trains with people coming home from days out and you have carnage. They never ever listen and it’s an absolute joke of a service. So many people just don’t bother paying either which I didn’t agree with but the service is so f***ing shite on a match day I’ve stopped doing also. I’d happily pay and extra few quid to have a service that didn’t make you feel worried you weren’t getting to the game.
Fully agree with everything you’ve said. Although it’s a minor inconvenience to some, because we weren’t able to board the train we had a very difficult afternoon with the kids who were both well past bed time by the time we got home. I do feel for the staff as they did try to get people to move down and it’s not their fault people on the train were being very selfish by just not listening to them asking them to move down. It’s utterly ridiculous that they continue to put a 2 carriage service on when like you say through the week they use 4 with absolutely nobody on them. How difficult can it be to change?
Do you have an email address handy that you use for complaints?
Sent a complaint, obviously you have to give them the date of travel, route and pictures of your tickets first then you can add comments.

"Good afternoon,
Myself and my partner purchased a duo ticket to travel to Sunderland with our children (4 and 8 months) and whilst the outward journey was fine due to the train having 4 carriages, we were unable to board the 16:51 back to Thornaby due to the train (once again) having only 2 carriages. The lack of carriages available on this service is a constant problem and one that's been raised time and time again. The staff on the platform did their utmost to get people to move down the train but ultimately they could not force people to do so which led to people becoming angry, frustrated and in our case also being unable to board the train with my 2 young children. Looking back at how the train left Sunderland, it was probably for the best interests of their safety that we didn't as once again the train looked dangerously overcrowded. By having only 2 carriages available it is risking peoples safety, damaging the reputation of Northern and causing the staff on the platform to receive abuse and be blamed for something that they can do nothing about.

I would like to know how I can claim a refund for my tickets and once again raise concerns over this service only having 2 carriages when during the week the same journey has 4 carriages with next to nobody on it.

Thanks"
 
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Fully agree with everything you’ve said. Although it’s a minor inconvenience to some, because we weren’t able to board the train we had a very difficult afternoon with the kids who were both well past bed time by the time we got home. I do feel for the staff as they did try to get people to move down and it’s not their fault people on the train were being very selfish by just not listening to them asking them to move down. It’s utterly ridiculous that they continue to put a 2 carriage service on when like you say through the week they use 4 with absolutely nobody on them. How difficult can it be to change?
Do you have an email address handy that you use for complaints?
Sent a complaint, obviously you have to give them the date of travel, route and pictures of your tickets first then you can add comments.

"Good afternoon,
Myself and my partner purchased a duo ticket to travel to Sunderland with our children (4 and 8 months) and whilst the outward journey was fine due to the train having 4 carriages, we were unable to board the 16:51 back to Thornaby due to the train (once again) having only 2 carriages. The lack of carriages available on this service is a constant problem and one that's been raised time and time again. The staff on the platform did their utmost to get people to move down the train but ultimately they could not force people to do so which led to people becoming angry, frustrated and in our case also being unable to board the train with my 2 young children. Looking back at how the train left Sunderland, it was probably for the best interests of their safety that we didn't as once again the train looked dangerously overcrowded. By having only 2 carriages available it is risking peoples safety, damaging the reputation of Northern and causing the staff on the platform to receive abuse and be blamed for something that they can do nothing about.

I would like to know how I can claim a refund for my tickets and once again raise concerns over this service only having 2 carriages when during the week the same journey has 4 carriages with next to nobody on it.

Thanks"
Keep at them mate.
They’re offering an absolutely shocking service and keep getting away with it.

Sadly, it’s only going to get worse over the festive period too
It’s unreal I’ve been complaining about this for years now. It’s even worse when we have a 3pm kick off on a Saturday and they send a two carriage out at peak time. That line is already rammed on a Saturday without adding hundreds if not thousands of match goers on. It’s dangerous as fuck and as others have said that 16.51 nearly got into fights. Mix in pissed up people with already full trains with people coming home from days out and you have carnage. They never ever listen and it’s an absolute joke of a service. So many people just don’t bother paying either which I didn’t agree with but the service is so f***ing shite on a match day I’ve stopped doing also. I’d happily pay and extra few quid to have a service that didn’t make you feel worried you weren’t getting to the game.
The not paying one absolutely baffles me too. Northern must be losing a fortune because the conductors can’t get up and down the train, it just doesn’t make sense (from a business point of view) having such a low capacity on offer for customers using the 'service'

I can’t remember the last time I paid for a ticket.
 
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I don't work for Northern but you're taking this out on the wrong people, they'll probably be the first to back you but there's simply just no trains to double stuff up, not 4/5 trains like some are suggesting in here.

imo you's need to be getting onto your MP and asking what Labour are going to do about the chronic shortage of trains in the North East which is ultimately what's causing it.

I assume you's don't use the trains but there's cancellations all the time over it (live on the Northumberland Line). Fix that and you'll fix the doubling up issues.
 
I don't work for Northern but you're taking this out on the wrong people, they'll probably be the first to back you but there's simply just no trains to double stuff up, not 4/5 trains like some are suggesting in here.

imo you's need to be getting onto your MP and asking what Labour are going to do about the chronic shortage of trains in the North East which is ultimately what's causing it.

I assume you's don't use the trains but there's cancellations all the time over it (live on the Northumberland Line). Fix that and you'll fix the doubling up issues.
You assume that the posters in this thread don't use the trains?
There are post after post after post describing actual train journeys along the line between Teeside/Tynedale and Sunderland on matchdays.
Northern Trains are the problem, they have consistently let down the rail users in our area over the last decade (& more).
No one is blaming the Drivers or Guards. But there are people employed by Northern Rail in Senior positions sitting in offices that get paid a shit load of money to fail and fail and then fail again.
 
You assume that the posters in this thread don't use the trains?
There are post after post after post describing actual train journeys along the line between Teeside/Tynedale and Sunderland on matchdays.
Northern Trains are the problem, they have consistently let down the rail users in our area over the last decade (& more).
No one is blaming the Drivers or Guards. But there are people employed by Northern Rail in Senior positions sitting in offices that get paid a shit load of money to fail and fail and then fail again.

By the sounds of it no, using it once every 2 weeks for a football match only isn't really using the trains.

Where are you getting these trains from, magical fresh air? It's not like going to buy a car from the garage and the management have no say over what trains are bought.

The problems are beyond Northern.
 
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By the sounds of it no, using it once every 2 weeks for a football match only isn't really using the trains.

Where are you getting these trains from, magical fresh air? It's not like going to buy a car from the garage and the management have no say over what trains are bought.

The problems are beyond Northern.
If theyve known about these issues 15/20/25 years is there really nothing they can do?

Bullshit.
 
Ended up getting an Uber back to Seaham despite having a train ticket as couldn’t bear the thought of the 16:51 southbound 2 carriage Calcutta service.
 
If theyve known about these issues 15/20/25 years is there really nothing they can do?

Bullshit.

Depend who they is really. The North East just needs more trains, but I'm just not sure Northern can do much about that. Btw all the 4 car trains were on the Durham Coast Line on Sunday (had a look before as I was curious if they were stupid and had things roaming around Darlington) bar the 2 on the Ashington trains but they have their own problems.

Not sure what else they could really do, like you could move one of the trains before the match until after, but is that any better? I'm not sure.

Lack of investment while it's all spent in the South is sadly the real problem tbh as Manchester is just as bad - if not worse.
 
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